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Boondocking issues


trostberg

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 I copied it from RV Lifestyles by Mike Wendland.
 

Why are authorities shutting down boondocking?

This is a reason why authorities are shutting down boondocking

For starters, consider these recent stories about the shutting down of boondocking areas:

·       In Oregon, Trash, Human Waste, Forces Authorities on Oregon to Shut Down Dispersed Camping

·       In Utah overnight camping has been banned in Middle Fork because of trash, vandalism and rowdyism

·       Popular Colorado area closed to dispersed camping

Those are just three examples. There are many more, from all over the US.

There is a detailed interview with Drivin and Vibin

More boondocking sites are shut down indefinitely. 
Here's the info: https://drivinvibin.com/.../wma-imposes-boondocking-ban.../

More boondocking sites are shut down indefinitely.
Edited by trostberg
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Reno Nevada BLM is shutting down overnight camping and restricting activities on BLM areas close to and just north of Reno/Sparks because of severe abuse of the public lands here due to horrible trashing of the sites and abandoned junky vehicles and RVs.  No more 14 day stays or even one night of camping.  This just announced in last two weeks in local news.  No I do not have a link but one can easily find it with a simple first grade 101 Google search.   P.S. links are not mandatory.  Cheers to some.

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Edited by NamMedevac 70
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BLM in AZ has closed an area off I-17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff due to trash, and human feces caused by homeless campers.  Another great area lost. 

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2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock Edition

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  • 2 months later...

Greetings,

Of course people who aren't regular campers can cause problems without regards to others who care and pick up after themselves and often others.

My opinion is that a lot of these places are trashed by the homelessness in these areas. Ironically they are also hurting themselves if they want a free place to stay. When services were suspended about a year and a half ago, trash dumpsters were over flowing with trash and even piled around the containers which probably didn't help the situation.

Guess what I am saying, pack it in and then pack it out if there is no place to put your trash. A stop over to a camp ground will solve your trash problem. Realize the season RV'ers are usually the most responsible campers out there with the exception of just a few.

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  • 1 month later...

BLM areas in the Rush Valley, Utah have been closed to all use. One so bad with black tank dumps it's considered a haz-mat site now. These offenders are not homeless. It's way to far off the beaten track. They are idiot campers who just don't care.

A wonderful place to be with groups, family, shooting, 4 wheeling, hiking and camping in a place where you can see the wonders of the night sky.

Truly sad.

 

Robert & Lisa
'14 Keystone Fuzion 315 38' 5er

2015 Volvo VNL 670, D13, iShift 'The Tartis' (ours)

2013 Smart Fortwo Passion 'K-9'

2011 CanAm Spyder RT Limited (Ours)

We are both USAF vets.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Not on the level of previous examples, but I picked up and disposed of two small grocery bags of trash in a fire pit at the spot I'm currently at in Idaho.  Amazing how much it pissed me off to see someone leave behind even a little bit of trash.  Easily disposed of at the gas station down the road.

2001 VNL 660

2018 DRV Fullhouse JX450

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It is saddening at how little so many campers think of the environment and other campers now.  To day while walking my dog, I found one huge pile of dog poop and orange peels scattered about.  It is not hard to pick up the poop and the orange peel is not eaten by the critters. 

We campground hosted for many years and finally reached the point of I am not pick up others trash.  They use the fire ring as a garbage pit for unused food, cigarette butts and dirty diapers.  They do not supervise the kids and do not teach them how to put trash in a trash can.

At one park that had the day use area totally trashed on Saturday and Sunday, I suggest to the parm manager that we not pick up the trash in this area for a month and see if ay of the people would get disgusted and  complain or stop coming to the park. An alternate solution might be to collect all of the trash left on the ground and in fire rings for a month and put it on display at the entrance with a sign telling the story of the trash.

Ken

Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot

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When we hosted parks , we always carried extra trash bags in our park tours . 

When we saw that there was no trash bag being used , we'd always offer a bag or two free to the site occupants . 

And , we'd make sure everyone knew where the dumpster(s) were located .

Almost everyone got the message . 

Goes around , comes around .

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4 hours ago, Pat &amp; Pete said:

When we hosted parks , we always carried extra trash bags in our park tours . 

When we saw that there was no trash bag being used , we'd always offer a bag or two free to the site occupants . 

And , we'd make sure everyone knew where the dumpster(s) were located .

Almost everyone got the message . 

We used that tactic as well.  Some would pick up the trash, others simply took the bag and left the trash.  In one state park, I asked the people to please pick up the kids candy and potato chip wrappers before they blew over to the neighbors.  She informed me that picking up the trash was the rangers job.  I let the office know and the park policeman visited them to inform them of the policy.  They left the site dirty anyway...I guess, just to show him.

There is no limit to some peoples stupidity and ignorance.

Ken

Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot

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31 minutes ago, TXiceman said:

We used that tactic as well.  Some would pick up the trash, others simply took the bag and left the trash.  In one state park, I asked the people to please pick up the kids candy and potato chip wrappers before they blew over to the neighbors.  She informed me that picking up the trash was the rangers job.  I let the office know and the park policeman visited them to inform them of the policy.  They left the site dirty anyway...I guess, just to show him.

There is no limit to some peoples stupidity and ignorance.

Ken

I've heard that it takes all kinds to make the world go 'round. 

I feel sorry for the miscreants . If they would only realize that good begets good and bad simply brings bad . 

Goes around , comes around .

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  • 3 weeks later...

There has always been that crowd of people that take advantage of others. I personally know some. Getting to be a lot of people in the world and a lot of campers are out there now. there is enough of them now that it causes problems. I don't see it improving either. 

2003 Teton Grand Freedom towed with 2006 Freightliner Century 120 across the beautiful USA welding pipe.https://photos.app.goo.gl/O32ZjgzSzgK7LAyt1

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  • 4 weeks later...

We're not full time campers at all, but when we do want to get away with our RV, we want to do it boondocking in somewhat remote, beautiful areas that of course have not been ruined by others and is not "crowded".

What I'd like to see is boondocking areas that you pay so much per day to camp in.  i.e. How about camping without hookups by a beautiful remote lake or in a beautiful desert setting that cost $20 per day and with only so many RV's allowed into the area at any one time?

I could easily go for that ... but of course full-timers in that area would have to be paying around $600 ($20 X 30 days) per month in order to boondock camp there.

$20 per day (adjusted upwards each year per inflation) might help keep the trashy camper types away ... I'm not sure, though.

Edited by pnichols
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2 hours ago, pnichols said:

How about camping without hookups by a beautiful remote lake or in a beautiful desert setting away ... I'm not sure, though.

We have found those places - not crowded and no fee!

Full-timed for 16 Years
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Motorhome
and 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

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2 hours ago, pnichols said:

What I'd like to see is boondocking areas that you pay so much per day to camp in.  i.e. How about camping without hookups by a beautiful remote lake or in a beautiful desert setting that cost $20 per day and with only so many RV's allowed into the area at any one time?

We camped in lots of Corp of Engineer campgrounds and some state forests, state parks, wildlife areas, and BLM campgrounds that meet that criteria. Some didn't even charge as much as $20; some were free.

Linda Sand

Blog: http://sandcastle.sandsys.org/

Former Rigs: Liesure Travel van, Winnebago View 24H, Winnebago Journey 34Y, Sportsmobile Sprinter conversion van

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  • 1 month later...
On 9/24/2021 at 7:44 PM, pnichols said:

We're not full time campers at all, but when we do want to get away with our RV, we want to do it boondocking in somewhat remote, beautiful areas that of course have not been ruined by others and is not "crowded".

What I'd like to see is boondocking areas that you pay so much per day to camp in.  i.e. How about camping without hookups by a beautiful remote lake or in a beautiful desert setting that cost $20 per day and with only so many RV's allowed into the area at any one time?

I could easily go for that ... but of course full-timers in that area would have to be paying around $600 ($20 X 30 days) per month in order to boondock camp there.

$20 per day (adjusted upwards each year per inflation) might help keep the trashy camper types away ... I'm not sure, though.

Pretty much describes the places I camp.....EXCEPT I don't pay $20/night and there is usually no one around. 

I fly-fish and ONLY FLY-FISH lakes.  So far this year, haven't camped in a campground next to a lake.  AND have not paid for camping, except for this weeks hunting trip. 

I think your looking for lakeside camping in all the wrong places and seasons.

BTW....Forest Service limits camping to 21 days, BLM 14 days, and state agencies normally run in the 14 day limit for dispersed camping.....so monthly is usually one or two weeks too long.

 

 

Vladimr Steblina

Retired Forester...exploring the public lands.

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  • 2 years later...

"I let the office know and the park policeman visited them to inform them of the policy.  They left the site dirty anyway...I guess, just to show him. "

I realize this thread is a couple of years old, but I thought I'd add an experience we had this summer while hosting. A camper left a site pretty messy. I cleaned it up, but before I did I took a few pictures and texted them to the park superintendent. That camper was flagged in the State reservation system, so if he makes a reservation at any park in the State they will know that he left a mess behind.

My guess is that a similar system operates elsewhere, too. As a campground host, I can see and read the flags, but I can't flag anyone myself. That has to be done at a higher level.

Another camper was flagged for overstaying the checkout time (by several hours) without notifying anyone about the delay.

David Lininger, kb0zke
1993 Foretravel U300 40' (sold)
2022 Grand Design Reflection 315RLTS

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1 hour ago, kb0zke said:

That camper was flagged in the State reservation system, so if he makes a reservation at any park in the State they will know that he left a mess behind.

My guess is that a similar system operates elsewhere, too. As a campground host, I can see and read the flags, but I can't flag anyone myself. That has to be done at a higher level.

Another camper was flagged for overstaying the checkout time (by several hours) without notifying anyone about the delay.

We've done that when volunteering at national parks.  They were also given a hefty fine.

Full-timed for 16 Years
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Motorhome
and 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

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12 hours ago, kb0zke said:

I realize this thread is a couple of years old, but I thought I'd add an experience we had this summer while hosting. A camper left a site pretty messy.

Back in the summer of 2001 we were campground hosts in a state park in Kansas. One morning as I was about to make rounds of our campground the lead park LEO happened by and went with me. We found a site that had been left early that morning that was a total mess with trash everywhere. The LEO got on his radio, then told me to hold of cleaning it up. About 45 minutes to an hour later the previous occupants returned to the site, escorted by a member of the Kansas Highway Patrol. The LEO met them as they arrived and they were soon busy cleaning the site, to meet the requirements of the two observing officers. No ticket was given and after about an hour of work the folks were allowed to continue on their way. If it matters, the folks did have Kansas license plates. In our experiences the Kansas state parks are among the cleanest that we have spent time in and I suspect that we now know why. 😊

Good travelin !...............Kirk

Full-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.
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The State Park we were volunteering at in Texas had a guest leave with trash strewn about and the kids had set a larger hollow log on fire.   Another host and I were busy getting the fire under control when the park manager and LEO stopped by to see the problem.  He radioed the office to get the phone numbers of file for the campers and called them instructing them to return to the park.  By the time they drove back we had the fire under control and were told to leave the trash.  When they arrived, he was told to clean the site and dispose of the trash properly.  The LEO then fined the wife as she had made the reservation in her name for the litter, having a fire outside of the designated fire ring as well as damaging state property.

I do not know what the fines were, but it was a pretty hefty sum.

I just wish more parks would actively pursue people that damage and disrespect the park/

Ken

 

Edited by TXiceman

Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot

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