Leave No Trace

1
Leave No Trace

• Travel and Camp on
• Durable Surfaces
• Troop 175 Foster City CA

2
Purpose

• 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.

3
Concentrate Activities in Heavily Used Areas

• Use constructed trails that are commonly used
• Use designated camping sites
• When taking a break, use established areas
• Dont go up hills to avoid switch-backs

4
Surface 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.

5
Surface Durability

• Ice and Snow The effect of travel across these
  surfaces is temporary, making them good choices
  for travelassuming 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.

6
Surface 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.

7
Surface 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.

8
Surface 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.

9
Camping 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.

10
Camping 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.

11
Camping 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

12
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.

13
Overview

• 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 others footprints
• Dont walk through desert mud holes and puddles,
  walk around them

14
Overview

• 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

15
Jeopardy
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
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Final 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)

17
Hiking Basics

• How Does Damage Occur When Hiking?

18
Hiking Basics

• What Trails Are Best For Hiking On?

19
Hiking Basics

• What Are The Effects Of Damaging
  Vegetation/Organisms Beyond Recovery?

20
Hiking Basics

• When Stopping, Either To Set Up Camp Or To Take A
  Break, What Type Of Sites Should Be Used?

21
Hiking Basics

• What Is The
• Goal Of Backcountry
• Travel?

22
Durable Surfaces

• What Are The Most Durable Surfaces?

23
Durable Surfaces

• What Is The Best Type Of Vegetation To Travel
  Over?

24
Durable Surfaces

• Why Is It Good To Travel Across Ice And Snow?

25
Durable Surfaces

• What Are Desert Potholes Sometimes Homes Too?

26
Durable Surfaces

• How Do You Travel Across Cryptobiotic Crust?

27
Camping Areas

• Where Are The Best Sites In Highly Used Areas?

28
Camping Areas

• How Long Should Stays Be In Arid Campsites?

29
Camping Areas

• How Should Camp Be Set Up In Pristine Areas?

30
Camping Areas

• Where Is It Best To Set Up Camp In River
  Corridors?

31
Camping Areas

• How Should Campsites In Pristine Areas Be Cleaned
  Up?

32
Random Stuff

• What Was Forgotten In The Snow Picture?

33
Random Stuff

• What Is The Name Of This Presentation?

34
Random Stuff

• True Or False The Pristine Area Picture Was
  Taken On The 2003 Fifty Miler.

35
Random Stuff

• What Rhymes With The Word Übelwagen?

36
Random Stuff

• What Is The Function Of Cryptobiotic Crust?