Sunday, September 22
After a rainy day yesterday, woke to a brisk 37° outside and only 39° inside VRRV. This situation was in remedied by lighting off the catalytic propane heater.
These calcifying bones of mine are steadily losing their remaining resistance to cold weather. I put on more layers while inside than usual in order to keep warmer.Here's a view of a nearby mountain visible from the VRRV, through the pine trees after a day of rain yesterday:
Molas Lake
Fortunately at 10:35, the sun broke out from amongst the heavy cloud cover and things really started warming up.
Same mountain peak ...
I got a visit from the local BLM worker, he advised that the power company was going to soon be in the area, working on the nearby power lines. He also clarified the policy that one can only stay 14 days in the area, then must move at least 30 air miles distance before using BLM land again.
So, there went the plan to use the BLM-managed Cunningham Camping Area east of Silverton next.
After an abortive attempt to find a spot, which turned out to be on BLM land and thereby unavailable to me. I did, however, get these two pics while figuring things out:
Next, I tried the Little Molas Lak Camping Area about two miles from my existing campsite. If that place was full, there was one more candidate site in my mind. Fortunately, there was a suitable site available. Though less than two miles from the BLM-managed Molas Lake Camping Area, it is managed by the US Forest Service and so I could stay 14 days!
At first, the site didn't seem available as I saw a car and a senior couple sitting on camp chairs onsite. They didn't have any camping gear about, so I rode up to them, asking them if they were camping or simple day-users. They said they were day users so I told them I was going to move my VRRV there.
Dang day users, sitting on RV sites, in this case though it worked to my benefit. I setup a tent on the site to hold it.
I went back to the VRRV, did a hasty displacement and drove into Silverton to dump tanks and taken on water at one of the campgrounds in town. No one at Silverton Liquid Propane (all out on deliveries, you have to make an appointment) so I wasn't able to top off the propane tank though I've enough for two weeks I think.
I drove out of town and onto the site at the Little Molas Lake Camping area. By 3:30 PM I was setting up camp with the VRRV. There's even a usable 4G signal here though I'm using Starlink.
Martha joins me tomorrow and Chris and Lori Z should be along by mid-week with a bit of luck.
6 comments:
WOW, love that first shot of the snow covered peaks. The last photo had a settled in peacefulness about it.
Thanks CCjon, the snow cap mounted in the first pick was quite striking when I first saw it.
2nd attempt to post this question: Can you briefly educate me as to how one obtains BLM camping permits and if there are fees how to pay them? Is there an app that makes things easy? It has been several years since I have camped the "West" and consequently I am not familiar with the new regulations. Thank you very much
Philip and Sharon, The BLM.gov and Forest Service websites provide a lot of information and should be used to verify information at the district level since there are variances between them. But to hopefully answer your question there are no permits or fees involved with dispersed camping which is what the BLM and Forest Service call boondocking. If it's a campground, there might be a fee attached for camping but there will be signs accordingly stating that (usually a sign saying US Fee area). Otherwise, you just have to find the site and occupy it for the stated limit which is usually 14 days though i've seen that as low as 7. I use an app called I-overlander, along with another app called allstays. The second one involves a small fee on the yearly basis and I hear that I-overlander is going the same route soon. You don't just occupy a flat spot and occupy it, usually there's a fire ring from previous campers though that's not a given either. And I've seen a trend towards formerly designating campsites by the government agencies involved. At the beginning, I would sometimes stay at a commercial campsite for one night and then use it as a base to explore via the motorcycle to find the free sites in the nearby areas. It's a lot easier if you have a motorcycle or car to explore for sites instead of taking your big rig looking for a site. There is by the way very little signage usually, and if you can download the free MVUM maps, they are the authority.
The mesmerizing view in the first photograph was dashed a bit by the drama of finding your next boondocking site. I never realized how "technical" all the rules and regulations are. I suppose there are reasons for them.
Calcifying old bones and resistance to the cold. I'm suffering from the same challenges. Where did my old winter riding guts go? Last night I ordered a Merlin Hixon II leather jacket -- in part to look the part on my W650, in part to have something warmer to wear before I bust out the winter gear.
I'm still committed to riding through the winter but we'll see how I do on that first morning when it's 30F outside....
Say hello to Martha for me. Looks like you're still having fun!
Thanks Steve and yes there was some drama in finding the next site but mostly self-inflicted. Lots of rules and regulations but as with all rules it is the enforcement of them that's the problem. They just don't have the personnel to enforce the laws regularly and so people abuse things and make things worse for everybody else. Which is why we try to follow the rules. These days it has to be at least 45° and sunny before I go riding usually.
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