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#1 ski3pin

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Posted 06 April 2021 - 10:18 PM

The Lady and I had a long chat on the phone the other night with a close friend of ours. He is a mountain guide and has led and co led trips here and abroad for years. He now leads what he calls "Bucket List Trips", big ticket items participants long to do. Our chat had to do with how shocked he has become the last few years with how little outdoor ethics his clients come with. These are things most of us maybe take for granted like don't litter, pick up after yourself, don't step on vegetation, don't disturb wildlife, be considerate of others.

 

He has become a Leave No Trace trainer as he has seen it is essential to make Leave No Trace training part of every trip he leads.

 

Julie and I have just completed our two day LNT trainers course. We will not be formally teaching LNT, it was just a fun refresher and a very good use of time.

 

We all can benefit with refreshing these skills - and passing them on to others we encounter in the backcountry. We encourage all to take the short online Awareness Course -

 

Leave No Trace Online Awareness Course


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2003 Ford Ranger FX4 Level II 2013 ATC Bobcat SE "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."- Abraham Lincoln  http://ski3pin.blogspot.com/


#2 Casa Escarlata Robles Too

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Posted 07 April 2021 - 12:18 AM

Wow LNT what a concept.It needs to be a routine in our daily lives.

 

Frank


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#3 Vic Harder

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Posted 07 April 2021 - 12:23 AM

huh, I was a bit surprised at the "scattering" of dishwater.  And I wish they would add something about using creeks/rivers as sewers.  Too often have I seen people washing dishes in a stream and or spitting toothpaste out in the water or on land.  Do people think that this stuff doesn't smell and attract animals?  And that their next campsite might be downstream on the same creek????


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#4 ski3pin

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Posted 07 April 2021 - 12:30 AM

huh, I was a bit surprised at the "scattering" of dishwater.  And I wish they would add something about using creeks/rivers as sewers.  Too often have I seen people washing dishes in a stream and or spitting toothpaste out in the water or on land.  Do people think that this stuff doesn't smell and attract animals?  And that their next campsite might be downstream on the same creek????

Dishwater is poured through a strainer and all food particles carried out. All clean up, washing, cooking, camping is to be done 200 feet (70 adult steps) from lakes or streams.

 

I agree Vic. We see some nasty stuff going on in the backcountry.


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2003 Ford Ranger FX4 Level II 2013 ATC Bobcat SE "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."- Abraham Lincoln  http://ski3pin.blogspot.com/


#5 goinoregon

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Posted 07 April 2021 - 01:00 AM

ok, i think i am already pretty good at LNT.  what was your biggest surprise?

i did an 18 day grand canyon float back in.... 2006, and learned a bit on that trip.  it was amazing how we left every camp undisturbed.  but then i would not want to be the person at the outfitter, that emptied the 50 cal groovers.....


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#6 ski3pin

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Posted 07 April 2021 - 01:43 AM

<snip>

 

 but then i would not want to be the person at the outfitter, that emptied the 50 cal groovers.....

There is book somewhere here at home. It is a collection of "toilet" stories in the outdoors. I don't remember the title of the book, but I do remember my favorite chapter. Groovers played a starring role. The chapter's title - "The Day the Mormon Swore."


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2003 Ford Ranger FX4 Level II 2013 ATC Bobcat SE "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."- Abraham Lincoln  http://ski3pin.blogspot.com/


#7 rando

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Posted 07 April 2021 - 01:50 AM

ok, i think i am already pretty good at LNT.  what was your biggest surprise?

i did an 18 day grand canyon float back in.... 2006, and learned a bit on that trip.  it was amazing how we left every camp undisturbed.  but then i would not want to be the person at the outfitter, that emptied the 50 cal groovers.....

 

I spend a lot of time rafting and canoeing the desert rivers, including the Colorado, and one of the biggest surprises is just how much goes into the river.    You urinate directly into the river, dish water (after straining the chunks) goes into the river, ashes (where allowed) into the river, you often camp as close to the water as possible (on sand bars).   Of course solid human waste and paper goes in the groover. 

 

One of the important additions to LNT is to also be aware of  how local conditions may change these general rules. 


Edited by rando, 07 April 2021 - 01:51 AM.

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#8 AWG_Pics

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Posted 07 April 2021 - 02:31 AM

Level 1 - don't burn your cheap, disappointing walmart tent in your too big bonfire and leave the remains behind deep in the backcountry of a national park.

        1b - stop playing loud music in the backcountry, or shooting guns, etc.

Level 2 - stop throwing non-combustible trash in your too big bonfire, and then leaving it partially blackened in the fire pit.

Level 3 - stop throwing beer cans and soda cans and candy wrappers down when on a hike.

Level 4 - look around and say to yourself: "I like that I don't see any trace of a person here before, except maybe the paleolithic artist."

Level 5 - Pick up some of the trash you see at hot springs and on trails.

Level 6 - Stop going to established trails and seek out unused areas

Level 7 - start to "educate" people about LNT, whether they like it or not.

Level 8 - Be angry all the time when seeing careless people in the backcountry.

Level 9 - Wonder despairingly about the steady proliferation of people and technology.

Level 10 - To heck with it, I am just going to see what I can find that is untrammeled.


Edited by AWG_Pics, 07 April 2021 - 02:37 AM.

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#9 craig333

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Posted 07 April 2021 - 04:16 AM

I grew up with Tread LIghtly, Ski with LNT but basically its all about caring for the environment. Don't trash your camp, If you can pack it in you can pack it out. I do my best to pass it on to others..


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#10 ski3pin

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Posted 07 April 2021 - 03:42 PM

  what was your biggest surprise?

My biggest surprise is that cat holes for human waste and toilet paper is still acceptable. Use of WAG bags and carrying out all your waste should be required. It weighs less than the food you transported in. :)

 

As mentioned above, it is required on most permitted rivers. It is also required in many backcountry areas. Lets get ahead of the curve for once and require it everywhere.


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2003 Ford Ranger FX4 Level II 2013 ATC Bobcat SE "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."- Abraham Lincoln  http://ski3pin.blogspot.com/





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