ISSUING BACKPACKING PERMITS



  1. Have one of the hikers fill out the “Indian Peaks Wilderness Camping Permit Application”.
    Click for example You may need to help the hiker identify the backcountry zones. Give the applicant an Indian Peaks Wilderness Area map (Click for example) or an Indian Peaks Wilderness brochure. The hiker should identify the backcountry zones he/she will be sleeping in, and the dates. If the hiker is leaving from the Monarch Lake area, the trailhead entry location is #200. Make sure all of the information is completed on the application.

    A permit is good for up to 12 heartbeats, where a heartbeat is a person, a horse, a llama, etc. Dogs do not count. The permit is good for a maximum of 14 days.

  2. Each zone has a quota. Using the information on the permit application, follow the procedures in “Handling Back Country Permit Quotas”, following this page.

  3. If slots are available, transfer the information from the permit application to the “Wilderness Use Permit”. Use a waterproof pen, if available. Click for example

  4. Write a “W” (for wilderness group) in the upper right-hand corner of both the application and the permit. This is to let the USFS know who issued the permit.

  5. Have the applicant read the back of the permit to indicate he/she understands and agrees to the rules. On the sample permit attached, note that several of the rules on the back of the permit are highlighted. Bring the hikers' attention to these rules especially. Also emphasize the sentence above the signature, “I will only camp within the above backcountry zone(s).”
    Click for example
    1. Note that camping, building campfires, and tethering stock is not permitted within one hundred feet of streams, lakes, and trails. One hundred feet is approximately 40 paces.
    2. Outfitters need Special Use Permits. We do not issue these. They are available from the Forest Service Office.

  6. Initialize the permit to indicate you have given the applicant a Indian Peaks Wilderness Area map or an Indian Peaks Wilderness brochure.

  7. Have the applicant sign the permit and initial the line “I will only camp in designated campsites “, if appropriate. The following backcountry zones allow camping only in designated campsites: Crater Lake, Jasper Lake, Diamond Lake, and Caribou Lake.
    Click for map

  8. Write the hike-in and hike-out dates on the permit stub. Instruct the hiker to detach the stub from the permit, take it back to the car, and display it on the left-hand side of the dash. If you have tape, offer it to the hiker so that the stub can be attached to the window. If there is more than one car, date and give additional green vehicle stubs. The main portion of the permit must be attached on the outside of the hikers backpack so that it is visible to any ranger on patrol. The permit should be hung on a tent while in camp.

  9. Collect $5 for the entire party (12 heartbeats max, 14 day stay max). Put it in the cashbox in the envelope marked “USFS Money”, along with the completed backpacking permit application.

  10. Contact the forest service if backpacking permits, applications or parking stubs are low.

  11. If you are asked for camping opportunities other then established campgrounds and backpacking, i.e. road side camping refer to the Dispersed Camping Guidelines brochure later in this section.

  12. Campsites in zones without designated campsites must be located at least 100 feet from all lakes, streams, and trails.


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