Pack it in, Pack it out
Pack It In, Pack It Out.This common saying is
a simple yet effective way to get backcountry
visitors to take their trash home with them.
There is no reason why people cannot carry out of the
backcountry the extra food and packing materials
which they carried in with them in the first place.
The litter situation in many backcountry areas
is better than it was 10-20 years ago; however, litter
continues to be a problem. Though most trash and
litter in the backcountry is not significant in terms
of the long term ecological health of an area,
it does rank high as a problem in the minds of many
backcountry visitors. Trash and litter are
primarily social impacts which can greatly detract from the
naturalness of an area.
Reduce litter at the source. Much backcountry
trash and litter originates from food items. Perhaps
the easiest way to practice the principle of
Pack it In, Pack it Out is to plan ahead and prepare. It is
possible to leave most potential trash at home
if you take the time to properly prepare food supplies.
Reduce the volume of trash you have to pack out
and save weight by repackaging solid food into
plastic bags and liquids into reusable
containers.
Another good idea is to keep your menu
simple: For short trips, consider not taking a stove and
taking only food that requires no cooking. This
significantly reduces backpack weight and excess
food packaging taken into the backcountry.
Your first preference for dealing with trash should
be to pack it out. Much trash is non able and not
all outdoor settings are acceptable for building
fires. Areas are often closed to fires due to high fire
hazards or excessive campsite damage. Some
areas, such as desert settings, are impractical for fires
due to the scarcity of firewood.
Under no circumstance should food scraps be
buried! Discarded or buried food scraps becomes
attractive to small animal life which live in
the area. It is common to see chipmunks, ground squirrels,
and various species of birds gathering around
camp kitchens. These camp robbers have become
habituated to campers as a food source. Human
food is not natural to wild animals and their natural
feeding cycles and habits have become disturbed.
A contentious no-trace camper always keeps a
clean camp.
Special Considerations for Bear Country. When
traveling in bear country, whether there are
black bears or grizzly bears present, the
disposal of garbage takes on a new significance. The
primary concern here is safety, both for the
visitor and for the bear. Personal safety is the first
priority; a bear can be a very dangerous animal
if provoked or habituated to humans. Safety of the
bear is also a concern. Once a bear is
habituated to people, usually because it associates people with
food, it can rapidly become a problem bear and
will have to be dealt with actively, sometimes at the
expense of its life. Though black bears present
less of a threat to the personal safety of backcountry
visitors than grizzly bears, the potential for
personal injury does exist and preparations should be
taken.
Messy kitchens and food odors can attract
bears. Kitchens should be placed at least 100 feet from
tent sites and, if possible, near streams or
rivers. A conscientious low-impact camper always keeps a
clean camp whether there are bears in the area
or not. If you suspect bears are in the area, food must
be kept at least 100 feet from tent and kitchen
sites and hung at least 10 feet off the ground between
trees and 4 feet away from the trunks of the
trees. All food items and trash must be hung. Even with
this preparation black bears, who are adept at
climbing, may still reach your food. Food brought to
your tent invites danger to your sleeping area
and food left in your pack may result in a destroyed
pack as the bear searches for the source of food
odors.
Remember to Pack
it In, Pack it Out, and recycle.