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Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Know the
regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
- Prepare for
extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
- Schedule your
trip to avoid times of high use.
- Visit in small
groups. Split larger parties into groups of 4-6.
- Repackage food to
minimize waste.
- Use a map and
compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or
flagging.
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Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Durable surfaces
include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry
grasses or snow.
- Protect riparian
areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
- Good campsites
are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.
In popular areas:
- Concentrate use
on existing trails and campsites.
- Walk single file
in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
- Keep campsites
small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.
In pristine areas
- Disperse use to
prevent the creation of campsites and trails.
- Avoid places
where impacts are just beginning.
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Dispose of Waste Properly
- Pack it in, pack
it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled
foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter.
- Deposit solid
human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet
from water, camp, and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when
finished.
- Pack out toilet
paper and hygiene products.
- To wash yourself
or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes
and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained
dishwater.
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Leave What You Find
- Preserve the
past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures
and artifacts.
- Leave rocks,
plants and other natural objects as you find them.
- Avoid introducing
or transporting non-native species.
- Do not build
structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
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Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Campfires can
cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a lightweight stove
for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
- Where fires are
permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
- Keep fires small.
Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
- Burn all wood and
coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool
ashes.
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Respect Wildlife
- Observe wildlife
from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
- Never feed
animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural
behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
- Protect wildlife
and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
- Control pets at
all times, or leave them at home.
- Avoid wildlife
during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.
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Be Considerate of Other Visitors
- Respect other
visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
- Be courteous.
Yield to other users on the trail.
- Step to the
downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
- Take breaks and
camp away from trails and other visitors.
- Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and
noises.
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