We are thrilled to see so many first-time visitors to public
lands. To help ensure you have a safe and enjoyable time, here
are five things to know when visiting public lands. Hey,
Sydney. How do you plan a trip to your favorite forest? When
I'm not working, I love taking trips to other national
forests. My number one expert tip, know a bit about the area
you're planning to visit before heading out. Tell someone where
you're going and when you plan to return. Check out road
conditions and directions and have a physical copy of your
map so you're not relying solely on your cellphone for
navigation. Find out if you need a daily pass, or any other
passes for the area you're planning to visit and check the
weather forecast. Weather can change rapidly in the woods.
Hey, Paul. Looking at this website got me thinking, what
sort of equipment should folks bring on their adventures? Hi,
Sidney and yes, I have plenty of ideas on equipment needs for
all of your adventures. My recommendation is to make sure
you have all the gear that you're gonna need to stay safe
and comfortable. Having the right boots or footwear can be a game
changer. Bring a medical and blister kit. Also, if you're
planning to hike or camp deep in the forest, having a proper
and well-adjusted pack is a good idea. Many outdoor stores
can help you customize your pack to fit your body. It's
also not a bad idea to pack some extra clothes, plenty of
water, and a filter and sunscreen and protection from
the UV rays and just in case of an emergency, have a GPS spot
locator or other location devices so people can find you.
Hey, Bridget. Well, I got my marshmallows, graham crackers,
and hot dogs ready for the campfire. Is there anything
else I should know besides not forgetting the chocolate? A few
things. Different forests have different climates which means
that having campfires or using camp stoves might not be
allowed certain times of the year. Like here in Northern
California, we might allow fire and rock rings or provided
fire rings in winter because there's a lot of snow on the
ground. But say in New Mexico or Arizona, they might not
allow fires because it's too dry. Bottom line, call your
local forest service office or check their website to see what
fire restrictions are in place. Oh, and Paul, one last thing,
don't forget to bring the graham crackers. Do you have
the next tip? Sure do. The next tip is to always have a back up plan just in
case your first choice is full. Over the past couple of years,
we've had a huge increase in traffic on our national forest
which is great. There's nothing better than seeing new people
experience our national forest but what that means is,
especially on the weekends and in particularly popular
locations, trail heads may be full. Please don't double park or
illegally parked where no parking signs are visible. To
park safely along the roadside, please make sure that you get
completely off the roadway like these vehicles here.
Anything else you want the folks to know? Absolutely. The
last tip is to make sure that everything you brought into the
forest goes with you on your way out. So that includes
broken sleds, pieces of food, human, and dog waste. Those all
need to be disposed of properly in a garbage can if it's
available at the trailhead or recreation site that you're
visiting. If it's not available, be prepared to take
that stuff home with you and dispose of it when you return.
Please do not leave trash or pet waste at trail heads
assuming that someone else will pick up after you. Nobody likes
a stinky forest. Thanks everybody. Keep these tips in
mind when planning your trip and remember, one last very
important tip. Have fun!