My impressions.
We made our first visit to the western states starting in mid-October.
Previously we've stayed at a lot of COE parks in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Vermont, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Mississippi. I've camped at National Forest parks in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama.
On this trip we've stayed at popular national parks, national forest campgrounds, BLM campgrounds, and some dispersed USFS and/or BLM camping in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Nevada. Heading to California next week.
The rational part of me can see the draw of dispersed camping. The practical side of me is disappointed at the lack of visual difference between a popular dispersed BLM area and the town trash dump when I was growing up.
We've picked up a moderate trash bag (13-gal) of trash every day on our walks. But when we go to a dispersed BLM area - we would need two or three 30 gallon trash bags each day.
I've seen a fellow with a $100,000 fifth wheel and four ATVs dump his black water on the ground, then move the rig a quarter mile and not even pretend it wasn't his normal operation method.
Personally, the BLM folks I've met are doing a great job, and I do think the BLM is attempting very well to balance the need to preserve the land for future generations yet keep the land open where possible for use by today's users.
Back when my father first took us camping to Albert Pike in the Ouachita National Forest over 50 years ago - there were no fees because there was no maintenance or effort to keep up campgrounds. People did that as a part of their personal pride and responsibility.
A couple years ago when we were campground hosts at a national park - I was disappointed at the number of people who feel that the $14 per day fee was sufficient to hire people to cleanup the campground after their visit.
I expect the cost of camping on national lands to go up over the next decade. No matter who is president or which party runs the DOI/DA. Some 40 years ago, a national policy was defined that said contracting out all possible federal functions to civilian For Profit companies was best for the United States. 30-35 years ago, the administration in power started to fully implement that policy.
We are seeing it today. It will continue.
Folks unhappy about federal lands being 'restricted by Washington bureaucrats' are going to be shocked when some BLM land is turned over to the states, and given to commercial contractors to run. Access will get worse not better if states take control of the federal lands in my opinion.
Enjoy Quartzsite now because in 5 years there will be no 'free' camping along the Colorado River valley in California or Arizona.
