"Gee what a lovely place to dump my trash," apparently thought a few lazy campers. flickr photo
Just on the cusp of camping season, dispersed camping in Oregon State Forests has been temporarily banned due to excessive trash and human waste accumulation. Dispersed camping, better known as boondocking, is pretty barebones. You're expected to pack out everything you bring in, in order to keep the site usable for future campers. Apparently, recent campers didn't get the memo. As of Monday, May 11 the Oregon Department of Forestry closed sites in order to make them safe for public use again.
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Campers failed to take out their waste, and current conditions, "are hazardous to the public and our employees," according to State Forester Peter Daugherty. Expect these closures to persist through May 25 due to COVID-19 restrictions. And once again, we're reminded why we can't have nice things. Remember when our National Parks turned into a literal sh*tshow during the government shutdown because there was no one to issue fines and run the parks? Yeah, it's crazy how a little bit of effort can keep these outdoor havens accessible for everyone.
So, if you'd like to maintain your access to outdoor spaces like these here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
-No restrooms or garbage disposal sites are available at dispersed sites. Leave no trace and take out everything that you brought in—including trash.
-Human waste must be buried at least 6 inches underground and away from trails, parking areas, bodies of water, and any areas where people may be gathered.
-Continue physical distancing. Plan on maintaining a 6-foot distance from other people even when you're outdoors and wear a cloth face covering if you're interacting with others.
-Bring your own personal hygiene supplies. This includes TP, biodegradable soap, etc.
Happy camping.
Oregon law protected campers who took over property
Reviewed by Gloves Sports
on
Mei 12, 2020
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