Coming across garbage in the backcountry is nothing new. What is new, however, is an increase in the amount being left behind. I believe a lot has to do with the pandemic and increased amount of people venturing outdoors.
It’s good practice to follow the Pack it in, Pack it Out mentality – put simply, what you take into the backcountry, comes back out with you. I would even take it a step further and say we should sometimes pack out items that someone else left behind. We are all custodians of the backcountry and tasked with doing our part by helping to keep it clean and as natural as possible.
Keep on reading for some tips on preventing this problem and also check out my “Pack out your Garbage” video that I shot on my last solo trip (click on the thumbnail below). Enjoy!
Below are some tips that will help keep our public lands as natural as possible:
Food and Gear Planning
There is a big difference between campground and backcountry camping. Camping in the backcountry means you need to be selective of what you bring with you. Especially if there are multiple portages, you need to keep in mind that all of the gear you are taking there has to come back. One of the most common items I come across is broken glass jars and bottles – glass food packaging has no place in the backcountry! Further, packing too much or heavy items can lead to exhaustion and the temptation to leave some items behind.
Tip: There are a lot of YouTube videos on what people bring on their trips. I like watching backpacking videos, although they tend to go quite a bit lighter than I need there are a lot of good ideas on how to pack smarter, minimize weight and be more resourceful.
Location Planning
I came to the first portage on bird river on my way to McGregor Lake and came across a large folding cargo cart! There is no way that would have been efficient or even possible on almost any backcountry portage. Not only did they leave it going in, they didn’t even pack it out on the way back.
Do your research on the area and if you are new backcountry camping/portaging check with experienced campers about your plan, or search online as there are a lot articles, forums and videos out there. I have made a few poor choices on bringing the wrong or bulky items on trips, but they always came back and it taught me valuable lessons for future trips.
Garbage Management
Before your trip, consider how you will manage your garbage. Pack a couple garbage bags, large zip lock freezer bags, or plastic grocery bags so that you have a central location to collect your garbage. In addition, look for opportunities to minimize waste before you go. Is there any excess packaging you can remove or repack canned food into vacuum sealed bags?
Tip: Many of your pre-packaged foods can be used as garbage bags after you consume the food. I use the freeze dried food bags as garbage storage, they are durable, leak proof and help conceal odours.
Items Left Behind
I see it more and more, everything from camp chairs to dart boards to bundles of rope to whole pieces of fruit and vegetables left at backcountry sites. Although intentions may be good, unless it is a pile of cut firewood, leaving items for the next group is not good practice. The one that really makes me shake my head is leaving food behind. This is a great way to train bears and other animals to frequent the site, which creates a safety concern for everyone.
It is easy to ignore garbage or other items that you come across as they are not yours. For the majority of my life I too did not consider picking up after others. I now believe that if others see a clean backcountry they too will make more of an effort to pickup after themselves. For example, when I go to a campsite where cut wood is already piled by the firepit, I feel obligated to pile firewood for the next person. Conversely, if a new camper goes to a site only to find rope still hanging from trees and other items like pots they may be inclined to leave something behind.
Tip: I don’t make a big effort on the way in to pickup after others, I focus more on the way back when my packs are lighter and I have more room. If you are going one-way, just do what you feel comfortable carrying – other travelers can help along the way.
Burning Garbage
Many people will burn plastic and paper garbage. I was in this camp and admittedly do burn some of my garbage, but find I am doing it less and less as I pack smarter and it is really not a big inconvenience to pack it out. Especially plastic food packaging as it doesn’t take much space or weight to pack out, and if you are thinking about waste before your trip there shouldn’t be much. If you do burn garbage, you should be cleaning out the fire pit before you go. If I have canned food I will usually burn them to remove the odours BUT I always pick them out of the pit before I go.
Tip: Do not use the morning of your departure to burn all of your garbage and food waste before you hit the water. Just plan on an easy breakfast your last day and pack any left overs or garbage out. I lost track of how many times I have come to a site where the pit is full of tinfoil, egg shells and tin cans. Sometimes the fire is still smoldering, which is a big no no!
Final Thoughts
I think it’s great that more people want to get outdoors and experience the backcountry. After all, it is great for the mind, body and soul and a lot of valuable life lessons can be learned.
I honestly don’t think the increase of garbage is intentional, it is just an afterthought for many people. It creates a teaching moment for all of us who are custodians of this great land, and if we can be open and vocal about it to help educate and spread awareness, little by little we can all make a difference!