LNT for Winter Campers
FACT: Winter back country use has increased 27% in national parks over the past ten years, while summer use has only increased 7%.
Winter is a wonderful time to experience the back country. Many find that winter offers solitude, scenic beauty, and a chance to hone back country skills. With winter use on the rise,users and land managers are beginning to witness more winter recreation-related impacts such as user conflicts, inappropriate human waste disposal, vegetation damage and significant impacts on wildlife. As a growing number of skiers, snowboarders, snow-shoers, telemarkers venture out in winter for day or overnight trips, the need to practice Leave No Trace winter techniques is now greater than ever.
Fortunately, many of the usual concerns about the impacts of three-season back country use are of little concern in winter. Although growing, the visitor numbers are lower than those of other seasons, and soil and vegetation are covered under a thick covering of snow which greatly helps to minimize impacts. By following the Leave No Trace winter use principles, back country users can help to ensure protection of resources and the quality of winter experiences.
Plan Ahead and Prepare
Poor planning often results in miserable campers and damage to natural and cultural resources. Trip planning important is important as it:
1. It helps ensure the safety of groups and individuals.
2. It prepares you to Leave No Trace and minimizes resource damage.
3. It contributes to accomplishing trip goals safely and enjoyably.
4. It increases self-confidence and opportunities for learning more about nature.
Elements to consider when planning a trip
1. Identify and record the goals (expectations) of your trip. Is this a ‘jamboree’ or are members of the group trying to accomplish specific goals.
2. Identify the skill and ability of trip participants. Are there members of the group that are winter camping novices and how will they be mentored?
3. Select destinations that match your goals, skills, and abilities.
4. Gain knowledge of the area you plan to visit from land managers, maps, and literature. Use trail guides and the internet to perform as much research as possible prior to the trip.
5. Choose equipment and clothing for comfort, safety, and Leave No Trace qualities.
6. Plan trip activities to match your goals, skills, and abilities.
7. Evaluate your trip upon return to note changes you will make next time.
8. Know the weather forecast in advance
9. Understand the terrain you will be traveling. Bring maps and photos along to help locate your journey on the terrain.
10. Understand any regulations/restrictions that may apply, including parking.
11. Understand and respect private land boundaries
12. Anticipate the average hiking speed of group and anticipated food consumption
13. Plan to accommodate the group size (does it meet regulations and trip purpose)
You can prepare by:
1. Educating yourself on the area you plan to visit. Learn about winter regulations, closures, and weather hazards.
2. Taking a winter back country course to gain experience.
3. Expect extreme weather and gear up for it.
4. In mountainous country, carry an avalanche beacon, probe, and shovel.
5. Never explore alone, but keep groups small. A group of four allows one to stay with an injured person and two to go for help.
6. Leave your excursion plans with two people, including your expected return time. They can begin a rescue if you do not return in reasonable time.
7. Trail markings may be hidden in snow. Use a map and compass for navigation. Batteries in GPS units may not work in cold temperatures.
8. Plan a route appropriate for the experience level, size, and goals of your group.
9. Anticipate changing weather that may obscure or cover trail markings, tents, and gear. Make sure you know where you are and where your gear is at all times.
10. Night falls early. You will have much less time to travel and set up camp, so plan accordingly and understand that everything takes longer in cold weather.
11. Ensure you have appropriate gear for the worst-case environment. Use layering of clothes to keep warm and prevent overheating followed by freezing.
Travel and Camp on Safe, Durable Surfaces
Surface Durability - The concept of durability is an important one for back country travelers to understand. Natural surfaces respond differently to backcountry travel. Durability refers to the ability of surfaces to withstand wear or remain in a stable condition. The effect of travel across ice and snow is temporary, making snow and ice a good choice for travel assuming good safety precautions are followed and the snow layer is of sufficient depth to prevent vegetation damage. Avoid thin snow where you might break through to the soft ground beneath.
Travel on Durable Surfaces - The goal of back country travel is to move through the back country while avoiding damage to the land. Land management agencies typically construct trails in back country areas to provide identifiable routes that concentrate foot traffic. The constructed trails are themselves an impact on the land; however, they are a necessary response to the fact that people travel in the back country. Concentrating travel on trails reduces the likelihood that multiple routes will develop and scar the landscape. It is better to have one well-designed route than many poorly chosen paths. Trail use is recommended whenever possible.
Considerations: Encourage everyone to stay within the width of the trail and not short cut trail switchbacks (trail zigzags that climb hill sides). Avoid traveling close to tree limbs and brush as when these are frozen, they are fragile and can be easily broken. Travelers should provide space for other hikers if taking breaks along the trail. The principles of off-trail travel should be practiced if the decision is made to move off-trail for breaks. Hikers in the same group should periodically stop to rest and talk. Avoid shouting to communicate while hiking as loud noises usually are not welcome in natural areas.
Crampons may be helpful on icy trails, but they damage rock and are quickly worn down from rock. Be prepared to take them on and off as needed or do without.
Camping on Durable Surfaces – Selecting an appropriate campsite is perhaps the most important aspect of low-impact back country use. It requires the use of judgment and information and often involves making trade-offs between minimizing ecological and social impacts. A decision about where to camp should be based on information about the level and type of use in the area, the fragility of vegetation and soil, the likelihood of wildlife disturbance, an assessment of previous impacts, and your potential to cause or avoid impact. Winter camping allows camping in remote areas, see few visitors, and have no obvious impacts. In setting up camp, disperse tents, cooking areas and storage of backpacks on durable snow sites. Use removable tent anchors, such as ice axes, ice screws, and poles rather than moving rocks or tieing to trees.
Dispose of Waste Properly
- Pack It In, Pack It Out. Pack out everything you bring with you. Burying trash and litter in the snow is unacceptable.
- Pick up all food scraps, wax shavings and pieces of litter. Pack out all trash: yours and others.
- Pack out solid human waste.
- Use toilet paper or wipes sparingly. Pack them out.
- If necessary, use small amounts of biodegradable soaps for dishes and widely distribute dishwater.
- Inspect your campsite for trash and evidence of your stay. Dismantle all snow shelters, igloos or wind breaks. Naturalize the area before you leave.
Leave What You Find
- Leave all plants, rocks, animals and historical or cultural artifacts as you find them.
- Let nature’s sounds prevail. Keep loud voices and noises to a minimum.
Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Campfires cause lasting impacts in the back country. Always carry a lightweight camp stove for cooking.
- Use dead downed wood if you can find it. Put out all fires completely. Widely scatter cool ashes.
- Do not cut or break limbs off live, dead or downed trees.
Respect Wildlife
- Winter is an especially vulnerable time for animals. Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
- Never feed wildlife or leave food behind to be eaten.
- Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
- Be respectful of other users. Share the trail and be courteous.
- Yield to downhill and faster traffic. Prepare for blind corners.
- When stopped, move off the trail.
- Separate ski and snowshoe tracks where possible. Avoid hiking on ski or snowshoe tracks.
- Learn and follow local regulations regarding pets. Control dogs. Pack out or bury all dog feces.
For more info contact Leave No Trace at 1-800-332-4100 or visit http://www.LNT.org
“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” -John Muir