How Do You Leave No Trace When Backpacking?
Many national and state parks have regulations requiring “no trace” backpacking, meaning that you leave the environment exactly as you found it while you progress along the trail. It’s relatively easy to do this when you follow some basic guidelines. Refrain from building a fire. A fire damages the vegetation and leaves remains of your backpacking trip. If you must build a fire, do not use a fire ring of rocks. This leaves behind charred rocks. Build a fire on flat, un-vegetated ground. A fire like this also will produce more heat than one enclosed within a fire ring. You also can bring a small cook stove to prepare foods. This cook stove can also be used to produce heat to keep warm. Bury your bodily waste. Trowels and plastic bags for this specific purpose are available in most outdoor outfitting stores. Dig a hole at least 6-inches deep for your waste. Deposit your toilet paper in a plastic, sealable bag and carry it out and off the trail with you. Use biodegradable soaps and shampo
