Essay - Recreation and Leisure Wilderness Camping on the Tahoe Rim Trail...

Recreation and Leisure

***** Camping on the Tahoe Rim Trail

The Tahoe Rim ***** is located on the ridge tops of the Sierra Nevada mountain range along the shores of beautiful Lake *****. It crosses the states of ***** ***** California through its route around ***** lake. The trail is 165-miles long and volunteers built the entire length ***** the trail. The trail is a home to hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers. A majority of the trail's users enjoy day hiking or riding, but wilderness camping is also an option for hikers who w*****t to experience more ***** the trail.

For most of ***** ***** route, there are no establ*****hed campgrounds, and so, campers must follow the U.S Forest Service's (USFS) guidelines for "dispersed camping" a***** ***** trail. This means campers can choose a campsite anywhere along the trail, but the site must be within 300 feet on either side of the *****. Campsites should *****t be ***** 200 ***** of a water source, *****. Campers can camp free for up to 14 days under the dispersed ***** regulations. *****re are some restrictions on dispersed camping in certain *****as of the trail, however. On ***** Nevada side of the trail between Tunnel Creek and Spooner Summit, campers must camp in established *****. In ***** Desolation Wilderness ***** Echo Lakes and Barker Pass, ***** are no designated **********, but a b*****ckcountry permit is required from the USFS. At Watson Lake, which is 6.7 miles west of Brockway, *****re is a designated dispersed campsite marked by a numbered post and a met*****l campfire ring with a hinged grill. Finally, at Mt. Rose, there is a USFS campground containing water, restrooms, campsites, and fire pits. Camp stoves are con*****red open *****s, and because of the high fire danger throughout the Tahoe Basin, their use is limited. In the ***** Wilderness, ***** USFS permit automatically allows the use ***** camp stoves. On ***** rest of the trail, ***** must obtain a camp stove permit from the USFS.

Clearly, wilderness camping such as that ***** the Tahoe Rim Trail depends on successful planning before ***** hike. If campers are planning to hike the entire *****, they will need to plan on carrying e*****ugh food ***** water for the ***** trip, which can run into quite a bit ***** supplies. They ***** replenish water in some of campgrounds along the way, and there are some water sources along the trail. If water from *****se sources is used, ***** should carry a portable water purification system. *****ers should never drink unfiltered or purified water ***** natural sources. Food will be a maj***** part ***** the ********** effort, and a *****or portion of the weight carried on the trip. Lightweight, dried items are a necessity for l*****g-term ***** camping. Obtaining a c*****mp stove permit if a ***** is part of the camping gear is important, too. Since the USFS office ***** issues wilderness permits is only open on weekdays, campers will need to acquire permits by mail