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Articles
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| Almost everyone who has been
camping in a regulated natural area has heard the phrase, "Take
Nothing but Pictures, Leave Nothing but Footprints," or something
similar. This is the essential philosophy of Leave No Trace camping. Leave
No Trace camping is a set of outdoor ethics (really just common sense)
that came about in order to minimize the damage that campers wreak on our
natural areas. The goal of Leave No trace camping is to leave the outdoors
the way we found them, or as close to it as possible. While it is quite
impossible to have zero effect on the recreational land around you, it is
possible (with forethought) to keep the to keep that land in the best
possible condition.
The Principles at Work 1. Plan ahead and prepare 2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces 3. Dispose of waste properly 4. Leave what you find 5. Minimize campfire impacts 6. Respect wildlife 7. Be considerate of other visitors The most important of these is planning and preparation. You can have the best of intentions on your camping trip but if you’re not prepared to follow through on them then it is the environment that suffers. For example, taking enough trash bags with you is essential for Leave No Trace, but if these small items are left behind then so is your trash. The minimization of campfires is also something that most peopl edon’t understand. This means use established fire rings or mounds. Most parks provide them for you. Also, for your wood, use only small sticks found on the ground. If everyone took branches from trees the effects would would be devestating. However, a lot of natural areas don’t even allow wood gathering. If this is the case then you are encouraged to burn charcaol. All fires are dangerous and must be put completely out. Group Effort For More information on Leave No trace camping check out
the Leave Not Trace website: |
