NF/BLM Rules On Dispersed Camping

[4GNomad]

Hello,

Just wondering if I setup a tent on BLM or NF land can I leave it in its location during the workday or does NF and BLM frown on unattended camps. I wouldn't have any valuables in the tent, just a bag, air mattress etc.  The reason is I am trying to avoid breaking down and setting up every night/morning during the week.  I am trying to figure out a transition phase with car tenting on BLM/NF land, but commuting into areas so I can use public wi-fi or cell 4G LTE.

Am I better setting up at an improved campground paying $6-10 a night during the week and boondock Fri/Sat/Sun on NF/BLM land?  

I am planning on doing this Jul/Aug/Sep so I can save some money over the summer while nighttime temps are warmer (even though I have a -5 degree bag).    

Thanks!

4G Nomad

 

[cyndi]

There's no problem with leaving your campsite unattended. People leave their campsites, all the time, to go hiking, etc.

 

[offroad]

Not saying you need one. But used to have a motion sensor alarm on my stuff. If someone touched, it started screaming. Doesn't stop them every time, and can have plenty of false alarms. But it's a little added piece of mind in busy camp areas.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I am planning on doing this Jul/Aug/Sep so I can save some money over the summer while nighttime temps are warmer (even though I have a -5 degree bag).    

Thanks!

4G Nomad

I suspect you're going to find a -5 bag too warm to sleep in during the summer, but it's going to be too cool to sleep on top of it.  I suggest you acquire a blanket or two to add some flexibility to your sleep system.

Regards
John

 

[akrvbob]

It's impossible to generalize. The limit is almost always around 14 days, but sometimes they don't enforce it. I've been in areas where guys bring up 5th wheels and drop them in the spring and never move them again all summer. I've also been places where the Ranger comes by every couple of days to remind you when your 14 days is up and the 15 th day gives you a ticket.

You have the Tahoe, Plumas, El Dorado and Humbolt National Forests near you. I can't tell how far away from you they are but if they are close enough you can move every 14 days to a new one and be legal.
Bob

 

[4GNomad]

There's no problem with leaving your campsite unattended. People leave their campsites, all the time, to go hiking, etc.

Thanks Cyndi. I was thinking that people leave for those activities, I just didn't know if it would be questioned at 8 hours a day.

Not saying you need one. But used to have a motion sensor alarm on my stuff. If someone touched, it started screaming. Doesn't stop them every time, and can have plenty of false alarms. But it's a little added piece of mind in busy camp areas.

Thanks for the tip offroad. I will look into those.

I suspect you're going to find a -5 bag too warm to sleep in during the summer, but it's going to be too cool to sleep on top of it.  I suggest you acquire a blanket or two to add some flexibility to your sleep system.

Regards
John

Yes, I planned on bringing a blanket and just sleep on the bag for extra cushioning, but like to have it for backup as the overnight lows here are still swinging from 20s to 40s in the mountains.

It's impossible to generalize. The limit is almost always around 14 days, but sometimes they don't enforce it. I've been in areas where guys bring up 5th wheels and drop them in the spring and never move them again all summer. I've also been places where the Ranger comes by every couple of days to remind you when your 14 days is up and the 15 th day gives you a ticket.

You have the Tahoe, Plumas, El Dorado and Humbolt National Forests near you. I can't tell how far away from you they are but if they are close enough you can move every 14 days to a new one and be legal.
Bob

Thanks Bob. This was my plan with all the NF and BLM land around here. Was to move before the 14 days were up to a new area. By the time I'd get back around it would 2-3 months before the places would recycle. This would at least give me a new area every couple of weeks until fall and then I can decide if I want to go south and do the same thing or bump up to a more mobile shelter.

 

[cyndi]

Thanks Cyndi.  I was thinking that people leave for those activities, I just didn't know if it would be questioned at 8 hours a day.

Some hikes are 8 hours and longer. Overnight or a couple of days is not unusual

 

[highdesertranger]

I leave my camp unattended all the time. however I have never done it overnight. as far as the sleeping bags I have two one summer bag good to 30 degrees and a winter bag good to -30. if it's really cold I put them both together. highdesertranger