Essential Skills

• Use toilets whenever possible. When toilets are not available, follow basic protocols for taking care of human waste.
• When trash disposal is not available, pack everything out. Strain gray water to filter out food scraps before disposing.
• Use tent pads to avoid impacts to vegetation. If tent pads aren't available, seek out durable surfaces or areas already impacted by past use.
• Avoid the urge to establish new campsites. Look for sites that have already been established.
• Don’t create new fire rings. If no fire ring exists, consider going without a fire or learn how to build a low impact pan/mound fire.
• Buy firewood locally. Transporting firewood from other areas can transport pests that can have serious long-term impacts to the region. If you plan to burn wood collected around your campsite, make sure that local regulations permit the collection of dead and down firewood and never take down standing live trees.
• Do not burn pallets. The nails don't burn and they leave a permanent trash pile.
• Know before you go: Research camping opportunities and regulations before visiting a new area. Visit Mountain Project, look at the local guidebook, connect with your local climbing organization, look on the land manager's website, stop at the visitor center, and review trailhead signs.