Camping or hiking is something an adventurous person looks forward to as soon as the spring season comes. However, it is important to leave no traces of your camping trip after you have had your fun. It helps protect the natural surroundings and the wildlife around those parts. You also don’t want to be an unwanted burden on the people who maintain these tracks and trails. So, here are some ways you can avoid being a menace to the next camper who comes to hike at your old spot. 

Do Your Homework

Like any good hiker or camper, make sure you do your homework and know the ins and outs of the area you are heading to. Bring all the things that you may or may not need while camping so you stay protected in extreme weather conditions. Bring a map and compass with you to stay on track and not lose your way back to your car or camp site. If you are taking your pet, don’t forget to carry a leash and waste bags.

Make Sure You Take Back What You Brought

When we go on trips, we take a lot of canned foods, snacks, candy bars, trunk full of beer bottles and what not. But when you leave your camp sport, make sure you leave no trace of you being there and no waste suggesting otherwise. Carry enough napkins and bags to store all the waste and dump it properly. Preferably in a dumpster or dustbin, if there is a provision for one near the campsite.

Don’t Go off Road

While we are hiking on trails, we forget that we are not the only ones hiking or cycling. There may be other people there as well and you need to be considerate of them along with the flower beds or shrubs and trees that are growing on the either side of your track. Don’t step on them or don’t go exploring someone else’s private property, however beautiful you find it.

Set Up at Old Spots

While camping outdoors or going for a weekend trip, it is difficult to decide where to set camp. However, in order to protect nature and the land, make sure you find a spot that has already been used as a camp site. You can identify these areas easily as there is lesser or no grass growth in these plots because of prolonged use and damage from fire. This way you are also protecting nature and the wildlife residing around the woods.

Dispose Off Your Waste Properly

Whether it’s your pets or yourself and your travelling partners, if you head out to a campsite, there is sure to be some waste or faeces. This waste needs to be disposed off properly using garbage disposal bags. Try to bury your waste near a tree so that it can act as manure or dispose it off in a dustbin if you don’t have outhouses or portable washroom facilities available around you. Also, make sure that you don’t contaminate the water bodies near you with soap or waste.  

Lastly, my advice is don’t obsess over a campfire if you can’t build one. You can use a camp stove to cook but if you really wish to light up a campfire, use fire rings. Take note that you should not damage nature and only build your fire with fallen logs and twigs. Make sure that the fire is completely burned out before you leave the campsite and collect the ashes so that you can dump it later.