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Take Only Pictures, Leave Only Footprints
You know the rules, but do you follow them? Enjoying the great outdoors is something everyone can participate in, and more and more people are taking advantage of the adventures that Mother Nature provides. It is for this reason that we all need to be conscious of our impact on the areas that we visit, and what we take from them. Following are some tips from Leave No Trace, a non-profit organization that promotes a code of ethics encouraging outdoor enthusiasts to minimize wear and tear on the environment.
- Keep your group small - less people means less of just about everything: less garbage, less food, smaller fires, smaller campsites, and less crowding of popular areas.
- To minimize the chances of injury or getting lost, stick to marked paths. This also helps preserve delicate wilderness areas and minimize the chances of bumping into a wild animal. If you must leave the trail stick to durable surfaces such as gravel, rock, or dry grass.
- Pack it in, pack it out! Whatever garbage you accumulate during your trip (wrappers, toilet paper, cans, film canisters, band-aid boxes) needs to come back with you. Don't leave anything behind! When in doubt, pack it out.
- Only bring what's absolutely necessary! Be realistic . . . do you really need five tee shirts, three pairs of shorts, AND three pairs of pants? Needless to say, camping is not a fashion show, but remember that you may need to be prepared for warm days and cool nights, or a sudden downpour. So pack appropriately, and intelligently.
- Dispose of waste appropriately - when nature calls, be responsible about it. Dig a hole 6-8 inches deep and at least 200 feet away form campsites, trails, and water. When you are finished, cover and disguise your port-a-potty. Toilet paper should be packed out with you, not buried or left behind!
- Leave what you find - one of the greatest gifts being outdoors is all of the beautiful things that nature provides. Enjoy these gifts, but leave them for others to experience as well. That rock may look great on your desk, but it looks better right where it is.
- Be responsible with fire - everybody loves a campfire, but it is important to realize that there is a responsibility that comes along with building one. An un-tended fire can scar a landscape, deplete wood supplies, destroy natural habitats, kill wild life, and endanger lives. Be smart when considering a campfire, if it isn't necessary for warmth or cooking, then it is best not to build one.
- Let people know where you are - never venture into any wild or unfamiliar environment without letting somebody know where you are going, whom you are going with, and when you expect to return. Devise a plan ahead of time for what should be done if you do not return as scheduled. If something should happen, you become sick or injured; you will have the peace of mind of knowing that officials will be notified to begin looking for you. This can mean the difference between life and death.
Whatever you are planning, be it camping, backpacking, river rafting, skiing, snow shoeing, fly-fishing, or just strolling, be conscious of the environment around you. Think about how much you love these activities, and the areas that they take place in. Respect these sacred spaces and preserve them for yourself as well as others. Wouldn't you like to return next year to find your favorite campsite in the same condition you found it the year before?
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