by Eric Fies, Leave No Trace Master Educator
Winter is a magical time to explore nature, but it presents some challenges and considerations that keep most people off the trails and out of the wilderness. Careful planning and preparation reduces the likelihood of accidents and injuries and increases the likelihood of having a rewarding outdoor experience. This behavior also helps protect nature and everyone’s enjoyment of its many wonders.
In December, my wife, Amber, and I traveled to Yosemite National Park in California to backpack in the amazing wilderness of the high Sierras. For 8 incredible days we snowshoed above 7,000 feet, camping under the stars among the tall pines and glorious granite domes. We saw no one except when we left and returned to the front country on our first and last days, and we proudly and faithfully embraced the Leave No Trace Principles throughout.
As we trekked out of the grand Yosemite Valley and farther into the wilderness, we penetrated the eerie quiet and walked surrounded by the ghostly shapes of hundreds of acres of forest destroyed in wildfires. One cannot help but reflect on the devastation and ask, “Why?” While many such fires are caused by lightning, there are still those caused by careless humans. These horrible events are absolutely avoidable when common sense and Leave No Trace Principle #5: Minimize Campfire Impacts are applied.
One simple way to honor this principle and protect nature is by committing to not make any campfires. Efficient, lightweight camp stoves are ideal for all your backcountry cooking needs and save you time and energy when making and breaking camp. No more searching for a suitable campsite safe enough to build a proper campfire or foraging for firewood. Additionally, once you commit to using a camp stove, you’ll also discover the benefits of one-pot meals. Proper meal planning and provisioning reduce weight and waste while meeting nutritional needs in a relatively safe manner.
Take caution! No flame is ever truly safe and must be supervised at all times—including flames from established campsite fire rings and fireplaces in trail huts and cabins. In these instances, a healthy practice established long ago is to designate a “fire guard” responsible for managing and controlling a safe fire. No fire should be left unattended for any length of time, so it’s important for all campers to discuss responsibilities and safety. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer and a real threat in confined areas or without proper ventilation. Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and, more importantly, how and where to set up and operate your stove to avoid it altogether.
The astute Leave No Trace practitioner will notice that thoroughly planning and preparing for your outdoor adventures (à la Principle #1), regardless of length and complexity, is paramount to good stewardship and safety. Education plays a large part as well. Refresh your skills often, and know, understand, and practice sound outdoor ethics. In this way, we can all enjoy the majesty of pristine wilderness free from the ghosts and wreckage of other people’s poor decisions.
Be safe and explore responsibly!
Learn more at www.explorenorthstar.com!
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: