I noticed in another thread that there was a mention of BWCA rangers checking permits and GARBAGE BAGS. What is the purpose of the garbage bag check -- just to see if you have one, or to see if you are using it properly. For example, if you were checked after being out for a few days and you showed the ranger an empty garbage bag, would that be OK, or would they assume that you have been burning your garbage and give you a citation?

They look at your garbage bag to make sure you are using it. I am sure if they looked and it wasn't very full, that they WOULDN'T give you a ticket. I'm sure they would just remind you that you shouldn't be burning your garbage and that whatever you pack in, that you need to pack out.

Just like I mentioned in the previous post, if you're following the rules, you have nothing to worry about. Leave no trace, and if you pack it in, pack it out. These are pretty easy rules to follow to help keep the pristine wilderness pristine.

I never use the USFS provided bag for any trash that I might have, which is very little. With our food we remove all wrappers and put it into zip lock bags at home before the trip. (No twisties allowed.)After the trip I reuse the zip locks or dispose of them at home, I just put them in another zip lock and put them in the bottom of my food pack. If there is any other trash like foil, etc., it gets put in one of the zip locks for disposal after the trip.

I also have a collection of unused FS trash bags. Never been asked to show it. A Ranger might just want to check the permit# written on the bag at issue, against the written permit[do they match???].

butthead

Ditto MoosePlums. In fact most times I don't bring in the issued FS Trash bag. It's in my car. Generally I take a a gallon size zip lock for that purpose and it is more than enough.

Frankly I don't know why anyone would use the FS bag. It's not a zip lock. Your pack would get awlfully smelly if you used it!

I haven't been on a lot of trips but always use the FS bag. Works just fine w/o the smell. No renger visits, yet.

If they want my trash....I'll gladly let them have it! Usually carry extra trashbags.

Me too Moose and Bannock!

I use it. I used to burn my garbage-I admit it. But no longer. I bring along twine to tie it shut. An employee at the Voyager Visitor Center last summer hinted that they might be discontinued because of cost.

last spring they gave me a bag and said it was the last one...

I have never used the bag that they give me. Too small for all the plastic beer bottles,haha

I don't think I ever got a USFS trash bag. I sure don't recall it. I always use a large zip-lock.

oldgent, it doesn't look like a trash bag - it looks like a cream plastic bag with instructions for hanging a food pack properly.

I've never used it for trash either - it may or may not come along, but it hasn't been used for trash. Interesting. I figured they put your permit number on it because if you disposed of the bag improperly, they would know who was responsible.

I believe they check you garbage to make sure you don't have any contraband ie; bottles and cans. Last year I was also told they the Forest Service was not providing any more bags

tony

I always pick up my permit at the outfitter and don't recall ever having been given a trash bag by them. I just use a ziplock like others.

I have only done two trips, the last two years, and I have never seen one of these bags you are talking about. I also use a couple large Ziploc. Not sure what I would say if asked to see my USFS approved garbage bags. Maybe this year I will get one, who knows.

The USFS is not going to issue garbage bags anymore. Another cut back to save money. Sounds as if it was a wise choice according to the responses on this discussion board. I liked the heavy duty trash bags they issued and used them all the time.

I'm like Boonie,pick up my permit at the outfitters,didn't even know they gave out trash bags,I bring my own,and like moose plums and Bannock,I remove all packaging from food transfer food into two ziplocks(freezer type)so I have very little garbage,used ziplocks that are clean go into the bottom of the food pack to be reused next year and the dirty ones go into the garbage bag.

No idea if they would ticket you or not but the idea is to make sure you aren't burning or dumping your trash. Hard to imagine that anyone doesn't make any and so there should be some to show. And we don't keep our trash in their bag either. It gets stuck in zip locks which are back in the Ursacks we were cooking out of that meal. Could make it hard to dig through and show it to them. Probably should keep the trash more centralized.

I thought maybe they were going to start charging a buck or something for the bags. Mostly kept them as souvenirs and for the humor of the physically impossible bear bag diagram (the horizontal rope can't be straight without infinite tension).

They'll be looking for glass bottles as well.

quote rlhedlund: "They'll be looking for glass bottles as well."

seems like a bad idea, since it would encourage people to throw them in the lake or around camp.

not that bringing them is ok, but this would just penalize the people who brought them and then at least cared enough to pack them back out instead of trashing them.


and of course, we've already talked about packing out other people's trash.

Ranger Tom will give you a bag if you ask him nicely.

They're great for packing the cook skillet in! The thick plastic doesn't tear and keeps the rest of the equipment pack free from soot.

They burn well, too.

Other then tubes of peanut butter all our food is typically dry. Except for granola bars, Cliff bars, etc, which are packaged just fine, I package everything in vacuum bags. This make for very little trash and it goes in zip locks right back in the bear vault it came out of.

I have used the USFS bag to haul the contents of the fire pit back into the woods a couple times but never for garbage.

When told they would be discontinued due to budget cuts, I took two as souvenirs.