by Eric Fies, Leave No Trace Master Educator
Selecting the perfect campsite is an art. Walking into an unknown patch of forest and visualizing bedrooms, kitchen, dining, and bathroom locations transforms us into wilderness architects. When done properly, one can minimize impact and ensure a restful night’s sleep. However, when haphazardly done, nocturnal wildlife interruptions are the least of your worries. So what must you consider when establishing camp in the wilderness?
Skilled Leave No Trace practitioners consider potential campsites before they even lace up their hiking boots. Conduct a detailed map reconnaissance during your trip planning, and estimate the distances you will travel each day based on your party’s slowest rate of speed. Determine favorable locations on the map for your camps based on land use regulations and terrain restrictions, and think about the footprint needed to support the size of your group. Look for useable water sources nearby, and carefully consider weather in your planning.
Once on the trail, keep your eyes open for a suitable campsite as you draw near your preplanned locations. Terrain and other campers will often determine where the camp is ultimately established, and you should always give other groups their space to avoid ruining anyone’s wilderness experience. Ask your party to take a break just off-trail so you can scout for the best campsite. Get at least 100 feet from any trails, and camp no closer than 200 feet from any water sources. Look for game trails through your proposed camp, and be considerate of the local fauna. If you’re traveling in bear country, determine where you will hang bear bags or place bear canisters. Your goal is to travel and camp on durable surfaces to minimize impact, so carefully search for the right place—don’t simply settle and hastily set up camp.
Once you’ve identified where to pitch tents and where to establish the kitchen and dining space, return to the trail and carefully lead your party back to the place you’ve chosen. Remind them to leave as little sign of their passage as possible, and avoid spreading out as much as possible. Once you’re at the intended campsite, announce where the bathroom will be found, and place the trowel in a prominent location. In this way, if the trowel is missing, the bathroom is considered occupied, and everyone can avoid embarrassing surprises. Reinforce Leave No Trace Principle #3: Dispose of Waste Properly.
Be sure to note the way the area looked before you arrived, and if possible, take a picture to remind you of just what it looked like before you established camp. Work as a team to pitch tents in an orderly fashion while carefully considering soil and vegetation impacts; then show the group where the kitchen and dining space will be and where bear bags or canisters will be kept. Avoid using a campfire whenever you can, and know that most groups will congregate where there’s food or fire, so be sure to plan that area wisely.
Breaking camp should be as orderly as when you established it. Pack up tents and gear, retrieve food items, and sterilize the area of all signs of your visitation. Start your group back to the trail and erase all signs, as best you can, as you leave. Once you’re back on the trail, it’s good practice to discuss the pros and cons of the night’s camp, sharing your knowledge of Leave No Trace to develop others into backcountry ninjas and wilderness architects just like you.
Have fun, be safe, and explore responsibly!
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Note: The member-driven Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics teaches people how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Any copyrighted information has been reprinted with permission from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org.