Boondocking really exists?

GordonThree wrote:
Question: One of the many many rules I see come up regarding free camping in the BLM is "always camp in established sites" ... who got to choose where the established sites are? That rule seems to negate just "pull off the road" and camp for a few days.

Same question for the National Forest... they start with "always camp established sites" but later in the fine print, they claim you can camp anywhere, as long as you're not too close or too far from a roadway, not too close to a body of water, not too close to a pay campground, not too close to blah blah.

Were these rules established by a "sounds good" committee, but are rarely enforced unless you're doing something stupid?

I believe they are trying to reduce the impact of camping on the environment. I try to park where someone has parked before but I seriously doubt they would raise a stink if you parked in a 'virgin' site as long as it was within the distance guidelines. Most of the places I boondocked had no oversight whatsoever and sometimes I had the whole area to myself. It was disappointing to see, on a recent boondock (Keyesville, BLM area near Lake Isabella, east of Bakersfield, CA) that so much trash was left behind. Spent a whole day picking up beer cans, bottles, plastic items, even cigarette butts. I hate litterers!!!! :M Here is a scene from my campsite: