Moving Around

• When following a trail, try to stay on it, don't step off the trail to avoid wet spots or mudholes.
  
  
• When you step around the wet areas you tend to damage roots and trample delicate plants, you will also speed erosion by uncovering the non-compacted soil which can wash away in the rain. Don't try to avoid mudholes, it only widens the trail and creates bigger holes- mud does wash off your shoes.
  
  
• At landings try to land in either the most heavily used area or on solid rock. This will prevent erosion or at least keep it to a small already damaged area. Usually the best landings show the most use anyways.
  
  
• If you're caught short and "have to use the bushes". Dig a small "cat hole" about 15-20cm wide and 10-15cm deep at least 50 paces from the trail and burn and bury your paper and fill in the hole. Most of the bacteria that breaks down your waste are in the top 15cm and, by going off the trail no-one should step in it.
  
  
• It's better to step over roots than to step on them. Stepping on roots tears the fragile outer layer causing the root to die and stop providing nutrients to the tree, and roots make for easy slips and falls.
  
  

In Camp

• Don't put nails into trees, and if you use a hammock, replace the suspension rope with webbing slings. That way you won't harm the trees and allow infection or insects to get under the bark, nails hurt when you whack your head on them, and small diameter rope can cut through the bark.
  
  
• Just because something says its biodegradable doesn't mean it can go in the lake. Most biodegradable soaps and chemicals need bacteria in the soil to break it down. To dispose of them; strain out any foodscraps, scatter the water well back in the bush and burn the scraps in your fire. This helps the soil to break down your waste water by not overloading one particular spot. Don't forget that the lake is your drinking water, and who wants to drink soap!
  
  
• Please use the "thunder boxes" (pit privies), but only for their intended use. Don't put things like garbage or feminine hygene products in there. A bear or raccoon can (and will) make an unbelievable mess if it smells food scraps in the "thunderbox".
  
  
• Don't dig trenches for your tent. Most newer tents have bathtub floors that will stop a fair amount of water. Try to set up your tent to prevent flooding from runoff. Trenches cause erosion and tripping hazards. If there is no other way, place a log uphill from your tent to divert the water and put the log back when you move on.
  
  
• Burn or pack out any leftovers or garbage, or better yet don't have any. Food attracts animals and, like at the zoo "don't feed the bears". Bears that get used to human food will soon start taking it without an invite, and no-one likes 400 lb party crashers!
  
  

Having a Campfire

• Confine your fire to the existing Firepit. The soil is already sterilized from the heat; if you build a fire elsewhere you kill all the plants and bacteria there too. Its okay to rebuild the pit to make it smaller or better, BUT please don't build it bigger for a bonfire.
  
  
• Try to collect firewood in locations away from the site and NEVER cut live trees. Live trees don't burn very well and cutting them helps to denude the landscape. The best firewood is usually found away from the sites where it hasn't been picked over and it's less obvious that the area has been disturbed.
  
  
• Axes, knives and saws should be only used on fallen deadwood. Never use them on a live tree or it won't be live for long.
  
  
• There is no need for wood thicker than your wrist. It's too hard to burn and leaves a pit full of unburnt charcoal and half burnt logs.
  
  
• At the end of the night, let your fire burn down to coals before you extinguish it, and make sure your fire is DEAD OUT. If you can't hold your hand close to it- it's not out and can restart with a good breeze, and you won't have a pit full of half-burnt wood to dispose of. It's easier to keep the fire small and efficient if there isn't 6" of charcoal underneath it.
  
  

The ABR, on the other hand, is eager to deal with Algonquin-specific issues on an interactive level and to search out feedback, suggestions and recommendations. We're after developing solutions like .. the removal of nails from trees and re-driving of hole-filling wooden plugs to minimize infections .. the promotion of alternatives such as self-tightening hanging tree-loops .. directly challenging specific bad practices .. producing detailed articles about individual concerns.

The responsiveness and flexibility of our strategies's programs don't fit into the "cookie-cutter", prepackaged LNT approach. Should the park opt to go the LNT route, we'll still be free to pursue our "Reduce Our Impact" initiative. Who's to say the two approaches couldn't compliment each other? The park's official LNT program would set down their "official policy", while our "Reduce Our Impact" program would have a more interactive, responsive and solutions-based focus.

The phrase "Leave No Trace" almost sounds like an order or command coming down from above .. a "tree-top" edict. On the other hand, the phrase "Reduce Our Impact" sounds like a self-originating, collective effort happening at the "tree-roots level".

"In the February 29th meeting's initial presentation, it was indicated that the park was entertaining adoption of the "Leave No Trace" program. You indicated you would appreciate our response to that issue.

In our earlier internal discussions, the ABR had considered that the American-based "Leave No Trace" program was focused on true wilderness travel. In stead, we chose to develop "Low Impact" guidelines, due to Algonquin's backcountry travel involving established campsites and thunderboxes which are far from "traceless" fixtures.

Since the park is now examining the "Leave No Trace" program, and considering shaping its guidelines to the park's needs, we believe the Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists should now respond in detail.

The ABR is not in favour of Algonquin Park adopting the "Leave No Trace" program because that organization requires that it has control over the content of any printed materials using their logo ( http://www.leavenotrace.ca/about/logo.html ) , use of the phrase "Leave No Trace" and use of their seven "Leave No Trace Principles" ( http://www.leavenotrace.ca/programs/principles.html ).

If Algonquin Park were to give edit-control of an educational program's printed materials' contents to another organization (especially one that answers to a Colorado USA head office), we believe that the park would severely limit that program's capabilities, flexibility and potential."

The search for a low impact "catch phrase" resulted in "Reduce Our Impact".

Shorelines

The shorelines which we tend to impact most upon are those at campsites. Most of Algonquin's canoe route campsites have been established for many years and are characterized by expanses of exposed rock, gravel, sand and tree roots. In most cases, these materials were originally covered by forest soil and plants. The continual landings of canoes and the accompanying foot-traffic ashore have resulted in the compaction and erosion of the natural ground covers. Eventually such impact results in the death of some shoreline trees.

We are often struck by the rugged rocky appearance of a campsite's shoreline. However, it is not usually a case of a naturally rugged spot being chosen for a campsite. What we are usually seeing is a damaged section of shoreline .. damaged by our own repeated use over the years and decades. We have only to look up and down the shoreline, beyond the immediate vicinity of such a campsite to see the original natural state of the shoreline.

These impacted stetches of shoreline will take far longer to heal than the time taken to damage them. Unfortunately they have become a common mark of most canoe campsites. However, we can make a conscious effort to not impact on any more of the shoreline that remains in its original natural state.

It may seem more convenient to land one's canoe at a shoreline shelf of vegetation-covered soil, rather than at the adjacent curved or sloped bare rock. However, this decision being made by years of visitors to a campsite will result in the stretch of denuded rock being extended more and more along the shoreline.

Whenever we land our canoe at a campsite's shoreline, we should use a part of the already damaged section. By following this practice, we'll avoid damaging the adjacent natural shoreline. This practice will limit our impact on the remaining wilderness-like characteristics of the shoreline.

Caring use of campsites' shoreline resources can even allow marginally impacted sections to re-establish some of their wilderness characteristics. One can view this attitude as somewhat parallel to showing respect for a gardener's flower beds by "staying on the paths".

Waterfronts

While shorelines are the linear areas where the land meets the water, waterfronts are considered the area between the shoreline and the actual campsite. Sometimes they are comprised of a pronounced rocky, gravel or sandy rise from lake level. Other times they can be comprised of a vegetated area traversed by a foot-trail or two.

Those waterfronts that have a pronounced rise up from the shoreline often show clear signs of erosion. Over the years, repeated ascents and descents by campers can destroy the integrity of these embankments. In these situations, the only low-impact option is to purposefully use the most durable component of the waterfront's embankment. This means choosing firm rock surfaces over loose gravel or sand portions of an embankment, for one's ascents and descents. In the same manner, avoid stepping on an embankment's vegetation, as it's roots hold the soil together and its leaves shield the soil from the erosive effect of rain. When such a campsite's waterfront embankment has eroded far enough back from the shoreline, it could conceiveably render the campsite unuseable by eating away at the tent areas and/or compromising the stability of trees.

Those waterfronts that are comprised of an area of vegetation traversed by a foot-trail or two provide privacy, shelter and a natural habitat for birds and/or small mammals. The accepted low-impact practices in these cases are to keep to the established path(s) and to not damage the vegetation by laying canoes or other equipment over it.

Campsites

Campsites include the typically flatter areas where tents are pitched and associated camping activities are conducted. Tents should be set-up on the already bare areas, not laid on top of grass or ground cover.

Tent and tarp ropes should be only tied to substantial larger tree trunks and branches .. and preferrably with low-abrasion wide straps or rubber strips .. so as to minimize impact on any soft bark.

While cleaning away dead twigs and small rocks prior to pitching a tent is fine; cutting or trimming away live growth is definitely not appropriate. Likewise, gouging the ground to make "drainage ditches" around one's tent is also not a low-impact practice. Damage to vegetation and un-necessary ground erosion are two of the main causes for the barren areas of campsites "growing larger and larger".

Campsites typically incorporate and/or are surrounded by a number of mature trees. They help supply the campsites with shade from the sun, shelter from the rain and blockage of the wind. These trees are doubly impacted by the camping public. Their roots are subject to the compaction and erosion of the soil around them, often leaving them increasingly exposed to the drying and cold elements.

In addition to soil degradation, these trees are often directly abused by campers. Damaging impacts to campsite trees include scarring oil lanterns being hung on them, nails being driven into them, hatchets being impaled into and whacked against them, as well as bark and branches being pulled off them. The scarring and introduction of infections, along with the killing of sapwood result in many campsite trees either dying-back or dying outright much earlier than they should.

When these trees die, the centers of many campsites are opened to the sun and rain. As a result, actual tent areas are relocated further back into the forest, enlarging campsites well beyond their original sizes.

Unfortunately, when park staff have to come to cut down these dangerous dying and dead trees, they are faced with the additional danger of cutting tree trunks which have been effectively "spiked"with an assortment of nails over the years.

Fire Pits

Fire pits have the potential of impacting Algonquin's backcountry well beyond the perimeters of their campsites. Official campsite firepits are either constructed on solid bedrock outcroppings or they are built upon a specially excavated sub-strata of sand and/or gravel. These special locations are designed to reduce the chance of underground fires, in which roots and/or other organic materials smolder and later erupt into forest fires.

Under no conditions should a fire pit be "relocated", for this very reason. Likewise, there is no excuse for rebuilding a firepit to dimensions larger than those that tightly surround the standard legged grill that's supplied to each campsite.

Even the use of an official campsite firepit still requires the observance of several safety measures. Extra dry and/or windy conditions are prudent reasons to either keep a fire very small or to preclude having one at all. All combustible forest litter should be raked back at least six feet away from a firepit in all directions.

The penetrating soaking of a campfire with water is an absolute necessity when retiring to bed or when leaving a campsite. Every year, a number of backcountry campsites are heavily impacted or outright destroyed by the results of the careless use of fire pits.

Latrines

A thunderbox is the unwalled, lidded latrine located a short distance from the vast majority of backcountry campsites. When located, maintained and used properly .. these facilities provide a sanitary means of dealing with toilet byproducts. It is a serious breach of health measures to dispose of one's toilet waste anywhere else in proximity of a campsite.

Thunderboxes are intentionally located in areas with optimal depths of soil, set back from lakes and watercourses. These factors combine to prevent contaminants from seeping into bodies of water.

Thunderboxes are repaired by park staff and, when they are "filled", they are relocated over newly dug holes. The only time one should consider moving one is to rotate it over its hole, so that its raised lid provides optimal privacy for its "user". It is common courtesy to lower its lid after use, so that the next user doesn't have to deal with a hord of attracted flies or a rain-soaked seat.

In the unlikely instance of a fallen tree having landed on a thunderbox, the "last-resort alternative" is to dig or scrape a "cat-hole" in the soil and/or forest litter, far from water, the campsite and any associated trails. After depositing one's byproducts therein, cover it up with the previously displaced materials. This is the same technique that should be followed when hiking on trails, portages or at large in the backcountry.

Wood Gathering

The prime rule when gathering wood for the campfire is to not take any wood from live trees or bushes. Even a fallen tree shouldn't be cut if it continues to live.

Individual pieces of deadfall collected from the forest floor are the best source of firewood. They are usually sap-free and of the right size to feed into a fire pit. Pairs of long straps serve well to bundle lengths of deadfall together and to carry them back to camp from a distance inland.

Some lazy people gleen their wood supply from the immediate vicinity of the campsites and beside shoreline trails by cutting dead upright trees and dead branches from live trees. This practice produces barren areas of stumps and voids in the forestscape .. reducing the natural characteristics of campsite and shoreline areas. Rather, the felling of deadwood shouldn't be done within 120 meters of shorelines (the same set-back recommended for logging by the Ontario Parks Board in their Dec. 8/06 report).

Dish Washing

Under no circumstances should dishes be washed in lakes or rivers. Particles of food can easily contaminate lakeshore water and can promote the undesireable growth of weeds and algae.

Only biodegradable soap should be used to wash dishes. Other cleansers won't breakdown in the soil and will eventually leach into the lakes and rivers, impacting negatively on the aquatic environment.

If one doesn't travel with a large cooking pot (which can double as a wash-pan), one should use a heavyduty collapsible "vinyl bucket". Dishwater has the dangerous potential of attracting wildlife, so its disposal should be done inland .. well beyond both the campsite and the thunderbox..