MOST
CAMPSITES OPEN MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY THROUGH LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
Please
call the local Ranger District Office for specific questions and
exceptions.
This information will help you have a safe, enjoyable and successful
outdoor recreation experience. Our area of Colorado and Kansas offers
it all, from bird watching and photography to mountain biking, hiking,
fishing or just plain relaxing.
DISPERSED
CAMPING
MINIMAL IMPACT CAMPING TECHNIQUES
*PLAN your trip, know what it is you wish
to experience, think about the time of year and expected weather.
This is part of the outdoor adventure and should always be your
first step. After you have selected the area you would like to visit,
contact the local Ranger District for answers to any questions you
might have and to learn about any special regulations in the area.
When planning where you are going to go, be sure you are on National
Forest Service System land.
*CONCENTRATE your impacts in heavily used
areas. Many of the areas that are easily accessible receive heavy
use during the summer months. If there is an existing fire ring,
do not build a new one. (Sometimes that means that you will have
to clean out the old fire ring; don't forget that collapsible shovel).
We all have to do our part to keep these areas open for folks who
prefer this type of experience.
*CAMP at least 200 feet from water. This
practice is important for a variety of reasons. A campsite located
on stream banks or lake shores can create visual impacts and detract
from the sense of solitude. Accordingly, it is also important that
you camp far enough from roads and trails that the site is screened
from other campers. By camping close to water you risk contaminating
the water. Remember, water is very important to the wildlife that
live in the area, they need easy access to and from water sources
and your presence may disturb their normal behavior.
*PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT. Dispersed areas
do not have trash services and rarely receive clean-up services.
Please do not put glass or aluminum (even those food packages that
appear to be made of paper often have foil liners that do not burn)
into the fire. This practice is unsightly and makes the site less
attractive to the next user. All food scrapes and trash should be
taken home with you, or take it to the nearest landfill if you are
on a long journey.
*PROPERLY DISPOSE of Human Waste. This is
not something you were taught in school, maybe it should have been.
Human feces not properly disposed of is not only unsightly, but
can actually create health hazards. Catholes are the most widely
accepted method of backcounty human waste disposal (again, that
collapsible shovel comes in handy).
1. Select a site that is far from any water
sources, 300 feet is a good, safe distance. The site should be inconspicuous
and where someone would not naturally be walking. If you are camping
with a large group or camping the same site for more than one night,
you should spread the cathole sites over a large area. Try to find
a spot with deep organic material, which will help decompose the
feces. If possible, locate your cathole where it will receive maximum
sunlight, this will also aid in decomposition. Chose an elevated
site where water would not normally pool.
2. Now you are ready to dig. Your hole should
be 6-8 inches deep and 4-6 inches in diameter. If you hit a rock
or root which prevents you from reaching the correct depth, you
should find another site (early planning comes into play). Toilet
paper is a strong attractant to small rodents and should be packed
home with you other trash. When finished, the cathole should be
filled in with the previously removed dirt and disguised with native
materials.
*CAMPFIRE BUILDING and wood collection. Campfires
were once thought to be a necessity and are built in history and
tradition. Attitudes toward campfires are changing. The new perception
of their use is a direct result of past misuse of campfires, and
the sometimes ugly and negative impacts caused when fires are built
incorrectly, built in the wrong locations or left unattended. If
you choose to have a campfire, you are choosing a very large responsibility.
1. Your first step is to choose a location
for your fire. If there is an existing fire ring, use it. If it
is a bad location, move it to a better location and clean up all
remnants in its original location. Never place a campfire within
the radius of the largest branches on a tree. Fire can actually
travel through the tree's root system and cause a forest fire. Never
build a fire close to a rock or other natural object where the fire
will scorch the object and leave lasting impacts of your visit.
2. Next, you will need to collect firewood.
There is only one type of wood that is acceptable for building a
low impact campfire; this is dead and downed wood. Breaking branches
off of a live standing tree leaves a very discernible and long lasting
impact. Firewood size is very critical. A good rule of thumb is
if the wood is too large to break with your hands or by stepping
on it, then it is too large to burn. Keep the firewood in its natural
lengths, breaking into smaller pieces as you feed the fire. If there
is any unburned wood left when breaking camp, it can be scattered
around the forest and will blend in naturally.
3. Finally, remember to clean up after your
fire. The intent is to get other campers to use the same fire ring.
Cleaning up the fire ring of any food waste and trash, burning wood
completely and scattering the cooled coals and ashes will make it
more likely that it will be used again.
HELPFUL TIPS
BEARS - Help keep bears alive AND in their
natural habitat! When you go to the mountains and forest, you are
in bear county. Do not leave ANY food, refuse or other bear attractant
unattended. It is prohibited by Special Order. Unless food is being
eaten, prepared or transported/store it in bear resistant containers.
KEEP THE FOREST WILD - Help the wildlife
stay wild!
The wild animals in National Forests are
part of an intricate web of life. When we feed these animals, we
alter this natural balance. Unnaturally high populations may be
created. The animals, ability to find food in the winter--when visitors
are gone--may be damaged. We can be affected too. Animals sometimes
bite and some of them are infected with rabies or fleas which spread
bubonic plague. Help to protect the wildlife and yourself. Show
them the respect they deserve and let the animals find their own
natural food.
NOXIOUS WEEDS
A noxious weed is any non-native plant that
grows unchecked by natural enemies, like insects or diseases. Noxious
weeds displace native plants, thereby robbing wildlife and livestock
of natural food sources and nesting sites. They steal water and
nutrients from native plants and disrupt the ecosystem. Some are
harmful or fatal to animals. Contact your local Forest Service Office,
County Extension Office or County Weed Control Office to obtain
more information on recognizing, eradicating and preventing the
spread of noxious weeds where you live, work and/or play.
HIGH ALTITUDE
You may notice that your breathing is faster
or deeper and you may feel short of breath, especially when you
exercise. This is the body's first and most effective response to
altitude. Your heart is likely to beat faster also; this too is
a helpful, normal reaction. Once you arrive, take it easy for the
first day of two. Reduce consumption of alcohol, caffeine and salty
foods. Drink more water than usual. Altitude illness feels very
much like flu or a hangover, but is much more serious. Do not push.
If you feel worse or the symptoms do not go away soon, get medical
help!
SUNBURN
The sun has more power in the thin air, and
a bad sunburn can spoil your stay. No matter how tanned you may
be, use a protective cream. "Cold sores" are aggravated
at high altitude but might be prevented by a medicine which your
doctor can prescribe. Sunburn of the eyes is a real danger, even
on foggy or cloudy days. Wear sunglasses or goggles with ultraviolet
protection.
TICK/FLY SPRAY RECIPE
2 cups white vinegar
1 cup Skin-So-Soft bath oil
1 cup water
1 Tablespoon eucalyptus oil (available
at drugstores & health food stores)
This homemade spray does not contain aerosols
to pollute the environment, nor chemicals to contaminate the ground
and it works. We have reports of successful use on animals as well.
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