Happy Friday! I hope you have had a lovely week and have fun plans this weekend. We're heading into the mountains to explore a new part of Colorado. Fall colors are JUST beginning to show up in the mountains, and while this isn't a fall adventure weekend, I'm sure we'll see some golden aspen.

If you're a Colorado reader, use this to help plan your Colorado fall trips.

Why Public Lands Prohibit Camping Next to Water Sources

Last weekend, I went backpacking into the Gore Range 90 minutes from Denver. It was magical, and we had so much fun in the mountains. But one thing frustrated our group: the blatant disregard for the basin's rules. At the start of the trail, a sign said camping within 100 feet of lakes, rivers, or trails was prohibited.

I totally understand hiking six miles with a heavy pack, only to be annoyed that you cannot find easy-to-access camping spots and have to look around for them on sore legs. But that's also life in the backcountry.

Instead, one group literally set up their tent mere feet from the water's edge. Another group set up two blue tents maybe 20 feet from the shore. And lastly, a third group was maybe 60 feet from the edge and a bit higher up. I can *slightly* get on board with the last group. They at least tried to adhere to the spirit of the law, even if they didn't fully follow the letter of the law.

Now, you might be thinking, 'wow, Alec, a lot of words for something that doesn't really matter.' Except it does matter.

There's a reason they make these tent distance rules:

1. Keep the water clean from your food and trash. We're all drinking out of this lake. Don't you want to ensure it stays drinkable?
2. Keep your pee/poop far away from everyone's water sources.
3. Ruins the view for everyone else. The blue tents were in almost every photo.
4. Protects the shoreline vegetation and decreases erosion.
5. Gives wildlife room to drink. Mountain goats come down to the water to drink, and a tent on the shore can push them away.
6. Leaves the shoreline open for anyone who wants to fish, filter water, or take photos.
7. It tends to be in very popular areas. Imagine if everyone pitched a tent right next to the water. It'd be chaotic.

Now, if there weren't a rule on the trailhead, I probably wouldn't have as much of an issue with this. I'm not perfect. I've slept close to water before (there was no rule prohibiting it, and it was on a rock, so we weren't contributing to erosion). But the fact that people knew the rules and then said, 'meh' is pretty cruddy.

Leave No Trace says 200 feet from water sources. In a perfect world, I'd love it if everyone stayed 200 feet away. But in some locations, it's not always that easy. With LNT, it's a guideline (a good one, but not a rule).

The next time you head out, I hope this helps explain why we try to stay away from water sources when camping.

Gear Corner

As we enter the 'ber months, you may need to update your adventure wardrobe with shoulder season gear. I found 7 REI deals I think you'll like!

• REI Sahara Shade Hoodie - 50% off - Men's | Women's​
• Arc'teryx Atom Insulated Hoody - 29% off - Men's​
• Arc'teryx Beta SL Jacket - 30% off - Men's​
• REI Co-op Microtrek Insulated Hoodie - 50% off - Women's​
• Vuori Alpine Jacket - 40% off - Women's​
• The North Face Yumiori Off Peak Full-Zip Jacket - 29% off - Women's​
• Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated Sleeping Pad - 35% off​

Recent Articles You May Have Missed

Are you getting geared up for fall colors? Below are some of my fall roundups from Banff, Washington, and Colorado!

​Colorado Fall Road Trip: Incredible 7-day Adventure Chasing Fall Colors through the Rockies​

​The Best Places to See Fall Colors in Colorado​

​Guide to the 21 Best Fall Hikes in Washington (From a Seattle Local)​

​Gold Larches Await! 24 Best Larch Hikes in Washington​

​16 Best Fall Larch Hikes Near Banff and the Canadian Rockies​

​16 Incredible Photos of Fall Colors in Washington State​

​6 Epic Fall Hikes in Kananaskis Country with Amazing Views​

​11 Family-Friendly Things To Do During Fall in Bend​

​Outstanding places you need to visit this fall in California​

​Big Thicket, Swamps, Kayaking: You need to visit these places in East Texas for fall colors​

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Want to watch some cool wildlife videos or learn about Olympic National Park. Click below!

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