Welcome to A Crock of Schmidt. Here you will find campground reviews from all my camping adventures over the years. I also share cool attractions and destinations we’ve been to, great hikes we’ve done, and some insights on our hobbies. Once in awhile, I toss in some ramblings on whatever nonsense moves me at the moment. Thanks for coming by and I hope you find something that helps and/or entertains. If you do, kindly tell a friend about this place.
Fossil Hunting at American Fossil Quarry
January 26, 2023
Our bucket list camping trip in the summer of 2022 will long be remembered as perhaps our best ever. Yellowstone National Park has that affect on memories. And while Yellowstone was the certainly the centrepiece of the trip, our four hours hunting Green River Formation fossils at American Fossil Quarry were, without question, the highlight.
Grant Village Campground – Yellowstone National Park – review
January 17, 2023
It’s oddly comforting to learn that naivety can still strike on the backside of middle age. Case in point, this here review of Grant Village Campground in Yellowstone National Park. My only campground review for all off Yellowstone, home to twelve. That latter fact was not my intention. Not by a long shot. Sure, going
The Great Covid Camping Craze
January 8, 2023
The pandemic giveth and the pandemic taketh away. In many ways, I suppose. And not all pleasant. In this case, I am talking about the great covid camping craze, so put your pitchforks away. It’s rather amazing that we’re already approaching the third anniversary of the lockdowns. Three years ago, trouble was stirring in China.
Tillebrook Provincial Park – review
November 20, 2022
Truth is parks systems are not centrally planned networks. No committee sat down prior to the first settler setting foot in an area and said, “Okay, we will have a park of this size with these amenities here, and here, and here.” Parks are far more organic, with multiple generations holding varied agendas adding and
Pembina River Provincial Park – review
September 27, 2022
Make no mistake, Pembina River Provincial Park is a delightful campground for family, friends, or any combination thereof to make merry on a summer’s weekend. Also know that on the August long weekend of 2022, I wanted no part of any of it. Perhaps it was too soon after our bucket list mega-adventure camping through
Willey West Campground – review
September 6, 2022
“Uh. Uh. Mmm. Mmm. Ooh. Mmm. Ooo. Ooo. Mmm. Mmmmmmm. Oh. Oh. OH. OH! OH!! OH MY GOD!!!” The above is not, I repeat, not, my rating of Willey West Campground. Nor was it, to the best of my deductive skills, that of the young woman camping in the site next to ours. Based on
Rockhounding at Montana’s Crystal Park
July 29, 2022
What’s in a name? That which we call a park by any other name would look just as horrifying all dug up like a cratered exoplanet. Crystal Park in southwest Montana will challenge your every notion of a park. I’ve long questioned the presence of private cottages within provincial/national parks. But this? This is a
Countryside RV Park – review
July 23, 2022
Sometimes you just need a spot to park your rig for the night on the way to somewhere else. Nothing more. Nothing less. Because, let’s face it, when there are fifty candles on your birthday cake the fifteen-hour drives are a whole hell of a lot less fun. Especially when the kids and wife are
Jarvis Bay Provincial Park – review
June 28, 2022
It’s time to ruffle some Western Canadian feathers. Perhaps not the wisest tack considering my reader base, but I’ve been fooled by Jarvis Bay Provincial Park twice now and I’ve got some shame to untangle. I’m a born and raised Southern Ontario boy and as such my memories of summer are filled with images of
Red Lodge Provincial Park – review
June 7, 2022
Well, it turns out that I might, just might, be a wee bit of a geography snob. At least when it comes to campgrounds. Case in point, Red Lodge Provincial Park. I’ve known about this small provincial park located sixteen kilometres west of Bowden, Alberta for many years. It’s a very popular spot, garnering much