| So now you've had a fun time in the woods, | | | | or on it. Most new tents are made to be |
| mountains, commercial campground or wherever | | | | free-standing, so keep the poles in and undo the |
| you've pitched your tent and it's time to go home. | | | | stakes. You can then lift and shake out the tent |
| There are many things that now need to be done | | | | to clean it. If that's not possible due to time |
| when breaking down your camp site. From tents | | | | constraints or weather conditions, pack the tent |
| and other gear, to litter and your campfire ashes... | | | | up as you normally would, but be sure to open, |
| all of it needs to be disposed of before you leave | | | | hang and dry it out before you stow it for your |
| the area. You always want to leave your camping | | | | next trip. Remember, if you put ANYTHING away |
| area in better condition than when you arrived. | | | | without drying it, when you open it next time you |
| Maybe the people before you left candy | | | | will have equipment covered in mold & |
| wrappers, cans, bottles or other items lying | | | | mildew. |
| around. Help old Mother Nature out, and in turn, be | | | | Many people use campfires to cook as well as the |
| a friend of the animals in the area and your fellow | | | | trusty, old camp stove. Depending on the location, |
| campers who will use the site after you. | | | | you may need or want to clean out the fire pit |
| Depending on where you're camping, you can | | | | area (in a well used site that has established |
| both collect and hike out your trash to be | | | | camping areas). Also, if you are camping in the |
| disposed of later, or, if you are in an area that | | | | woods, as a good outdoors person, you should |
| allows it, burn all the flammable items to minimize | | | | either clean out the fire pit you created, |
| the weight. | | | | scattering the DEAD ashes in a wide area, well |
| You might say, "Hey, it's biodegradable, why can't | | | | away from where you camped OR you should |
| I just leave it here to rot?" Well, it might be okay | | | | pack out the cold ashes to be disposed of in a |
| to rot away and not clutter up the area, but the | | | | landfill. Be sure to replace the sod, dirt and |
| animals in the area might eat it and become sick, | | | | whatever else you removed to create the pit. |
| after all they're not used to eating cooked stuff | | | | When you are cooking with a stove, the clean |
| with spices and all. In some cases, pieces of | | | | disposal process will vary based on the fuel you |
| garbage can fall into streams and cause fish to be | | | | use. If you are carrying a liquid fuel stove, you will |
| injured. Each time this happens, the ecosystem | | | | most likely have a special fuel canister and not |
| gets more and more out of whack and the | | | | need to dispose of any waste. However, if you |
| effects can be devastating. True, taking good | | | | are carrying a propane or dual-fuel camp stove, |
| care of the site might be an inconvenience, but if | | | | you will need to dispose of the spent, metal fuel |
| you want to come back to the same area again, | | | | containers after cooking. Be sure you NEVER |
| wouldn't you want it to look as nice as YOU | | | | leave them in the woods; they take a very long |
| found it? Character and stewardship of nature go | | | | time to fade away into Nature's beauty. |
| hand in hand... but I'll get off my soapbox now. | | | | Remember, if you take care of your equipment, |
| Remember the rule: Pack out what you pack in. | | | | and the environment, you will be able to use the |
| Packing up your personal gear is a pretty straight | | | | gear and the great outdoor spaces for a long |
| forward process. If you want your equipment to | | | | time in the future. |
| last as long as possible, everything should be as | | | | You can find more tips like this one at Birdseye |
| clean and dry as you can get it, before you stow | | | | Outdoor Supply. If you would like more detailed |
| it. Whether you roll your sleeping bag or stuff in a | | | | advice and training about leaving the woods as |
| compression sack, brush it off. When you break | | | | you found them, please visit this organization's |
| your tent down make sure there is no debris in | | | | website: Leave No Trace. |