The tremendous rewards of high-adventure treks are drawing more and more people to the backcountry. At the same time, the vast territory suitable for treks is shrinking in size. More people and less land mean we all must be careful not to endanger the wild outdoors we have come to enjoy.
A good way to protect the backcountry
is to remember that while you are there, you are a visitor. When
you visit a friend you are always careful to leave that person's
home just as you found it. You would never think of dropping litter
on the carpet, chopping down trees in the yard, putting soap in
the drinking water, or marking your name on the living room wall.
When you visit the backcountry, the same courtesies apply. Leave
everything just as you found it.
Hiking and camping without a trace
are signs of an expert outdoorsman, and of a Scout or Scouter
who cares for the environment. Travel lightly on the land.
"Leave No Trace" is
a nationally recognized outdoor skills and ethics education program.
The Boy Scouts of America is committed to this program. The principles
of Leave No Trace are not rules; they are guidelines to follow
at all times.
The Leave No Trace principles might
not seem important at first glance, but their value is apparent
when considering the combined effects of millions of outdoor visitors.
One poorly located campsite or campfire is of little significance,
but thousands of such instances seriously degrade the outdoor
experience for all.
Leaving no trace is everyone's responsibility.
Proper trip planning and preparation
helps hikers and campers accomplish trip goals safely and enjoyably
while minimizing damage to natural and cultural resources. Campers
who plan ahead can avoid unexpected situations, and minimize their
impact by complying with area regulations such as observing limitations
on group size.
Proper planning ensures:
Damage to land occurs when visitors trample vegetation or communities of organisms beyond recovery. The resulting barren areas develop into undesirable trails, campsites, and soil erosion.
These guidelines apply to most alpine settings and may be different for other areas, such as deserts. Learn the Leave No Trace techniques for your crew's specific activity or destination. Check with land managers to be sure of the proper technique.
This simple yet effective saying motivates backcountry visitors to take their trash home with them. It makes sense to carry out of the backcountry the extra materials taken there by your group or others. Minimize the need to pack out food scraps by carefully planning meals. Accept the challenge of packing out everything you bring.
Backcountry users create body
waste and wastewater that require proper disposal.
Wastewater. Help prevent contamination
of natural water sources: After straining food particles, properly
dispose of dishwater by dispersing at least 200 feet (about 80
to 100 strides for a youth) from springs, streams, and lakes.
Use biodegradable soap 200 feet or more from any water source.
Human Waste. Proper human waste
disposal helps prevent the spread of disease and exposure to others.
Catholes 6 to 8 inches deep and 200 feet from water, trails, and
campsites are often the easiest and most practical way to dispose
of feces.
Allow others a sense of discovery: Leave rocks, plants, animals, archaeological artifacts, and other objects as you find them. It may be illegal to remove artifacts.
Do not dig tent trenches or build
lean-tos, tables, or chairs. Never hammer nails into trees, hack
at trees with hatchets or saws, or drainage bark and roots by
tying horses to trees for extended periods. Replace surface rocks
or twigs that you cleared from the campsite. On high-impact sites,
clean the area and dismantle inappropriate user-built facilities
such as multiple fire rings and log seats or tables.
Good campsites are found, not made.
Avoid altering a site, digging trenches, or building structures.
Some people would not think of
camping without a campfire. Yet the naturalness of many areas
has been degraded by overuse of fires and increasing demand for
firewood.
Lightweight camp stoves make low-impact
camping possible by encouraging a shift away from fires. Stoves
are fast, eliminate the need for firewood, and make cleanup after
meals easier. After dinner, enjoy a candle lantern instead of
a fire.
If you build a fire, the most important
consideration is the potential for resource damage. Whenever possible,
use an existing campfire ring in a well-placed campsite. Choose
not to have a fire in areas where wood is scarce-at higher elevations,
in heavily used areas with a limited wood supply, or in desert
settings.
True Leave No Trace fires are small.
Use dead and downed wood no larger than an adult's wrist. When
possible, burn all wood to ash and remove all unburned trash and
food from the fire ring. If a site has two or more fire rings,
you may dismantle all but one and scatter the materials in the
surrounding area. Be certain all wood and campfire debris is dead
out.
Quick movements and loud noises are stressful to animals. Considerate campers practice these safety methods:
You are too close if an animal alters its normal activities.
For additional Leave No Trace information, contact your local land manager or local office of the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, the National Park Service, or the Fish and Wildlife Service. Or, contact Leave No Trace at 800-332-4100 or on the Internet at http://www.lnt.org.
For posters, plastic cards listing the Leave No Trace principles, or information on becoming a Leave No Trace sponsor, contact
Leave No Trace Inc. P.O. Box 997 Boulder, CO 80306 phone: 303-442-8222
Thoughtful campers:
Be considerate of other campers and respect their privacy.
Master of Leave No Trace training
courses are available from the National Outdoor Leadership School
(NOLS) in cooperation with four federal agencies (the Bureau of
Land Management, Forest Service, National Park Service, and Fish
and Wildlife Service). Approximately 18 courses are taught throughout
the country each year in all types of environments from alpine
tundra to deserts.
The Master of Leave No Trace course
has three components:
A five-day field course provides
students with a comprehensive overview of Leave No Trace techniques
through practical application in a field setting comprising a
short backcountry trip.
If you are interested in attending
a Master of Leave No Trace course, call the Leave No Trace hotline
at 800-332-4100 ext. 282. Also call that number for a list of
Leave No Trace masters in your area.