General Travel
True or false: When you come across a mud puddle, it is okay to step off the trail and go around it.
False, rain can make an already fragile surface even more fragile, so stay on the established trail!
What should you camp away from?
water and trails
True or false, we don't really come into contact with pristine areas, so it is okay if we don't give them much care or consideration
false
define pristine areas
shows little to no human use, and is often fragile
List 3 durable surfaces
established trails and campsites, bare rock, gravel, sand, snow, and dry grasses
When traveling on an established trail, we should avoid making what?
Switchbacks or multiple trails
What kind of surfaces should we camp on?
durable
What is one way to minimize impact when traveling in pristine areas?
spread out and hike in smaller groups, stay on durable surfaces, or avoid fragile areas
What are campsites called surrounding established sites?
satelite sites
List 4 non-durable surfaces
fragile plants, wildflower meadows, wet meadows, tundra, riparian areas, desert puddles, and living soil
When traveling, durable surfaces are great places to do what?
take breaks
What kind of sites should we avoid?
inappropriate or illegal established sites
When camping in pristine areas, you should do these two things
What is live soil called?
cryptobiotic soil
To avoid places where impact is just beginning, what is one thing we should do?
learn to recognise subtle signs of human use
avoid lightly impacted trails
allow subtle impacts to heal
How do you leave a site cleaner than you found it?
Pack out all garbage and litter
Help other visitors choose the site instead of making a new one
Why should we avoid camping close to trails?
to minimize visual impact
When you leave a pristine campsite, you should do these two things
not stay long, and leave no sign of use
Define a non-durable surface
Non-durable surfaces are fragile and deteriorate quickly under use. Recovery takes a long time for non-durable surfaces, and sometimes recovery is not possible.
Public land visitation in Colorado has soared in recent years since what event?
Covid 19
Properly designed trails and Leave No Trace education reduced soil erosion by up to 92% and decreased trail widening by up to what percent?
81%
How far do we need to camp away from water and trails? (in general)
200' unless specified otherwise
What are the two considerations for vegetation when talking about fragility?
resistant vs resilient
Define a durable surface
Durable surfaces are those that can tolerate and recover from frequent and repeated compressing forces, such as those from hiking boots, bike tires, and tents. They are typically devoid of vegetation and may be solid or malleable.
The goal of this presentation was to do what?
to distinguish durable and non-durable surfaces, understand our impact on them, and know how to minimize our impact when traveling and camping.