Though most kayakers are good stewards of the land, there are some easily overlooked areas it doesn't hurt to be reminded of on occasion.

By self-regulating ourselves, or following a few basic rules and using common sense, fewer regulations will be imposed on us and the natural environment will be intact for future generations to enjoy.

• Most wilderness areas have rules and regulations that are in effect for a reason. Find out what these are and follow them.
• If campfires are allowed and you must have one, try finding a camp with an existing fire ring and use driftwood for fuel. Otherwise, build the fire below the high water line on the sand.

  United States: only 1/20th of the world’s population yet uses 1/3 of its resources. Not only is our consumptive lifestyles depleting the very things future generations need, we are polluting our/their air & water in the process. Realistically though, at this point, unless we go back to living in caves & hunting w/ an atlatl, this, to a certain extent, is inevitable. However, by making lifestyle choices, we can minimize our impacts to a great degree with little sacrifice. Refraining from needless consuming is the first & biggest step. One way to do this is to squeeze the most mileage from your gear as possible. Maintain it then repair it. Not only will you save money, you'll be doing your grandkids & Mother Earth a favor. For tips on gear maintenance & repair, click here.

• Burning garbage in the campfire seems to be a popular evening pastime. It is however about as cool as t-top Camaros and mullets flowing in the wind. Burning garbage, even if it is just paper, is not ok. Doing so creates a number of undesirable compounds including the highly toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative dioxins effecting not just humans but all living creatures. Please. Don’t be lazy and burn. Carry out all your garbage, including paper. You can do this by putting it in one of the zip-locks or plastic bags you brought your food in. It's light, compact and easy. Learn more about the ramifications of garbage burning here.
• At bedtime, contain all garbage in an unused stuff sack and hang from a branch. Leaving it out is an invitation for rodents to chew in to a hundred pieces and breezes to scatter.
• Do not remove branches from trees for firewood or any other reason.
• When human waste isn’t required to be carried out, and the protocol isn't to spread on a rock in the sun, a sanitary latrine should be dug at least 100' from all water sources. This can be dug with your hands, pan, stick or rock. Restore area to its natural state before leaving.
• Bury toilet paper with the human waste. Also, use plain white toilet paper as some dyes are not as quick to biodegrade.

  A good "biodegradable" soap is best at home while no soap at all is ideal for the backcountry hot spring.

• Urinate in the river not on the bank. Your comrades would probably appreciate you do this downstream from the filtering/wash spot though....
• Carry out all feminine hygiene products.
• Burn, bury or carry out any extra cooked food.
• Minimize trampling effects by using existing trails when possible.
• Do not rearrange rocks or downed wood. If necessary for shelter placement, place aside and return them to their natural state before leaving.
• Grit your teeth and pick up after any previous slobs.
• When using nature as bedding or a pillow, scatter it and restore the campsite as close to its natural state as possible before leaving. A piece of brush makes a nice rake for the finishing touches.
• Minimize dragging your kayak over sharp rocks at camp and on portages. Though small, plastic left behind is just another form of unsightly garbage.

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