leave no trace travel and camp on durable surfaces troop 175 foster city ca
TRANSCRIPT
Leave No TraceLeave No Trace
Travel and Camp on Travel and Camp on
Durable SurfacesDurable Surfaces
Troop 175 Foster City CATroop 175 Foster City CA
PurposePurpose
• The goal of backcountry travel is to move through the backcountry while minimizing damage to the land. Understanding the impact of travel on the land is necessary to accomplish this goal. Damage occurs when hikers trample surface vegetation or communities of organisms beyond recovery. The resulting barren area leads to the development of undesirable trails and erosion.
Concentrate Activities in Heavily Concentrate Activities in Heavily Used Areas Used Areas
• Use constructed trails that are commonly used
• Use designated camping sites
• When taking a break, use established areas
• Don’t go up hills to avoid switch-backs
Surface DurabilitySurface Durability
• Rock, Sand, and Gravel: These surfaces are highly durable and can tolerate repeated trampling and scuffing. However, lichens that grow on rocks are vulnerable to repeated scuffing.
Surface DurabilitySurface Durability
• Ice and Snow: The effect of travel across these surfaces is temporary, making them good choices for travel—assuming good safety precautions are followed and the snow layer is of sufficient depth and firmness to prevent vegetation damage. It is important to not forget needed supplies in this environment, as illustrated in the photo.
Surface DurabilitySurface Durability
• Vegetation: The best option when confronted by vegetation on the trail is to avoid it entirely as to minimize damage, but when this is not a viable option, it is important to know which types are better to hike on than not. Grasses are the most durable and are the best option when traveling across vegetation. Wet meadows and forest herbs on the other hand are easily affected when hiked upon.
Surface DurabilitySurface Durability
• Cryptobiotic Crust: Cryptobiotic crust, common in the desert, are vital part of desert ecosystems. While appearing to blackish splotches on the desert floor, they are really tiny colonies of micro-organisms that retain moisture. One foot print on cryptobiotic crust destroys decades of development, so this surface should be avoided with extreme prejudice.
Surface DurabilitySurface Durability
• Desert Puddles and Mud Holes. Water is a preciously scarce resource for all living things in the desert. Don't walk through desert puddles or mud holes, or disturb surface water in any way. Potholes are also home to tiny desert animals.
Camping in High-Use AreasCamping in High-Use Areas
• Choosing a Site: Avoid camping within 200 feet of water and trails. This allows for people and wildlife to pass undisturbed. Check all regulations (if any) and allocate time to find a site when planning a trip.
• Setting up Camp: The best sites are on naturally vegetation free areas. When camping in popular areas, camp on the most heavily affected areas.
Camping in Pristine AreasCamping in Pristine Areas
• Setting up Camp: Make sure to disperse kitchens and tents on durable surfaces, wear soft shoes, minimize using the same routes in camp, especially by the kitchen.
• Breaking Camp: Take time to bring the site back to its former condition: cover scuffed areas with native foliage, brush out footprints, rake matted grass with a stick.
Camping in Arid LandsCamping in Arid Lands
• Minimizing Impact: As with high-use areas, the best sites are previously used ones. The best alternative are rock, sand or gravel. Cryptobiotic crust and vegetation should be avoided. Even on such surfaces, the maximum amount of nights spent in the area should be two. When leaving, do not wipe away natural litter and lichens. They help cushion hiking impact and if disturbed, will take centuries to be restored
Camping in River Corridors Camping in River Corridors
• Camping in River Corridors: River corridors are narrow strips of land and water where there is little room to disperse human activities. For this reason, campsites are often designated. It is generally best to camp on established sites located on beaches, sandbars, or non-vegetated sites below the high-water line.
OverviewOverview
• Be aware of where you are hiking and take the necessary steps to ensure the minimum effects on the environment
• When stopping, use previously established areas
• Aim to camp on durable surfaces such as rock, ice, gravel, sand, and snow
• When met with vegetation, avoid wet meadows and forest surfaces, aim for dry meadows
• Avoid cryptobiotic crust at all cost, hike only in other’s footprints
• Don’t walk through desert mud holes and puddles, walk around them
OverviewOverview
• Camp 200 feet away from trails and rivers
• Set up camp in vegetation free areas
• When in pristine areas, set up camp in durable spots
• Try to restore a pristine site back to its normal condition after use
JeopardyJeopardy
Hiking Basics
Durable Surfaces
Camping
Areas
Random Stuff
100 100 100 100
200 200 200 200
300 300 300 300
400 400 400 400
500 500 500 500
Final JeopardyFinal Jeopardy
1) How Many Parts Of Leave No Trace Are There? (1 point)
2) Name Three Merit Badges That Include Leave No Trace As A Requirement. (3 Points)
3) Name The Five Most Durable Surfaces. (5 Points)
Hiking BasicsHiking Basics
How Does Damage Occur When Hiking?
Hiking BasicsHiking Basics
What Trails Are Best For Hiking On?
Hiking BasicsHiking Basics
What Are The Effects Of Damaging
Vegetation/Organisms Beyond Recovery?
Hiking BasicsHiking Basics
When Stopping, Either To Set Up Camp Or To Take A Break,
What Type Of Sites Should Be Used?
Hiking BasicsHiking Basics
What Is The Goal Of Backcountry
Travel?
Durable SurfacesDurable Surfaces
What Are The Most Durable Surfaces?
Durable SurfacesDurable Surfaces
What Is The Best Type Of Vegetation
To Travel Over?
Durable SurfacesDurable Surfaces
Why Is It Good To Travel Across Ice
And Snow?
Durable SurfacesDurable Surfaces
What Are Desert Potholes Sometimes
Homes Too?
Durable SurfacesDurable Surfaces
How Do You Travel Across Cryptobiotic
Crust?
Camping AreasCamping Areas
Where Are The Best Sites In Highly Used
Areas?
Camping AreasCamping Areas
How Long Should Stays Be In Arid
Campsites?
Camping AreasCamping Areas
How Should Camp Be Set Up In
Pristine Areas?
Camping AreasCamping Areas
Where Is It Best To Set Up Camp In River Corridors?
Camping AreasCamping Areas
How Should Campsites In
Pristine Areas Be Cleaned Up?
Random StuffRandom Stuff
What Was Forgotten In The Snow
Picture?
Random StuffRandom Stuff
What Is The Name Of This
Presentation?
Random StuffRandom Stuff
True Or False: The Pristine Area Picture Was Taken On The
2003 Fifty Miler.
Random StuffRandom Stuff
What Rhymes With The Word
Übelwagen?
Random StuffRandom Stuff
What Is The Function Of Cryptobiotic
Crust?