No-Trace Backcountry
Ethics
Respect
It is a privilege to be in Temagami’s
backcountry. We all want to experience its natural glory. Spoiling
campsites by littering garbage, damaging trees or through
poor toilet practice is disrespectful to the forest and to
those who come after you. Please use minimum-trace
camping practices as outlined here.
Fires
Dry wood is plentiful along the shoreline or on the ground
well back from campsites. Do not remove dead branches from
standing trees or cut them down, as they have a place in
the ecosystem. Do not build new fire pits; keep fires small.
It is poor practice to burn wood that is bigger than your
wrist. Never leave a campsite without carefully extinguishing
your campfire. Stoves are an excellent alternative for cooking on canoe
trips.
Water Quality and Purification
It is unsafe to drink untreated water owing to the potential
presence of Giardia parasites and e-coli bacteria. When
on a remote trip, the health of each individual is a group
issue. Water treatment options include filtering, chemical
treatment, and boiling. Humans play a pivotal role in protecting
water quality, and need to properly dispose of their excrement.
See Toilet
Practices below.
Grey Water and Food
Waste
• Lake water must not be fouled with water used to clean
dishes and hands (gray water), food scraps, or toothpaste
spit. Wash dishes and hands in a dish bowl on land. Food
particles should be strained from gray water (an old sock
works well) and then packed out.
• Dispose of dishwater in the forest well back from the campsite. ‘Broadcast’ gray
water and toothpaste spit by spraying contents over a large
area as you dump.
• Swimming is all that's needed to keep your hair and body
clean. Do not wash your body or hair in a lake or river.
• Avoid cooking more food than you will consume. Pack out what
you do not eat. Burying food will attract animals to the
campsite.
Garbage
Avoid excessive garbage by packing food stuffs in re-usable
containers. Never take glass bottles into the backcountry.
Eliminate excess packaging.
Pack out everything that you pack in, including all your
garbage. If you find garbage, please help by packing it out,
too.
Toilet Waste
Where To Do It
• The disposal of human excrement is a significant
problem in wilderness areas, and Temagami is no different.
Knowing what to do will help keep the area clean and attractive
for others.
• If you are camping on a small island you must
use the mainland for toilet purposes.
• Some campsites have outhouses or privies in place.
Where they are absent, choose an area at least 50 meters
away from the shoreline. Look for a spot with an inland slope
(prevents contaminated water from draining directly into
a lake), and soil that is at least 8 inches deep.
How To Do It
• With groups of fewer than four people, individuals
may dig a small 'cat hole' 6" to 8"-deep with a
trowel. Use a stick to place poop into the hole, being sure
to mix with some soil to aid decomposition. Cover hole with
soil when leaving the site, leaving no trace. Do not bury
toilet paper or feminine hygiene products (see below).
• If you have 4 or more people, dig a group latrine
wide enough for the number of people you have. Poop, compost
and cover with soil as above. The poop stick marks where
the next person goes.
• When peeing, do so well back from the campsite, away from
tents. While urine is not a sanitation problem, it is an animal
attractant.
What To Do With Toilet Paper
If buried, most toilet paper will not decompose due to its
chlorine content. Further, animals may dig it up and leave
an unsightly and unsanitary mess. Toilet paper, tampons and
sanitary napkins must be disposed of in one of two ways:
• Burn toilet paper at the campfire. Take a good supply
of small brown paper bags. Place all toilet paper and feminine
hygiene products in the bag. When ready, take bag to campfire
and burn completely.
• Pack out toilet paper. Take two plastic garbage
bags and place one inside the other. Place all toilet paper
and feminine hygiene products in the inner bag. When leaving
the campsite, close both bags, place them inside a stuff
sack marked "Toilet" and
pack them out. This is the gold standard for disposal. It
is completely sanitary and easily practiced.
Trees, Plants and Animals
Please respect nature. Do not disturb the natural landscape.
Walk on existing trails and keep to established campsites.
Do not harm animals or aquatic life.
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