TRAVEL AND CAMP ON DURABLE SURFACES BRUCE CANNON LNT MASTER EDUCATOR COUNCIL OUTDOOR ETHICS ADVOCATE

OBJECTIVES: To identify factors that affect durability. To identify factors that affect durability. To understand what constitutes a durable surface. To understand what constitutes a durable surface. To explain how to minimize your impact in both popular and pristine areas. To explain how to minimize your impact in both popular and pristine areas.

Factors That Affect Durability The ability of surfaces or vegetation to withstand wear or remain in stable condition. The ability of surfaces or vegetation to withstand wear or remain in stable condition. Frequency of use (or group size). Frequency of use (or group size).

Durable Surfaces Established trails and campsites Established trails and campsites Rock Rock Gravel Gravel Sand Sand Grasses Grasses Snow and ice Snow and ice

1000 passes Resistance and Resilience of Forbs 0 passes 250 passes 1 mo. later Forest forbs generally have low resistance and resilience.

1000 passes Resistance and Resilience of Grasses 0 passes 250 passes 1 mo. later Grasses generally have high resistance and resilience.

TRAVEL IN POPULAR AREAS Stay on the trail. Stay on the trail. Stay in the middle of the trail, even in muddy stretches. Stay in the middle of the trail, even in muddy stretches. Don’t take shortcuts on switchbacks. Don’t take shortcuts on switchbacks.

Travel in Pristine Areas Disperse impact. Disperse impact. Walk abreast instead of single file. Walk abreast instead of single file. Travel on most durable surface possible. Travel on most durable surface possible. Avoid cryptobiotic soil/crust. Avoid cryptobiotic soil/crust.

Camping on Durable Surfaces In High Use/Popular Areas. In High Use/Popular Areas. In Pristine/Remote Areas. In Pristine/Remote Areas.

Use-Impact Relationships: A Campsite Example Nights/Year Total Change (%) Vegetation LossSoil ExposureLitter Loss Seedling LossSoil Density The majority of most types of impact occur at low use levels

Factors Determining Choice of Camp Site Level of previous impacts. Level of previous impacts. Durability of vegetation and soil. Durability of vegetation and soil. Likelihood of wildlife disturbance. Likelihood of wildlife disturbance. Your party’s potential for impact. Your party’s potential for impact. Party size. Party size. Understanding of LNT principles. Understanding of LNT principles. Camping style. Camping style. Foot vs horse vs bicycles Foot vs horse vs bicycles Tents vs hammocks Tents vs hammocks

Camping in High Use Areas 200 feet from water and trails. 200 feet from water and trails. Use established/designated sites. Use established/designated sites. Concentrate tents, kitchen and traffic routes. Concentrate tents, kitchen and traffic routes. Kitchen should be on the most durable surface. Kitchen should be on the most durable surface.

Camping in High Use Areas Confine impact to places that already show use. Confine impact to places that already show use. Avoid enlarging the area of disturbance. Avoid enlarging the area of disturbance. When leaving camp: When leaving camp: Be sure it’s clean. Be sure it’s clean. Remove all evidence of effects of fire, cooking and human waste. Remove all evidence of effects of fire, cooking and human waste.

Camping in Pristine/Remote Areas Disperse tents and kitchen on most durable surfaces. Disperse tents and kitchen on most durable surfaces. Minimize activity around kitchen. Minimize activity around kitchen. Minimize travel to/from water, kitchen, tents and packs. Minimize travel to/from water, kitchen, tents and packs. Wear soft shoes around camp to reduce impact on vegetation and compaction of soil. Wear soft shoes around camp to reduce impact on vegetation and compaction of soil. Stay only one night. Stay only one night.

Leaving Pristine Campsite Naturalize the site. Naturalize the site. Help the site recover. Help the site recover. Prevent others from recognizing it as a campsite. Prevent others from recognizing it as a campsite. Cover scuffed areas with native materials. Cover scuffed areas with native materials. Brush out tracks. Brush out tracks. Rake grassy areas with a stick. Rake grassy areas with a stick. Fluff up forest duff where you slept. Fluff up forest duff where you slept.

Camping in Arid Lands Use established sites if possible. Use established sites if possible. Otherwise, use only non-vegetated surfaces. Otherwise, use only non-vegetated surfaces. Rock, gravel and/or sand. Rock, gravel and/or sand. Avoid cryptobiotic soil. Avoid cryptobiotic soil. Avoid wet or dry rivers/streambeds due to: Avoid wet or dry rivers/streambeds due to: Danger of flash floods. Danger of flash floods. Impact on wildlife. Impact on wildlife.

Camping in River Corridors Use designated sites only. Use designated sites only. Beaches. Beaches. Sandbars. Sandbars. Non-vegetated sites below the high water line. Non-vegetated sites below the high water line.

Summary: In both heavily used and in pristine areas, travel and camp in such a way as to cause the least impact on the land. In both heavily used and in pristine areas, travel and camp in such a way as to cause the least impact on the land.