Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 11, 1994 TAG: 9404110134
SECTION: NEWSFUN PAGE: NF-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By WENDI GIBSON RICHERT STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
- Tessa Merna, Blacksburg.
Ah, the fresh air, the sunrise, chirping crickets and ghost stories, the smell of wood smoke, burnt marshmallows and s'mores.
Who wouldn't enjoy a camping trip done right?
Since humans have roamed the Earth, they've camped and hiked - though not always with the top-of-the-line boots, waterproof tents and fancy camp stoves we have today. And always, humans have hiked and camped as guests in the home of nature.
That is the most important thing to remember when you venture outdoors, says Tom Clarke, recreation programmer with the Roanoke Parks and Recreation Department.
``Remember, this isn't our home,'' he reminds us. ``This isn't our house. That property is not ours. ... When we trample the flowers, we're trampling someone's food. When we dirty the water, that's someone else's water.''
Leaving the outdoors with no trace of your visit is called ``minimum impact'' camping and hiking. The idea that you can leave an area with nothing more than your memory of it is called the ``wilderness ethic.'' If you start practicing this wilderness ethic now, every time you go outdoors, you'll find it gets easier and easier. And, you'll find nature much more beautiful, too.
According to REI, an outdoor gear and clothing catalog, there are 14 points to remember in following the wilderness ethic. Among them:
Prepare well. This means you should know about your route and the area you are visiting. Bring enough food and clothing and equipment to keep you warm, dry and comfortable. You also should know the basics of first aid and navigation.
Follow the guidelines or rules set by the land manager of the place you are visiting.
Wear shoes that are comfortable, safe and appropriate for the land you'll be hiking.
Select a level campsite with adequate water runoff and locate your site at least 100 feet away from natural water sources, such as creeks or lakes. Also, select a site that has already been used so you don't expand the camp and trample more of nature.
Carry your garbage out with you and pick up litter as you see it.
Use an established latrine (bathroom) if it is provided, or use a cat-hole if there are no latrines. (To make a cat-hole, go 100 feet away from water sources, carefully remove the ground surface and dig with a trowel several inches into the ground. That's your toilet. When you're finished, put the dirt back in and the ground surface back on top.)
When washing yourself, use a soapless bath for all but the dirtiest parts of your body. And when using bio-degradable soap or brushing your teeth, do so at least 100 feet away from water sources.
Wash dishes with hot water at least 100 yards away from water sources, preferably without soap.
Do everything you can to protect water sources from contamination, and always boil, chemically treat or filter your drinking water any time you're not sure of its purity.
Keep fires small and use only down dead wood - leave your axes at home! Build your fire in a 2-foot square pit or in a pit designed for campfires, or better yet, try no campfire. Make sure your ashes are cool if you do build a fire.
Use bicycles on roads or bike trails only at safe speeds. Never ride off the roads or trails to take shortcuts because this leads to land erosion.
Blend your camp into the environment when possible and keep your groups small. Speak softly and leave pets at home.
The wilderness ethic does have a lot of points to remember, but following them can be fun, and will make your camping and hiking more enjoyable for you and others. Clarke says when he leads camping and hiking trips, he makes a game out of remembering the ethic.
``It's kind of like a mystery game. Can you find where you camped out. Can you find the fire pit or the cat- holes?'' The point of the game is to say ``no'' to each question. ``When we leave in the van on Sunday,'' he says, ``we're proud to look back and say, `Wow, this looks good.'''
by CNB