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Every day in all walks of life we must deal with etiquette and while walking the back country we must remember our etiquette also.
Proper etiquette in the back country begins with common sense and common sense being key. In other words:
"If it looks hazardous, do not attempt it."
"If it is clearly dangerous, stay clear of it."
Along with those common sense concepts, which are hopefully ingrained into our beings, there is etiquette.
Much of how you conduct yourself out there in the backcountry directly reflects on not only the environment and the living creatures, but also the hikers who will walk the same route later on.
Here is a list of common sense parts of etiquette that you should familiarize yourself with for your next hiking trip.
One of the first rules is to:
"Leave it as you found it"
This means that you should always remember that this spectacular scenery should remain as it was when you began your journey; trash free.
Whatever trash you have, pack it out, do not leave it behind for other hikers or inhabitants of the area to forage on.
If indeed you run into trash on the trail, even though it is not your trash, pack it out anyway.
This habit will benefit everyone and every living thing in the backcountry.
After all, you would never consider depositing your trash in the middle of the street where you live. Why would you consider leaving it on a beautiful mountainside?
If you find it difficult to pack your trash out, you may want to consider the option of burning your trash.
First before setting up your campsite you need to look for a spot where campers have already been. That spot will usually include a fire ring. A fire ring is a circle of heavy stone with remnants of charred wood, ash, and dirt in the center.
It is always good to reuse a fire ring that is already in place. Fire rings to me are "The Great Eyesores " in the backcountry.
Almost everywhere you look you will see a Fire Ring, so why add more? Always use a fire ring that has been left by previous back packers: it lessens the impact of another fire ring eyesore on the mountain scenery.
Burn your trash in small amounts.
The last thing you need to do is start a fire, which could easily get out of control with the unpredictable winds in the mountainous areas. Feed your fire small amounts, be sure to keep the flames and ash under control and always cover your ashen area with at least four inches of dirt to smother out any ash that could become a flammable ember.
Leave this area as clean as possible for the next backpacker to use.
Using the bathroom in the backcountry is not as tricky as it may sound.
Again, there is a certain amount of etiquette involved.
To use the facilities, you must create your own.
Dig a hole in an area designated by you as a safe area.
Again the object here is to bury your waste. If you use toilet paper, bury it in the toilet hole you have dug. Make sure to dig the hole deep enough and cover it completely after you have finished. If the situation of urgency arises, you should select an area with lots of natural debris such as leaves and sticks. Again, after you have finished, cover your waste with the leaves and debris in the surrounding area. Also, if you are unable to bury your toilet paper, burn it if possible.
Never try to pack out your used paper because the smell can and will often attract animals to investigate your camp and even steal your pack because they are attracted to the scent left on the paper.
Hikers and backpackers spend most of their time on designated route trails established in the backcountry. After years of use these trails suffer from natural and unnatural erosions and pollution. It is important for anyone who ventures into the back country to walk gently, leave no evidence they have passed through that way, and naturally preserve the areas the best we can.
If you do run into a badly eroded trail that you feel could be hazardous, please report it to the Ranger Station once you return.
It is everyone’s responsibility to protect these natural wondrous spots for future generations.
Always remember you are a guest in the backcountry. You would never consider leaving a mess while you were a guest at someone’s house, so do not leave one in the backcountry. With cooperation from everyone we can help to preserve these scenic areas and enjoy them for years to come. Do not forget to use common sense, and never forget your etiquette.
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