C04_Attch 4 - LeaveNoTrace.pdf

H O R S E U S E

S K I L L S & E T H I C S

Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics PO Box 997

Boulder, Colorado 80306 http://www.LNT.org

©Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics/National Outdoor Leadership School Leave No Trace Skills & Ethics Series

Published 4/01

For more Leave No Trace information or to order materials, call1-800-332-4100 or visit www.LNT.org.

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Volumes available in the Leave No Trace Skills and Ethics Series Alaska Wildlands

Caving Deserts and Canyons

Fishing Horse Use

Lakes Region Mountain Biking

North America Northeast Mountains

Pacific Northwest Rock Climbing

Rocky Mountains Sea Kayaking Sierra Nevada

Southeast Western River Corridors

The Leave No Trace educational program promotes skills and ethics to support the sustainable use of wildlands and natural areas. The concept originated in the U.S. as a way to help recreationists minimize their impacts while enjoying the outdoors. In 1991, the U.S. Forest Service teamed with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and the Bureau of Land Management as partners in the Leave No Trace educational program. NOLS, a recognized leader in minimum-impact camping practices, became involved as the provider of Leave No Trace materials and training.

Today, the non-profit organization The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, established in 1994, manages the national program. The Center unites four federal land management agencies—the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—with manufacturers, outdoor retailers, user groups, educators, and individuals who share a commitment to maintain and protect our wildlands and natural areas for future enjoyment.

Humans need to know about wild places, to experience them and understand the rhythms they follow.

We need to contemplate our place within these wildlands, to discern what it is that draws us there. We need to carry with us an ethic that recognizes the value of wild places, and acknowledges our responsibility to treat them with respect, and apply good judgement as we visit and travel within them. We need to care for wild places as if they were our homes because, in many ways, they are. To do this is good for us, it’s good for those who will surely follow, and it’s good for the wild places, wherever they may be found.

Contact land management agencies and groups in your area and see how you can help. Be active in the planning and management of areas that are important to you. Volunteer for trail clean ups and maintenance, habitat restoration efforts, and public educa-tion programs, or organize them for your local area. Get involved and let your opinions on land use be known.

Support wildlands and sustainable recreation.

Information on obtaining Leave No Trace curriculum materials, courses and trainings is available by calling 800-332-4100 or visiting the extensive Leave No Trace website: www.LNT.org.

A FINAL Challenge

NOTES

“A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”

—Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac

L E AV E N O T R AC E

O u t d o o r S k i l l s & E t h i c s

HORSE USE EDITION

People enjoy the outdoors in myri-ad ways. We explore on foot, kayak, horseback, mountain bicycles, skis, snowshoes and crampons, to name a few, and there are more of us push-ing our sports to greater extremes and into more remote parts of the natural world every day. Our experi-ences are personally satisfying, but they can be costly to the places we visit and the animals we observe.

The world’s wildlands are diverse and beautiful. They can also be frag-ile. Polluted waters, displaced wildlife, eroded soils and trampled vegetation are just some of the impacts linked directly to recreation-al activities, no matter what our mode of transportation. Considerable damage could be prevented if recre-ationists were better informed, espe-cially about Leave No Trace tech-niques.

This booklet is part of a national educational program called Leave No Trace. At the heart of the program are seven principles. Designed to reduce the damage caused by recreational activities, these principles extend common courtesy and hospitality to other wildland visitors and to the natural world of which we are all a part. They are based on an abiding respect for nature. This respect, cou-pled with good judgment and aware-ness, allows you to apply the princi-ples to your own unique circum-stances whether you are in remote wilderness or a city park. The first step is to educate yourself and to learn the skills and ethics that allow you to Leave No Trace.

HORSE USE

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“The notion that [outdoor] recreation has no environmental impacts is no longer tenable.”

—Curtis H. Flather and H. Ken Cordell, Wildlife and Recreationists

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LNT O u t d o o r S k i l l s a n d E t h i c s

Principles of LEAVE NO TRACE

• Plan Ahead and Prepare

• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

• Dispose of Waste Properly

• Leave What You Find

• Minimize Campfire Impacts

• Respect Wildlife

• Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Wildland Ethics

Visitors interested in backpacking, mountain biking, kayaking, climbing, or other recreational activities are referred to the other booklets in the Leave No Trace Skills and Ethics series.

To obtain these and other Leave No Trace curriculum materials or for information on courses and training, call Leave No Trace, Inc. 1-800-332-4100 or visit the Leave No Trace website: www.LNT.org.

LNT O u t d o o r S k i l l s a n d E t h i c s LIBRARY

Aldo Leopold, the father of the American conservation ethic, used horses to define wilderness. In 1921, he wrote: “By ‘wilderness’ I mean a continuous stretch of country preserved in its natural state, open to lawful hunting and fishing, big enough to absorb a two-week pack trip . . . “

HORSE USE and Wildlands

Today, packstock use is still a tradi-tional and popular way for us to visit wildlands. But while the tradition remains strong, it is also dynamic. Pack-stock users are employing new equip-ment and techniques to help reduce their impacts. This booklet is a tool for you to use as you plan your minimum-impact camping trip with packstock— particularly horses and mules.

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PLAN AHEAD and Prepare

Plan ahead by considering your goals and those of your group. Pre-pare by gathering information, com-municating expectations, training and conditioning your animals, and acquiring the technical skills, first aid knowledge and equipment to do the trip right. Build Leave No Trace into your plans by picking an appropriate destination for your group and allowing plenty of time to travel and camp in good style.

Choose the right saddle and packstock to accom-plish your goals in a manner that does not affect the land adversely.

EDUCATE YOURSELF. Learn how to Leave No Trace wherever you go.

Start by asking about local ecology and local minimum-impact practices and guidelines. Know the regulations and special concerns for the place you plan to visit. Because every wildland is unique, regulations and permit stipula-tions vary. In many areas of the back-country, stock permits are required or there are regulations geared specifical-ly to packstock use. Knowing this information in advance will help as you get ready for your trip.

Land managers are most likely your best source of information, especially in terms of regulations. You can contact them through their web-sites, offices and visitor information centers. Other information sources include sporting goods suppliers, bookstores, clubs and non-profit groups, local conservation organiza-tions, libraries and nature centers.

These sources can often be contacted online.

PLAN AHEAD and Prepare

These information sources will help you determine such things as access, likely weather conditions, snowpack, available feed (if grazing is allowed), high-use areas, and trail conditions, as well as terrain and wildlife considerations (such as the presence of black or grizzly bears).

Some areas are closed to grazing and others restrict the number of horses that a group can use.

Even if you have ridden the route before, it’s wise to get out the maps and go over your itinerary. Consider the river crossings, alternate camp-sites, mountain passes, and fishing opportunities. Familiarize yourself with other trails that you might have to use in the case of an emergency or if a trail is impassable due to deadfall or rockslides.

PLAN FOR YOUR GROUP. Your group, its skills, and its behavior should fit with your wildland desti-nation. For example, unless you plan on packing in all of your own horse feed, the amount of forage available for your packstock will dictate your route and trip duration. In Wyoming’s Wind River Range, for example, high country meadows may not green up until mid-summer, forc-ing stock users to stick to the low country. Recreation managers can suggest places suited to your group if you need advice.

SMALL VERSUS LARGE GROUPS.

Regardless of the size of your group and the purpose of your outing, prac-ticing Leave No Trace techniques requires care and forethought. When-ever possible, visit wildlands in small groups. Large groups can be boister-ous and disruptive unless they are well-supervised. Additionally, large groups require more packstock, which require a larger area for your camp and more feed for your horses.

And, there are group size limits in many areas. If you are planning for a large group, try to include enough experienced leaders so horse knowl-edge and low-impact techniques can be shared effectively. Avoid problems by teaching everyone about Leave No Trace before leaving home. Always inquire about group size limitations in advance. Large and less knowl-edgeable groups are best accommo-dated in popular places where there are already developed trails and campsites.

SCHEDULE YOUR TRIP TO AVOID

TIMES OF HIGH USE. Visits to pop-ular wildlands during peak use peri-ods, such as holidays and weekends, are often fraught with traffic, crowd-ing, delays and conflicts with other groups. Instead, visit at other times, such as midweek, for a less crowd-ed—and more enjoyable—experi-ence. Or, explore out-of-the-way places. Make reservations and obtain permits well ahead of time to avoid unpleasant surprises. Avoid travel when environmental conditions, such as muddy trails, make recreation impacts more likely or severe. If you are hunting, you might want to con-sider areas where there are limited numbers of game licenses to mini-mize crowding. Or, consider hunting after opening weekend thus missing the crowds.

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USE PROPER GEAR. Taking the proper gear is a key for horsepacking.

Yet determining the right amount is an art borne of experience. Keep an equipment list for your trips.

Prepare for extreme weather, haz-ards and emergencies. Pack a camp stove and fuel, a pot, matches, a sig-nal mirror and a whistle or fluores-cent vest. Always carry a good map, plenty of food, water, a water filter or purification tablets, warm clothing, and protection from the sun, rain and insects.

Take the correct stock tools as well. If the area allows grazing, con-sider the devices you will use to confine your animals. Will you take pickets? An electric fence? Hobbles?

“Tree-saver” straps? Make sure your packstock is trained to use and respect any of these devices before you go. And remember that the less you restrict your animals’ movement, the less impact they will have on the land. Also— and this cannot be stressed enough—certain types of restraints, such as pickets, are illegal in some areas.

Thus, you need to make sure that you know the regulations and, equally importantly, how to use your tools properly.

Equipment that keeps us safe can also reduce impacts to our surround-ings. A camp stove that provides a quick meal without charring a single stone is a prime example. In bear country, bear resistant panniers or other containers for food may be part of the package.

PLAN AHEAD and Prepare

PLAN YOUR MEALS. Adequate gear can be essential to the success of a trip, but it’s a mistake to bring too much stuff. Get a jump on waste management by planning meals to avoid leftovers. Repackage food in reusable containers or plastic bags.

Get rid of wrappers and heavy pack-aging in advance, so that it won’t get left behind. Maintain a cookbook of successful menus. Precooked and even frozen dishes can decrease the cooking time and conserve fuel.

KNOW YOUR HORSES. Before entering the backcountry you should consider the following points con-cerning your packstock.

• Take the minimum number of ani-mals necessary. Some experienced packers “ride one, pack one.” Some even “ride two, pack one.”

• Take only animals that are fit, calm and experienced. For example, a mare in heat might cause problems in a herd of geldings, and an unbro-ken colt could be a hazard to your safety and that of the environment.

• Practice the techniques to be used in the backcountry before you head out. In your corral at home, expose your animal to the sounds, gear and

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restraints you expect to use or encounter during your trip. Such practice may prevent injury to your-self, your steed or the outdoors.

DEVELOP THE SKILLS. Know the skills and gear that are needed. Don’t be afraid to ask the advice of a veter-an horse person. Sit in on clinics or consider taking a course or hiring a competent licensed guide. Make first aid, navigation and self-rescue part of your training, and be sure you and your animals are in adequate physical shape for the trip. Learn as much as you can about your destination and how to have fun there while staying safe and protecting the land.

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. Getting lost has important implications for you, the people who attempt to find you, and the terrain. Significant impacts to the landscape and to other people can result from rescue operations that involve vehicles or large numbers of people. Take responsibility for your own safety by practicing self-aware-ness, caution and good judgment.

Minimize risk by planning a trip that matches your skills and expectations.

Be prepared to rescue yourself from tough situations.

Register at the trailhead or with the ranger. Be a competent navigator.

Carry a map and know where you are at all times. Stay with your group.

Just in case, give a friend your itiner-ary and instructions explaining what to do if you don’t return on schedule.

Don’t build cairns, or deface rocks or trees to mark your way. Flagging should also be avoided. If flagging is absolutely necessary, such as marking a route to a game carcass, be sure to take it down before leaving the area.

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TRAVEL AND CAMP on Durable Surfaces

RECOGNIZE DURABLE

SURFACES. What effect does a hoof print have? The answer is, it depends. A hoof print means differ-ent things to a tree sapling and meadow grass, to leaf litter and frag-ile cryptobiotic soil, to a gravely river bank and rain forest moss.

Unfortunately, trampling causes vegetation damage and soil erosion in virtually every environment. Recov-ery that takes a year in the southern Appalachians might require 25 years or more in Glacier National Park.

Anyone who has ever had their foot stepped on by a horse can attest to the fact that there’s a lot of weight there—as much as 1,500 pounds per square inch on each foot. Metal horseshoes intensify the trampling.

Make it a habit to use surfaces that are resistant to impact such as trails, sand, gravel, dry grasses, and mineral soils.

CONCENTRATE USE IN POPULAR

AREAS. Many travel corridors and popular destinations have well-estab-lished trails and campsites. Concen-trating use on such durable surfaces is a simple and effective method of reducing the impact of your back-country visit.

STAY ON DESIGNATED TRAILS.

Impacts on wildlife, soil and vegeta-tion can be minimized by traveling on constructed trails that, in many cases, have been designed to accommodate heavy use. Ride single file on desig-nated trails. With long pack strings, it can be difficult to keep animals in line. If this gets to be a problem, con-sider breaking up the pack string into shorter strings with more riders lead-ing. If trouble of some kind occurs on the trail, you may have to step off your horse and tie him to the limb of a tree. This kind of “on the trail” instance should be one of the few times you would ever need to tie a horse to a tree in the backcountry— or the front country for that matter.

Do not shortcut trails or switch-backs. You should ride through muddy stretches on the trail unless it poses a signifi-cant safety haz-ard. Detouring around obstacles causes vegetation damage, erosion and development of multiple paths.

There are a num-ber of lightweight saws on the mar-ket that enable you to cut dead-fall from your route. Removing

TRAVEL AND CAMP on Durable Surfaces fallen trees, staying on the trail, and exhibiting good trail etiquette are some of the more visible methods we have of demonstrating our care for the land.

When taking rest breaks, choose a site well off the trail so that others are not forced to leave the trail to go around you. When possible, pull off on a durable surface such as dry grass. For short breaks, you may be able to hand-hold your horses. You should not have to tie your horse to a tree except for very short periods of time. If you can’t hold your horse, or if he doesn’t “ground tie,” then buddy him up with another horse by tying him head to tail, saddle horn to sad-dle horn, leaving about 18 inches of rope between each horse’s head and whatever he’s tied to. This technique is an excellent way to control your horses, but make sure you and your horses are comfortable with it before

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you try it in the backcountry.

If you can’t tie your horses in the manner described above, invent some other way to “tie them to the sky,” but try not to tie them to trees. It’s just not necessary and it can be the most damaging thing you can do with horses in the backcountry.

USE ESTABLISHED

CAMPSITES. Selecting an appropriate campsite is an extremely important aspect of low-impact backcountry use. A decision about where to camp should be based on the amount and type of use in the area, the fragility of the vegetation and soil, the likeli-hood of wildlife disturbance, an assessment of previous impacts and of your party’s potential to cause more impact, and the likelihood of turning your horses out at night to loose graze. General-ly, loose grazing is the most resource-friendly way of grazing your horse.

Choose a well-established site that’s big enough for your group and stock. Some popu-lar areas have officially desig-nated campsites, shelters or platforms. Use of these amenities can reduce damage to vegetation and other natur-al features. Where campsites and stock areas are not for-mally designated, look for and use sites where the ground cover is already worn away. Some areas have desig-nated holding zones for live-stock. Use them. Concentrate your activities in the center of the site to avoid enlarging it.

In bear country, it is advis-able to separate the sleeping and cooking areas. In all other situations, tents, tack, gear, and the kitchen area should be concentrated in one area on previously com-pacted, naturally resistant or reinforced surfaces. This approach protects surround-ing vegetation and prevents the development of “satellite” sites. Check with local man-agers for specific regulations on food storage when camp-ing in bear country.

Consider your visual impact on other users or wildlife. Take advantage of opportunities to tuck your tent out of view behind nat-ural screening such as trees or rocks, and graze your horses up a finger meadow or basin off the trail, out of sight. At the same time, con-sider your impacts on wildlife. Make a balanced decision.

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TRAVEL AND CAMP on Durable Surfaces

DESTINATION CAMPS. Some par-ties ride into the backcountry with one destination in mind, whether it’s the base of operations for day rides, a hunting camp or a fishing hotspot.

You can reduce your impact in these areas too.

Consider sending out extra horses that you won’t need until later with another party.

Or, try a progressive trip, where you camp in one place for a day, then move on to another, and another the next day. With progressive travel, you can move fast and light and see far more country.

GOOD CAMPSITES ARE FOUND,

NOT MADE. What makes the perfect campsite? On public land, these sites are often traditional ones ... areas that have been used time and again over the years. It is important to use these areas when you find them.

Safety, privacy and comfort never go out of style. Securing such ameni-ties does not entail a major remodel-ing effort. We can bring our own lightweight furniture and conve-niences along to eliminate the need to create them on-site. Camp stoves, mattresses, tables, chairs, lanterns— even showers—are readily available at reasonable prices, and they pack in and out with ease. But consider sim-plifying your camp to reduce num-bers of pack animals needed. More gear means more horses means more impact. If you can use lightweight gear, or go without, you will do a better job in leaving no trace.

Leave your campsite clean and nat-ural looking. In wildlands, we are

TRAVEL AND CAMP on Durable Surfaces visitors, but we are also hosts to those who follow. They will notice our hospitality, or lack of it. Litter, graffiti, tree damage, human and pet waste, many unsightly fire rings, hoof-damaged soil and vegetation, manure piles and the like are all things that can be avoided. If we take the time to pick up after ourselves and others if necessary, we’ll all benefit.

Trees are often harmed near camp-sites. Take care not to break off branches while securing tent or clothes lines, when suspending food or game carcasses, and when putting up tree saver straps for highlines.

Don’t use wire or nails. Place a stuff sack, saddle blanket, or other materi-al under ropes or where padding is necessary to protect bark. Likewise, place lanterns where they won’t singe bark. Don’t tie animals directly to trees. Instead use portable fencing, highlines with tree saver straps, or hobbles to restrain them. Finally, trees shouldn’t be targets or storage for hatchets and knives.

Even in campsites, leave the area as natural as possible. Breaking off a tree branch for firewood creates an ugly scar and may open the tree to disease. Proper firewood collection is discussed in the campfire section.

The kitchen is a place where peo-ple tend to congregate. This area will usually receive the most impact, so put the kitchen in the most resilient and impacted location available. In any campsite, especially with large groups, traffic between the kitchen, tent sites and tack area is bound to create trails. Stay on paths that are

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already established if you can. The objective is to confine your impact to areas that already show use and avoid enlarging the area of disturbance.

Some horsemen like to use Scrim. The use of Scrim, an open-weave cloth, can lessen impact in high-use and stock containment areas.

Used as a ground covering, a Scrim lets air and moisture through, allowing vegetation to breath and grow, while at the same time buffering the grinding action caused by boot heels and hooves.

When using Scrim under your highlines for livestock, be sure to allow at least 100-square feet per horse, and stake it tightly at all four corners. Obviously, the best course of action is to high-line as few horses as possi-ble—maybe just two—and have them stand on Scrim.

“Buddy up,” hobble, or picket the others until you can turn them out to loose graze.

DISPERSE USE IN

PRISTINE AREAS. Prolifera-tion of trails and campsites has alarmed both resource managers and travelers across North America. Even where visitor use has remained relatively stable, such as the Spanish Peaks Wilderness in Montana or parts of the Sierra Nevada in

California, campsites are sprouting up in traditionally low-use areas. Visit remote or pristine areas only if you are committed to leaving no trace in that environment. Using established routes, trails and campsites is always preferable to pioneering new ones.

OFF-TRAIL TRAVEL. In gen-eral, stay on existing trails.

But if you must travel off-trail—and it is legal to do so—use the most durable sur-faces such as rocky soils. Dry grasses and sedges (which resemble grasses) are also nat-urally durable due to their hardy root structures and flexible stems.

Consult local land man-agers about off-trail travel and the appropriate use of game trails. In general, spread out when riding across pristine areas. If each person takes a slightly different route, a dis-tinct trail is less likely to form because no single plant receives multiple hoof beats.

Riding single file is acceptable where there is little chance of trampling plants.

Off-trail travel may not be appropriate or legal where highly erosive soils or sensi-tive, rare or endangered species are present. If it’s absolutely necessary to travel through fragile terrain, try to ride in the least destructive locations and encourage your companions to follow.

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CAMPSITES IN PRISTINE

AREAS. Especially in pristine areas, try to allow adequate time to select a campsite.

Choose the most durable camping location possible rather than the first one you happen to see. In pristine areas, pre-existing camping spots, even those that are lightly used, should be left alone to recover. Before unpacking your horses, spend a little time scouting the area for the ideal camp-site that includes forage for the stock, and locations for your tent and kitchen.

Choose an area that seems safe, free of wildlife, and well suited to low-impact camp-ing. If possible, look for a large rock slab, a graveled area, or other equally durable space to locate your kitchen.

Concentrate your activities on this surface whenever possible to protect more frag-ile areas. If necessary, reserve less durable ground for your sleeping area.

Vary your route to water, to the “bathroom,” and to sleeping areas to prevent trails from forming. In gener-al, manage your activity to avoid harming the natural features of the site, especially those that do not regenerate or do so very slowly—such as lichens and trees. Impacts can often be avoided by stay-ing only one night.

TRAVEL AND CAMP on Durable Surfaces

CONFINING HORSES

NEAR CAMP. Keep your horses out of camp. If you must bring your horses in or near camp to tack, untack, pack or unpack, then have everything organized before you bring them in. Do the job as quickly as possible to minimize horse impacts in camp. If the horses defecate within 100 feet of the core camp, remove it. When their feet dig up the ground, take the time to spread around disturbed soils, and sprinkle pine needles or duff to dis-guise the spot.

Someone should be desig-nated to tend the horses regu-larly to ensure that all are safe and that no damage is being done to the area. Always keep an eye out for problems.

Impatient or nervous horses often paw or trample the ground when tied. Also, if a rope is long enough for a horse to nibble at the grass while he’s tied up, then it is long enough for him to step over. A horse in trouble can do significant damage to him-self and the environment.

Evaluate the specific site for each highline or corral. Wet or boggy ground is too fragile to withstand the repeated trampling associated with tied or corralled horses. Choose a tie-up area that catches enough breeze to discourage insects, so there will be less pawing and stomping. Insect

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repellent can always help prevent this kind of damage. Well-fed, well-watered horses will be more content. Nervous or bored horses that paw while tied should be hobbled as well as tied.

The methods of restraint below are presented from generally less to greater degrees of impact. Pick an area at least 100 feet from camp to hold your hors-

es. Again, check with local regulations regarding these methods; some are not allowed in certain locations.

Saddle Hobbles. A lightweight but sturdy pair of leather or nylon hobbles can be carried for short-term restraint, especially while the horse is under your immediate supervision. They work well when you first reach camp and begin to unload. Also, a hobbled horse is free to graze a short distance away while you attend other animals and tasks. Some horsemen dislike nylon hobbles, but they can be an excellent tool with a well-trained horse.

Buddying Up. Consider stopping in a durable part of the meadow a couple of hundred feet from your campsite and tying your horses in pairs with the technique described in the “Stay on Designated Trails” section on page 8.

Some horsemen use small break-away strings to loop the lead ropes as a safe-ty precaution. This method of restrain-ing your horses keeps them away from trees and gives them the flexi-bility they need. The horses simply circle around each other if they must move, and often they will tolerate being tied this way for a couple of hours.

Highlines. In many areas, highlines are the preferred method for restrain-ing horses in camp because they pre-vent horses from trampling the root systems at the base of trees. Yet high-lines can be quite damaging. For this reason, some areas have designated zones for highlines, while others out-law the practice. If you are set on highlining, or required to highline, here are some tips: Find an area of dry, hardened ground or a site where the least ground cover will be dis-turbed. Stretch a rope a little over horse-head high between two live trees at least eight inches in diameter.

Tie lead ropes at intervals along the highline, away from tree trunks. The ropes should not be able to slide along the highline; this will prevent the horses from getting tangled with each other. Additionally, there should be no long loops in the lead ropes which a horse could step over or wrap around its neck. To ensure that the highline does not girdle trees, use wide nylon “tree saver” straps, your

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highline lash cinch, or wrap the rope several times around the tree. Gunny sacks can also be used for additional bark padding if necessary. When saddling or unsaddling, adjust the height of the highline so saddle horns won’t hang up on it.

Corrals. Building corrals or hitching rails out of logs, rope and other materials is generally not acceptable and in some places, it is illegal. With all the tools and techniques available to the modern horsepacker, building such structures is not only a waste of time, but an impact to the resource that is completely unnecessary. In some areas, these structures are in place for your use and should be used. However, in most pristine backcountry, they are highly destruc-tive and illegal.

GRAZING RESTRAINT. Free roaming horses grazing on good grass cause lit-tle long-term impact. However, limit-ing travel during grazing is a major concern for the horse user. A helpful principle to remember is: More confinement can generally be equated to more impact because it concen-trates impact and contributes to rest-less behavior. Remember that a well-fed, well-watered horse will be more content and less apt to paw or dig, no matter what grazing restraint is used.

There are several good restraint options for grazing stock:

1) loose grazing

2) hobbles

3) electric/drift fences

4) pickets

5) combinations of any or all.

TRAVEL AND CAMP on Durable Surfaces

KNOW HERD DYNAMICS. Knowing how your horses relate to one anoth-er is a great way for you to decide how and which animals to restrain.

In fact, the mark of a true horseper-son is often his or her ability to rec-ognize and use herd dynamics to leave as little impact as possible. If done correctly, this information is one of the most important factors in leaving no trace.

For example, a dominant animal that can be put on a picket will often hold the other subordinate animals in camp, even if they are loose herded.

Mares can be excellent picket ani-mals; both mules and geldings often stay with dominant mares. If you consider these factors, you can spread out your horses quite well. Not all horses need to be picketed or put in an electric fence (unless regulations require otherwise). Doing your home-work and observing and knowing your animals will help you have a better trip and cause less damage to the environment.

Prepare your horses for their time in the backcountry. If you and a buddy are going horsepacking with animals that have never been around each other, put them out in a pasture together for a week or more before the trip so you can figure out which horse is the dominant animal. Time spent at home “talking” horse goes a long way toward your comfort in the wilds.

Loose grazing. Horses confined only by their own herd-bound instincts cause the least impact. Every group of horses has a few members that lack the courage or ambition to leave the rest of the bunch. If you

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can identify these individuals, you can restrain them simply by confining their “buddies” or leaders.

Hobbles. This method of restraint causes very little environmental impact. The idea behind hobbling horses is to give them freedom to graze yet restrict their travel to the general area near camp. Since many horses learn to move freely with hob-bles, keep one or two horses on pick-ets or within an electric fence. Place bells on “ring leaders” or “loners” to help you keep track of your horses.

Electric fencing. Portable electric fencing has become very popular for backcountry use. As no trees are required, it is ideal for use in open areas or desert. Electric fencing is lightweight, versatile and easy to set up and move. You will need to acquaint your horses with it before the trip. Electric fences must be moved often to ensure that the area is not overgrazed. Terrain that is impos-sible for picketing, such as an area with many rocks or bushes, may be ideal for an electric fence. Or if the terrain allows, you can set up a drift fence at the mouth of a box canyon, for example, and do an excellent job of keeping horses where you want them while minimizing impacts.

Remember, the fewer animals inside the fence, the less damage they will

do. If you can place your dominant animal(s) inside and hobble your other horses outside, you will have a great setup for minimum impact. Oth-erwise, you will have to create a large area with your electric fence to avoid concentrated impact.

Pickets. Picketed horses require good feed. Choose the site carefully and make sure it is free of obstacles.

Pack in your picket pins; do not cut trees to make them. Remove those that have been left by others. Move the pins frequently to prevent overgrazing and trampling—as much as every few hours. It is past time to move the pick-et when you can see a circle beginning to show. When possible, rotate hob-bled horses with those on pickets or in an electric fence. This helps ensure all stock get enough feed and water.

In large herds, picketing two horses is usually better than picketing only one. A single horse can get anxious if left alone and may paw the ground or injure itself.

Picketing horses can be very hard on soil and vegetation and is not allowed by some land management agencies.

However, if used properly, this can be a good restraint method because you are confining only one animal at a time and because pickets are easier to relo-cate than electric fences.

Whatever method of confinement is used, stock should be monitored. If you head off fishing for several hours, your animals may not be where you left them when you return. Confine

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hobbles stock when they become restless and have eaten their fill. And remember, when you can see obvious signs that an area such as a picket site has been grazed, it is time to move your animals.

PROTECT WATER RESOURCES.

Vegetated lakeshores and the banks of small streams are fragile and easily eroded. Plants and animals also con-gregate at these water sources, so use existing campsites at least 200 feet (70 adult steps) away unless local guide-lines indicate otherwise. In arid regions, this practice gives wildlife vital access to potholes and springs.

By distancing camps from water, we are also less likely to pollute them inadvertently.

Some designated sites or shelters may be too close to trails or water because of terrain limitations or a long history of use. Unless otherwise noted by the administering land manage-ment agency, continued use of such sites is preferable to the creation of new ones.

Picketing or otherwise confining stock so they are next to water sources should be avoided. Get in the habit of watering your confined animals rather than placing the picket or electric fence close to a water source where your horse can trample ground and create mud holes.

When you water your horses, use an established ford or low rocky spot in the bank where little damage will occur. Encourage the hobbled or loose horses to water there as well. Many watering places are small or contain sensitive vegetation and fragile soils.

Consider watering away from the source to prevent damage to these sen-

TRAVEL AND CAMP on Durable Surfaces sitive riparian areas. A collapsible water bucket is handy for this.

CARRYING SUPPLEMENTAL FEED.

In some areas, forage is limited; in others, grazing may be restricted by regulation.

Meadows should always be left in the best possible condition for those who follow and so that plants can recover from grazing pressures. When the plant height has been reduced by 50 percent, it’s time to move on.

The use of supplemental feed can reduce grazing time and the amount of live feed utilized. A small ration of supplemental feed can also be used as a “bribe” to remind horses that camp is home. Small amounts of salt—held in the hand or placed in a bucket to avoid direct contact with the ground—can also be an incentive to keep the horses “at home.”

Processed and pelletized feed is a good source of nutrition. It is more concentrated than hay and thus will help keep weight and bulk to a mini-mum. The seeds of many weeds and non-native species can be found in unprocessed feed. These weeds and non-natives may germinate and grow and then compete with native plants.

To lessen this problem, avoid packing uncertified hay or unprocessed grain.

Feeding certified hay and feed three days prior to your trip will help pre-vent the unwitting transport of weeds in horse manure, and allows you to check that your horse will eat the feed that you will bring. In many areas, it is illegal to even transport feed that has not been certified weed free.

Accustom stock to the processed or pelletized feed prior to a trip. This

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will minimize possible colic in some animals. In camp, horse feed should be stored just like human food (see respect wildlife section).

As an alternative to placing feed on the ground, consider putting it in a simple nose bag or on a mantie. A full ration can be eaten without waste, and less pawing, trampling and close-cropping of the grass should occur with this technique. A feed bag can also be hung from the highline. Sever-al companies offer portable mangers or feed bins that can be hung from the highline as well.

BREAKING CAMP. Before departing, disguise the campsite by replacing any rocks or sticks you may have moved. Re-cover scuffed-up areas with leaf litter or pine needles. Pawed places must be filled in not only for visual impact, but to prevent deeper holes and further damage from occurring. Fluff up matted grass and make the place less obvious as a campsite. As long as overall visitor use is very low, the site will retain its best qualities. Ideally, no trails or campsites will be created if visitors disperse their activities.

Kick apart and scatter piles of manure. If manure is within a 100-foot radius of the campsite, carry it outside the zone and scatter. Manure outside the zone should be kicked apart and scattered as well. This will speed up decomposition and decrease the aesthetic impact on the area for other users. Some horsepackers carry a small, collapsible rake to move manure. Stock users should remem-ber that each animal leaves approxi-mately five piles of manure per night.

If you have six horses in your party and have spent three nights in a campsite, you should have approxi-mately 90 piles of manure to kick.

At the trailhead, clean up strings, wire and manure that may have fallen out of your vehicle.

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DISPOSE of Waste Proper ly

PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT. “Pack it in, pack it out” is a familiar mantra to seasoned wildland visitors. You have a responsibility to clean up before you leave. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods— human or equine. Pack out all trash and garbage (kitchen waste), includ-ing leftover food.

Plan meals to avoid generating messy, smelly garbage. It is critical to wildlife that we pack out kitchen waste, such as bacon grease and left-overs. Don’t count on a fire to dispose of it. Garbage that is half-burned or buried will still attract ani-mals and make a site unattractive to other visitors.

Overlooked trash is litter, and litter is not only ugly, it can be deadly. Plas-tic six-pack holders and plastic bags kill birds. Fishing lines, lures and nets ensnare and injure everything from dogs to herons, so don’t leave any behind.

Carry plastic bags to haul your trash (and maybe someone else’s).

Before moving on from a camp or rest site, search the area for “micro-garbage” such as bits of food and trash, including cigarette filters and organic litter like orange peels, or egg and pistachio shells. Invite the kids in your group to make a game out of scaveng-ing for human “sign.”

PRACTICE GOOD

SANITATION.

Human waste .“¿Donde está el baño?” “Ninahitaji kujisai-die?” No matter how it’s said, “Where’s the bathroom?” is an important question, even in wildlands. Where there is no bathroom per se, answer-ing the call involves a little pre-planning, some initiative and a bit of creativity. The four objectives of proper human waste disposal are:

• Avoid polluting water sources.

• Eliminate contact with insects and animals.

• Maximize decomposition.

• Minimize the chances of social impacts.

DISPOSE of Waste Proper ly

Contaminated water is common in many public lands. Improper disposal of human waste can lead to water pollution, the spread of illnesses, and unpleasant experiences for those who fol-low. Livestock and wildlife can also be responsible for the presence of bacteria in back-country water sources, so it is important to dispose of both your own waste and the waste of your packstock and pets properly.

Facilities/ outhouses. When-ever possible, take time to locate and use bathrooms, outhouses and other devel-oped sites for human waste disposal.

Cat holes. If no facilities are available, deposit solid human waste in “cat holes” dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, trails and drainages. Bring a trowel to dig the hole, and disguise it well after use. The microbes found in soil will break down feces and the pathogens they contain. Don’t leave human waste under rocks because it will decompose slowly there and may wash into water sources. If the cat hole method is ill suited to your group, camp where an out-house or pit toilet is available.

Good cat hole sites isolate waste from water sources such as lakes, streams, dry creek

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DISPOSE of Waste Proper ly beds, ravines, bogs, pot holes, and other visitors. Whenever possible, use a remote location during the day’s ride to help prevent high concentra-tions of cat holes near campsites.

Plan ahead to pack the toilet paper out with you in a plastic bag. This practice leaves the least impact on the area. Otherwise, use as little as possible and bury it deeply in the cat hole. Some people like to pack toilet paper that is specifically manufac-tured for RV use because it decom-poses rapidly. Burning toilet paper at the site has caused wildfires; it also rarely burns completely and is, there-fore, not recommended. “Natural” toilet paper like grass, sticks and snow can be surprisingly effective.

Always pack out feminine hygiene products because they decompose slowly and attract animals.

Carrying waste out. Visitor use is often high and soils sparse in alpine and desert areas. Recreation man-agers trying to protect human health and water sources employ a spectrum of toilet designs and approaches to managing human waste—even airlift-ing waste with helicopters. An effec-tive, low-cost option is to carry and use a home-made “poop tube” or a commercial device designed for transporting human waste. Dispose of the contents in pit toilets, porta-johns or according to package instructions. Local land managers may recommend other appropriate disposal techniques.

Urine. While the odor of urine can be a problem in arid areas, especially along river corridors, it is typically not a health concern. Urinate well away from camps and trails. Urine attracts wildlife with salt-deficient diets. Animals sometimes defoliate plants to consume the salt in urine, so urinate on rocks or bare ground rather than on the vegetation. Where water is plentiful, consider diluting the urine by rinsing the site.

Wastewater. For dish washing, use a clean pot or expanding jug to collect water and take it to a wash site at least 200 feet away from water sources. This lessens trampling of lakeshores, riverbanks and springs, and helps keep soap and other pollu-tants out of the water. Use hot water, elbow grease and little or no soap— even if you have biodegradable soap.

Strain dirty dishwater with a fine mesh strainer before scattering it broadly. Do this well away from camp, especially if bears are a con-cern. Pack out the contents of the strainer in a plastic bag along with any uneaten leftovers. Animals should not be allowed access to any food and food waste for reasons discussed in the “Respect Wildlife” section.

In developed campgrounds, food scraps, mud and odors can accumu-late where wastewater is discarded.

Contact your campground host for the

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cat hole best disposal practices and other ways to Leave No Trace at your campsite.

Soaps and lotions. Soap, even when it is biodegradable, can affect the water quality of lakes and streams, so minimize its use. Always wash your-self well away from shorelines (200 feet), and rinse with water carried in a pot or jug. This allows the soil to act as a filter. Where fresh water is scarce, think twice before swimming in creeks or potholes. Lotion, sunscreen, DISPOSE of Waste Proper ly insect repellent and body oils can contaminate these vital water sources.

Dispose of game entrails. The remains of fish and other game should be left well away from trails, water sources and campsites. In some situations, it may be appropriate to bury, completely burn or pack out the viscera with the garbage. Official guidelines and recommendations vary considerably from place to place, so call ahead for specifics.

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LEAVE What You Find glass is exhilarating, and it is tempting to take them home as souvenirs. But archeological and historical artifacts are reminders of the rich human history of the landscape and belong to all people for all time. Structures, dwellings and artifacts on public lands are protected by the 1979 Archaeological Resources Protection Act and the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act and may not be disturbed. These include seemingly insignificant potsherds, arrowheads and logging or railroad equipment from 50 or more years ago. It is illegal to excavate, disturb or remove these resources from any public lands.

Observe but do not touch them.

LEAVE NATURAL

FEATURES UNDISTURBED. Load your camera, not your panniers. Let photos, drawings and memories com-prise your souvenirs. Although natur-al objects may be collected on some public lands, a permit is often required. Collecting is prohibited in

People visit wildlands for many reasons, among them to explore nature’s mysteries and surprises.

When we leave rocks, shells, plants, antlers, feathers, fossils and other objects of interest as we find them, we pass the gift of discovery on to those who follow. Leave What You Find means retaining the special qual-ities of every wildland area for the long term.

PRESERVE THE PAST. Discovering evidence of earlier cultures such as clay pots, rock art, fossils and antique

LEAVE What You Find national parks and wildlife refuges. Federal law applies to wildlands. For example, the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects the nests and feathers of certain wild birds.

Practice and encour-age restraint.

Help children investigate the role of natural objects in their own environments.

Remind them that these things fill important ecologi-cal niches: An antler is gnawed by a kangaroo rat; a scorpion finds shade under a piece of driftwood; some petrified wood shelters the entrance of a pika’s burrow;

and a feather is woven into the nest of an osprey. Objects in nature derive much of their beauty from their surround-ings and never look quite the same back home.

AVOID SPREADING

NON-NATIVE PLANTS AND

ANIMALS. Invasive species of plants, animals and organisms can cause large-scale, irre-versible changes to ecosys-tems by eliminating native species over time. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42 percent of the country’s threatened and endangered species. Invasive plants affect every habitat type found in national forests, parks and

Bureau of Land Management lands in the U.S. There is no effective treatment for many invasive species and we are losing the native, living nat-ural heritage protected lands were intended to conserve.

Recreationists play a role in the spread of invasives by transporting live animals, plants, seeds and agents of disease such as giardia. The potential for new infestations increases every day as more and more outdoor seekers travel from one wildland to another around the globe.

At campsites in the Bob Mar-shall Wilderness, Montana, for example, three of the four most common species are…