| My family and I are privileged to live in the | | | | To be fair, in Utah there are over seven-thousand |
| spectacular state of Utah. We have been vacationing | | | | improved campgrounds. Improved campgrounds are |
| here for over twenty years, and there are still many | | | | those you pull in close to other campers, but you |
| more intriguing places to visit. Utah has every | | | | have water hook-up, fire pits, etc. The problem for a |
| imaginable type of scenery from the eighteen | | | | number of campers is that what they enjoy the |
| majestic mountain ranges to the rocky landscape of | | | | most about camping is getting out by |
| Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. The weather | | | | themselves-away from the city, traffic, loud noises |
| is varied from a wintry wonderland for snow skiing to | | | | and enjoying the environment. You can't get that |
| fantastic summers just right for hiking, camping and | | | | parked next to other campers you don't know who |
| ATV trail riding. | | | | are playing loud obnoxious music and screaming in and |
| This summer we returned to a canyon in the | | | | out of the campground on their ATV's. |
| Manti-La Sal mountain range and was surprised to see | | | | Back in 2005, ATV sales were right around 900,000 |
| that not only were there even fewer places to camp | | | | units. I'm positive sales have increased since then as |
| but that more people were out camping. Of course, | | | | the sport as become more popular. However, the |
| some of that has to do with the economy and | | | | number of OHV trails has varied-some have been |
| people doing staycations. It seems nothing has | | | | opened up and some closed. The concern about |
| changed in the number of places to camp. | | | | camping and ATV riding is the impact it is having on |
| We drove around for three hours before we ended | | | | our environment, which is very understandable. |
| up camping just off from the main canyon road. This | | | | Designated campgrounds are those without amenities. |
| is difficult for us since we like to camp with our dogs, | | | | This year they were so over-camped, they were |
| plus it is also very dusty with the number of RVs | | | | practically dust bowls. This couldn't be good. But isn't |
| going up and down the canyon. As we searched for | | | | the reason these areas are so over-camped because |
| a camping spot, we found that places we had | | | | they haven't accounted for the growing population |
| previously camped were blocked by signs which read, | | | | and increase in outdoor activities? The concern about |
| "Closed for wildlife habitat." Mind you, this range has | | | | ATVers blazing their own trails and destroying the |
| over 1.4 million acres. | | | | environment is a very valid concern, but when riders |
| To give you a little history, in 1990 the population in | | | | have no place to go, they make their own trails. |
| Utah was 1.7 million. Today it has reached 2.7 million | | | | It is as important to plan and project further growth |
| and our growth rate has more than doubled the rest | | | | of this popular activity as it is to plan our freeway |
| of the nation. The projected population for 2030 is | | | | and highway requirements to accommodate our |
| projected to be around 3.5 million. | | | | growing population. In 2007, the US had over 192.8 |
| Camping and hiking are activities enjoyed by 40 million | | | | million acres. Utah currently has over nine million acres |
| Americans every year. It is the number one outdoor | | | | of forest land. Why isn't it possible to provide more |
| vacation activity. Camping participants made more | | | | camp sites and still provide enough habitate for our |
| than 597 million outings in 2008 alone. Also, one out | | | | wildlife. |
| of twenty US jobs is related to outdoor activities. | | | | By allowing us to see our beautiful country, won't we |
| Studies indicate that this industry generates roughly | | | | learn to respect it more? Somehow there needs to |
| $730 billion annually and creates five times as many | | | | be a balance between the environment and us. |
| jobs as Wal-Mart. | | | | |