LTVA'S question
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cyndi
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If I remember correctly, a vehicle that is not self contained (has no bathroom, black or gray tanks) can stay in an LTVA that has porta potties. You will be required to camp within a certain distance of the porta potties
Thirsty Boots Nomad
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What Cyndi said, and I think all of the LTVA's are in the west; ... there are various state/federal areas in the east but you have to move every couple weeks (on average) instead of being able to stay for several months before relocating.
highdesertranger
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what they said ^^. the only amenities that LTVA's have are some but not all have a dump station, some have water, some have bathrooms(not many), some have dumpsters. once many years ago I accidently camped inside a LTVA boundary there was nothing there to indicate we were in a LTVA, looked just like the rest of the desert until Mr. Ranger showed up and said we had to pay. highdesertranger
highdesertranger said:
Now THAT's interesting.....did he give you the option to move along, or did he make you pay the entire 7 months or whatever it was?
Sounds like some kind of racket, like a hidden speed trap.
Almost There
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Sometimes the boundaries are only marked with signs at random intervals which are easy to miss if you're not specifically looking for them.
Holtville Springs South LTVA is like that. One dirt road takes you in to the LTVA, the other skirts down the side of the LTVA and then you go through a 1/2 mile section of land that is marked as 'NO camping' - though lots ignore the signs and do so. Then you're on to regular BLM land where dispersed camping rules apply.
The only difference between the LTVA and the dispersed camping sections is that you have to drive an additional 1/2 mile plus to get to the hot springs each day....
The northern section of the LTVA is better marked but still comes with no facilities so it's not available to those of us without the mandatory 10 gallon black water tanks either. Much more crowded but you can walk to the springs which are in the day use area.
As a matter of interest I asked a ranger in Quartzite about the black water tank rule and how it would be applied to my van where I have the C-Head separating toilet so no black water tank is needed. I was interested in whether there was any move afoot to adjust the rules to include those of us with either composting or separating toilets. His response was that there was nothing he knew of in the way of changes proposed but that he, personally, would bend the 500 ft rule for someone with equipment like myself. That's not to say that the next ranger would do the same.
Holtville Springs South LTVA is like that. One dirt road takes you in to the LTVA, the other skirts down the side of the LTVA and then you go through a 1/2 mile section of land that is marked as 'NO camping' - though lots ignore the signs and do so. Then you're on to regular BLM land where dispersed camping rules apply.
The only difference between the LTVA and the dispersed camping sections is that you have to drive an additional 1/2 mile plus to get to the hot springs each day....
The northern section of the LTVA is better marked but still comes with no facilities so it's not available to those of us without the mandatory 10 gallon black water tanks either. Much more crowded but you can walk to the springs which are in the day use area.
As a matter of interest I asked a ranger in Quartzite about the black water tank rule and how it would be applied to my van where I have the C-Head separating toilet so no black water tank is needed. I was interested in whether there was any move afoot to adjust the rules to include those of us with either composting or separating toilets. His response was that there was nothing he knew of in the way of changes proposed but that he, personally, would bend the 500 ft rule for someone with equipment like myself. That's not to say that the next ranger would do the same.
Almost There said:
Now this is news I can use....
I have plans to do SOMETHING: RV vs Van vs etc.......but those plans are still not in the 'gel' stage so this is a consideration for me...thanks...
highdesertranger
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when I got caught it was many years ago. I think the LTVA's were just starting to come into existence. there were absolutely no markings anywhere and I had never even heard of a LTVA. we explained that we had never heard of an LTVA and when we asked if we could move he said sure but we will still have to pay, he knew we had been there for several days. so we paid for the 2 week pass. that was the one and only time I have paid on BLM land. highdesertranger
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