TREKKING
Camping

Responsible camping

From an environmental point of view trekking and camping tend to create a bit of a 'catch-22' situation. In order for us to grasp a true appreciation of pristine, unspoiled wilderness we need to physically take ourselves into that environment. The more people who can appreciate it the more likely the chances of steps being taken to preserve what's left of it. On the other hand though, the more of us out there, the more spoiled it becomes through over use. So, what do we do?

There is a tremendous amount that each of us can do to minimise our impact while trekking and camping and the vast majority of us are more than happy to do what's required if given a little guidance. Being properly educated and adequately prepared is the key.

Low impact camp sites

Camp sites can have a devastating effect on fragile wilderness areas. With more and more people venturing into the outdoors It is vitally important that we know as much as possible about establishing low impact camp sites. If we fail to minimise our impact, the very reason that we venture into these pristine areas will cease to exist, in which case we might as well stay at home in our man-made environment.

Maximum shelter - minimum impact should be our moto. The best surfaces to camp on are sand, fine gravel or leaf litter because they are comfortable to sleep on and are not effected by trampling. These surfaces can also be tidied up easily after use to reduce visual impact. Avoid trampling small plants and shrubs as these may be rare of threatened species.

How to choose a good, safe camp site

Each year campers and trekkers around the globe are injured or worse due to inexperienced decisions regarding camp sites. There are a number of things to look for in a possible site that will help ensure that you have a safe and comfortable stay.

Drainage
If you were to get a downpour overnight does the site have sufficient runoff?
River banks
If camping near a river are you situated high enough to account for a sudden rise in water level? Flooding in areas hundreds of kilometres away can cause sudden water level changes much further downstream.
Below cliffs
If camping below cliffs ensure that there is an overhang that will deflect any falling rocks.
Amoung trees
Camping under trees can be particularly dangerous. News articles have in the past published headlines like "Freak accident - camper killed by falling tree while sleeping" Sadly these are rarely 'freak accidents' but are more likely to be 'accidents waiting to happen'. Inexperienced outdoors enthusiasts often make the mistake of forgetting to look up before pitching. If there is any chance of a tree or tree branch falling on your tent move somewhere else. You are not in a good, safe camp site especially if it's windy
Open exposed areas
These are not ideal campsites due to the possibility of high winds but if you need to camp in such a place ensure that your tent is securely guyed down. There is nothing worse that having to crawl out of a warm, comfortable sleeping bag in the middle of the night to secure your tent.
Getting acquainted with the locals
Before setting up camp it pays to have a good look around to see if any 'locals' have already claimed the spot. Wasps, mosquitoes, leaches, bull ants are among the many species that can make your stay a miserable one. Before getting too comfortable it might be a good idea to boil the billy and observe the prospective site over a mug of brew. A more suitable site may be just a short distance away.
Coastal camp sites
At the risk of stating the obvious, when camping by the ocean be sure to camp above the high tide mark. You would be amazed at how often this is overlooked.

Camp fire Vs Fuel stove

To many trekkers and campers the thought of camping without a camp fire is simply not an option. Sitting around the campfire is a universally appreciated ritual that almost every human being has done or probably will do at least once in their lifetime. Most people can recall at least one time in their lives where they sat staring into a camp fire, lost in thought - the simplest form of meditation. It is a moment in time that virtually all of us can relate to in some way. It is possible that this is the only ritual left in our ever advancing modern society that, in the act of doing so, links us directly to our early ancestors. It is possibly the only activity left in our culture that has remained unchanged since our ancient ancestors first discovered fire.

A time and a place

As they say, "There is a time and a place for everything" and the humble camp fire now falls into this category. For various reasons the use of modern fuel stoves is being actively encouraged. In some fragile wilderness areas such as Monolith Valley in the Budawangs of New South Wales Australia, camp fires have been totally banned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. In fact, overnight camping has been banned altogether in this unique and delicate area. We are going to see more and more of this as time goes by so we need to modify our style of camping to accommodate these necessary changes.

Responsible camp fire practises

There is heated debate amoung park managers, outdoor enthusiasts and environmentalists about whether camp fires should be allowed at all. Arguments for banning camp fires carry a lot of weight largely due to damage caused by uneducated and/or careless trekkers. The best way for trekkers to 'keep their fires burning' is to support those who are arguing in their favour. The best way to do that is to adopt responsible camp fire practices. Here are a few tips on how you can do that:

There is an old saying among Australian bushwalkers. "The bigger the fire, the bigger the fool". In a country that is no stranger to massive loss due to annual bushfire problems, this saying hits a serious raw nerve. A small camp fire will not only be more manageable and therefore safer it will also consume considerably less of the natural fuel resources available in the area.

Deadwood plays a vital role in the local ecosystem. It provides habitats for many different species of insects, fungi, birds, small animals and microbes. It can also provide shelter for young plants. This is one of the main reasons why authorities are banning camp fires in fragile areas. Depleting an area of deadwood has devastating consequences in all wilderness areas. If your campsite shows signs of depleted deadwood this is a time to seriously consider using your fuel stove and save the campfire glow for another night rather that scavenging for the last remaining dregs. If you are in an area which is off the beaten track and seldom visited and deadwood is plentiful, and as long as there are no fire bans in place then a small responsibly built campfire may be considered appropriate. To many ancient tribes people fire was considered sacred and treated with the highest of respect.

Building a fire in the wrong place will not only destroy the surrounding plants, it will also destroy the living organisms and microbes that live in the soil beneath, rendering that patch of soil useless for supporting plantlife for a long time afterwards. In addition, the natural beauty of the area is also scared. A good place to set a camp fire is on sand or gravel. This will have minimal environmental impact and when you've finished with it and the fire is completely extinguished simply scatter the ashes and cover the site with the existing sand or gravel. There will be little if any evidence that you were even there. A flat rocky area also makes for a good fire place but cover the rock with sand or gravel first. When you are finished, simply tidy up what's left and wash the area down with water to remove any unsightly evidence that someone was there.

Managing rubbish

Another Australian bushwalkers' mantra is 'What your carry in must be carried out'. There are few thing in life that will make your average wilderness trekker's blood boil quicker than finding another trekker's rubbish. This is the ultimate show of disrespect. Not only towards the the pristine environment that you have come to visit but also to your fellow trekkers. With a bit of forethought, managing rubbish is a remarkably simple process which is basically just commonsense.

If you don't carry it in, you won't have to carry it out. Choose your packaging carefully. See our section on food and nutrition for more details on this one.
Ensure that packaging that is carried in is lightweight and compactible. Avoid tins where possible.
Carry a plastic shopping bag in your pack for carrying your rubbish. The handles can be tied with a loose knot which is easily undone.
If you are making use of a camp fire this is an opportunity to burn any combustibles like paper and cardboard. These also make for good fire starting fuel. Of course this also helps to lighten the rubbish bag that you are carrying in your pack. Contrary to popular belief, aluminium foil does not reduce down when burnt and should be carried out.

Toilet facilities

This can be one of the most daunting activities to the first time trekker/bush camper. In fact it is responsible for preventing many would-be trekkers from taking up the sport in the first place. Some people just can't cope with the thought of 'squatting in the bush'. In all honesty though, it's no big deal and is a requirement of nature that the human mind soon becomes very comfortable with. You would be surprised just how quickly you adapt. It is sad that many people refrain from entering an activity like trekking because of this requirement of nature. As this is an area that some newcomers can find embarrassing to talk about we are more than happy to answer any 'anonymous' emails.

Research seems to indicate that many newcomers are concerned about losing balance while making a contribution. If you have concerns in this department try choosing a site with a small tree close enough to use as a 'hand rail'.

On a more serious note, disposing of your contribution must be carried out in the correct manner. Using a small trowel, pre dig a hole about 15 to 20 cm deep. If there are no fire bans in place any toilet paper should be burnt and the hole filled in. Calls of nature should be answered well away from walking tracks and at least 100 metres away from water courses to prevent contamination.

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