From: eugene@amelia.nas.nasa.gov (Eugene N. Miya)
Subject: [l/m 6/2/92] Backcountry Ethics Distilled Wisdom (2/28) XYZ
Followup-To: poster
Organization: NAS Program, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 92 11:20:10 GMT
Summary: Panel 2
Reply-To: eugene@amelia.nas.nasa.gov (Eugene N. Miya)

Distilled wisdom (Part 2)

INTRODUCTION - ETHICS

"The perfection of means and the confusion of ends seems to
be our problem."	-- Albert Einstein in 1971 Chouinard catalog

Many different people with vastly diverse activities read backcountry:
climbers, backpackers, campers, hunters, wind surfers, regular board surfers,
white water (kayak to rubber boat, ocean to river), 4WD, mountain bikers,
horse riders, ski tourists to ski mountaineers, professional and amateurs.
Even arm-chair versions of the above.  Irrespective of the activity
note the following.

If you are just starting, REMEMBER:

1) Don't leave any trash what ever activity you are doing.  Don't bury it,
take it out.  Leave the place cleaner than you found it.

2) If you are hiking, stay on trail, don't cut turns (switchbacks).
This causes erosion.  This area is fragile.

3) Don't make new fire rings, never leave a fire unattended,
nor cut live trees (use downed wood), try not to disturb the vegetation.
Use stoves in preference over wood above 9,000 feet.  [This was written for
the Sierra, might be 4,000 ft. or lower on the Eastern US, Canada, etc.]
Keep camps away from water, lakes, streams, and the trail.
See suggestion 8).

4) Be considerate of other people doing different activities.

5) Don't get yourself into trouble, and be prepared for trouble.
This area can kill you.  [First aid class?]

6) Learn how to use your equipment in advance, don't rely on it, consider
alternative uses.

7) Use caution when passing livestock and heavy machinery.

8) Don't use soap (even bio degradeable kind) in a lake or stream.

9) Camp 100 feet or more from trails and water.

10) Check out rules specific to the areas you are travelling.
There are places where you are asked not to camp except in
designated areas.  There are other places where you are asked
not to wander off the developed trail.  They usually relate to a
fragile environment [See suggestion 2)].

These are the kinds of things you learn when you travel with outing clubs,
the Sierra Club, and other various societies.

"The elevation of ends and the simplification of means is the goal."
--Henry David Thoreau, subsequent Chouinard catalog

TABLE OF CONTENTS of this chain:

2/ Ethics	<* THIS PANEL *>
3/ Learning I
4/ learning II (lists, "Ten Essentials," Chouinard comments)
5/ Summary of past topics
6/ Non-wisdom: fire-arms topic circular discussion
7/ Phone / address lists
8/ Fletcher's Law of Inverse Appreciation and advice
9/ Water Filter wisdom
10/ Words from Rachel Carson
11/ Snake bite
12/ Netiquette
13/ Questions on conditions and travel
14/ Dedication to Aldo Leopold
15/ Leopold's lot.
16/ Morbid backcountry and memoriam
17/ Information about bears
18/ Poison ivy, frequently ask, under question
19/ Lyme disease, frequently ask, under question
20/ "Telling questions" backcountry Turing test (under construction)
21/ AMS
22/ Words from Foreman and Hayduke
23/ A bit of song (like camp songs)
24/ What is natural?
25/ A romantic notion of high-tech employment
26/ Other news groups of related interest, networking
27/ Films/cinema references
28/ References (written)
1/ DISCLAIMER

Newsgroups: rec.backcountry