>>2512781I spent a couple weeks at the Oregon gathering at the Malheur national forest several years ago. I didn’t fit in, I just went because my hippie friend got married there. But everyone treated my girlfriend and I very nicely. We always had food, weed to smoke, and water. We made a lot of friends, I met some really cool people. Also met some weird people, but the general vibe is very welcoming and positive.
If you’re like me and you don’t identify with hippies, just keep an open mind and definitely be prepared to see some weird shit. But you’re not gonna see orgies in the open or whatever some people think happens there. Just some goofy hippies with their instruments, trinkets, and life stories. In fact, they keep all the alcoholics in their own camp called A camp, steer clear of that, and stay near Jesus Camp and you’re good. Jesus camp is based and they make chocolate chip pancakes every morning for anyone who shows up.
I honestly enjoyed the experience. I might go again some day. It’s cool to be out in a national forest, walking at night using the moonlight to navigate towards the sound of a drum circle, then take some psychs with hippies. If you’re an open minded person, I think it can be fun.
A couple of unique things I remember was Tea Time, a camp serving everyone tea at all hours, and this awesome camp that hauled hundreds of books up the mountain to set up a makeshift library. I chilled and read Walden while relaxing in a meadow one day.
But I’m definitely not the type of person to make it a lifestyle. By the time we left I was ready to go. This was also some years ago, I think 2016 or 2017. So things might have changed and the bad aspects could’ve gotten worse. But if anything it’s nice to be around people actually socializing and meeting each other without any technology for a little bit
