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neck of the woods | theatreors
t he g o o d l if e | g r eat out do

LEAVE NO TRACE

by bryant helgeland

huge part of what makes the backcountry fun to explore and DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY
enjoy is the fact that it is still wild. As backcountry travel
becomes more popular, so too should the principles of Leave Proper disposal of human waste is particularly important in order to
A Trace (LNT). Unless we all collectively agree to adopt and maximize decomposition and minimize the likelihood of someone else
No
apply the seven principles of LNT, the wilderness will cease to be wild, finding, spreading disease, or contaminating water sources. In narrow
which is what drew us there in the first place. Those principles are: river canyons solid human waste should be packed out. Products like
Restop utilize a triple layer barrier and waste activated gelling agent
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare to neutralize and breakdown waste within the bag. The system can be
used for both solid and liquid human waste. Rafting trips generally
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces utilize some sort of “groover” system for collection and storage of
human waste until proper disposal at cleaning stations which are gen-
3. Dispose of Waste Properly erally located at take-out spots. The most commonly used backcountry
method of disposal for solid human waste is referred to as a “cat hole.”
4. Leave What You Find As with all liquids, soaps, and dishwater, cat holes should be more than
200 feet away from camp or a water source.
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND
6. Respect Wildlife
This one seems pretty self-explanatory. Minimize site alterations,
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors don’t build new fire rings, leave the ones you find as is, and don’t dam-
age live trees or plants.
Let’s dive into each one individually.
MINIMIZE CAMPFIRE IMPACTS
PLAN AHEAD AND PREPARE:
First off…do you need one? Stoves are generally a way better way
Where are you planning to go? Have you been there before? Do you to cook your food. They are fast, flexible, don’t need wood, and will
have a map of the area? Will you be on public or private land? Do you work in almost any weather condition. In our region during many
know where the public land boundaries are? Do you know how to months of the year, they are also the only available option to cook your
read a map? Do you know how to use a compass? Do your abilities and food due to fire restrictions and wildfire danger. I happen to like fresh
skillset match your trip goal? What will the climate/weather be like air year-round rather than not being able to breathe or see across the
while you are there? What kind of terrain will you encounter? Do you street for months on end almost every summer.
need a permit? Are fires restricted?

TRAVEL AND CAMP ON DURABLE SURFACES

How will the surface or vegetation withstand wear? Natural surfaces
respond very differently to wear and trampling. Rocks, sand, and gravel
all are highly durable surfaces for camping or travel. Lichen that grows
on rocks, however, is not. Snow and ice are also very durable surfaces
due to their temporary and seasonal nature, as long as depth is sufficient
to prevent damage to the underlying vegetation. Dry grasses tend to
be pretty resilient to trampling because the green grasses that regrow
are unaffected. Wet grasses are a different story. When travelling in wet
grasses, camps should be dispersed. When travelling as a group off trail,
individuals should avoid hiking single file to prevent forming a new trail.

72 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | fall 2020