May 2002

It's that time of year again for us to hit the road for another season of researching the U.S. National Forest Campground Guide. In past years, we would have had a couple of weeks of adventures to report but that isn't the case this year. Between surgery, trips back east, updating current web site information, developing a new Guide, web-related snafus (mainly caused by GORP falling victim to 9/11 and being sold to Away.com), a couple of persistent computer viruses, and now wildfires, our departure was delayed until, June 2nd. But, by the time you read this, we will be, once again, happy nomads with a purpose.

The plan for this season's research is to pick-up a few missing campgrounds in the Coronado and Coconino National Forests in Arizona, then move on to California's San Bernardino, Angeles, Los Padres, Sierra, and Sequoia National Forests, and Toiyabi and Humboldt National Forests in Nevada. There will be a short side trip to Montana for the birth of our first grandchild, after which we'll head for a new National Forest in Kentucky named Land Between the Lakes. It's a year with loads of things to see, do, discover, and experience. We will keep you up-to-date.

With memories of huge wildfires in Idaho from a couple of years ago still fresh, we are most hopeful the wildfires currently raging throughout the southwest will cause minimal problems. We are aware of the benefits of fire to a healthy forest but acres upon acres of charred, blackened land is always painful to see. But to think about the harm done to wildlife and their habitat, and the potential effects of erosion during the summer monsoons is even worse. It makes the inconveniences to our efforts seems insignificant.

It must be difficult for those who have never experienced a drought as serious as the one currently affecting the Southwest (only 0.6 inches of moisture has fallen in Tucson since January 1) to fully comprehend just how bad things are here. Even the cactus are looking stressed; many are mere skinny, little shadows of their former robust, prickly selves. The Forest Service has actually closed whole forests on Arizona and New Mexico to the public to reduce the risk of fire. The economic impact of this action is only surpassed by the cost of fighting a wildfire. One conservative estimate, as of 5/28/02, for the 30-plus square mile wildfire east of Mt. Lemon near Tucson was $4 million! Arizona's annual average number of wildfires is around 60 we hit 45 six weeks ago. It does look like a very bad year for the area.

One of the side effects of this drought is the steady stream (no pun intended) of water conservation advertisements on television and radio. Water conservation is something every camper is very familiar with, particularly if they are in a recreation vehicle with no hook-ups. There is something about hauling 40 gallons of water, 6 gallons at a time (that's 48 pounds each trip) from the water source (for us it is most often a stiff old hand pump) to one's rig, that makes you very thoughtful about water use. A stock of things like paper plates and handi-wipes are essential. While, years ago, at Bay Furnace campground near Muising, Michigan, the campground's hostess commented her husband wanted her to do dishes only once a day so she wouldn't use as much water. That is a thought most water haulers have had but it doesn't actually work. Unless you are willing to use plates cleaned by the family pet, it takes one to two gallons of water to wash a sink full of dishes. Than there is the art of a "Spitz/French/GI" bathing; the art of effectively cleansing ones whole body with a cup of water and a damp washcloth. Yes, campers are very water conservation-minded. After all, we have been turning off the water while brushing our teeth for years.

In some ways, the delay in our departure was delightful. In the past, the last week before our departure was always frantic -- Suzi had to complete her teaching, literally dropping off her students's final grades on our way out, which left the lion's share of the "preparation-for- departure" tasks to Fred. This year, the whole effort has been, well, more relaxed. Of course, that means we have more time to worry about what we forgot to do. However, we are now pretty confident in our routine and are surprised by how everything seems to be falling into place. Of course, Murphy does love a challenge so we expect if something can go wrong, it will and have planned accordingly.

Suzi and Fred