Avoid sites and trails that show slight signs of use. Campsites which show slight evidence of use are best left alone to regenerate. In places with no well established campsites, camp on a pristine site; in popular areas always select pre-existing campsites.

Avoid cross-country travel except in less popular areas. Even here, hikers often create faint trails without taking into account the damaging effects of erosion or the overall density of trails in the area. As with slightly used campsites, avoiding faint trails will allow the vegetation to recover eventually.

Allow time for recovery. Over the course of time and non use these campsites and trails will revegetate and revert back to their natural state. With care, both high-use areas and less popular locations will contain only essential campsites and trails.

Reduce litter at the source. When preparing for your trip, repackage food into reusable containers or remove any excess packaging. This simple practice lessens the chance that you will inadvertently leave litter behind.

Trash. Trash is the inorganic waste brought into the backcountry, usually from overly packaged products. It is best to pack out all your trash even if it appears burnable. Much of the “paper” pack aging used today is actually lined with non-burnable foil or plastic. Tin and aluminum cans, plastic, tin foil and glass must always be packed out.

Garbage. Garbage is organic waste leftover from cooking. This type of waste can be easily reduced by careful planning and preparation of meals. Food scraps should be picked up from around the kitchen area and packed out. Careful meal planning will reduce the amount of leftovers, but in the event you have some it should be either saved and eaten later or put in a plastic bag and packed out. Burning and burying this type of waste are improper methods of disposal. A very hot fire is required to burn food thoroughly, and animals will dig it up if buried. Keeping food waste from animals is important to keep them from becoming habituated to people or dependent upon unnatural food sources.

Consider the words “Leave No Trace” a challenge to take out everything possible that you brought into the backcountry.

Human waste. Proper disposal of human waste is important to avoid pollution of water sources, the spread of disease and the aesthetic consequences to those who might see it. Burying human feces in the correct location and manner is the most effective practice for avoiding these problems.

Contrary to popular opinion:, recent research indicates that burial of feces actually slows decomposition in most places. Pathogens have been discovered to survive for a year or more when buried. However, in light of the problems associated with feces left on the ground surface, burial is still the preferred practice. The slow decomposition rate emphasizes the need to choose correct locations for deposition, far from water, campsites and other frequently used places.

Catholes. The “cathole” method is the most widely accepted means of waste disposal. Locate catholes at least 200 feet (about 70 adult steps) from water, trails and camp. Select a site which is inconspicuous, where other people will be unlikely to walk or camp. With a small garden trowel dig a hole 6 to 8 inches deep and 4 inches in diameter. After use, the cathole should be covered with soil and disguised with natural materials. If camping in the area for more than 1 night cathole sites should be widely dispersed.

Latrines. Long-term or large group camping should follow a “concentration” approach to waste disposal. Use similar criteria for selecting a latrine location as those used to locate a cathole. To dig a latrine, start with a cathole and expand it in one direction to develop a trench as successive people use it. Soil dug from the trench is used to cover the feces. The latrine is not naturalized until the group leaves the area. Since this higher concentration of feces will decompose very slowly, location is especially important.

Toilet Paper. Use toilet paper sparingly and use only all-white, non-perfumed brands. Toilet paper must be disposed of properly! Either bury it in a cathole or place it in’plastic bags and pack it out. Toilet paper should not be burned. This practice used to be advocated in some areas but has resulted in numerous instances of forest fires, some of which have cost thousands of dollars to control. The low-impact camper willing to go the extra mile might consider foregoing toilet paper altogether and using “natural” altematives. Popular forms of natural toilet paper include oak or poplar leaves, stones and smooth sticks. Obviously some experimentation is necessary to make this practice work for you, but it is worth a try!

Urination. Urine has liHle direct effect on vegetation or soil. In fact, urine is a fertilizer if anything. Research has found that urine poses very liHle threat to human health. In some instances urine may draw wildlife which are attracted to the salts. They can defoliate plants and dig up soil. If concentrated in one place urine can become an aesthetic impact due to the odor.

Waste water from cooking. Soap is unnecessary for most dish washing jobs. It is often diMcult to rinse thoroughly and introduces unnatural chemicals to the backcountry. Hot water and a little elbow grease can tackle most cleaning chores. Waste water should be scaHered over a wide area away from camps and all water sources. Remove all food particles from the water before disposing of it and pack them out with excess food and other litter.

Waste water from washing. The primary consideration when washing yourself or your clothes is to avoid contamination of water supplies. Soap, even if biodegradeble must not enter lakes or streams, so it is best to minimize its use. If bathing with soap is necessary, get wet, lather up on shore far from water (200′) and rinse off with water carried in a pot. This procedure allows the soap to break down and filter through the soil before reaching any body of water. Clothes can be cleaned by thorough rinsing. Soap is not necessary, and residual soap can cause skin irritation.

Fishing and hunting. Fish viscera are generally a natural part of the ecosystem. In high-use areas consider bllrying them in a cathole to reduce the chance that other people will come across them. If you are just out fishing for the day, take your fish home to clean them and dispose of entrails there. In remote areas that receive little use, viscera can be scattered widely, out of sight and away from campsites. In bear country or where other animals might present a problem, keep fish odors safely downwind and away from people, trails and campsites, whether you scatter or bury the entrails. Do not throw viscera back into lakes and streams- the cool temperatures in most mountain waters prevent rapid decomposition.

If you are a hunter, be courteous to other hunters and backcountry visitors by field dressing game animals well away from trails and water. This will also help reduce encounters between people and scavenging wildlife. Some public lands do not allow hunting, and it is usually carefully regulated where it is permitted. If you have any doubt about an area in which you will be traveling, check with the local managing agency for regulations or suggested practices.

Minimize site alterations. On all sites, leave the area as you found it. Do not dig trenches for tents or construct lean-tos, tables, chairs or other rudimentary improvements. If you clear the area of surface rocks, twigs or pinecones, replace these items before leaving. On high-impact sites, it is appropriate to clean up the site and dismantle excessive user built facilities, such as multiple fire rings and constructed seats or tables. Consider the idea that good campsites are found and not made.

Single, properly-located legal fire rings, should be left intact for others to use. Dismantling them will cause additional impact, because in all probability they will be rebuilt with new rocks.

Avoid damaging live trees and plants. Avoid hammering nails into trees for hanging things, hacking at them with hatchets and saws, or girdling trunks with tent lines. The cutting of boughs for use as a sleeping pad creates minimal benefit and maximum impact. Inexpensive sleeping pads are readily available at stores catering to backcountry travelers.

Take a picture or sketch flowers instead of picking them. Enjoy an occasional edible plant, but be careful not to deplete the surrounding vegetation or to disturb plants that are either rare or do not reproduce in abundance.

Leave natural objects and cultural artifacts. Natural objects of beauty or interest, such as antlers or fossils should be left for others to discover and enjoy. In National Parks and some other areas it is illegal to remove some natural objects.

The same ethic is applicable to the discovery, disturbance or removal of cultural artifacts found on public land. Cultural artifacts are protected by the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, and it is illegal to remove artifacts from ANY public lands. This act protects all artifacts ranging from seemingly insignificant pot shards and arrowheads to ornate pots or clothing items.

1. Administrative restrictions
2. Wind conditions and overall fire danger
3. The availability of the right amount and type of firewood

Firewood selection and gathering. There is only one type of wood which is acceptable for building a low-impact campfire dead and downed wood. Do notbreak dead branches off any trees, live or dead. Broken branch stubs and scars are obvious, long lasting impacts.

The size of firewood is critical to building a Leave No Trace fire. Firewood should be no larger in diameter than an adult’s wrist so it will burn completely and can be broken by hand. Collect loose sticks and branches from the ground.

Firewood should be gathered away from camp so the im mediate vicinity does not look unnaturally barren. Take the time to walk 15 or 20 minutes away, or if you’re traveling by canoe, paddle a good distance from camp and then begin to gather the wood. Pick up the wood as you are walking so that no single place becomes denuded.

In all campfire situations, the use of saws, axes and hatchets is unnecessary. Sawing and chopping leave more impact and further detract from the naturalness of the area. Firewood can easily be gathered by hand.

Care and feeding of your fire. Keep the wood in its natural lengths. When feeding the fire, break the wood into burnable lengths as needed. If there is any unburned wood left when breaking camp it can be scattered around the forest and will blend in naturally.

All firewood should be burned down to white ash or very small coals. Doing this may require some extra time, but is a significant step in minimizing the impact of the fire. All fires should be cleaned up before breaking camp.

Fires in high-use areas. In high-use areas, where impacts should be concentrated, campfires can be built in existing fire rings if there is sufficient firewood. In these sites, it is almost certain that there will be a fire ring present when you arrive.

In popular campsites encourage others to use the same fire ring by leaving it clean. Remove any residual trash and burn all wood completely to ashes. When completely out, crush any cooled charcoal and scatter the material over a large area away from camp. This helps avoid the proliferation of multiple fire rings in a popular site.

Fires in pristine areas. In remote or pristine areas,itispossible to enjoy a fire and Leave No Trace that it was ever there. The developmentof techniques for these types of fires has evolved over the years to the point that there are some very practical alternatives to the traditional fire ring.

The heat from fires or stoves can cause impact, but so, too, can the concentrated trampling of people cooking or socializing. Take care to select a durable site for any use of fire. The mound fire An innovative method for building a Leave No Trace fire is the mound fire. Mound fires can be built virtually anywhere and with simple tools: a garden trowel, large stuff sack and a ground cloth.

Construction of this type of fire begins by first locating a ready source of mineral soil, sand or gravel. Gather the mineral soil from a spot which is already disturbed by natural forces and where the impact of digging and collecting the mineral soil will not damage live vegetation. Sand or small gravel collected from stream beds or lakeshores provide examples.

With the garden trowel and stuff sack (turned inside out to keep the inside of the bag from getting dirtyj, carry a load of mineral soil to the fire site. Lay a tarp or ground cloth on the fire site and then spread the soil into a circular, flat-topped mound about 6 -8 inches thick. The ground cloth is important only in that it makes cleaning up the fire much easier and adds some degree of flexibility to the system.

The thickness of the mound is critical for insulating the surface underneath from the heat of the fire. This will also prevent the ground cloth from melting. The circumference of the mound should be larger than the size of the fire to allow for the inevitable spreading of coals. It may take more than one bag of soil to make an adequate mound.

After the fire is out and you are ready to break camp, the little bit of ash and coals which are left can be scattered away from camp and the mineral soil returned to the source.

The advantage of the mound fire is that it can be built on flat exposed bedrock or on an organic surface such as litter, duff or grass. Even with a thick mound, sometimes the heat generated can be enough to kill grass or other plants, but it is only temporary and does not sterilize the soil the way a traditional fire can.

Portable fire pans: Another alternative is the portable fire pan, a metal tray with rigid sides at least three inches high. Fire pans were first used by river runners to minimize the impact of their fires, but they are becoming increasingly popular with backpackers and horse packers. Metal oil drain pans and backyard barbeque grills make effective and inexpensive fire pans, though a few outdoor companies are beginning to market lightweight versions. When using a fire pan, elevate the pan or line it with mineral soil so the heat does not scorch the ground.

Repackage food. Plan your meals carefully and repackage food into reusable containers or plastic bags. This will reduce the amount of potential trash or litter you bring into the backcountry, and carefully planned rations reduce waste from leftovers.

Equipment. Taking the proper equipment can help you to Leave No Trace. For example, gaiters that protect your feet and boots will allow you to stay on the main trail when it is wet or muddy. Lightweight campstoves, free-standing tents and water carrying containers allow the flexibility to camp in the most impact resistant site available. A small garden trowel is practically indispensable for digging a minimum-impact cathole.

Brightly colored clothes and equipment have limited advantages in the backcountry, despite their great appearance in store windows. To minimize the likelihood that others will see you and your camp, wear and carry earth-colored clothes and equipment, particularly tents. Carry binoculars and long camera lenses to observe or photograph wildlife from an unobtrusive distance. Expectations and Knowledge of the Area. Taking some time to think about what you expect from your trip will help you prepare for it. If you know the area you are visiting is remote and sees few visitors then you should be prepared to camp in pristine areas and practice stringent Leave No Trace techniques. Remember that some areas do not allow camping in pristine areas. Conversely, in popular, highly visited areas you can expect to see more people and should camp in existing campsites.

If possible:, visit the backcountry in small groups during seasons or days of the week when use levels are low. This should be tempered with a concern for avoiding travel when the environment is particularly fragile (for example, during the rainy season when trails are muddy). By visiting less popular areas, contact with others will be minimized, and the opportunities for viewing wild life will be enhanced. Keep in mind that visits to seldom used places require an extra commitment to minimize impact by traveling quietly and lightly on the land.

Respect other visitors’ need for solitude. When traveling in the backcountry, care is required to minimize disturbance of other visitors. The feeling of solitude is enhanced when contacts are infrequent, party size is small and behavior is unobtrusive.

Respect the needs of wildlife. By traveling quietly you will be more aware of your environment, and you will see more wildlife. Birds and other animals need space to feel secure, so do not force them to flee. After all, the backcountry is their home, and you are a visitor. When tracking wildlife for a photograph or a closer look, stay downwind, avoid sudden movement and never chase or charge any animal. Give wildlife plenty of room, for their safety and yours.

Hike on existing trails. Impacts on wildlife, soil and vegetation can be minimized by walking on established trails. Many plants and animals are threatened with extinction in the Southeast due to the widespread destruction of their habitats. By staying on trail you can avoid disturbing most sensitive species that remain on protected public lands.

When following existing trails, walk single file on the designated path. Walking outside the established tread, to walk abreast or to avoid rocks or mud, breaks down the trail edge and widens the trail. It can also lead to the development of multiple trails. Muddy stretches and puddles should be crossed rather than skirted to avoid creation of additional paths. Shortcutting switchbacks saves little time and causes erosion and gullies.

Horses in the backcountry. When you meet a stock party on the trail, allow them plenty of room as stock are frightened easily. The entire hiking party should move off to the same side of the trail, if possible the downhill side, and talk in a low voice until the animals pass. Talking to riders as they approach gives animals advance notice of your presence and reassures them you are human.

If you plan to travel by horse in the backcountry, take time before your trip to learn techniques for minimizing impacts related to yourself and your animal. Always ride single file and be sure your animals stay on trails at all times. Water horses at natural fords or low places along stream banks. Horses can do a great deal of damage on steep slopes. Another common impact from horses is tree damage. Interestingly, impacts associated with tying a horse to a tree are usually from the animal stomping or pawing the tree’s roots rather than from the line used to tie him to the tree. If you are just taking a short rest break, consider holding your horse. If you plan to spend some time in an area (a half-day or more), secure animals with a highline. If you must tie to a tree, be sure the tree you select is mature (at least eight inches in diameter) and keep your stay brief.

All users need to work together on the common goal to Leave No Trace. Being considerate of others and practicing good camp and trail etiquette ensures that everyone enjoys their visit.

Choosing a high-use campsite. Selecting an appropriate campsite is perhaps the most important aspect of low-impact backcountry use. It requires the greatest use of judgment and information and often involves making trade-offs between minimizing ecological and social impacts. A decision about where to camp should be based on information about the level and type of use in the area, the fragility of vegetation and soil, the likelihood of wildlife disturbance, an assessment of previous impacts and your party’s familiarity with Leave No Trace techniques.

It is best to camp on sites that are so highly impacted that further use will cause no additional disturbance. In popular areas these sites are obvious because they have already lost their vegetation cover. It may also be possible to find a site which naturally lacks significant vegetation cover, such as an area of exposed bedrock or leaf litter beneath a dense forest canopy. Pick a site which has a very low slope-level sites have problems with ponding and sites on steeper slopes are highly susceptible to erosion once vegetation and surfacelitteraregone.Neverscrapeawayor “clean”sitesoforganic litter-such litter helps to cushion trampling forces, limits compactablility of soils, attracts/feeds earthworms which loosen the soil, releases plant nutrients and reduces the erosive forces of rainfall and water runoff.

If possible, avoid camping within 200 feet of water and trails and select a site which is not visible to others. Even in popular areas the sense of solitude can be enhanced by choosing a more out-of the-way site or a site with good natural screening which limits your visibility. Allow enough time and energy at the end of the day to select an appropriate site. Tiredness, bad weather and lateness of the day are poor reasons to cause avoidable impacts. In some river corridors in the Southeast, geography may dictate your campsite selection. If it is impossible to camp 200 feet from a stream, then carefully weigh all other factors to select the most appropriate site. As always, know what the regulations say about campsite selection.

Tents, traffic routes and kitchen areas should be concentrated on already impacted areas and trails. Confine your activities to places which already show obvious signs of use, and avoid enlarging this area of disturbance or developing new satellite use areas. Wear soft shoes around camp. When leaving make sure your camp is clean so it will appeal to campers who follow.

Hike in small groups. The impacts associated with cross country travel are minimized when group size is small, routes are carefully selected to avoid fragile terrain and critical wildlife habitat, and special care is taken to avoid disturbance. If you are traveling with a large group, hike in groups of no more than 4-6 people.

Confine cross-country travel to areas with grassy vegetation cover (which is resistant to trampling) or to areas with little or no vegetation cover. Avoid travel in areas with significant cover of broad-leafed herbs or ferns as these growth forms are more susceptible to trampling damage. Off-trail travel is also undesirable where established trails exist, where vegetation shows signs of trampling, on steep and unstable slopes, and in places where wildlife disturbance is likely.

Spread out while hiking. When traveling cross-country it is generally best to spread out rather than have everyone follow the same route. This will minimize the amount of trampling any place receives and avoid the creation of new trails. In some places it is not practical to spread out; avoid such routes if incipient paths are developing.

Choosing a pristine campsite. When selecting an undisturbed site, choose one that has little or no vegetation cover or a durable vegetation cover such as grasses. Camp away from trails, other campers, lakes, streams and critical wildlife habitat. Avoid “beauty spots” that might attract other campers. Select a site well away from high-impact areas that shows no evidence of previous use and is unlikely to be used after you leave. Durability of the ground surface is the most important consideration in determining exactly where to set up tents and the kitchen. Forest duff is acceptable if it is possible to avoid crushing any plants or seedlings. Grassy areas and dry meadows can also make good pristine campsites. They are quite durable and recover rapidly from the effects of one night of low-impact use. When deciding whether or not to camp in a meadow, consider whether you will impact other users or wildlife.

Camping in remote areas. On pristine sites it is best to spread out tents, avoid repetitive traffic routes and move camp every night. The objective is to minimize the number of times any part of the site is trampled. In setting up camp, disperse tents and the kitchen on durable sites. Wear soft shoes around camp. Minimize activity around the kitchen and places where packs are stashed, and watch where you walk to avoid crushing vegetation. Take alternate paths to water and minimize the number of trips by carrying water containers. Avoid using the same general area for more than one night.

When breaking camp:, take time to naturalize the site. Covering scuffed up areas with native materials (such as leaf litter or pine needles), brushing out footprints and raking matted grassy areas with a stick will help the site recover and make it less obvious as a campsite. This extra effort will help hide any indication that you camped there and make it less likely that other backcountry travelers will camp in the same spot. The less often a remote campsite is used, the better chance it has of retaining its pristine qualities.

Where bears are present, carefully follow the practices listed below. If a bear encounter occurs, it should be reported to the appropriate wildlife agency or land management office.

Watch for signs of bears such as tracks, scat, claw marks, and diggings. It is best to move to another campsite if any recent bear activity is seen.

Store food so it’s unavailable and uninviting to any wild animals. This includes dry and canned items, garbage, tobacco, pet food, and scented or flavored toiletries. Double bagging food in plastic bags is highly recommended to reduce odors. Under no circumstances should used toilet paper or feminine hygiene products be left in personal gear or stored near sleeping areas.

The most widely used method of storage is to hang food at least 10-12 feet off the ground and four to five feet away from the trunks of trees. If local guidelines recommend that you increase these distances, consider it good advice and do so. The goal is to keep bears-very agile and often quite deter mined-from detecting and accessing food. Even if food is hung as recommended, bears may still reach it.

Light-weight, bear-resistant containers are a promising new equipment item. Check with local land managers or sporting goods shops for local availability. Place kitchens and food at least 100 feet downwind of tents, trails, other camps, and facilities such as outhouses or shelters. This will allow you to monitor any situation that might occur, but from a safe distance. Practice hanging food at home to make sure you can do it competently and that you have the right ropes and other equipment.

Avoid foods with strong odors, such as bacon or tuna, that can attract bears. Leftovers will have a strong scent and should be sealed in doubled plastic bags and hung or stored with the food. Keep your kitchen clean.

Food should not be taken into the tent. Keep clothing free of food odors. Do not wipe your hands on them while cooking and/or store with the food the clothes you’ve worn while cooking.

Use a sump hole for depositing gray water from cleaning dishes. This is a hole dug similarly to a cathole that is re-covered after use. Sump holes concentrate waste water and associated food odor, localizing it in the kitchen, rather than broadcasting it over a larger area.

At established sites, use existing fire rings. These help concentrate the impact associated with fires and keep surrounding areas in more natural condition. Constructing new rock rings for campfires or building fires against boulders or ledges is inappropriate as it blackens rocks and disturbs underlying soils. If you choose to have a fire where there are no existing fire rings, you must take the extra responsibility to learn and practice stringent Leave No Trace techniques, such as those outlined below.

Portable Fire Pans: Fire pans are metal trays with sides high enough (over three inches) to contain wood and ashes. They were first used by river runners and are becoming increasingly popular with backpackers and horsepackers. Metal oil drain pans and backyard barbecue grills make effective and inexpensive fire pans. A few outdoor companies market light weight versions. The pan should be lined with several inches of inorganic soil, or propped up on small rocks to protect the ground from heat.

Mound Fires: A platform or mound of mineral soil-which contains little or no decomposing organic material-can be built as a fire pad and later easily disguised. First locate a naturally occurring source of mineral soil or sand, such as the hole left by a tree’s roots when it blows over, or large stream courses where sand or fine gravel has been deposited along the banks. Use pots or a stuff sack to carry the dirt to the fire site.

Build a circular, flat-topped fire platform, six to eight inches thick and about two feet across, with the mineral soil. A tarp or ground cloth should be laid down beneath the soil to facilitate clean-up. The thickness of the mound is critical for insulating the ground cloth and surface underneath from the heat. Once the fire is out and cold, the leftover ashes can be scattered widely and the mineral soil returned to its source, which is then “brushed up” to eliminate signs that it was disturbed.

The advantage of this type of fire is that it can be built on durable surfaces such as flat exposed rock or ledge, or on a non vegetated surface, such as leaf litter or pine needles, without damage to the surface or soil. However, it is less desirable than a fire pan, because the mineral soil must be moved, and sources of such soil are sometimes difficult to locate.

Pit Fires: In the past, fire pits dug out of sod were a recommended low-impact technique. However, even by carefully watering and replacing the sod plug, these sites subside over time, leaving a noticeably disturbed area. The pit fire technique should no longer be used.