Stewardship
What does stewardship mean?
You may hear the term being “good stewards” of the land. But some people may not even realize what that term means.
Simply, a steward is a person whose job is to manage or look after the land and property of another person, and that falls on all of us.
“We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children” is an ancient Native American proverb that comes to mind when I think of who exactly that other person could be.
These amazing lands we visit are not ours, we should take care of these beautiful natural resources, creatures and peoples that inhabit our world. We are all living on the same planet.
You can be a great land steward by adopting the “Leave No Trace” principles.
Leave No Trace - The 7 Principles
1) Plan ahead and prepare (We can help with that.)
It helps ensure the safety of groups and individuals.
It prepares you to Leave No Trace and minimizes resource damage.
It contributes to accomplishing trip goals safely and enjoyably.
It increases self-confidence and opportunities for learning more about nature.
Know your route
How long will it take? How much daylight do you have?
How much fuel and food do you have
Is it legal and respectful?
Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
Prepare for the weather and check for any weather advisories
Tell someone your travel plan
2) Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
This minimizes our impact in sensitive areas
Stick to designated roads or trails whenever possible
When “off trail” stick to harder surfaces such as rock, gravel or sand
3) Dispose of Waste Properly
Pack it in, pack it out.
See below for solid human waste
4) Leave What You Find
Allow others a sense of discovery by leaving rocks, plants, archaeological artifacts and other objects of interest as you find them.
5) Minimize Campfire Impacts
See campfire outline below
6) Respect Wildlife
Read up on the wildlife species present in the area. We have some beauties and we have some bities.
Never approach wildlife.
Do not feed wildlife.
Store your food and trash properly. This is a big one.
7) Be considerate of Other Visitors
Campsites
Campsites should be found, not made.
Is it legal? Adhere to all trespassing/private property signage
Is it safe? Check for safety such as weather exposure, flash flooding, avalanche or signs that you are already in an animal's lounge room.
Respect thy neighbour, if you happen to have neighbours out there, act appropriately. Give others space when possible.
Campfires
Campfires can be the life blood to a camping trip. In all areas, especially BC, they come with great responsibility. 47% of all forest fires are caused by humans, most of those fires are an accident, causing fatalities and millions of dollars of damage.
Here are a few hints to avoid being the 48%
Do not leave a fire unattended.
Make sure campfires are cold before leaving; do not leave unburned trash in the fire pit; carry it out!
Be up to date with local fire bans or restrictions. You can check current BC guidelines here. Major fines exist for ignoring these restrictions.
Keep an eye on the weather, especially wind. Do not light fires in high winds.
Have the means to control your fire (water or shovel etc.)
In many places, such as Provincial Parks, it is illegal to gather firewood from the area. To avoid invasive or introduced species some sensitive areas there are even restrictions on what firewood can be brought in. If you are in an area where gathering would is legal, use only downed, dead or dying trees and limbs, keep an eye out for wood that looks like it is not already being used as an animals’ shelter or home.
Do not burn wood with nails or foreign objects in them. This is a huge safety risk for getting stranded with punctured tires, (do not drive over camp ashes for this reason)
Check here for further fire safety and BC regulations or restrictions
Use existing fire rings, where possible; when no fire ring is available, remove all forest litter exposing a wide circle of bare dirt.
If possible, remove all traces of the fire when camping outside of established camps.
How to poop in the woods the right way… because we give a s#!t.
Why do we give a s#!t?
1) Because experiencing other people's business is gross.
2) Because improper poop practices contaminate drinking water and cause issues for other plants and wildlife.
Picture this, you are sitting in your living room with your feet up when a piece of toilet paper blows past you, a piece of toilet paper from a stranger no less, and your dog starts chewing on it. That’s what happens when you don’t poop in the woods properly and someone camps there later.
So what do you do? The most commonly accepted option is to dig a Cathole.
How to dig a Cathole
Move 50m away from water sources, trails and campsites
Choose a sunny site with rich soil free from roots and large rocks, because it's nicer but also it will help your waste decompose faster
Use a trowel, rock or stick to dig a hole that is 15cm wide and 20cm deep
Enjoy your poop (use scentless, white, biodegradable toilet paper only or pack your toilet paper or wipes in a ziploc bag and carry it out with you.)
Fill in the hole with the original dirt and completely cover it using natural materials such as rocks and sticks.
And remember, for those quick pees at night, just because it’s dark, it doesn't mean it won't be there in the morning, especially the toilet paper.
Offroad Etiquette
Slow down, way down, when passing campsites, hikers, bikes or other cars as not to dust them out or throw stones
Let your numbers be known, It is common practice when traveling with a group of vehicles to let oncoming traffic know how many vehicles are in your group, especially on narrow trails and obstacles with limited visibility where someone needs to pull over to let your group safely pass. For example a peace sign with two fingers raised means ‘two vehicles behind’; a raised fist means: ‘I am the last vehicle in my group.’
On multi-use trails, vehicles must yield right-of-way to mountain bikes, hikers and horses. Slow down and give them plenty of room and keep in mind to not dust them out.
When two vehicles meet on a steep hill, the vehicle traveling up the hill has the right of way. This is because the vehicle traveling uphill may need to maintain momentum, and because it is more difficult and dangerous to back down a steep narrow trail.
Leave plenty of room for the vehicle in front of you, especially when navigating obstacles, climbing steep hills or in low visibility. If the vehicle in front of you loses traction (or worst case scenario, rolls over), you don’t want to be right behind it.
Never stop your vehicle on a blind curve or in the middle of a trail, no matter how perfect the picture is – wait until you reach a place where you can safely pull over off the trail.
Don’t let others pressure you into doing something you’re not comfortable doing.
Leave gates the way you found them. If you open a gate, close it behind you.
Driving on active logging roads (FSR/Forest Service Roads)
We are going to take you on some incredible roads with mind blowing beauty, but many of these roads were not originally built to take us to our favourite campsites. These are active logging roads used for heavy machinery with a job to do, and they mean business.
Always be prepared for oncoming traffic, that traffic is often a loaded logging truck or heavy machinery. Stay on your side of the road and approach corners with caution
Loaded industrial vehicles always have the right of way. If necessary, you need to pull over (in a pullout if possible) and wait until the loaded vehicle is cleared
Most FSR’s are radio-assisted and follow calling procedures, (calling km markers on the roadside to note oncoming traffic). If you do not have a radio to follow calling procedures, follow a vehicle that has a radio (all commercial vehicles will have a radio)
Expect and prepare for the unexpected – road conditions can change without warning. Drive defensively. Expect loose gravel, potholes, washouts and wildlife around any turn.