Indian Creek Access/Camping Issues

[willstrickland]

From R&I.com

Preventive Medicine at Indian Creek January 25, 2002 At the request of the Access Fund, informal preliminary meetings with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to assess the impact issues at Indian Creek have begun. Due to the increased popularity of the area, camping, human waste and the trampling of cryptobiotic soil has increased dramatically.

With an understaffed BLM overseeing the area (two recreation coordinators for over a million acres of land), the Access Fund is helping with area surveys, fundraising and impact awareness campaigns. "I want to emphasize that the BLM are the good guys here," said Jason Keith, policy analyst at the Access Find. "And there really aren’t any bad guys, there are just a lot more people climbing at Indian Creek now than twenty years ago."

Right now, the Access Fund is asking that people tread lightly and stay in already established sites. The camping issue will likely be resolved by the installment of pit toilets at the popular areas around Bridger Jack, Superbowl and Donnelly Canyon. Of course, with the installations come fees. The Access Fund is currently trying to raise funds to pay for the toilets, and is also working toward having some self-pay and free sites.

The Recreation Plan for the area is still in its infancy stage, and will tentatively be available for public comment sometime this fall. The plan will probably take affect around the spring 2003 season.

--Alex McAfee

I sure do hope they maintain some free camping there. If the BLM can subsidize cattle ranching on our public lands, surely they can empty a pit toilet or two a couple of times a season. Looks like the Access Fund would even foot the bill to install the shitter. Even if the sites become pay sites, don't fret my brothers, 98% of the land down there is public and there's free camping all over the place, you just may have to drive a few minutes instead of walking out of the site to the crag.

[specialed]

This is a good thing in my opinion. Look at that nasty ass free camping spot outside Zion. There's trash everywhere and if you walk two feet into the trees theres mounds of shit and tp. Indian Creek needs some facilities and some sort of management plan.

[W]

Word up, Will.

But to that I would add:

If you go there, for the sake of your own future experiences, and those of others, be really mindful of your own impacts to the area. Try to stick to established paths in the fragile soils and don't create new ones; place camps accordingly, don't litter, use public bathrooms to the greatest extent possible and generally tread lightly and keep a low profile in regard to these issues. A fully rewarding experience can be had now and in the future if we are all a little more aware of the traces of our passing. The BLM may not be the "bad guy" here, but nonetheless, the watchful eye of the government is upon the area now, and it won't take much for someone to propose fees, restrictions, and regulations. then we all lose.

[willstrickland]

quote:

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Originally posted by specialed:

Look at that nasty ass free camping spot outside Zion. There's trash everywhere and if you walk two feet into the trees theres mounds of shit and tp

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Until it floods every spring and washes it all down stream! Yeah, a simple composting vault toilet (right next to river, pit wouldn't be sanitary) would solve the problem and add next to no cost to the BLM. It pisses me off when they rationlize that "ohh lots of people use this area, we'll add a toilet and collect fees". HELLO dumbfucks!(not you specialed) the reason lots of people use it is BECAUSE it's free. Without free camping the climbing bum lifestlye is even harder to live legally.

I'll second the emotion of being cognizant of your impacts. There are well established, well done trails, to all the major crags, please use them.

[ 01-25-2002: Message edited by: willstrickland ]

[specialed]

The general capitalization of public lands is a mixed blessing. You're right Will, anytime an agency improves the land they feel they need to collect fees for it. The problem is they don't make a development, like add pit toilets, that is simple and relatively cheap but improves the area immensely. Thet feel they have to pave the roads, add a lodge and interpretive center, hire a staff, start a gift shop, rake the pine neadles, etc. And charge and arm and a leg to get in. I just hope they don't go overboard on Indian Creek.