03-30-2013-FREE BLM IN AZ

We have spent two winters now on BLM Land near Quartzsite, AZ.  There are four LTVA (Long Term Visitor Area) where you pay $180.00 to stay.  The season pass is good from 15th of Sept thru 15th of April (7 months).  This fee gets you free dump and water fill and dumpsters to throw your trash and you don’t have to move your rig anytime during those months.  Whether you stay the full 7 months or just 3 months, the fee stays the same.  You can purchase a two week pass for only $40.00, and some folks opt this way if staying less than the 3 months.


While staying on LTVA you have more rules to follow by, for example-generators can’t be run during the hours of 10pm -6am, you can’t just park anywhere, and at least 15 feet from your nearest neighbor-if you choose to be that close.


If one does not want to pay that $180.00 there are several BLM Land that are free in the surrounding  areas of Quartzsite, Parker and Yuma. 


Although we paid the $180.00 for the season pass and our time was not up yet, we wanted to check out some of the free area.  Now the rules are different; in the aspect that there are no rules, other than no gathering of firewood (which applies to all of the BLM Land in AZ).




In other words, folks can park as close as they want to you, can run generators all night long if they wish to, run ATV’s around you all day and night, party, play music or what ever they might choose to do.  Only thing a park ranger will tell you is if you don’t like your neighbor-move.


One thing that amazed us and was a bit surprise, is the fact that the grounds were not cluttered of trash and debris.  We did come across many old and new fire rings, and although gathering of firewood is prohibited, we saw few down and dead wood laying around; It has been scavenged.




Even though it’s Free to camp, you can only stay for 14 days in 30 day period and then you must move at least 25 miles.  You get no water, sewer dump or trash.  As I stated we didn’t see any trash just lying around, but many obvious siting's of both grey and black water that was dumped.




BLM requires you to registered with the host.  Only one problem that I see with their sign; It does not tell you where the host is located.  For example, we stayed at Plamosa Rd, we came off of HWY 95.  Just to the right of the entrance there is a bulletin board and a sign with a camper and a flag pole and a sign that does say host.  Now, the problem lies if you are coming off of HWY 72 onto Plamosa RD, and once entering the 14 day camping area, again it tells you to register with the host, but from this direction how would you located the host? 




since we were there during the very late month of March, campers were far and few between.  Our nearest neighbor at one point was at least a mile away.  but I’m sure during the peak of the winter months this place was booming with campers all over. 


They do have markers in varies areas as to where they do not want you to camp.  We did come across a few markers that need to be replace because at a glance from a vehicle, you cannot read what it says.  They are for day-use purpose only, no overnight camping.




the BLM has also spent lots of money putting up berms so that you just can’t drive off the roadway and make your own roads.  They have markers where they want you to enter the areas at.




All I can say is that while here we did find it to be peaceful and a different view.  
   
                                       

The land and rocks were different that from the LTVA area (a bit harder for walking).  We also noticed that it appears even though some of us pay the $180.00 in the LTVA area, the money is being spent in the Free area and the paid areas are being just a bit neglected as far as road surface and other maintenance is concerned.


With that said, I would not want to be here in the free area during peak time as I’m sure it’s a mad house around here with rigs coming and going and ATV’s running up and down and around you.

WEEK OF 18-22: TOOTLING

This past week we have just been tootling around Quartzsite and we even took a few ATV trails to see how far we could go in our car without putting it into 4-wheel drive.
We started on BLM road 419 and got between the two  mountains, then the dirt road split in so many directions and not knowing which direction to go, we decided it would be best to turn around.  We have been told that there was an old mining camp back there and that you could get to it by the way of 419.  We didn’t bring our trustee GPS system, so we didn’t want to get lost either.
On the way back we found this saying done in quartz stone:

while out tootling, we decided to check out the LTVA at Lapoosa North and decided that one was way too busy for us to ever consider staying.  Some areas even looked like they were almost on top of one another.
Then we checked out Scaddin Wash which is only a 14 day limit, although it was really spread out, and many areas to “hide”, you  can only stay the 14 days before they kick you out and according to BLM rules, you have to move at least 25 miles for 7 days before coming back and you cannot use their dump station or fill with water-not an option at this time for us. 
Anyways, getting back on track again, we are still on the hunt for that old mining camp.  And again we have not found it and taken the wrong road.  Brian was told that we could jump on the Interstate and take the next exit to get to it-the easy way.
We finally did and yes, we finally found the old mining camp.  However, for all those that seem to talk about it, it was disappointing to me.  Yes, it’s built mainly out of stone, but I never expected to find modern appliances.  Here are some pics of the mining camp:

well we finally had enough of tootling around and it was time to think about heading back home again.  Being this is our second year here at Quartzsite, AZ we always laughed at the watering tower in town where you can contact Quartzsite and pay for water, here are some pics:
notice that the “boy” has a longer “nose” than the “girl”?  Only time we ever saw anyone getting water from here was during the RV Show and then they would water down the grounds to help keep the dust down.
Also something new in Quartzsite this year was at every entrance to the town was new Quartzsite signs.  I guess all the money we winter visitors dish out here They finally put the money to some use.  Question is: Was it worth it or a big waste of money?  I guess that is why this town is in constant uproar over their own local government.  Here is a pic: 

Now that the car is all dirty and dusty, both inside and out, it’s time to stop tootling around and head back home.

VIRGIN RIVER CANYON

As we are looking and researching about going to Zion National Park, we discovered an area that we thought we would like to spend a night at.   Knowing that we would be leaving the Lake Mead area and heading down the road early afternoon, we knew this place would be a nice resting spot for the evening.
It’s Called Virgin River Canyon and is run by BLM/Arizona Strip Wilderness.  It’s right off I-15, exit 18 and only half mile off the Interstate.  This section of the Interstate runs only about 27 miles across the Northwest corner of Arizona between Nevada & Utah.

Although Virgin River Canyon is only a short distant off the Interstate, once you are inside the park,you really cannot hear the Interstate noise what-so-ever.  But you will hear the Virgin river roaring across rocks, specially in the spring when run-offs makes the river muddy and high and rapid.


You are surrounded by beautiful canyons that the virgin river created millions of  years ago.  We were told by the host that the only creatures we will probably see are reptiles, birds, and chipmunks.  Long horn sheep's roam the area, but have been pushed farther north into the Zion National Park and surrounding areas.


There is no limit as to how long you can stay, camping fee is $8.00; 1/2 price if have Golden Age/Access or the America the Beautiful passports.  There use to be a dump station, but no longer exist.  There are two loops to the campground, with the upper one being open and the lower one used as overflow or group camping.  Day-Use fee is $2.00 per vehicle.  Clean restrooms through-out the park with water access only at the bathrooms.  When fire restriction is not enforced, the camp host will sell you firewood.  We paid $5.00 for 9 pieces; which did us a nice fire for our Anniversary.

We will remember this nice little spot in our travels, if we ever are in the area again.