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Why we need to self regulate. Tread lightly on public lands

Truck camper four wheel camper blm tread lightly conservation dispersed waste

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#1 Mthomas

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Posted 07 June 2019 - 03:29 PM

https://www.kunr.org...spersed-camping
Here is an unfortunate developement from the BLM
With so many people out enjoying our public lands, unless we all self regulate, educate others, and respect nature this may be our future. There is more and more land being closed off every year.
Tread lightly.

Thought this was the right forum, but since so many people go to the specific camper forums for the outstanding tech info/ support, it would be great if it could be cross posted by the admins.

Edited by Mthomas, 07 June 2019 - 03:32 PM.

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#2 larryqp

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Posted 07 June 2019 - 04:31 PM

Education is the key, plus maybe rules for proper human waste handling in dispersed camping areas, similar to river corridors. Many rivers require all campers to have an approved "groover" which is just a slang term for a approved method of human waste disposal system. 


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#3 Mighty Dodge Ram

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Posted 07 June 2019 - 06:11 PM

I carry nothing but WAGG bags now. It’s disgusting to see “white flowers” waving in the breeze in an otherwise pristine location. Yes, education and, unfortunately, enforcement is the key. Pack it in, pack it out now includes human waste.
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#4 PaulT

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Posted 07 June 2019 - 06:12 PM

The NPR story left out solutions and primarily aired complaints. Why not add links to sites explaining proper feces etiquette for different areas.  Should feces be buried 4 feet deep or 6 inches deep in desert or alpine areas?  Should toilet paper be packed out or buried with the waste? 

 

I attended a seminar this past weekend on handling human waste after a major disaster such as a Cascade Subduction Zone major quake and recommendations  were given depending on rural, suburban, urban regions and expected duration before sanitation returned to "normal"/  Many opinions were expressed.  Some were based on camping experiences.

 

Laws regarding disposal of solid waste in landfills vary so what to do with waste packed out in wag bags from the back country?

 

What are best practices for human waste? Coyotes, herbivores, and birds seem to just make a deposit on top of the ground and who is to argue?  Cats bury their waste by scraping dust, dirt, and forest litter over the deposit which is shallow burial at best.

 

I don't know the answer(s).

 

Should WTW be leading the way?

 

Any experts here? I may be an expert on creating the waste but definitely not expert in proper disposal under varying conditions. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

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#5 Rdy2Roam

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Posted 07 June 2019 - 10:40 PM

I usually take a brown bag with sawdust then burn it when I'm done. Not sure if that's the right thing to do but it works.
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#6 rando

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Posted 07 June 2019 - 10:42 PM

The best practice is to pack it out.    We have also started using Wagg bags under almost all circumstances and dump these in landfill.  I don't think landfill is really an issue - given the hundreds of millions of diapers disposed of in landfills every year, a few bags of grown up poop will not make a difference.    Port-a-porties dumped into the sewer are also an excellent option. 

 

While self regulation is a noble idea, I don't really see an issue with the BLM/USFS/NPS requiring some sort of waste system.   This is already the case in areas like Canyon Lands NP, and it is far rarer to see 'white flowers' within the park boundary, whereas in much of the surrounding land you could be mistaken for thinking the Sego Lilies are in bloom.  

 

My golden rule for behavior on public lands is that if you wouldn't do it in your own backyard, than you shouldn't do it in the publics back yard. 


Edited by rando, 07 June 2019 - 10:48 PM.

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#7 ski3pin

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Posted 07 June 2019 - 11:23 PM


My golden rule for behavior on public lands is that if you wouldn't do it in your own backyard, than you shouldn't do it in the publics back yard. 

 

Rando, that is well said. Thank you. I take it in a little different direction. I grew up in a small town environment. So I ask, "Would I do this in my neighbor's backyard, good people who I respect?"


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#8 pvstoy

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Posted 08 June 2019 - 03:49 AM

I usually take a brown bag with sawdust then burn it when I'm done. Not sure if that's the right thing to do but it works.

 

Many of wild land fires have been started by burning toilet paper.  Best not to do that out west.

 

I have seen more and more where a attempt was made to bury waste and paper only to be dug up by some animal.  It should be deep enough to cover the scent.


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#9 LAWNMOWERMAN

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Posted 08 June 2019 - 04:22 AM

The poop aint the problem,the TP is the problem. Pack it out in a plastic baggie.No big deal.


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#10 searching for nowhere

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Posted 08 June 2019 - 03:40 PM

I think there needs to be a national educational campaign like the Smokey the Bear campaign. People don't understand that today's TP is strong and doesn't decompose rapidly.  They don't understand that their waste has germs in it.  We need easy to buy poop bags.  I stopped in a large grocery store the other day to buy poop bags (cheap storage bags sold for food) and all they had were zip lock type bags!  And we need places to dispose of the filled poop bags.  Many places are going trash free, pack in - pack out but there needs to be a place to deposit poop bags.  No one in a SUV/car wants days worth of poop bags inside their car.  

 

At City of Rocks a maintenance lead told me they were constantly finding filled green dog poop bags tied and set on the side of a trail. She thought people didn't know what to do.  Huh? Later I found a full bag on the side of the trail.  I was the only one in the parking lot so it wasn't left to be picked up later.  

 

Now that I've written this, it seems like I need to start writing emails, pushing my idea of a nation wide campaign. 


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