Ryan Epp started a Facebook group in early April to find some new camping buddies and meet some new friends.

Two months later, his group named Crown Land Camping Alberta has more than 31,000 members.

B次元官网网址淚 was hoping for maybe 50, 60 people to join up,B次元官网网址� Epp, who lives in Calgary, said in an interview this week. B次元官网网址淚 had over a thousand by the third day B次元官网网址� and it just went crazy from that.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been growing for the last while between 500 and 1,000 new members a day.B次元官网网址�

Group members share tips on where and how to camp on public land in Alberta B次元官网网址� a longtime practice thatB次元官网网址檚 commonly known as random camping.

Epp, 46, said he created the group after the COVID-19 pandemic led to closures at national and provincial campgrounds.

Parks Canada has said campgrounds in national parks will remain closed until at least June 21, while Alberta Parks reopened its campgrounds earlier this month, but at half capacity.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard enough to find spots when all of the sites are available,B次元官网网址� said Epp. B次元官网网址淲ith Crown-land camping, thereB次元官网网址檚 a million sites and you just pick one B次元官网网址� and itB次元官网网址檚 free.B次元官网网址�

Alberta Environment and Parks said its staff did see an increase in public-land use B次元官网网址� including hikers, mountain bikers and families picnicking B次元官网网址� in parts of southern and central Alberta on the May long weekend.

B次元官网网址淚t remains to be seen if campers that traditionally use our provincial parks will increasingly move onto public land for their fill of outdoor recreation,B次元官网网址� spokeswoman Christine King said in an email. B次元官网网址淐amping in provincial parks versus public land is a different experience in terms of amenities and services.B次元官网网址�

Mounties, who patrol public land along with Alberta Fish and Wildlife officers, say they havenB次元官网网址檛 noticed a major difference in the already popular Ghost-Waiparous area near Cochrane, northwest of Calgary, but officers further to the north in Rocky Mountain House are preparing for a busier summer.

B次元官网网址淲e predict we will see an increase in the numbers of people involved in this activity this summer due to the restrictions in organized campgrounds and the out-of-province restrictions still in place,B次元官网网址� said a statement from the detachment.

Several provinces, including British Columbia and Saskatchewan, have restricted campsite bookings to residents only.

Police remind people heading into AlbertaB次元官网网址檚 random camping areas to be prepared because there are few services and not much cellphone coverage.

B次元官网网址淧eople should also know how to describe where they are to emergency services if they are needed.B次元官网网址�

Epp said random campers need more equipment than regular campers because there are no washroom facilities, no running water and no power.

B次元官网网址淵ou have to be set up to be able to handle that.B次元官网网址�

The province notes thereB次元官网网址檚 also a 14-day limit on how long a camper can stay in the same spot.

The potential increase in random camping has raised some concern about the areas becoming too busy.

B次元官网网址淲e encourage people to be out and using our public land responsibly and enjoying nature,B次元官网网址� said Katie Morrison of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. B次元官网网址淏ut B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 something that can have a heavier impact on land and water, even other users, if folks B次元官网网址� arenB次元官网网址檛 as experienced.B次元官网网址�

Some concerns include damage to the landscape if campers remove trees for fires or make ruts with vehicles. ThereB次元官网网址檚 also potential for conflicts with wildlife if campers donB次元官网网址檛 pack out their garbage or leave human waste, she said.

Morrison said many random camping areas are already busy, and she expects that will increase as the province fully or partially closes 20 provincial parks and hands off 164 others to third-party managers.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something that should be a sign to the government that removing more of these areas B次元官网网址� is contrary to what Albertans want.B次元官网网址�

Epp said heB次元官网网址檚 heard similar concerns from some members in his Facebook group, but he and the other moderators are doing their best to keep political debates off the page.

Instead, he said, theyB次元官网网址檙e trying to teach new random campers how to be respectful on public land B次元官网网址� even organizing some weekend trips with first-timers.

B次元官网网址淲e want to teach people the right way to do it.B次元官网网址�

Colette Derworiz, The Canadian Press

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