HeraldNet: Keeping Camping Clean



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Eco Geek

July 10, 2008

Keeping Camping Clean

Posted at 12:01 am

Fortunately for Snohomish County residents, camping utopia is near enough to avoid splurging on a whole tank of gas for a weekend – or a week – away.

REI and other outdoor outfitters are known for their eco-friendly products and practices, but what about when you’re out on your own, in the wilds of Washington?

Some organizations are touting solar showers and water-powered digital alarm clocks, but if you’re like me, eco living means avoiding the purchase of unnecessary items.

Thankfully, there are eco-camping ideas that don’t smack of consumerism.

A few tips:

1. Burn only felled wood. This may sound obvious, but apparently it’s a huge issue, with trees around oft-used campsites destroyed from over-zealous pyromaniacs. Camping experts ask campers to use only wood that’s already down. Don’t break or saw down live trees or saplings for your campfire.
2. Don’t have a campfire at all. According to Leave No Trace, an increasing demand for firewood has degraded natural areas. The organization says campers should consider using a camp stove instead.
3. Pack it out. Pack it ALL out. At Glacier National Park, backcountry campers are asked to use toilet paper sparingly, and pack out all used t.p. Burying the paper in a hole doesn’t cut it.
4. Use a hammock instead of a tent. The hammock gives the ground a break, and if enough people switched to hammocks, camp site floors may even have a chance of returning to normal groundcover. Plus, no more stones digging into your lower back at 4 a.m.

Enjoy the summer!

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