your thoughts needed, ive noticed our campground sites are deteriorating from what i feel are campers raking the entire site , which removes all the pine needles and leaves. when they do this and it rains we get two results, mud, and tree roots are unearthed after what little soil is washed away. i think raking near fire pit is a good idea but not the entire site. what do you think? i live and camp in the northeast so this might not effect some campers but i was curious.
Wow I have never raked a campsite. I go along after we camp and pick up any little thing I can find that would not be there normally; trash, balloon scraps, etc, We just try to live by the rules that say leave it as you would like to find it. Congrats on your tidiness. I am envious of your energy.
That would depend on what's under the leaves. If a gravel or paved pad is under there, then raking would probably be OK, but as you say if it's just dirt, or the forest floor, then it's best not to.
I guess it depends on what you want the kids to track into the trailer...leaves or dirt?
__________________ KU4OJ 2008 (or is it 2009?) Rockwood 8280SS - 2022 F-250 7.3L
Lot's of mostly Kenwood radios
We rake up occasionally but it's usually to clean up all the dog crap, garbage, wood cuttings, horse hay, etc that others are rude enough to leave behind in some of our favorite dry camp sites. Those that camp with horses who are conscientious do rake and I am glad they do. Here in the northwest it doesn't matter much if there are pine needles or leafs on the ground, if it rains you are just going to have a campsite full of mud with pine needles and leaves in it. I don't see that the needles and leaves do much to stop mud from happening. I don't see that raking is causing a deterioration of camps sites. Its abuse by people that don't reign in their animals, kids and garbage. At least those that are raking are cleaning up their messes.
__________________
"I can fix it, and if I can't fix it, I can fix it so no one can fix it!" Ed & Wendy 2009 Georgetown 378TS | 1998 Jeep Wrangler | 1998 Skeeter ZX202C
Nights camped in 2009: 53 | Nights camped in 2010: 55 www.nwjeepn.com
I have a seasonal site at a local campground. Usually, the folks who are just passing through don't rake and, if they pick up at all, just get the most obvious debris and trash. We who have graveled seasonal sites don't rake either. We use blowers!
__________________ Happy Camping! ///// Richard D.
2006 4x4 Ford 250 SD / 2007 Flagstaff 827 FLS
One very patient wife and one furry child who travels with us. Forty-two years of trailering and camping, and I still have a blast.
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