Campfire Policy

                    Orient Land Trust
                                   Valley View Hot Springs
                                   Email: info@olt.org

Campfire Policy
effective August 2008

As many of you already know, Orient Land Trust has recently revised our campfire policy: Campfires are permitted at the Picnic Pavilion, the Soaking Pond, and the new Tent Campground communal fire ring but not outside of cabins or at individual campsites. While we recognize the popularity of campfires and realize that they contribute to the camping experience, the fragile nature of our dry San Luis Valley and Sangre de Cristo range environment and changing climate conditions require that we take proactive steps to protect the beautiful land that both long-time visitors and newcomers have grown to love.

Hikers enter Orient Canyon on the way to the Bat Cave. Even after a rain, the Sangre de Cristo range is
still a dry, fragile place. Our new campfire policy will help increase the odds of keeping OLT and our
surrounding mountains green and alive for years to come!

There are many reasons why we are now limiting fires to established communal fire pits at the Picnic Pavilion, Soaking Pond,
and a NEW fire ring along the path through the "Park", the main area of the wooded tent campground.

Wildfire Risk

* Once again we've had an exceptionally dry winter, with no significant snow since early January.

* Campfires can be a wildfire hazard any time of year here in the dry southern Rockies.

* OLT backs up against very steep mountains; any fires could easily get out of control.

* Strong prevailing winds from the southwest would tend to blow any fires up the mountainside.

* There are no roads east of the main road / vehicle camping loop, making firefighting access difficult.

* Dangerous drought conditions have been more and more common over the last decade, requiring us to implement fire bans nearly every year, sometimes for months at a time. Our 4th of July fireworks have been cancelled in 2 of the last 4 years due to high fire danger.

* By limiting campfires, we may be able to supply all needed firewood onsite through harvesting dead wood that currently adds to wildfire danger on OLT property.

Local Air Quality

* During previous fire bans due to dry conditions, many guests have commented positively about no smoke in the campground.

* Smoke from campfires outside of the cabins and Sunset Rooms tended to blow directly into the rooms.

Carbon Footprint / Global Warming

* Unlimited campfires at OLT have consumed about 50 cords of wood per year, releasing a great amount of Carbon Dioxide.

* More pollution is caused by transporting these large amounts of firewood to OLT.

Building Community

* Allowing a communal campfire at the Picnic Pavilion brings people together to share food, music, and stories. Think of the warm, friendly atmosphere that exists at Member Appreciation Weekend, Potlucks, and other events where guests gather together at the Pavilion.

* Activities in the campground are now generally quieter and more peaceful after 10 pm (quiet time) than they were when many individual campfires were burning late into the night.

Cooking Options

* Other cooking options are still available: The kitchen in the Oak House is open to all, the propane grill in the Pavilion is available, and CAMP STOVES and CHARCOAL GRILLS will still be allowed at campsites (except possibly in times of drought-related OLT or higher-level state / county fire bans).

* With greater nightly use of the communal fire pit, we can remodel the Pavilion to control smoke, provide additional lighting, install more cooking options and facilitate serving food.

Your Voice Counts

* Many guests have expressed strong feelings about this change and we understand your concerns and welcome your opinion. And while there have certainly been some negative comments about the new policy, the reaction of most guests - perhaps 75% - has been neutral. Of those that have expressed an opinion, at least half have understood our reasons and are in favor of the new policy. We understand that we can't make everyone happy (though we try!), but in this situation doing all we can to protect the land comes first, per our Mission Statement.

* If you have questions or comments about our new campfire policy, please contact us by e-mail. Thank you for your interest in the future of Orient Land Trust!