TRAVEL AND CAMPTRAVEL AND CAMPON DURABLE SURFACESON DURABLE SURFACES

BRUCE CANNONBRUCE CANNON

LNT MASTER EDUCATORLNT MASTER EDUCATOR

COUNCIL OUTDOOR ETHICS ADVOCATECOUNCIL OUTDOOR ETHICS ADVOCATE

OBJECTIVES:OBJECTIVES:

To identify factors that affect To identify factors that affect durability.durability.

To understand what constitutes a To understand what constitutes a durable surface.durable surface.

To explain how to minimize your To explain how to minimize your impact in both popular and pristine impact in both popular and pristine areas.areas.

Factors That Affect Factors That Affect DurabilityDurability

The ability of surfaces or vegetation The ability of surfaces or vegetation to withstand wear or remain in stable to withstand wear or remain in stable condition.condition.

Frequency of use (or group size).Frequency of use (or group size).

Durable SurfacesDurable Surfaces

Established trails and campsitesEstablished trails and campsites RockRock GravelGravel SandSand GrassesGrasses Snow and iceSnow and ice

1000 passes

Resistance and Resilience of Resistance and Resilience of ForbsForbs

0 passes

250 passes

1 mo. later

Forest forbs generallyhave low resistance and resilience.

1000 passes

Resistance and Resilience of Resistance and Resilience of GrassesGrasses

0 passes

250 passes

1 mo. later

Grasses generallyhave high resistance and resilience.

TRAVEL IN POPULAR AREASTRAVEL IN POPULAR AREAS

Stay on the trail.Stay on the trail. Stay in the middle of the trail, even Stay in the middle of the trail, even

in muddy stretches.in muddy stretches. Don’t take shortcuts on switchbacks.Don’t take shortcuts on switchbacks.

Travel in Pristine AreasTravel in Pristine Areas

Disperse impact.Disperse impact. Walk abreast instead of single file.Walk abreast instead of single file. Travel on most durable surface Travel on most durable surface

possible.possible. Avoid cryptobiotic soil/crust. Avoid cryptobiotic soil/crust.

Camping on Durable Camping on Durable SurfacesSurfaces

In High Use/Popular Areas.In High Use/Popular Areas. In Pristine/Remote Areas.In Pristine/Remote Areas.

Use-Impact Relationships: Use-Impact Relationships: A Campsite ExampleA Campsite Example

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70Nights/Year

0

20

40

60

80

100

To

tal C

han

ge

(%)

Vegetation Loss Soil Exposure Litter LossSeedling Loss Soil Density

The majority of most types of impact occur at low use levels

Factors Determining Factors Determining Choice of Camp SiteChoice 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 bicyclesFoot vs horse vs bicycles Tents vs hammocksTents vs hammocks

Camping in High Use AreasCamping 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 Concentrate tents, kitchen and traffic

routes.routes. Kitchen should be on the most Kitchen should be on the most

durable surface.durable surface.

Camping in High Use AreasCamping in High Use Areas

Confine impact to places that already Confine impact to places that already show use.show use.

Avoid enlarging the area of Avoid enlarging the area of disturbance.disturbance.

When leaving camp:When leaving camp: Be sure it’s clean. Be sure it’s clean. Remove all evidence of effects of fire, Remove all evidence of effects of fire,

cooking and human waste.cooking and human waste.

Camping in Pristine/Remote Camping in Pristine/Remote AreasAreas

Disperse tents and kitchen on most Disperse tents and kitchen on most durable surfaces.durable surfaces.

Minimize activity around kitchen.Minimize activity around kitchen. Minimize travel to/from water, Minimize travel to/from water,

kitchen, tents and packs.kitchen, tents and packs. Wear soft shoes around camp to Wear soft shoes around camp to

reduce impact on vegetation and reduce impact on vegetation and compaction of soil.compaction of soil.

Stay only one night.Stay only one night.

Leaving Pristine CampsiteLeaving Pristine Campsite

Naturalize the site.Naturalize the site. Help the site recover.Help the site recover. Prevent others from recognizing it as a Prevent others from recognizing it as a

campsite.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 LandsCamping in Arid Lands

Use established sites if possible.Use established sites if possible. Otherwise, use only non-vegetated Otherwise, use only non-vegetated

surfaces.surfaces. Rock, gravel and/or sand.Rock, gravel and/or sand. Avoid cryptobiotic soil.Avoid cryptobiotic soil.

Avoid wet or dry rivers/streambeds Avoid wet or dry rivers/streambeds due to:due to: Danger of flash floods.Danger of flash floods. Impact on wildlife.Impact on wildlife.

Camping in River CorridorsCamping in River Corridors

Use designated sites only.Use designated sites only. Beaches.Beaches. Sandbars.Sandbars. Non-vegetated sites below the high Non-vegetated sites below the high

water line.water line.

Summary:Summary:

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