Every summer thousands of backpackers head into the wilderness. Some parks, like Yosemite, become seemingly impassable between June and August. All that activity takes a toll on the wilderness and on what you see when you get there. Here are a few tips on how to camp a little greener.

1. Before leaving home, strip the packaging from your food items. You can re-pack everything in zip-lock freezer bags that will last for many trips and can double as garbage bags on the way out of the woods.
2. When hiking, stay on the trail. Cutting through from one part of a winding switchback to another creates erosion and can destroy fragile plant life.
3. Camp in established sites. If there are none, then camp in an unobtrusive area at least 200 feet (70 paces) away from the nearest water source.
4. Don't put soap into the water. If you need to use soap, bring the water to you. Even though some soaps say they are biodegradable, they should still not be used in streams or lakes.
5. It's best to cook on a small, lightweight camp stove. If you must have a fire, use established fire rings, and keep the fire small. Collect only fallen wood (if even that is allowed), and don't bother with anything you can't break with your own hands.
6. When it's time to go, and you are out of range of a latrine, find a secluded place at least 200 feet from the nearest water source. Dig a hole 4 to 6 inches deep and do your business.
7. It ain't pleasant, but toilet paper should either be burned or packed out. If you pack your toilet paper out, put a small piece of an ammonia-soaked sponge in your bag to help kill bacteria and odor.
8. Scour your campsite before packing up. Leave no litter behind.
9. When in doubt, try to leave the wilderness as you'd want to see it.

Recommended reading:

Leave No Trace: A Practical Guide To The New Wilderness Ethic by Annette McGivney (Mountaineers Books)
Leave No Trace: Minimum Impact Outdoor Recreation by Will Harmon (Falcon Publishing Company).

© 2007 Green Home, Inc.