Practicing leave-no-trace camping is gathering fame across the world in recent years. But what is it all about? Is leave-no-trace camping worth it? Let’s see.
Leave no trace camping means camping without leaving a trace. When you practice leave no trace camping, you leave no signs or suggestions that you’ve been there. It is pretty much operating like a ninja, it’s just the cape that may give you away.
Is Leave No Trace Camping Worth It?
Leave-no-trace seems to be worth it. Think of it: you spend a night or two in a location and yet do not change even the slightest setting. If you’ve ever worked as a spy agent, I’m 101% sure you’d appreciate this camping technique.
Anyway, campers best appreciate leave no trace camping in two situations, which are:
- In Native Parks & Protected Lands: A commonly underrated feature of being an American camper is the number and quality of views you get to enjoy across the country. In our parks, you are treated to some of the finest landscapes in the world. And the better thing is, these parks will always be open to and safe for Americans — that’s its primary reason for existence anyway.
However, most of these parks do not permit a campfire, and demand leave no trace camping technique to use. We do not want you or anyone to litter his station with dirt or anything. So, you see? And in case you’re unwilling to use these parks and lands, it’s fine. But keep in mind that they are always protected.
- For Escapes & Invasion: Talk about evading the Terminator, and while this may get your blood pumping faster, as it is no longer about setting up a hammock in the woods, you have to realize that it is possible. True, you aren’t a criminal or rebel that has to cover his tracks everywhere he goes, but anyone may have to escape or evade the bad guys. And if you are on an escape trip when night comes, I am sure you don’t want to set up an elaborate, obvious camp for resting. Sometimes, no one may be after you. You may just wish to keep your movements hidden, and trust leave-no-trace camping to do so perfectly for you.
Techniques For Practicing Leave-No-Trace Camping
Leave no trace camping involves five fundamental bases, any of which must not be skipped. Let us take a look at these steps below.
Planning
Failure to plan is to plan to fail. That posits that like every other camping technique, leave-no-trace camping starts from your planning. Planning is about the location you’re getting to, the tools and supplies to bring along, and the activities to try out when there. Knowing these ahead will help you maintain an incognito mode of operations afield.
If, on the other hand, you’re on the run and do not know the next location you’ll find yourself at, you can still practice leave-no-trace. I’d, however, suggest that you plan, so you can move instantly when necessary.
Surfaces
Asides shouting at the top of your voice while the campfire burns, I’m not sure anything else gives you away as much as your footprints in the mud. That’s a map to wherever you’re going and have been.
So, when on leave no trace camping, it is advisable to walk on solid surfaces, as your steps will hardly be discernible. But this is not just about where you step on. It extends to where you drop your bag on, the places you sit, the area you set your camp on, the surfaces you touch, and many more. Simply put, the surface involves everything you’ll do, so you may have to watch what you do with extra care.
Disposing Waste
It’s commonplace to meet waste drops on camping yards, isn’t it? But it’s even much worse in the wild. Heaps of rubbish are nearly everywhere in the wilderness. It’s as though there’s a prize for who litters the most.
The commonest waste materials found on camping grounds are plastic packs of foods. So, no one is asking you to pack and travel about with waste dumplings or used containers of supplies because they will not only slow you down, they’ll wear you out quickly as well. So, here’s what to do. Pack foods in lightweight, reusable packs and your entire problems are solved. By doing so, you can always pack your containers after eating, since you’ll have to reuse them later on.
Fires
So, what do you do with fires when practicing leave no trace? Are you supposed to just eat cold, dry foods everyday?
YES. You’re supposed to; it’s your safest choice.
However, if you can’t do away with fires, you can use smart items, such as firepans and fireboxes, for small fires, although you’d have to figure out how to dispose of the ashes. Also, fires leave a trail of scent, so you have to be thorough.
However, it is nearly impossible to rid the telltales of a fire perfectly, so the best option, especially when a tracker is after you, is not to make a fire at all. If you’re worried about drinkable water, go along with a water filter and purification tab.
Miscellaneous
There are points I haven’t mentioned—for example, your choice of a camp. Setting up a simple hammock or tarp is much preferable to a glamorous shelter, and for obvious reasons. A big tent will leave obvious signs in the ground, and have you even considered that you don’t need it? You’d hardly be staying for long in a spot if you’re having a leave no trace camping, so why go through so much stress in setting up what you would use for just a day or two?
Also, you may have to avoid any interaction with wild animals. Getting in a brawl with one will leave blood, be it yours or its. Whichever it is, it’s the tracker’s delight anyway. So, why not let our wild friends roam freely?
Conclusion On Practicing Leave-No-Trace Camping
The tips mentioned above are of extreme importance to practicing leave-no-trace camping, but they may not be as essential as having a proper mindset. You must keep in mind that you’re leaving no trace behind you, and just this awareness will be an excellent guide. So, as you keep to everything we’ve discussed, always remember that you’re a ghost. And, wait, I hope I don’t have to remind you to limit interactions with people to as little as possible. Do I?