“The trash we’ve found is disgusting and hilarious,” said Ochs. “We’ve found truck toppers, boats, trailers. At least two — sometimes three or four — toilets each year. People bring their own homemade toilet and leave it behind. Grills, sofas, cell phones.” In 2019, the CBCC pulled on scuba gear and cleaned Lake Irwin for the first time. They pulled out 116 pounds of trash including cans, fishing line and rods, as well as signs, snowmobile parts, plastic cups, goggles, a jack and a decomposing fiberglass boat. More trash was recovered from the water last summer. Near Crested Butte, several valleys and mountain passes including Washington Gulch Road and Paradise Divide were brutalized by hordes of traffic. Immeasurable vehicle tracks and tents trampled delicate countryside and fields of wildflowers. “Kebler Pass was a disgusting example of this behavior: people cut down trees to make flatter, bigger spots and RV camp compounds,” said Ochs. Another issue is the human and dog waste, which has elevated the levels of E. coli (Escherichia coli) bacteria in the Slate River watershed, according to studies completed by the Coal Creek Watershed Coalition (CCWC). “Last year, there were lots of newbies who were not familiar with the proper backcountry etiquette and protocol,”
Ochs said. “But also, when we see cars literally parked behind ‘no camping’ signs, it’s like, what were you thinking? It was unbelievable to witness ignorance. And in our backyard, where there’s very little enforcement, it’s really easy to go too far, and people went too far.” The 2020 trampling of precious ecosystems around Crested Butte is reflective of the challenges faced by public lands across the Centennial State and nationwide. Trout Lake, south of Telluride in the San Juan National Forest, was overrun by camps and cars. Photographer Michael Underwood, who is based in the San Juan Mountains, documented shocking crowds that crushed wildflowers, staked tents on fragile earth and left off-road tire tracks below 14,035-foot Handies Peak. Similar trends were noted near Clear Lake, outside of Silverton. On the Front Range, the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests’ Maxwell Falls, five miles southwest of Evergreen, has a trailhead parking lot for 40 cars: 900 were reported last spring. Colorado’s 42 state parks experienced record-high visitation from residents and out-of-state tourists with more than 18.3 million visitors, up 23% compared to the year prior. Across the country, the Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest likewise experienced record-breaking visitation and new-to-the-outdoors folks with
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RULES FOR DISPERSED CAMPING If you do disperse camp in national forest, here are the basic parameters and consequences if those rules go unfollowed: • For starters, each national forest has its own Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs), which designate how far you can drive off each established road and what type of vehicle is permitted. Creating a new road is prohibited. The citations for neglecting those regulations can be up to $5,000, six months imprisoned or both. • Dispersed campsites need to be placed at least 100 feet away from water, roads and established trails. To follow Leave No Trace guidelines, set up camp on previously disturbed, durable and flat ground. Zones to avoid include undisturbed meadows, wildflower populations and wildlife habitats. Dispersed camping on pristine surfaces, like in fragile meadows or riparian vegetation, can be cause for a $300 ticket. • Don’t leave behind any personal property or trash including food scraps. For human waste, check with the ranger office to see if a wag bag is required or if there are nearby public restrooms. Bring a trowel and be prepared to dig a hole (six inches deep) at least 200 feet away from water. After use, refill the hole with loose dirt. As you set up camp, determine where going to the bathroom is off limits. Be prepared with extra trash bags to pack out your waste including toilet paper and pet poop. Ditching unsanitary waste, including toilet paper, warrants a $300 ticket. • Campfire rings, which are a shallow pit surrounded by rocks, should be reused and need to be at least 100 feet from water and trails. Building an inappropriate fire ring can land a $250 fee. Check for fire restrictions and be prepared to cook meals with a portable stove. • Disturbing or excavating any prehistoric, historic or archeological resource or artifact is prohibited. Cutting or damaging trees, including carving, is also illegal. A violation could lead to a penalty of $500, six months imprisonment or both. • Don’t feed wildlife.
An illicit campsite up the Slate Valley and near the base of Paradise Divide on July 3, 2020. photo courtesy of CBMBA
• Respect your camp neighbors and wildlife including maintaining the quiet atmosphere (read: no blasting music).
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