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( or, How to keep others from knowing you were there)
Travelling through the wilderness and leaving only the temporary imprint of your footsteps may at first seem impossible. But such is not the case. There are simple and easy ways to leave the wilderness the way it was before you arrived, sometimes even better. Much is just plain common sense. By following the tips in this checklist, your travels could be as traceless as those of the wildlife you see.
Planning to keep it Wild:
To leave an area without human trace takes planning.
Plan your meals and tent requirements in advance, making sure you will be self-sufficient. Intending to live off the land can lead to serious consequences – the worst being starvation. Repackage items in sturdy, odour-proof plastic bags or other containers to reduce wilderness rubbish and bear-attracting odours. Add extra plastic bags to your supply to contain leftovers, rubbish, etc. Choose boots with good grip but shallow treads as they are less damaging to plant cover than boots with deep, penetrating 'lugs'; especially important in fragile or heavy-use areas. Know the regulations and plan accordingly. Like most of the US, the Parks we are visiting have laws to conserve fish, wildlife and wilderness.
When Hiking:
Once out in the backcountry, there are other minimum impact practices to keep in mind. For the hiker, most considerations relate to keeping ground vegetation healthy and intact so that plants recover quickly from footsteps.
Stay on existing trail, if possible. The impact has already happened. But if the trail is one used by wildlife, be alert! Otherwise you may be an unwelcome surprise for the bear around the next corner. Watch for tracks and make noise, especially if travelling in dense bush, near noisy streams, around corners, over hills, or upwind. Walk in single file to prevent widening the trail. Where there are no trails, select a route over the most durable terrain such as creek beds, sand or rocky areas. Try to avoid steep,
loose slopes and wet terrain. Spread out as your group walks over delicate plant-life such as you find in alpine meadows. Plants on steep or wet areas, especially with fine-grained soils, are also vulnerable.
Selecting and Setting Up Camp
Your campsite – even an overnight stop – can leave a lasting impression on the land and a lasting impression on the next wilderness enthusiast. To avoid a negative impression on both, keep these thoughts in mind:
Start looking for a sight early. This allows time for you to be selective and avoids the need to alter a site by slashing brush or cutting trees.
Choose an area that is hardy. Plants that can best sustain the impact of camping are generally those living on coarse-grained, well-drained, fairly level soils.
Try to keep access routes to water and other commonly used places as inconspicuous as possible. A steep trail down a river bank will be an eyesore for years and could have been avoided by a slightly longer, gently sloping route.
Cutting trees and building tables, shelters or other structures may seem thoughtful and handy, but how do they help to maintain a wilderness setting for the next visitor?
Keeping it Clean
What to do with rubbish and other 'unwanteds' can be a perplexing concern for one who values wilderness and its wild inhabitants. But there are ways for disposing of virtually everything, although you may sometimes have to do the disposing back at base or in Anchorage! The benefits are obvious for you, the wildlife, and for future wilderness travellers.
Wash your dishes in a container. Then drain the dishwater into a hole well away from tents and water bodies. Then the dishwater will have a chance to filter through the soil. But don't forget to fill the hole with dirt before you leave. These practices help to reduce food odours, potential contamination of water supplies and unsightly scraps washed up on shorelines. Any other washing where soap or shampoo is used should also be done well away from water. Otherwise it will contaminate and otherwise pure stream, lake or river. Burn unwanted food leftovers and 'scrapings' from pots and dishes in a hot campfire, otherwise you may help convert wildlife, especially bears, into dangerous nuisances. If a campfire is not possible, put all your food debris in a sturdy, airtight container to be burned at your next fire or to be packed out.
For short term camps and small groups, or when travelling, human faeces is best disposed of by digging a shallow hole in the soil with the heel of your boot. Use the soil you have dug out to cover things afterwards.
If your group is large and plans to remain in one area for an extended time, use a latrine. Build it at least 50 metres away from water and approximately 30 centimetres deep. Throwing earth into the latrine after each use will help in decomposition. Toilet paper and other combustible items should be burned or packed
out. Otherwise they may be dug up by animals and left despoiling the landscape. Burn tin cans in the fire to remove animal attracting odours then crush to a compact size and pack them out. Burying cans is not effective because animals often dig them up. Do a final sweep before you leave camp. Small items such as twist ties or bits of plastic are easy to overlook.
Using Stoves and Campfires:
Certain areas have blackened circles of rocks and other campfire -related debris. Where use of one particular site is common – such as along a major waterway – it's best to utilise the fire circle that is there. If there is more than one, eliminate the others if you can. In other less used areas, the following practices will help to leave wilderness for others:
Camp stoves should always be used, in areas where fires are prohibited, where a fire hazard exists, or where there is no available deadwood. Build new campfires on mineral soil and away from overhanging trees, dry vegetation or root systems. Use only dry, dead wood. Dead spruce boughs are great fire starters and dead, dry willow burns hot and with a mild smoke. Collect only what you need and take your wood from different locations. Disperse any that is left before you leave camp. Since saw cuts on stumps
are sure signs that someone has been there before, try to be discrete when cutting with a saw if it is necessary at all. Burn wood down to ash before extinguishing your fire. Then stir and drench the site until you feel no hot spots with a bare hand. Collect any refuse, then scatter the ashes and blackened rocks. Within a few weeks, few would know you were there.
Wildlife Viewing
Opportunities to view wildlife are often the thrill of backcountry travel. By giving the animals ample space and distance, and remaining quiet and still, you minimise the animal's stress. These precautions will help you to enjoy sightings with far less risk to yourself or the animal:
Binoculars and telephoto lenses (300 mm or more) are the best methods for observing and recording wildlife. They allow you to watch an animal's natural behaviour from a safe distance. If the animal notices
you, you're probably too close and causing undue stress. You may also be in great danger. So learn all you can about your subject beforehand. Always avoid establishing campsites where there are signs of obvious
wildlife use. Nesting, denning, feeding or rutting sites are just a few examples. Keep alert for concentrations of tracks, odours of rotting meat, or disturbed wildlife. Avoid the temptation to follow a fleeing or retreating animal. You may be separating a mother from her young, depleting and animal's energy reserves, or getting yourself into a dangerous situation. Be especially wary of what may seem to be orphaned young. In all likelihood the mother is nearby. Any attempts to 'help' could elicit a protective attack from the mother – whether owl, moose or grizzly! It's best to let the laws of the wilderness take their course.
Setting a Good Example
Removing evidence of previous travellers helps to maintain natural wilderness and leaves only good examples behind. Ways you can help are:
Pack out any non-biodegradable rubbish that you find. Erase unnecessary fire pits. Disassemble any bush-crafted structures which detract from a wilderness feeling and use the remains for firewood. If a fire is not possible, disperse the wood.
NOTE:
Be sure that you are not destroying any historically significant feature or private property.