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Wilderness provides a unique and wild experience for most of us, but our responsibilities as outdoor enthusiasts have changed from earlier days because of an increasing population, increased use in wilderness and an increased awareness of our impacts to these wild places. Backcountry visitors are coming to the realization that some of our favorite spots in wilderness are being loved to death. The "Leave No Trace" ethic you project as wilderness visitors may influence the wild nature of wilderness along with the behavior of other visitors. Leave No Trace is a set of principles and practices developed by instructors of the National Outdoor Leadership School in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service. These practices will help to minimize the impacts we see in our favorite areas of wilderness.
Leave No Trace information is also available at many commercial recreation equipment and tack outlets and the Wallowa Mountains Visitor Center offers videos, slide shows, and printed materials. The information below describes some of these principles and practices.
Plan Ahead and Prepare
Get information about your trip and route of travel from land managers.
Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you plan to visit, purchase a map.
Repackage food into reusable and lightweight containers.
Proper planning and preparation will reduce impacts on the ground.
Travel
In high use areas walk or ride on established trails when possible.
Prevent erosion, trail widening and/or multiple trails from forming by using existing tread, please don't cut switchbacks.
In remote areas prevent the development of trails by traveling cross-country.
When passing a large group or a pack string pull off the trail to the down hill side.
If traveling with dogs keep them under control at all times.
Campsites A good campsite is found, not made!
A good campsite is found, not made. Use existing campsites in high use areas that are at least 100 feet from lakes, streams, or trails.
Choose sites that are well drained, dry grass, exposed bedrock, sandy, or duffy areas.
In very remote areas, spread activities out (tents, kitchen, etc.), move camp each night.
Camp at least 100 feet away from watering holes, lakes and if possible streams.
Naturalize the campsite before you leave.
Remove all structures like meat poles, extra fire rings, and hitching rails.
Fishing and Hunting
In high-use areas bury fish entrails in a cathole, away from campsites.
If fishing for just the day, clean fish at home.
In remote areas fish entrails can be spread widely, out of sight.
If you are a hunter, field dress game animals well away from trails, water, and campsite.
Pack It In, Pack It Out
Pack out everything you brought in with you.
Protect your food and wildlife by storing rations securely.
Remember aluminum foil won't burn completely and animals dig up buried trash.
Sanitation 200 feet from streams
Bury human waste in catholes 4-8" deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, and trails.
Cover and disguise the cathole. Do not leave toilet paper on the ground.
Bathe and wash at least 200 feet from all water sources. Use only small amounts of biodegradable soap.
Scatter dishwater away from lakes and streams after all food particles have been removed.
Campfires
Stoves may be the best option. Campfires, firerings and wood collection can scar the backcountry. Some areas are now closed to campfires due to heavy use and the impacts caused by gathering firewood.Proper fire-building technique
If you choose to build a fire, use an established fire ring.
If no fire ring exists, use a firepan, a fire cloth, or build a mound fire.
Collect only dead and down wood, or bring your own. Burn wood entirely.
Remove unburned trash from the fire ring and pack it out.
Leave What You Find
Allow others a sense of discovery by leaving rocks, plants, and archeological artifacts where you find them.
Avoid damaging live trees by not hammering nails into trees or hacking at them.
Special Concerns For Backcountry Stock Users
For some of us traveling in the backcountry just wouldn't be the same without our faithful companions, our horses. Our horses however, take some special considerations or they can have a lasting impact on the land as well as the future. Use of Leave No Trace camping guidelines will form a positive image of all stock users and help ensure that your unique wilderness experience will be available to you and future generations.
Training and Planning Ahead
Take only the minimum number of animals necessary.
Take only animals which are fit, calm, experienced.
Practice at home the techniques to be used in the backcountry before heading out i.e. electric fences, highlines, hobbles. Be sure that all equipment fits properly.
Use lightweight equipment. Cut down on bulk where you can.
Clean tack, saddle pads and pack gear to prevent transportation of weeds. Brush your stock and inspect manes and tails for any weed seeds before entering wilderness.
When bringing feed into the backcountry use pelleted or cubed forage and/or certified weed-free feed.
Take insect repellent and a proper backcountry first aid kit for your animals.
Stock Containment Methods
Horses should spend the shortest amount of time possible in camp; only enough to load and unload. Stock should be tied to trees only for short periods of time, less than one hour. If you do tie up while loading and unloading stock select a live tree at least 8" in diameter. If a nervous horse paws while tied, hobble it to protect vegetation, trees and tree roots.A portable electric fence
Use an electric fence, highline, hobbles, pickets, a temporary hitchline, or allow your stock to free roam.
The key to stock containment is to remember that more confinement can generally be equated to more impact and restless behavior. For example, horses in a portable electric fence do less damage than a horse that is picketed or highlined. The electric fence method, if used correctly, is unique in that it will help to protect the resource and keep stock content. This method allows animals room to naturally graze, and move freely about. Build a large fence the size of a pasture you may have at home using about 500 feet of fencing wire. The fence is adaptable. It can be placed around trees, water bodies, or work in conjunction with natural barriers. A small fence the size of a corral will only cause stock to be unhappy and resource damage will occur. Pay special attention to grazing impacts as overgrazing can happen quickly.
If using a high line try using tree saver straps or cinches to protect the tree from girdling.
Check your stock often while they are contained both for their safety and the safety of the resource. Rotate grazing areas before any sign of resource damage has occurred.
A well fed, well watered horse that is allowed to roll and rinse off sweat will be more content and less apt to paw or dig, no matter what grazing restraint is used.
Supplemental Feed Supplemental Feed
In some areas, forage is limited depending on the site and time of year.
Bring weed free feed (processed grains, pellets, pack cubes, weed free hay).
Feed your animals weed free hay and feed, one day prior to your trip to prevent the transportation of weeds in horse manure.
A small ration of feed can be used as a bribe to remind stock that camp is home.
As an alternative to placing feed on the ground, consider putting it is a nose bag or on a manti.
Leave meadows in the best possible condition for those who follow and so plants can recover from grazing pressures.
Watering Horses
Wet marshy areas, streambanks, ponds and lake edges are very susceptible to trampling, bank erosion and pollution. Water your horses at an established ford or low rocky spot in the bank where little damage will occur.
Breaking Camp
Fill in any pawed holes with dirt.
Broadcast needles and cones over disturbed areas.
Kick meadow muffins, to break manure down faster.
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