US Motorhome Trip Highlights Need for Booked Campsites in National Parks

A black bear that attacked a woman at Eagle Point Campground near Lake Tahoe was euthanized after multiple dangerous encounters. The bear entered a trailer searching for food; the woman was injured trying to scare it away. It also broke into a campervan with sleeping teenagers and entered a vehicle with a child. Two 5-month-old cubs were sent to a wildlife rehabilitation facility.

Turkish company Fibrosan, part of the Yücel Group, announced the construction of a fiberglass production plant in Cassopolis, Michigan. The first phase investment is $16.8 million (approximately 800 million Turkish lira). The facility will produce components for the North American caravan market, where the company sees growing demand. Fibrosan operates 8 production centers across 6 continents, 28 offices worldwide, and employs over 400 people.

American couple Kendra and Bill Fogarty, who live full-time in a motorhome, named their daughters after US national parks and forests. Their eldest, 9-year-old Acadia, is named after Acadia National Park in Maine, and their youngest, 6-year-old Willamette, after Willamette National Forest in Oregon. The family sold their home and downsized in 2022 to travel full-time, homeschooling their children and working remotely.

Located between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, Monterey Lake is a 250-acre reservoir in southwestern Michigan. The Sandy Pines RV park resort offers campgrounds, cabins, and rental trailers, plus an 18-hole golf course, fishing (bass, perch, carp, walleye), three outdoor pools, a splash pad, and kayak rentals. A fishing license is required for ages 17 and up.

A visit to Brooktrout Lake prompts Walt McLaughlin to reflect on heavily trafficked areas of the Adirondacks. The Eastern High Peaks region has banned campfires and requires bear-resistant canisters to mitigate human impact. McLaughlin prefers less crowded routes like the Northville-Placid Trail, where wilderness experience remains intact without such measures.

A used 2023 EarthRoamer XV-SX with 8,228 miles is listed for $1.1 million. Built on a Chevrolet Silverado 6500HD chassis, it includes a washer-dryer, shower, induction cooktop, and Keurig coffee maker.