A poop-infused wildfire, a Dutch word that’ll annihilate cabin fever and writer and Outside Magazine Contributing Editor Marc Peruzzi tells us about the subculture of dirtbagging––and how it’s under threat.
Show Notes:
First Stop:
The horrible fires in Australia right now remind us that climate change is a real and destructive force in the world. But some fires are even more directly caused by humans––specifically, human stupidity. The Voltaire Fire near Carson City, Nevada was caused by (wait for it...) burning human waste. The fire burned roughly 500 acres, prompted an emergency response, and forced evacuations, according to the Reno Gazette Journal.
Seriously, people.
Here's a short guide to how to properly dispose of waste, both human and otherwise.
Show Notes: Marx Peruzzi
Outside Contributing Editor Marc Peruzzi is an outdoor enthusiast and a contributing editor at Outside. His article about the dirtbagging subculture in the U.S. and Canada opened our eyes to what we assumed was a whole new way to travel and experience the outdoors. But in actuality, it's a throwback to a much older way of experiencing nature.
The climbing, rafting, skiing, and surfing communities have been living the dirtbag life for years. Cedar Wright's article details some of the camping and lifestyle changes in the climbing subculture. If you want to try dirtbagging yourself, you can score tips on what climbing gear to bring, how to chase both waves and powder on a ski/surf trip, and a few skills to master so you can cultivate your inner dirtbag. (Also, we realize we've been using "dirtbag" and "dirtbagger" interchangeably in our conversation, which probably isn't how dirtbags would refer to themselves. Sorry. We're still learning.)
Want to read more about dirtbagging from the dirtbags themselves? Learn about living illegally in Yosemite and the tension between dirtbagging and the more settled, traditional life. And you should absolutely check out this fabulous piece called "The ABCs of Dirtbags" by The Paddling Magazine staff.
The way the U.S. and Canada monitor and regulate outdoor access is clearly different from the way our friends in Scandinavia do it, where the Right of Public Access ensures that folks in Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden can camp, hike, bike, swim, collect flowers, mushrooms, and berries with relative ease. The regulations vary from country to country, so click on where you're traveling to research the place you're living or visiting.
This article provides a solid overview of where free camping is allowed in the U.S. and Canada. We'll be adding sources as we verify them. But please make sure to connect with each place you intend to camp to make sure that the information is up to date.
Language Love:
Uitwaaien (Dutch)
This literally means “out blowing” or “blowing out” and refers to the wind. But the Dutch use it to mean taking a break by going outdoors and engaging in some kind of physical activity in nature on a windy or cold day. The fresh air, vitamin D from the sunshine and the physical activity itself are supposed to help you feel refreshed and invigorated.
You can read more about it here:
What about you?
Have you ever tried dirtbagging? Would you?
What are your tips for car or backwoods camping?
Which natural places would you love to explore in-depth?
Have you ever learned a lesson (good or unfortunate or otherwise) while camping? (Please don't tell us you started a fire by burning your poo.)
Have you ever experienced uitwaaien?
What kinds of outdoor activities make you feel invigorated?