17 replies to this topic

[smlobx]

On our trip back from Alaska last year going through Montana and Wyoming I commented to my wife on several occasions on the numerous trailers we saw that were dragged down dirt roads and set up on BLM and NFS lands but no one was there when we stayed there. Many of them appeared to be there longer than the 14 day limit…A sign of the times we live in.

 

I also agree that unless you’re actually there you shouldn’t claim a site for future use…

[Foy]

several occasions on the numerous trailers we saw that were dragged down dirt roads and set up on BLM and NFS lands but no one was there when we stayed there. Many of them appeared to be there longer than the 14 day limit…

 

Such was routinely observed when we spent 3 weeks in Montana July-August 2020.  At every NF CG and along every road which had disbursed pull outs we'd see sites "occupied" for days but with no sign of the occupants.  It reminded us of similar circumstances in late September 2018 when we visited some of the same areas and saw advance set-up at many CGs and disbursed sites, some quite elaborate, for the upcoming elk season.  

Foy

[craig333]

And why not. Its not like you'll get a ticket or find your trailer has been towed. You may find a mouse infestation but there really isn't much of a reason not to unless doing the right thing matters to you. 

 

Unless its one of those rare situations where its one of the last spots in a campground left, I don't leave anything. 

[goinoregon]

thanks for all the comments and observations.

go

[dennis 221]

Have a lawn chair and wrote site occupied on back.place rock on it for wind

[Gussie]

I carry a Eureka two-man tent in my ATC Bobcat. When I set it up campside, I've found that it signals occupation right away.
I've never had an issue, but if someone stole it it wouldn't be the end of the world!

I did have an issue once with a Camp Host at a USFS site, who apparently watched me set up in the morning and then leave for the afternoon. When I came back, my site was occupied with another camper. The Camp Host had moved the tent out of the site! Luckily, there were other sites available, but I had to suffer the humility of a strong lecture from the guy about physical occupation for the first 24 hours.

Jeez, what a stickler... turned out that he was actually a pretty nice older feller in an old Alaskan. With the increase in camping and newbie campers, he told me that he's compelled to go 'by the book.'

Edited by Gussie, 18 August 2021 - 06:17 PM.

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Just what does "Physical occupation for the first 24 hours" mean?

You set up camp with your tent,bought/payed for the site,isn't that

physical occupation?

 

I know there are a lot of people out there for the first time who don't

know the basic rules but that's where the host comes in.

It sure is a different camping world out there now.

Frank

[DavidGraves]

When we really need to know we can stay in a particular camp site....we just make plans to get there early.

 

On our extended several week trips it is easy enough to build in a schedule where you are stopped for the night by 4-5 pm.

 

I am personally bothered by the notion that some folks feel they can "claim" a site while not really using it.

 

This is all tempered by the fact that I live in a vastly over visited part of the world.....everything outside, including just being there, seems to have become a commodity.

 

David Graves