Greetings campers! At 50 Campfires we’re often chatting about the latest headlines in the outdoors because that’s where we spend most of our time. From national park news to new gear to the latest survival story; they’re stories that have always interested us. Moving forward, we’ll be sharing the stories that interested us each week. If you come across a story you’d like us to include, please drop us a line!
Should Bandelier National Monument become a national park?
The nonprofit organization Caldera Action says no. Per their letter:
“Currently, Bandelier lands are a refuge for a wide range of wildlife including beaver, bobcats, cougar, and other animals that face threats on most lands in the Jemez Mountains. We are opposed to all trapping on National Park Service lands in the Jemez Mountains,” the letter read.
Read the article at https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2020/02/group-opposes-rebranding-bandelier-national-monument-national-park
A bunch of jerks stole camping gear from a Delaware Scout Troop
One of those stories that make you say, “what’s wrong with you?” Per the article:
Bobot said he was notified Monday that someone cut through a locked fence, stealing items from a workshop and camping supplies his group worked to fundraise for. The group is now out of tents, ground pads, lanterns and more. He said while it’s a blow financially, it’s a tough life lesson for his hard-working scouts that everything in life has consequences, good or bad.
Read the article at https://www.10tv.com/article/thieves-steal-camping-gear-delaware-scout-troop-2020-feb
Apparently, tent sales are projected to rise through 2025
This might be a nerdy industry report that only we find interesting, but more people sleeping in tents makes us happy. The global camping tent market is expected to grow by 6% from 2019-2025.
Tunnel tents are the most common models used for camping. They are expected to grow among millennials that seek slightly more comfort. As millennials account for a quarter of the population, these models are expected to continue to sustain their supremacy in the market. Among other reasons, they are likely to continue to rake in revenues on account of the nature of certain campsites, especially in Australia, Brazil, and Western European countries where tents are squeezed into tight areas leveraging the linearity of the tents.
Read the article at https://finance.yahoo.com/news/global-camping-tent-market-2020-142000257.html
Stop messing around in Crater Lake National Park!
The folks running Crater Lake National Park are tired of people going off trail for a cheap thrill. The terrain is so sketchy that there is only one legal trail you’re allowed to walk on. Don’t want to listen? You’re risking a $ 5,000 fine and 6 months in jail. Not worth it buddy.
Within the caldera, snow and rocks are highly unstable and can often cause rockslides and avalanches, according to the national park.
Additionally, thin layers of snow called cornices, can build around the edge of the rim and break under a person’s weight.
“Crater lake is a volcano, and the soil is really crumbly, so if you’re on the soil its very hazardous. Even with the snow it’s very slick and it’s very sleek,” she said.
Read the article at https://kpic.com/outdoors/dangerous-and-illegal-activity-at-crater-lake-national-park-gains-attention
Acadia National Park combats congestion with paid reservations
We all know that popular parks can be a madhouse. You can wait for hours to get on a shuttle, and when you finally arrive at the scenic overlook there are too many people there to get a decent picture. It’s a disaster. We’re seeing an increasing number of parks move to a reservation system, and Acadia National Park will be joining the ranks in October.
“This plan is a blueprint for everyone’s future so that we can sustainably accommodate future increases in visitation and still provide a high-quality experience,” said Christie Anastasia, a public affairs specialist for Acadia, according to Outside.
The new reservation system will begin testing in October, but it won’t go into effect for visitors until next summer.
So, if you’re visiting Acadia in 2021 or later, you’ll need to make reservations for the ride up Cadillac Mountain, the drive along scenic Ocean Drive parking in Jordan Pond. It’s not yet clear what it will cost, but visitors should expect to pay an additional fee on top of the $ 30 park entrance. This rule won’t apply to pedestrians or cyclists.
Read the article at https://thepointsguy.com/news/acadia-national-park-reservation/
Rocky Mountain National Park set another attendance record in 2019
4.6M visitors, and almost a million of them were in July. Absolutely bonkers. You can see why parks are being forced to implement reservation systems. This is why we’re big fans of off-season travel. It might be a little colder, but it sure beats the crowds. Rocky Mountain National Park saw a 44% increase from 2012 to 2019.
Oil and gas drilling near Arches National Park seems like a bad idea
We know how these folks feel. In our home state of Minnesota, there is a never-ending battle against corporations that want to mine the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Thankfully, it hasn’t happened yet. Local elected officials near Arches National Park are opposing in the process of opposing oil and gas development:
“The governor appreciates the unique beauty of the Slickrock area and wants to ensure that nothing is done that would be detrimental to the visitor experience or local water quality. He has asked the Bureau of Land Management to defer the lease sales and consider more fully how they might impact those factors,” said Herbert’s spokeswoman Anna Lenhardt.
Read the article at https://www.ksl.com/article/46719138/proposed-drilling-near-arches-national-park-the-wrong-move-groups-say
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