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 • Don’t 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 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.

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, arevital 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. 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 Overview

14. 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 Overview

15. Jeopardy

16. Final Jeopardy • How Many Parts Of Leave No Trace Are There? (1 point) • Name Three Merit Badges That Include Leave No Trace As A Requirement. (3 Points) • 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?