HENDERSON — Now that summer is in full swing, and gasoline prices have topped $4.20 a gallon, you might think fewer people would make their way to state parks for a week of camping. That assumption would be wrong.
In fact, state parks are seeing a spike in reservation rates this summer, and parks in Jefferson County are booked solid for the holiday weekend.
"We are definitely full," said Daniel Heneka, manager of Westcott Beach State Park in the town of Henderson and Southwick Beach State Park in the town of Ellisburg. "It's just a matter of how many people are coming from further away."
As of Monday, campgrounds in the region were reporting an 82 percent reservation rate, compared with 76 percent for the same week last year. The statewide reservation rate reflected the same trend, with 74 percent in 2007 and 88 percent in 2008 for the holiday weekend.
"The camping population is being faithful, despite the pinch on their pockets," said Kevin A. Kieff, the state parks regional director for the Thousand Islands area. "The American public is much more resilient than economists forecast. They are making decisions to make their summer vacations happen."
Mr. Kieff also pointed out that almost 70 percent of the campers who come to the Thousand Islands region come for boating or fishing and that those people have to fill two tanks — one for the truck and one for the boat. He also said that despite even higher high fuel prices for boats, most of the docks are rented for the summer season and there hasn't been a change from years past.
By the look of things Friday morning at the fully booked Westcott Beach State Park on Lake Ontario, campers were not letting gas prices ruin their Independence Day plans.
"Normally we would go further away, but not this year," said Cindy L. Percoski, Lowville.
Mrs. Percoski was there with a large group of friends, who in total occupied seven campsites. She and her family have been camping in the region for almost 15 years, but have made some cutbacks for this trip.
"We used to go to Cranberry Lake in the Adirondacks every year. But it got difficult because we'd have to bring two trucks — one to tow the camper and another to tow the boat," she said. "We don't even spend that much time on the boat anymore. We'll go out and anchor somewhere, when we used to go up and down the lake."
The group used to split up and stay at other campgrounds independently and have friends visit. That's something the friends have stopped doing because the price of gas is so high and it puts a strain on all of them.
Instead, they come to the same place at the same time and this time around, they are just happy the weather is cooperating.
Michael W. Irey, Carthage, is another camper who hasn't been deterred by gas prices. Mr. Irey set up his site Thursday afternoon and is staying for 10 days; he has no intention of leaving the site unless it's for some ice.
Mr. Irey's Ford F-150 gets about 12 miles per gallon when he tows the camper, but he points out that as far as camping goes, gas is the only thing that has gone up in price. And for him, it's worth it to come out every year with his family and spend a few days relaxing.
"Gas prices won't keep me from camping," he said as he sat under a tarp canopy in front of his 20-foot camper. "Even with the gas where it is, you still have to enjoy life while you can. Gas would need to be more than what it is for us to stop."
It appears that neither Mrs. Percoski nor Mr. Irey has any plans to stop the summer camping tradition anytime soon. Mrs. Percoski plans to move from one campsite to another next week and spend a week at Cape Vincent. Mr. Irey plans to go camping at least one more time before the summer ends.
"You cut back on what you bring, but you don't not come," Mrs. Percoski said.
