lack of camping places leads to...

gnarledwolf · Jun 25, 2016

Hey guys,
It's been awhile, but looks like I'll be going off the road for awhile. Got to Sequim in Washington state a month ago, and have found only one good camp site within daily running distance of a job. The roads around here are very steep and my car just won't get up to the more elevated areas on the roads, that is what roads are actually open. We found a few really good spots in another area around here, but the target shooters have pretty much taken that over, and it seems a regular area for that. I can't afford to go on for a bit so having to work my way at least to save some money and catch up on car payments. I'm getting a little help to get an apartment for a few months, as the rangers now seem to have an eye on my camp and I have no other places in the area where I'm close enough to work. At this rate, it'll be at least 3 months before I can be on the road again... since I'll be paying rent again. Royally pissed me off, but you have what choices you have.
I'm just amazed how many places never opened their national forest roads this year... many of the gates are still up and locked.
Matt

bseek · Jun 25, 2016

Since you want to stay in one place, check Craigslist for parking spots, or post a request on CL for a place to park. Describe your scenario and see what people might do to help you.

Ella1 · Jun 25, 2016

https://www.justpark.com/

TrainChaser · Jun 29, 2016

I've heard that nearly all the free State campgrounds are closed, from Oakville north to Canada. Another complaint is that they aren't advertising that on their websites, people just get there and the gates are locked. The only one in the Olympia area that is open is Margaret McKenny.

The website for Olympic National Forest (http://fs.usda.gov/olympic) appears to be shut down.

The website for DNR lands is not operating.

Washington State Govt at its best! *sneer*

highdesertranger · Jun 29, 2016

you have a bad link. try this one, http://www.fs.usda.gov/olympic . btw the Olympic National Forest is a federal website not a state of Washington. highdesertranger

TrainChaser · Jun 29, 2016

Yes, I know it's Federal -- I've been there several times. I was just looking for any type of campsite in the area. The one you posted is the same one that I posted, but it's up now.

I was talking to a neighbor about the DNR closed campsites this morning, and he said they've been closed to lack of funds. But I still can't find any official info on it.

And there's not much (if any) BLM land west of the Cascades (coastal WA).

gnarledwolf · Jul 14, 2016

I am still finding that to be so. I think we might have to somehow save for a higher vehicle than we have to so we can take the roads up here that do not have gates, but are very rough. We've been in the same spot for 2 months and amazingly the ranger has not come back, but I think he's the only law enforcement ranger to cover several hundred miles and he is not going to come back unless he gets more complaints about our "homeless camp" which he just barely looked into the first time. After all, they have limited budgets to harrass campers. Our current camp is not even ON one of those trails... we just parked along the main road in the national forest and set up camp in a field. We are thinking of trying to camp in Enumclaw next.... might be able to transfer to the safeway there... but Satillite shows lots of possible places to camp. Thankfully it won't cost us that much money to move over there.... it's the nice thing about living out of a vehicle, moving on is pretty damn easy.