Here’s a question from a reader of RVtravel.com about boondocking.Â
Hi Bob,
It looks to me like the trend in the uses of public lands like the Forest Service and BLM is leaning toward commercial ventures and away from recreational. Examples are the Forest Service’s new Travel Management Plan restricting boondocking to only approved areas, the reduction of the size of some national monuments and opening formerly protected land to mining and other commercial exploitation. Is this trend foretelling the end of boondocking on public lands? —Bernie
Hi Bernie,
That’s a frightening thought. I don’t know whether any government has the ability or support from the legislature to eliminate boondocking and, as a part of the bigger picture, recreation on public lands. Politicians from those states where considerable revenue is paid to state governments from the business of recreation (expenditures by visiting users of recreation lands, hunting and fishing license fees, taxes on river rafting providers, etc.) are well aware of that economic value – and boondockers do spend money when they visit states with large amounts of public lands.
However, the squeeze is on, and little by little commercial interests are edging out recreation. It may not be enough just yet to rouse the public, who then complain to their legislators and the news media picks up the story.
But that’s the scary part: the slow whittling away of recreational – and boondocking – opportunities. And one of the factors that play into this scenario is that most dedicated boondockers are retired (or close to it) and as such become less vocal and activist in voicing their opinions and pushing back. When that happens, all of a sudden we may all wake up one day and realize it’s too late – the land we once used for boondocking has shrunk and become unpleasantly restricted and there won’t be much we can do about it then. Â
Read more about boondocking at my BoondockBob’s Blog.
Check out my Kindle e-books about boondocking at Amazon.
Do you have a question for Bob? Email him at bob.rvtravel (at) gmail.com .
 ##RVT826
Please let’s get back to the issue here. Hasn’t enough damage to peer to peer relationship already been done?
I personally agree that wherever and whenever possible we should make it known we don’t appreciate the folks who trash our public lands. But let’s also try to work towards alleviation of the forces pushing people into these dire circumstances.
Sadly,we live in an age where once again corporate $$$ hunger will dictate the conversation over what constitutes the “public” in public lands.
As for moderating the response area of the newsletter I am all for it if it helps people stay on topic.
Contemplate this; a rising tide, lifts all boats. Might it be that since the economy is starting to improve, as indicated by economic indicators, this might help those that have slipped the past few years. That would be a good thing, right. I love you guys. Bye now.
“Is this trend foretelling the end of boondocking on public lands? —Bernie”
Bob and Bernie, have you, or others on here, considered that things like the “Travel Management Plan” may have been implemented in response to the change that has taken place in boondocking? I absolutely agree with “Pack it in/pack it [ALL] out, leave no trace behind,” but there are a growing number of people who are not just boondocking but attempting to LIVE on public lands. They are not necessarily good stewards of the land, either, and feel they can do pretty much anything they want to including dumping tanks and leaving plenty of trash behind, as well as cutting down anything in their way/”creating” firewood, etc. And no one can tell them differently, of course, because it’s THEIR land and everything should be FREE! [sarcasm intended] There’s a large and growing group of people who think only of what they want to do because it suits them and to heck with everyone else. IMHO, that is what will spell the end of boondocking on BLM and other public lands.
I know, unsustainable
Cannot believe the mis information here. Funny how greed is attached to trump when hillary continues to show unmitigated greed and in addition sold 23% of US uranium reserves for her own profit.
Exactly who is greedy?
Previous admin had us on a road to ruin in 9 short years the interest on 20 trillion now takes 1/3 of USTreasury cash flow + borrowing 6 billion PER DAY 100% or US cash flow would go to service debt. Do any of you understand finances? The liberal position is so totally unstainable just like the ACA. Totaly unstainable. Why does this not register w all????
Oh, I get it. And, so did the majority of America, in portions of the country. Art II, Sec 1. US Constitution. Read, he must have.
Always remember…the same government that gave it to you can take it away from you, especially if there are business interests and cash involved. The squeeze is always on. You have one place here called Chuck’s RVing Travel Newsletter that you may comment your thoughts. Its good to protect it and subscribe.
Thank you, Dann. Have a great 2018! 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
WHO is moderating this? Why are all these political rants approved? Great way to lose readership. Can’t we have any place with all this hate and division?
I’ve seen his work in one year he has done more harm than the last 20 years have seen. I’ll gladly take higher gas prices. Thanks for the straw man response.
The last 8 years 1% economic growth. This year 3% and 38% growth in stock market. My net worth increased 1/3 in 1 year. Camping for free far less important than improving energy independence and good jobs for all Americans.
“work like you have never seen”?? You are right BillyBob, no other president has worked so little in that office. One third of his first year playing golf.
Boy, then based on all that was accomplished, that guy must be really good. Lower taxes, stock market booming, lowest unemployment rate, most federal judges appointed in first term. And the icing on the cake, 16 federal regulations eliminated for each new one writen. And, to think he did it while playing golf. That is truly impressive.
One word sums it all up…MONEY. Another word to add to it is GREED. Look who Americans elected.
The government made the biggest land grab under the antiquities act. The intent of the “Act” was not to take over private lands by the federal government and restrict their use, on a scale never seen before until two past presidents buckled to the tree huggers.
The vast majority of the locals in Utah, for example, did not agree with the federal land grab, so, unless you live there, butt out. It was a clear abuse of the “intent” of the act. Now, it was made right, and, nobody can do anything about it. It is clearly an enumerated power of the executive branch.
Its called the US Constitution, what a wonderful thing.
Talk about abuse. The sio-called “land grab” was solely for the purpose of PRESERVING the environment. The undoing of the preservation of land by the current administration was for the sole purpose of allowing drilling. Nothing but greed there, no matter how you try to couch it in talk of pseudo-patriotic “original intent”.
Also, the Native Americans in Utah apparently don’t agree with your stance. And since their ancestors were there long before yours, perhaps YOU are the one who should “butt out”
https://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2017/12/trump_s_attack_on_national_monuments_is_also_an_attack_on_minorities.html
Simply put, two former presidents abused the antiquities act. That was reversed. The end.
I guess I’ll be turning my house and land over to the indians. One small problem, they arrived here from asia, best I can determine, they didn’t file their deeds in the right place. So, please, lets be civil about this. It’s an enumerated power, granted to the sitting President of the United States, by the US Constitution. Some givith, some takith away.
The Bears Ears National Monument and the Escalante Grand Staircase monument were just recently reduced. These locations were wonderful, vast places to boondock, hike, explore. Now we may see an increase in Oil and Gas rigs, road building across areas that are sensitive and who wants to set up their rigs near noisy gas rigs. Now is the time to call your representative and protect OUR lands.
How ironic, you drove your gas guzzler there. Seriously, “US” rvers, would be the first to complain about high fuel prices. Heres the short of it. They will; drill responsibly, cause the least impact to the land, as their lease requires, so they can extract the various raw minerals, oil, gas, etc. so you can continue to have the lowest fuel costs in the free world.
Don’t think so, try an extended trip in socialist Canada, where they have more oil reserves, per capita, than us, yet they choose to punish their citizens by taxes the bejesus out of their fuel. I like low fuel costs, and I trust the lands will be managed.
This is scary stuff. More government overreach. And how is it that they call this “public land”, then tell the public they can’t use it, or they (we) have to pay again, (because our tax dollars already support the BLM and Forest Service) to spend any time on it.
Our local BLM office (which I’ve only visited twice) seems to have ‘snooty’ employees who like to make you think they are graciously allowing us to use “our” land. Not impressed.
Totally agree. For to long, government employees in the BLM think they can act not in the best interest of the people. Look at what the recent past shown when the clown BLM tried to change the leased grazing terms for ranchers. The people rose up and said, its our country, not you bureaucratics. 2A, came to bear, and the people took their allowed land use back. Its not their land, its OURS. They merely manage it. Listen, one year down, seven to go, you haven’t seen anything yet!
Buckle your seatbelts, watch the first person elected to the highest office in the land, that never held a previous political office, or was a military hero, work like you have never seen.