A loose camp, the Flathead River in Blankenship, looks more like a small town than a wild, picturesque river this summer.
People camped en masse on a U.S. Forest Service access along the river, guaranteeing their campers on the water’s edge.
Camping, legal at this stage, appears to go against the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which states in its preamble that “it is hereinafter stated to be U.S. policy. remarkable landscape, recreational, geological, fish and wildlife values, historical, cultural or other. The matrix should be preserved in fluid situations, and they and their immediate environments must be protected to gain the benefits and enjoyment of providing and long-term generations.
The river in Blankenship is from the wild and scenic system.
On Sunday night, Hungry Horse News had at least 35 other campers, some in hard-walled units, others in tents.
For now, camping is legal, Said Flathead National Forest spokeswoman Lauren Alley as long as campers adhere to other rules, such as the correct disposal of human waste, proper storage of bear food and compliance with the three-night limit. . Training
Alley, the forest service had higher patrols on site.
There is no bathroom on site, which is located on the southwest side of the river. People have to cross Blankenship Road to Flathead County Park, which has s, or cross the river to pass to the other side, if their motorhome has no facilities.
The camp shelved a newspaper and forest service.
“Personally, I counted up to 150 cars to take in Blankenship … There is the challenge of passing campers exhibiting their tents and giant recreational vehicles throughout the gravel bar downstream of the Blankenship Bridge. There are other people who literally live there all summer, “Local resident Ryan Dunn recently said in a letter to Hungry Horse News.
Blankenship a sleepy position where the locals went.
No more.
Today, it ranks as one of the 20 most sensitive loose campsites in the United States, with a 4-star rating. The site loosecampsites.net comes with site reviews and drivinvibin.com ranked it among the 20 most sensitive sites in the country.
As such, the domain attracts others from all over the country, according to the plaques that the newspaper witnessed on the spot.
Alley said a long-term solution would be addressed as the Forest Service continues to paint its comprehensive river control plan for the 3 Flathead forks, all of which are classified as the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
However, this plan is being developed.
An undeniable solution turns out to be what Flathead County is already doing, Dunn noted in his letter. It does not allow camping at night in its land northwest of the bridge.
As a result, there were only a handful of other people picnicking on Sunday night, away from the village environment across the road.