PORTLAND, Ore., July 30,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dyrt, the No. 1 app for
camping availability, photos and reviews, has found that 18% of
campers reported that wildfires or natural disasters disrupted
their camping plans in 2023. That's three times more than the 6%
who said their plans were disrupted in 2019, and indicates a steady
rise over the past five years.
The percentage of campers who reported wildfire- or
disaster-related disruptions in 2020, and again in 2021, was 11%.
That has now increased to 18% in both 2022 and 2023. As part of The
Dyrt's 2024 Camping Report presented by The All-New Toyota Tacoma,
West Coast states California,
Oregon and Washington were found to be the most affected
by fires and disasters.
"The Dyrt has been headquartered here in Oregon since the very beginning, so we've seen
firsthand the toll wildfires have taken on the Pacific Northwest,"
says The Dyrt CEO Kevin Long. "It's
scary and tragic for so many reasons. These unpredictable
occurrences also make it extremely challenging to plan ahead for
camping. And because it can be so difficult to get a reservation at
popular campsites, making a last-minute change of plans is
exceedingly difficult."
One-third of West Coast campers (33.1%) had plans interrupted by
wildfires and natural disasters in 2023. That's two-and-a-half
times more than the average camper nationwide, which is 13.1% when
excluding the West Coast. Zooming in specifically on the PNW, 42%
of campers in Oregon and
Washington reported disruptions in
their camping plans.
"30 miles and millions of acres of burnt trees," is how The Dyrt
camper Robert D. of Oregon
described a road trip with his wife from Yamhill to Redmond in 2023. "At mile marker #23 the
devastation started. Because of the amount of trucks and equipment
working to remove all the burnt trees, the speed limit was reduced
to 40 mph.
"I looked up both sides of the canyon wall some thousand feet
above me. All I could see was burnt trees clear to the top on each
side. Hundreds of thousands of trees burnt just enough to blacken
the trunk at the bottom, but not enough to get to the branches up
high. Our favorite camping spot, Blue Pool Campground, was closed
for over a year's time."
In a press release from the U.S. Forest
Service, Pacific Northwest assistant fire director for
operations Ed Hiatt said: "This is
shaping up to be another monster fire year in the Pacific Northwest
and it's just mid-July. We're at Preparedness Level 5, the highest
level of wildfire response possible in the region and nation." The
largest active blaze in the U.S. at this time is in eastern
Oregon and Idaho.
Documentary filmmaker Trip Jennings used The Dyrt to find
camping while researching and shooting "Elemental: Reimagine
Wildfire." The film highlights more effective fire mitigation
tactics.
"We're proud that a member of The Dyrt camping community is at
the forefront of this issue and was able to rely on the millions of
reviews from The Dyrt camping during the filmmaking process," says
Long. "Wildfires were one of the factors we had in mind while
designing features for The Dyrt that enable flexibility for
campers."
The Dyrt Alerts allow campers to book sold-out campgrounds,
often at the last minute. The Dyrt's Free Camping Collection
includes a curated map to 5,000 free camping locations, many of
which campers can visit spontaneously if wildfires or other factors
disrupt their plans.
About The Dyrt
The Dyrt is the most comprehensive camping resource with
millions user-generated reviews, photos and tips for every RV site,
cabin, glamping and tent camping location, including all public,
private and free camping areas in the
United States. The Dyrt is how campers search, save and book
camping of any type anywhere in the U.S. With The Dyrt PRO, campers
get reservations at sold-out campgrounds, advanced maps, discounts
on camping and more. The Dyrt is the No. 1 camping app and receives
more than 30 million visits from campers each year because The Dyrt
has it all. www.thedyrt.com
Media Contact:
Jason
Simms
860-526-1555
380928@email4pr.com
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SOURCE The Dyrt