Dry spells since March has prompted officials to take precautions and restrict the use of campfires at Gila National Forest until there is substantial rainfall.

The Gila in southwest New Mexico is a cauldron of colliding ecosystems: the Chihuahuan Desert, the Sonoran Desert, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains, the Mexican Plateau, the Great Basin, and Mexico’s Sierra Madre all converge here.

The mountains make up a major component of the Gila National Forest. Most are accessible only by horse or foot, with the heart protected by the 202,000-acre Aldo Leopold Wilderness.

Although campfire restrictions are becoming more common these days, camping just doesn’t feel like camping without campfire gatherings. It is often the most memorable part of a camping trip. The restriction is a preventive measure against forest fires.

Stage-one fire restrictions has been implemented by the forest service. The official order says it is prohibited to build, maintain, attend or use a fire, campfire or stove fire. Smoking will be allowed only in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

Some exemptions include the use of petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns, or heating devices that meet Fire Underwriters specifications for safety, having campfires within a pre-constructed Forest Service fireplace within designated campgrounds and picnic areas, and federal, state, or local officers, or members of organized rescue or firefighting forces while performing official duties.

No fires are allowed in any campground on the Black Range Ranger District.

Some rain has fallen in the area in the past few days, but forest officials say it is not enough to lift the fire restrictions.

“It is still very dry,” Ward said. “It (rain) has been scattered and very light. We are starting to see some thunderstorm action, but we just haven’t had any major moisture since March.”

There are many developed campgrounds and recreation sites that do not require reservations in the Gila National Forest. For a complete list and locations, call (575) 388-8201.

“People also need to be very careful where they park their vehicles,” said Loretta Benevidez, fire information officer. “If they park over tall dry grass, there is a very good chance there could be an ignition. Also, with ATVs and chainsaws, they need to make sure that all their spark arresting devices are in place and working properly.”

[media:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRbor6Pg_IM]

The fatal bear attack in Utah two years ago prompted state officials to issue guidelines to help reduce the risk of bear encounters and minimise the dangers when you stumble into one.

On June 17, 2007 an 11-year-old boy was dragged from his tent while camping and then killed by a  black bear in American Fork Canyon. Since then a lot of people started to be afraid of going camping but if you take the right precautions it will be absolutely safe despite the that Utah is a bear country.

There are a few steps you can take to reduce the chance of a bear attack:

• Store anything that has a smell including food, deodorants and toothpaste away from the campsite and where the bear cannot reach
• Keep your campsite clean
• If possible, do not cook at your campsite – The smell will stick for a long time
• Don’t bring anything that has a strong smell
• Never feed a bear
• A bear spray can be useful for warding off bears

Knowing these tips will not only help yourself but other people as well buy they do not eliminate the chance of a bear encounter in your campsite. You can find bear information in all campsites and picnic areas within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

Bear sightings will be alerted to the public and officials will assess whether there is a need to close down the campsite.

Remember that a bear is not after you but rather the food you carry.

Some related articles on bear safety:

• Bear Safety While on the Trail – Bear Canister. With the recent news that the National Park Service is requiring all overnight hikers to carry and use a bear canister for their food in Rocky Mountain National Park (click here to read more), we thought we would take the …
• Bear Safety Fact Sheet – Even better bear safety information comes from the various links in the fact sheet. For instance, you should know that the pepper spray sold as personal defense is not a bear deterrent; pepper spray is pretty much useless against bears. …
• Bear Safety – Surprisingly little research has been done specifically addressing bear safety issues. Much of what people think they know about safety around bears is based on assumptions that may or not be correct. In this section we feature research …