BCHU Education Page
Back Country Horsemen
Commandments
- The horseman shall not keep horses longer than it takes to unpack
or pack them in any campsite normally used by hikers. (We suggest horsemen
stay away from such camps if possible).
- The horseman shall not tie his stock, for more than a short period
of time, directly to a tree.
- The horseman shall not cut switchbacks.
- The horseman shall not leave a campfire
unattended.
- The horseman shall properly dispose of all manure, bailing twine,
wire and waste hay in camp areas, trailheads, or loading areas.
- The horseman shall abide by the administrative rules and regulations
affecting the area he/she is in.
- The horseman shall recognize the fragility of the back country
environment and practice minimum impact techniques at all times.
As a rule stay on trails,
impact on wildlife, soil and vegetation can be minimized by traveling on
constructed trails that, in many cases, have been designed to accommodate heavy
use. Do not shortcut trails or switch backs. Muddy stretches and most snow
banks should be crossed, rather than skirted. If you carry a saw, you can help
local land managers by cutting and removing deadfall in the trail. Rerouting
trails around obstacles causes vegetation damage, erosion and development of
multiple paths.
When taking rest breaks,
choose a site well off the trail so that others are not forced to leave the
trail to go around you. When possible, pull off on a durable surface such as
dry grass or sand. For short breaks, you may be able to hand - hold your
horses; however, if you must tie up, choose live trees at least 8" in
diameter and wrap the lead rope around the truck twice before you tie the knot.
For extended breaks, use hobbles, high lines or pickets. Tend the horses often.
Nervous horses which trample or paw the ground while tied can be hobbled to
prevent damage to the tree roots. Manure piles should be kicked apart and
scattered, and any pawed ground should be filled in.
Both rider and hiker should communicate
while passing on the trail. It's good for you and it makes the horse/mule feel
more comfortable with the person you are approaching.
There are several ways to retain your animal in the back country. Above are
examples of the picket line and the high line. Hobbles work fine if your animal
is accustomed to them. The picket line is good for short time grazing, be sure
to move the animal regularly so as not to damage the area. The high line is the
best for long tie times and over night stay's. High lines should be stretched
over hard durable ground. Keep picketed, high lined and hobbled horses well
away from camp, lakes and streams.
Always use tree saver straps with your high line.
They will keep the tree healthy for your next pack trip.
Pick up and pack out all of your
litter. On the way out, when the panniers are light, try to pick up litter
left by others.
Reduce litter at the source. When preparing for your trip, repackage food into
reusable containers or remove excess unnecessary packaging. This makes less to
pack in and less to haul out.
Trash. Trash is the non - food waste brought into the backcountry,
usually from packaged products. The best bet is to carry out all trash. Some
paper items can be burned in a campfire, but much of the pager packaging used
today is lined with non - burnable foil or plastic. These paper products should
be packed out with the cans, plastic, foil and glass.
Garbage. Garbage is the food waste left over from cooking. Careful meal
planning can easily reduce this waste and minimize the amount of leftovers. In
the event you do have leftovers, they should be eaten later or put into a
plastic bag or other container and packed out. Burning food waste requires a
very hot fire and burying this type of waste is inappropriate because animals
will dig it up if it is buried (see special
considerations for bear country). Animals, from squirrels to bear,
habituated to humans as a source of food can become a nuisance or even a threat
to humans. Always pack out everything you brought into the backcountry when you
leave.