E-Mail
Print
tool name
closeAs recreating in the wilderness has grown in popularity, so has the concern that humans are loving many of their backcountry places to death. Sensitive alpine areas, trail/climbing routes and convenient overnight spots all are showing conspicuous signs of overuse. Restoration takes years, sometimes decades, in alpine locales with short growing seasons.
In response, administrators devised strictures such as the 12-heartbeat rule limiting party size, requirement for backcountry permits and restrictions on camping to slow the wear and tear. Together with concerned backcountry users, managers also established educational programs that teach low impact techniques and urge thoughtfulness on the part of visitors.
The private Center for Outdoor Ethics’ Leave No Trace program has grown to an international movement espousing care, consideration and restraint when visiting wild places. Here are some key principles:
1. Fires
Decide whether your party actually needs a fire or not. Stove cooking is now effective and convenient. If a fire is wanted, keep it small and in an existing fire ring — avoid making a new one. Using a fire pan or building a fire mound is recommended when camping in new areas without developed campsites. Scrounge wood carefully; don’t use saws or axes to cut wood. Burn only wood and reduce all of it to ash, extinguish with water only and disperse cooled ash in inconspicuous locales. 2. Camps
Abide by directives that require camping only at developed places. If you have more freedom to select a site, use what LNT trainers call “durable” locales, such as bare rock, gravel or dry grass, avoid sensitive vegetation, especially in alpine areas. Pick those places away from trails and at least 200 feet from streams, ponds and lakes. Avoid trenching for drainage, tying off shelters to trees or cutting vegetation for more room. Also stay away from places that are beginning to show wear.
3. Waste
Clean camping and sanitary habits are a legacy you will leave for the next visitors and you’ll want predecessors to present them to you, too. Repackage foods and other backpacked items to reduce solid garbage. Pack out everything you don’t consume. Make toilets at least 200 feet from trails, campsites and aquatic locales. Use “catholes,” six to eight inches deep, which can be re-covered with mineral soil and camouflaged with wood pieces or bark. Never leave unused foods at way-stops or camps. Wash eating utensils away from camp and water bodies. Other suggested Leave No Trace behaviors include staying on developed trails. Respect wildlife congregating, nesting and denning areas. Don’t use blaze, cairn or flag route markers. Leave native plants, rocks, fossils and other natural things for others to enjoy. Keep pets under control and clean up after them.
For more information about Leave No Trace techniques or to participate in outdoors ethics training and restoration activities, visit http://www.lnt.org/index.php.
-
Caregivers
The Courtyard -
Accounts Receivable - Contracts Manager
Sicklesteel Cranes, Inc. -
Finance Director
WTA -
Research & Development Engineer
Samson Rope -
Contracts Assistant, Financial Services
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
@Nyx.CommentBody@