BLM campgrounds need friends like YOU!

I just returned from a family Perseid meteor shower viewing campout in Northern California at a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) campground far from civilization and far from light pollution.  Mother nature's lightshow was stunning.  We enjoyed breathtaking views of The Milkyway, a full Moon, and meteors streaking across the sky all night.

Meteor Shower

We knew the location would be a great for meteor viewing since we had stayed there many times over the years.  It is a dry camp with clean pit toilets and a well-maintained road, and a half-dozen treed camp sites each with fire rings, covered picnic tables, and plenty of space between the sites.  As a basic campground, it was just perfect for our needs.  The campground doesn’t get much use (or trash) since it far from crowds and is mostly frequented by sportsmen who tend to be respectful caretakers of natural resources.

While breakfast was being prepared, we walked our campsite picking up the odd bits of trash such as bottle caps, pull tabs, rusty nails, unidentifiable metal bits, aluminum foil, cigarette butts, plastic wire ties, wrappers, plastic detritus, broken glass, etc. 

Our family practice is to make our campsites better than we found them.  This is easy to do and only takes a few minutes at the end of every outing after packing up.  All the trash goes straight into the garbage bag which we pack out.  A clean campsite helps others enjoy the site, and we believe this tends to promote a mindset of keeping the camp clean.  Clean tends to attract clean and trash tends attract trash.

Our camp breakfast preparation took a little longer than expected, so we made good use of the wait time by extending our cleanup to include the other unoccupied campsites.  This was also easy to do as it only took a few more minutes to pick up trash in each site.  This particular BLM campground was free of charge, and a cleanup was our way of expressing gratitude and paying it forward to the next happy campers who will come after us. 

Make your campsite better than you found it

BLM campgrounds need more friends to help keep them clean and beautiful.  Each of us can make a meaningful difference.  Bring a garbage bag (or two) whenever you go to BLM properties and take a few minutes during your trip to make it better than you found it and then haul the trash away with you when you leave.  If more of us adopt this habit just imagine how much more pleasurable our collective camping experiences would be.  It starts with shifting mindset and behaving like a steward of our County's beautiful public lands.  Do your part.

Good DX and 73, NJ2X

December 13-14, 2014, Geminids

Cast your eyes toward the heavens this December 13-14, 2014 for a peak at the Geminids meteor showers.

Good DX and 73, NJ2X

October 7-8, 2014, the Draconids

Be sure to take a look at the night sky.  The Draconids meteor show will return to visit October 7-9, 2014.

Good DX and 73, NJ2X

August 10-13, 2014, the Perseids

It that time again, the Perseids meteor shower will return August 10-13, 2014.  Be sure to keep an eye on the sky.

Good DX and 73, NJ2X

July 29-30, 2014 Delta Aquarids

Keep your eyes on the sky July 29-30, 2014, the Delta Aquarids meteor showers will have returned.


Good DX and 73, NJ2X

Camelopardalids Meteor Shower

Take a gander at the Camelopardalids meteor shower tonight.

Good DX and 73, NJ2X

The Leonids

The Leonids meteor shower is back and expected to peak on November 17, 2013 between 1000 and 1600 UTC.  The Leonids is associated with the comet Tempel-Tuttle.  If you have clear night skies be sure to direct your gaze toward the constellation Leo and be ready with a wish.

Good DX and 73, NJ2X

Its Meteor Time!

The night sky will be lit in a spectacular display of light streaks in late July through mid-August, 2012 as the Delta Aquarid and Perseid meteor showers combine to create one of the very best meteor displays in Northern Hemisphere.

There are few things as wonderful than camping under the open clear sky far from population centers (and light polution) and taking in a blazing meteor shower.  It is one of those activities that kids, teens, partents, and grandparents all equally enjoy and can share and experience together.  The cost is right too - free.  No equipment is needed to view meteor showers.  Location does however make a difference as cloudy skies, haze, and light polution can all interfere.

So get the family together and head outdoors between July 28 and August 13, 2012 to view and enjoy one of the greatest shows on earth.

NASA photo of a meteor falling earthwards

Good viewing, 73
NJ2X