RV~Boondocking~News

Mount Rainier National Park is one of the northwest’s premier RVing locales. Cougar Campground, up Paradise Road from the park’s Nisqually entrance station is a popular boondocking destination. The fresh, elevated mountain air does wonders for the spirits of travelers.

Usually Cougar Campground is open already, but the unusual winter of heavy snowfall and a late spring thaw have delayed opening until June 13. One “new” thing visitors will encounter is a special ecologically based toilet in the campground, a gift from a Japanese organization known as Groundwork Mishima. The group works with both government and citizens to promote ecological awareness.

The eco-bathroom, valued at $70,000 uses a combination of cedar chips and composting techniques to efficiently process wastes with little water and no odor. If the claims are true, what a treat in comparison to the usual “primitive campground” powder rooms.

A special ribbon cutting ceremony will take place to inaugurate the new bio-biffy on June 9th. We presume the “ribbon” will be biodegradable tissue on a roll . . .

file photo: Qole Pejorian on flickr.com

The California wing of the Bureau of Land Management took steps within the last few days to close access to 48 square miles of the Clear Creek Management Area due to health concerns. A popular site, especially with the off-road-vehicle set, the agency says measurements of asbestos shot off the acceptable scales, turning the area into what one news account calls, “A virtual death zone.”

The management area, located in California’s Diablo Mountains, and encompassed by portions of San Benito and Fresno counties, is now locked down indefinitely until the BLM can get a handle on how to deal with the deadly pollutant. Clear Creek, which registers 35,000 visits a year, has long been known as the largest U.S. deposit of asbestos, a natural mineral and known human carcinogen. It harbors an EPA-designated toxic Superfund site, the former Atlas asbestos mine. Previous studies over several decades found high levels of asbestos in the area, but the results were not as conclusive as in the new 160-page assessment, EPA officials said Thursday.

How dangerous? According to a story in the Los Angeles Times, visitors who’ve come five times a year over a 30 year period could be facing lung cancer. While the area has been closed down temporarily during dusty months, the BLM move now stops all visitation year-around.

For a map of the affected area, click here for a pdf file from the BLM.

Photo courtesy salinasramblersmc.org

It’s the largest river in this part of California. Disabled anglers can take advantage of an “accessible” fishing pier. Kayakers will find a launch site especially made for them. It’s the pits. Well, OK, it’s really the Pit River campground, northeast of Redding on Highway 299.

A seasonal campground, operated by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pit River reopens this April 21 with a redesigned setup: You’ll find seven individual campsites, a group camp, all equipped with tables, barbecues, and fire rings. While the BLM charges a daily fee of $8 per night, it’s a bargain when compared to a lot of spots around this end of the country.

The Pit is said to have some of the finest Rainbow trout for the catching, whether you’re using fancy equipment or a simple hook and a bucket of worms. Nevertheless, it is also said that there have been some cougars sighted in the area, usually around dawn or dusk. Remember, if you see a big cat, stand your ground, puff yourself up and look as big as you can. The chances of being attacked by these big cats are pretty small–in the US only around six attacks are reported annually. Here’s a site with some information on what to do in a cougar encounter.

For more information on the Pit River BLM camping visit this site.