Leave No Trace

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I’ve been assuming this, but it’s time to dig into the details!

Here at the Off Grid Guides the idea of Leave No Trace takes a turn to the general. Leave No Trace has been popularized by Burning Man as a way for 50,000 people to use a pristine wilderness and not mess it up (they do mess it up, but maybe not so much). A 1987 government brochure, “Leave ‘No Trace’ Land Ethics,” says this:

“Practicing NO-TRACE ethic is very simple if you remember two things:
(1) MAKE IT HARD FOR OTHERS TO SEE YOU AND
(2) LEAVE NO TRACE OF YOUR VISIT”

Then later in 1994, a nonprofit focused on these principles,  Leave No Trace, Ctr. for Outdoor Ethics, produced the standard.

Below are the 7 principles from the Leave No Trace folks (LNT.org):
– plan ahead, prepare
– travel and camp on durable surfaces
– dispose of waste properly
– leave what you find
– minimize fire impacts
– respect wildlife
– be considerate of others

I think you get the picture. The OGG interpretation of this is radical, but easy. Let’s focus on the easy, because it’s easier to understand. Leave No Trace is the easy way to camp. Leave No Trace has deep spiritual qualities (and may be a close misinterpretation of Toaism). The stillness in nature is often so profound that silence is loud and overwhelming, the wind and bugs can sound like voices.

OK, that was some of the radical stuff. So, back to the easy. Let’s look at the principles. Plan ahead and prepare is such a boring way to start this out. It should be, “CHECK OUT THE AWESOME PLACES YOU WILL GO!” But that’s ok, it needs to be readable by as many people as possible, so it’s dry as white toast. Sure, prepare, read up, inform yourself, gather reference material. Dry as the high desert! So make it a quest, you’ll need supplies, etc. so get them (for OGG that means good tires!). The real magic happens over coffee in the morning as you study the maps.

Central to having the no-trace ethic off grid, the second principle, travel and camp on durable surfaces, applies on your vehicle too. Since a good bit of the OGG is concerned with car camping, the Leave No Trace principles must also apply to how you use your vehicle. In particular, driving ONLY on roads. I think the OGG must insist that there is NO DRIVING ACROSS OPEN FIELD. Take the two track, it’s there. By the way, this also works in the Leave No Trace (take the easy way) – it’s just plain easier stick to the road. And do take the one less traveled.

You can figure out how to deal with waste (#3) and not to pick the flowers (#4) on your own. Next, minimize fire impacts – think stars. Campfires are such a common feature to the camping narrative, yet such a not easy thing to deal with. In general, especially when solo, skip the fire, you’ll see way more stars. In fact, if you want to kill a night of stargazing, have a campfire. In the desert southwest there are often fire controls in effect, so it’s not an option. Instead of a campfire, unzip the bottom of your sleeping bag and get in, then sit and lookup. Cozy and your sleeping bag gets preheated!

One of the features of no trace camping is that nature will come to you. If you are quiet (don’t crank the tunes), skip the fire, and you’re far from other people, whatever is out there will stop by. You’ll hear the owls, see the deer, understand when two falcons are squawking at each other over territory. Foxes, coyotes, cats, burros, horses will wonder what you’re up to. The ravens will want to pick through your trash and the mice probably will if you don’t pack it away!

The last two principles can be reduced to respect. Of course you respect the wildlife and the other campers. But what does that respect really do? While the outward forms of respect are more physical, don’t be loud, too close, too bright at night or day. It’s a mind set. Respecting the living things in the world, acknowledging the sanctity of life, this is why you are off grid, this is what you are seeking.

The radical part of Leave No Trace is that it can be a guiding principle in life. Plenty of times we face decisions to leave no trace, or not. While zero impact is impossible, always has been (read Darwin), much of our world is entirely unnecessary and destructive. Given climate crisis, the only way for humans to survive is to follow leave no trace ethics. So get ahead of the curve, be a trend setter, bail on plastic stuff and hug a tree.

google books:  Leave ‘No Trace’ Land Ethics, 1987 USDI, USDA
https://books.google.com/books?id=nu8TAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

wikipedia: Leave No Trace
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leave_No_Trace

NPS
https://www.nps.gov/articles/leave-no-trace-seven-principles.htm

Leave No Trace, Ctr. for Outdoor Ethics
https://www.nps.gov/articles/leave-no-trace-seven-principles.htm

Check out MobileRik’s Build Your Own Camper

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My first ventures off grid in the high desert were in my Toyota Tacoma pickup with a shell and plywood bed to sleep in. This configuration has been a cheap and reliable way to get out to nature, yet I’ve wanted to be able to sit ‘indoors’ when it gets windy – too short for sitting. I’ve been thinking of ways to fix this but couldn’t yet see how I would buy a 4Wheel Camper of my dreams at $11,000!

Was looking around for designs for a camper and found Mobile Rik’s site and got the book. His writing is excellent and relaxed. The best thing is that he wants you to figure out your own path, your own design in making your camper. He fuels the creativity by turning many design decisions back on you, the user. What is it you want, what kind of camping are you going to do? He’s a true offgridder!

Grand Canyon, North Rim

Places
map of northern Arizona and Fredonia
From St. George, head to Fredonia, AZ (red dot), say hi to the good folks in the ranger station if you want, then SW to Jacob Lake, then south to the North Rim Grand Canyon.

Going to the Grand Canyon is easy, you just go there! Of course, there’s a little more to it, but not  much more! I overheard a person mention to a friend that they wanted to camp at the Grand Canyon, “…but why is it so confusing?” They had called and spoken to the good folks at the back country office who directed them to a form asking what route they were planning on hiking, the dates of departure, which trails. All good, for someone who wanted to camp IN the Canyon, not AT the Canyon.

That distinction is not easily comprehended for those who have not visited before. Very few people hike down into the canyon (fewer float the river). Most everyone hangs out at the rim. But where at the rim? Often the National Park campgrounds are busy or full. Fortunately, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is an ideal place to go off grid! Lots of choices for those glad to drive some tame gravel roads.

Thing is, there’s a good bit of confusion when one looks online about this stuff. I think part of the gap is because there are three separate types of government land around the Canyon: National Park, National Forest, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. Of course, there are reservations, but that’s not confusing, that is land of Native Americans! State parks, yes, but mostly, you have:

  • Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim – This is where you go to look over the rim at the lodge. The camping is busy and often full. No views from campsites!
  • Kaibab National Forest – All National Forest is awesome for off grid camping, but the Kaibab National Forest, North Ranger District is one of my favorites. The gravel roads are well kept and well marked! Anyone can camp almost anywhere in most national forests. There are campgrounds, but they’re often full and somehow folks seem to think their generator is quiet enough to run all night, ugh. Not off grid! You should stop at the Ranger station in Fredonia; I’ve gotten great info (insights!) and met the coolest rangers. If you are first time visitor, they will set you straight on stuff. Main thing: it’s easy,  you can drive 20 minutes on gravel and park and camp with a view of the canyon (East Canyon, #611 on the Nat. For. map. There’s a nice latrine half way there.) Lots of choices beyond that!
  • BLM land (the Parashant, proper name, Parashant-Grand Canyon Nat. Mon.) – This is BLM land! You can go out on BLM land and shoot your gun and fly experimental airplanes, but you might just stick to camping. I’ll go on about BLM land elsewhere, because, for new visitors the Parashant might be too far afield. A 60 mile drive down a real dirt road and you can peer over a 3000′ drop-off. Probably too far for a non-SUV/pickup. It’s a good time to mention, ALWAYS HAVE A GALLON PER PERSON IN YOUR CAR. I usually have AT LEAST 3 gallons!

So that’s it. You drive to Fredonia from Interstate 15/St. George. Then to Jacob Lake (gas and cookies!), you’re already in the Kaibab National Forest, you’ve already passed places you can camp (good for late arrivals).