KINES 100 • section I1
outdoor adventure

kines 100 syllabus
kines 100: extra credit
backpack equipment list
cold weather clothes
cold season
inline safety
leave no trace
snorkle/ scuba
trail tips
trip planning
x-country skiing
ski sizing
belay techniques
basic climbing principles

KINES 107 • section A1
canoeing

kines 107 syllabus
kines 107: extra credit

Leave No Trace (LNT)

Leave No Trace is a program that teaches and promotes responsible outdoor recreation. LNT is dedicated to building awareness, appreciation, and most of all, respect for our public recreation places.

The LNT principles may not seem important at first glance, but their value is apparent when combining the combined effects of millions of outdoor visitors. One poorly located campsite or fire ring is of little significance, but thousands of such instances slowly degrade the outdoor experience for all. LNT is worth the effort.

LNT is a non profit public education program which unites four federal agencies-the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Fish and Wildelife Service- with user groups and individuals to share the commitment of maintaining and protecting our public lands for future enjoyment.Leave No Trace Principles :

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
Proper trip planning and preparation helps hikers and campers achieve trip goals safely and enjoyably while minimizing damage to natural and cultural resources. Poorly prepared campers, concerned with unexpected situations, often resort to high-impact solutions that degrade the the outdoors or put themselves at risk.

Poor planning often results in : high-risk travel because campers failed to obtain information containing geography and weather...improperly located campsites because groups failed to plan enough time to reach their intended destination...improper campfires or excessive trash because of failure to plan meals or bring proper equipment.

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Damage to land occurs when surface vegetation or communities of organisms are trampled beyond repair. The resulting barren area leads to unusable trails, campsites and soil erosion.
Should you concentrate activity, or spread out?
In high-use areas, campers should gently concentrate activity. Use trails whenever possible and select campsites so heavily used that further damage is unlikely. In areas of very little or no use, campers should gently spread out. Take different paths when hiking off trail to avoid creating new trails that cause erosion. When camping, disperse tents and cooking equipment and move camp daily to avoid creating permanent-looking campsites. These guidelines apply to most alpine settings and may be different for other areas, like deserts. Check if unsure.

3. Dispose of Waste Properly
Pack it in, pack it out. This common saying is a simple yet effective way to get backcountry visitors to take their trash home with them. There is no reason why people cannot carry out of the backcountry the extra materials which they carry in with them in the first place. Though most trash and litter in the backcountry is not significant in terms of the long term ecological health of an area, it does rank high as a problem in the minds of many backcountry visitors. Trash and litter detract from an areas naturalness.

Properly dispose of what you can not pack out. Backcountry users create body waste and waste water which requires proper disposal. Waste water disposal : Prevent contamination of natural water sources; disperse dishwater far away from springs, streams, and lakes. Minimize the need to pack out food scraps by carefully planning meals. Avoid the use of soap. Human waste disposal: Proper human waste disposal prevents spread of disease, exposure to others and speeds decomposition. Catholes, 6 to 8 inches deep and 200 feet from water, are often the easiest and most practical way to dispose of feces.

4. Leave What You Find
Allow others a sense of discovery; leave rocks, plants, archaeological artifacts and other objects as found. Minimize site alterations, Do Not Dig tent trenches or build lean-tos, tables or chairs. Avoid hammering nails into trees, hacking at trees with hatchets or saws, or damming bark and roots by tying horses to trees for extended periods. If you clear an area of rocks or twigs, replace these items before leaving. On high-impact sites, it is appropriate to clean the site and dismantle inate user-built facilities, such as multiple fire rings and log seats or tables. Consider the idea that good campsites are found and not made.

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
Some people would not think of camping without a campfire. Yet, the naturalness of many areas has been degraded by overuse of fires and increasing demand for firewood. Lightweight camp stoves are essential for low-impact camping and have engaged a shift away from fires. Stoves are fast and eliminate firewood availability as a campsiteselection concern. If building a fire, the most important consideration is the potential for damage. The best place to build a fire is within an existing fire ring in a well-placed campsite. Choose not to have a fire in areas with little wood at higher elevations, in heavily used areas, or in desert settings. True Leave No Trace fires show no evidence of having been constructed.

6. Respect Wildlife
Respect Wildlife provides a focus on protecting wildlife and a bridge to further involve all outdoor users such as fishing and hunting enthusiasts along with backpackers, canoers, x-c skiers, etc. Practices to follow include;enjoy wildlife at a distance, never feed wildlife, store food securely, minimize noise, and avoid sensitive habitats.

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Be considerate of other visitors recognizes the importance of visitor crowding and conflict issues. Principles for guideance include; avoid conflicts, minimize crowding, respect the privacy of others, let nature's sounds prevail, and manage your pet.