Boondocking and Public Lands (BLM)

[Tincampers]

Originally Posted by batman

Ray, The look on her face is priceless, I am not sure if she is frightened or pissed off? Some one should teach her how to use those trekking poles while crossing a river.

She might be cold. We had to ford several rivers on our Glacier cross country backpacking trip in July and the waters were frigid!

[Denis4x4]

Word of advice on fording a stream in mountainous country: An easy crossing at 9:00 AM turns into a real problem at 2:00 PM when the snow melts and the stream can come up a foot with a nasty current.

[handn]

Originally Posted by youngpeck

Here is an example of what is available from the BLM (this happens to be the Monticello, Utah office):

Travel Plan Maps 11" by 17"

Note that you can access their entire web site, which has all kinds of useful information and suggestions for travel. Each state's district offices have equally valuable information.

BUT ALWAYS CALL before you go. Many of the roads shown are not passable with travel trailers, especially when wet!! The BLM staff are very helpful in suggesting appropriate roads and things for you to see and do, especially in your case, as you wish to get off the beaten track. There is much in southern Utah, western Colorado, and Wyoming and Nevada for you.

This is a very good suggestion. We always stop at the regional BLM office where we plan to camp. We buy the map and visit with staff about local conditions.

[batman]

Originally Posted by Denis4x4

Word of advice on fording a stream in mountainous country: An easy crossing at 9:00 AM turns into a real problem at 2:00 PM when the snow melts and the stream can come up a foot with a nasty current.

So true!!! Trickle in the morning, torrent in the afternoon!


-Dennis

[mspearman]

I am getting a bit stir crazy with COVID 19 and was wondering if anyone has gone boondocking on BLM land away from any camp ground? Are there places where you can just pull up and camp with a 25' FC? We have solar cells and a generator.

Is this a good idea?

Mark

[brad1]

I would gather from reading the previous posts in this thread that the answer is yes.

[Rocinante]

Full-timers who say they have nowhere else to go are also saying that public lands such as BLM and National Forest locations for boondocking are being closed off in an unpredictable, almost uknowable fashion / pattern. So, beware before you try to go out there. Better yet, stay home - protect yourself and those you might meet along the way, even if it's just by touching the gas pump handle without knowing the person before you or after you who did or will do the same.

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by mspearman

I am getting a bit stir crazy with COVID 19 and was wondering if anyone has gone boondocking on BLM land away from any camp ground? Are there places where you can just pull up and camp with a 25' FC? We have solar cells and a generator.

Is this a good idea?

Mark

******
Post #37 is a Wyoming Off the Grid experience. This is a New Mexico version:

If you are interested in a New Mexico Off the Grid Boondocking Experience... PM me. We are planning on getting out of Las Vegas, which is beautiful now, by the end of April.

I would advise that this would be for someone interested Camped in the National Forest, no RV Park, NOTHING other than what you bring... and it helps if you have an interest in hiking and hunting colorful volcanic agates and walk among Indian pit houses a thousand years old, at your leisure.

We are following the daily High and Low temperatures as we would be at 6500 feet elevation. Another week... the temperatures will be perfect. Our trailer is already loaded and anxious to get the Camping Season started.

Enough open space for one or two others, but this is remote camping and we move around a bit just for a change of scenery. Generator is not needed if you have Solar.

It is always nice to be able to OTG with those with similar interests. There are several others that might be comfortable sitting around in the late afternoon and NOT be talking about Airstreams and Rallies...

[Len n Jeanne]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

.... Better yet, stay home - protect yourself and those you might meet along the way, even if it's just by touching the gas pump handle without knowing the person before you or after you who did or will do the same.

I have to agree.

The chances of catching CV-19 are small, but the consequences of catching it-- and then passing it along to someone else-- are huge.

One thing to think about is that rural people are not thrilled by urban folk fleeing to the boondocks thinking they'll be safe and tucked out of harm's way.

Here in the Kootenays of eastern British Columbia, we're starting to see Alberta license plates in our local supermarket parking lots as an annual sign of spring, even though we've all been told to shelter at home. (A lot of second homes along the lake shores in BC belong to Albertans.)

Nothing whatsoever against them personally, but BC has been flattening the CV-19 curve, unlike in Alberta, where it's still exponential.

Our small local hospital has 20 beds and one respirator. The next (regional) nearest hospitals are a 1.5 hour drive away.

Something to think about, depending upon "where the wind takes you."

[mythbuster88]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

******
Post #37 is a Wyoming Off the Grid experience. This is a New Mexico version:

If you are interested in a New Mexico Off the Grid Boondocking Experience... PM me. We are planning on getting out of Las Vegas, which is beautiful now, by the end of April.

I would advise that this would be for someone interested Camped in the National Forest, no RV Park, NOTHING other than what you bring... and it helps if you have an interest in hiking and hunting colorful volcanic agates and walk among Indian pit houses a thousand years old, at your leisure.

We are following the daily High and Low temperatures as we would be at 6500 feet elevation. Another week... the temperatures will be perfect. Our trailer is already loaded and anxious to get the Camping Season started.

Enough open space for one or two others, but this is remote camping and we move around a bit just for a change of scenery. Generator is not needed if you have Solar.

It is always nice to be able to OTG with those with similar interests. There are several others that might be comfortable sitting around in the late afternoon and NOT be talking about Airstreams and Rallies...

Camp well for all of us that can't bro!

[Thalweg]

I've been getting the hankering to drag the camper up into the Bighorns, about a half-hour west of of home. The snow was starting to come off. Sadly, we got another foot of snow last weekend, and more is coming tonight. It's going to be at least another month.

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by Thalweg

I've been getting the hankering to drag the camper up into the Bighorns, about a half-hour west of of home. The snow was starting to come off. Sadly, we got another foot of snow last weekend, and more is coming tonight. It's going to be at least another month.

******

The last time I felt like 'Hankering in the Big Horns'... I ended up married.