Kent Mountain Adventure Center, Inc.
The wilderness is a pristine and beautiful place, a natural resource that is finite. We must work hard to preserve the areas where we travel because more and more people are impacting the wilderness each year. We believe wilderness experiences are irreplaceable to personal growth and human development, and therefore we must do our part in helping to teach “Leave No Trace” camping techniques. Learning how everything in the environment is connected, including us, aids in our understanding of the importance of practicing these techniques so future generations can enjoy it as you have.
Wilderness living is very different from normal day to day living. The following information will help you prepare for your wilderness experience. Please read this before participation.
Packing your Backpack: Pack items at the bottom that you won’t need during the day, like your sleeping bag. Items to keep accessible inside and top pockets include: water, food, camera, rain gear.
Hiking: We hike at a comfortable pace for the entire group. It is the group’s responsibility to work together and stay together. Stay on designated trails unless instructed otherwise. If separated from the group, STAY IN ONE PLACE. Do not move around and attempt to find your way back to the group. The group will come and find you.
Eating and Hydration: Food is our fuel. It is important to eat well throughout the day, including at meals and snacks. Food gives us energy, keeps us alert, and keeps us warm. It is also imperative to stay hydrated (drinking plenty of fluids) especially in extreme temperatures or at high elevations. This helps us stay stronger, warmer, and prevent altitude sickness such as headache and nausea. Remember: All water must be purified before it can be consumed. We use iodine drops to purify all of our water.
Setting up Camp: Choose a camp site that is protected from the wind, has good resources to aid in the set-up of tarps, is near water (minimum of 200 feet away), and is a level site with proper drainage. Try not to sleep on living things such as grass and moss. In heavy use areas it is better to use existing campsites than to create a new one. Decide where the “kitchen” should be and put kitchen items there. Always walk around instead of through the kitchen to prevent dust and dirt from mixing with the food. Keep utensils off the ground in a clean area. The cooks must always wash before working with the food.
Washing Dishes: When it’s time to clean the dishes, you can scrape any food residue from the pot/bowl/utensil and store in the designated garbage bag, which will be carried out. Never discard of left over food on the ground. Use sand, leaves, dirt, or whatever is available to help scrub the bowl, making sure to put those items with food on them in the garbage as well. Do a final rinse of the item with treated water. Under no circumstances should pots/bowls/utensils be near or in the water source.
Sanitation and Hygiene: Wash your hands before eating and cooking. Never wash your hands in the water source. Use water from your water bottle and wet your hands, rub vigorously for 30 seconds, rinse, and let them dry. Urination should be done at least 200 feet away from camp, water sources, and trails. Defecation should be accomplished as follows:
Female participants need to double bag tampons and other feminine hygiene products in plastic and carry these out as trash. Do not bury them.
Trash: All trash is carried out to the trail head. Do a “camp sweep” before leaving campsite to patrol for small pieces of trash. Pick up trash even if you did not’t leave it there- we like to leave the site cleaner than it was when we arrived. Food on the ground is considered trash, not snacks for small animals. A good rule of thumb is “Pack it in, Pack it out.”
Stoves and Fires: Make sure an instructor is present when lighting a stove. Gasoline is extremely flammable; never refill stoves near the kitchen. Although campfires are warm and fun to sit around, they gravely impact the environment. It uses our wood resources and scars the ground. Many National Parks and Forests do not permit the use of open fires primarily due to impact and wild fire danger.
Staying Warm: If you are cold, try putting on more clothes, starting with a hat. 70% of body heat is lost through the head. Drinking fluids and eating will help maintain warmth. If cold in your sleeping bag, put on more clothes. Make sure the sleeping bag is on a foam pad while sleeping. In bad weather, put on rain gear. Stay dry as possible. Check up on each other. Ask friends how they’re doing.
These are just a few tips to help you out on your trip. You’You will come back to your “normal” day to day routines with a fresh and new understanding of the environment you live in. ENJOY and BE SAFE!!