A Hiking Blog…

Leave No Trace is a national and international program employing a combination of science and common sense for enjoying the outdoors responsibly. The program seeks to educate public land visitors about nature of their recreational impacts and the techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. Apparently harmless activities may also account for critical risks due to unavailability of wild lands. The program is intended at protecting the limited resources and future recreation opportunities.

It employs certain principles to arrive at a desired solution of changing behavior through education, research and partnerships one person at a time. The principles include:

•    Planning beforehand
•    Traveling and Camping on Durable Surfaces
•    Proper disposal of wastes and found materials
•    Minimizing campfire impacts
•    Consideration towards wildlife and other visitors

The Origin of ‘Leave No Trace’

The origin may be traced back to the 1970s and 80s when various groups started to advocate for the first time the minimum impact camping techniques. Thus, a national education program was developed in 1990 by the joint effort of United States Forest Service and National Outdoor Leadership School that was later shaped into “Leave No Trace” in 1994. It was due to the act of wilderness advocates who turned wilderness ethics 180 degrees, from ‘woodcraft’ to ‘Leave No Trace’. Dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and active stewardship by all people worldwide, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an international nonprofit organization that provides training in every state of U.S. and over 5 other countries.

Membership of ‘Leave No Trace’

Supporting this noble movement calls for subscribing as a member. Membership is easy and guarantees the following benefits:

•    Personalized Membership card
•    One-year subscription to the ‘Leave No Trace’ Canada newsletter
•    Bumper sticker and reference card
•    Pocket Guide
•    10% discount on ‘Leave No Trace’ educational materials and merchandise
•    Ethical satisfaction

Types of membership include:

•    Hiker Membership
•    Backpacker Membership
•    Tripper Membership
•    Explorer Membership

Training and Courses

Master Educator Course – The ‘Leave No Trace’ Master Educator Course is a five days comprehensive course providing overview of ‘Leave No Trace’ skills and ethics through practical application in a field-based setting. Master Educator Instructors teach through skits, discussions and hands-on activities. Successful graduates are eligible to train others the same course and hold awareness workshops.

Two-day Trainer Courses - Designed for educators, guides, agency employees, and other outdoor professionals, the two-day Trainer Courses ensure graduates to teach the ethics to clients, friends and family.

Awareness workshop – 30-minute chats or a full-day awareness workshop is also conducted from time to time.

State Advocate Program – The State Advocate Program assists in building communities of volunteers and educators, state-by-state.

Module based program - A module based program known as PEAK helps promoting environmental awareness among kids. Creation of “Packing with PEAK Fund” enabled to make the program available to youth-serving organizations across the country for free.

Apart from these courses, the center also facilitates a tailor made course called the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Program.

Thus, this educational and ethical program helps to understand and practice minimum impact skills and ethics.

Altitude sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness or AMS can occur to anyone at heights around 2,500m above sea level. But serious sickness occurs at higher altitudes of above 2,500m. It can happen to even physically fit people who are in a hurry to ascend heights. If you ascend up quickly, you are more likely to have altitude sickness than if you ascend slowly through road travel.

High altitudes

High altitudes refer to heights around 2,500 to 3,500m. But altitude sickness can occur even at a height between 1,500 and 2,500m. Some very popular examples of high altitudes are Cusco, Peru (about 3,300m) and La Paz, Bolivia (about 3,600m).

Symptoms of altitude sickness

You are likely to experience altitude sickness from six to twenty four hours after you have reached the place of high altitude. If you are suffering from altitude sickness, then you will most likely feel:
•    A headache
•    Sick or vomit
•    Irregular breathing when sleeping
•    An increased heart rate
•    Tired
•    Lack of appetite
•    Dizzy
•    Difficulty in sleeping

All these symptoms usually start to relieve in about two days when your body gets used to the high altitude. But if your symptoms get worse, then it is better to descend to lower altitude as soon as possible.

Serious cases of altitude sickness

Altitude sickness is very common but in some rare cases, it can lead to two serious medical conditions that can be fatal:
•    High altitude cerebral oedema (HACE) – It is a condition in which excessive fluid collects in the brain and causes it to swell.
•    High altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE) – In this condition, fluid collects in the lungs.

Both these conditions can occur if you ascend above the height of 4,000m.

Factors leading to altitude sickness

There are certain factors that can trigger altitude sickness:
•    If you are unfit
•    If you rapidly ascend to high altitude
•    If you had altitude sickness before
•    If you have a lung infection
•    Do strenuous activity or exercise at high altitude

Treatments

If you have mild altitude sickness, it is better not to ascend further. In such a condition, you should:

-    Take painkillers for headache
-    Rest
-    Drink plenty of water
-    Take medicines like cinnarizine (eg stugeron) or promethazine (eg avomine), which are very effective against dizziness and nausea.

But if the symptoms become sever, then inhaling oxygen is the best treatment. You can get more oxygen in the air you breathe if you descend by 500 to 1000m. You can also carry oxygen tanks or hyperbaric treatment with you. This is important because lack of oxygen is the main reason why people suffer from altitude sickness.

The best way to avoid altitude sickness for a climber’s initial journey is to stay away from a height of 8,000 feet or above.

Do you love hiking and do not want to gamble with nature on every extended weekend you get? Then this write up on the 10 hiking essentials is for you. The list of 10 essential items may often vary from person to person. But the ones I feel most important as a hiker are listed below:

The Ten Essentials…

1.    First Aid Kit – You need to be fit and small cuts and injuries should not hinder your hike. A basic First Aid Kit with items like gauze, band-aids, adhesive tape, butterfly bandages for deep cuts, an elastic bandage for twisted knees or ankles, some pain killers and a few antihistamines for bee stings are very important. Also remember to carry the medicines you need regularly.

2.    Map and Compass – Instrumental usage is very essential in cloudy places and if you get lost. Carry a good compass and if possible the map of the location. The map will inform about the trails, campsites, topography, roads, towns, etc. and the compass will guide the directions.

3.    Extra Food and Water – Always carry extra food and water to avoid hypothermia and dehydration, which are dangerous if not given medical assistance. Moreover, if you get stuck and lose time the extra food would be a boon.

4.    Extra Clothes – Include wool or PolarTek Hat to avoid heat loss as 35% of the total body heat is lost through head. Extra clothing is also good protection from insects, wind, thorns and often cold. If needed, you can cut your extra clothes and make them into bandages, tree climbing aid, pillows or towels.

5.    Flashlights – Flashlights and headlamps are important equipments for traveling in the dark and during dawn.

6.    Rain Gear – An added rain suit or an umbrella will be a very smart choice. Personally I prefer rain suit as it doesn’t engage hands. Even carrying a coated nylon pack bags can act as extra protection against rain.

7.    Knife – A knife of any size can be useful to cut cord, shave kindling or even cut a fabric.

8.    Matches – Carry matches or lighters to light backpacking stoves.

9.    Sunglasses and sunscreen – Sunglasses protect your eyes from snow-blindness. Sunlight when reflected in snow is harmful for the eyes and can even reduce visibility. Sunscreen will protect you from the direct sun rays.

10.    A water treatment option (filter or chemical treatment) – You can treat any type of water – from the streams, pools or lakes with a water treatment device to make it drinkable.

Other important items…

•    Plastic tarp and rope for expedient field shelter.
•    Repair kit, including duct tape and basic sewing materials.
•    Ice axe for glacier or snowfield travel (if necessary)
•    Signaling devices, such as a whistle, cell phone, two-way radio, satellite phone, unbreakable signal mirror or flare.
•    Insect repellent (or clothing designed for this purpose)

You can always carry many other essential items that you think is needed and essential for the particular trip. Again, it is completely up to you to decide whether to carry all the essential items to safeguard yourself from any kind of need or danger because you never know what you have to confront in the wilderness.

Save at Altrec Outdoors on Camping and Hiking Equipment