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Wild camping

In certain countries such as Finland, Norway and Sweden it is quite legal to wild camp. In Finland they have designated bivi spots where there will be some form of water supply such as a lake or stream, a fire place stocked with cut firewood and an earth closet toilet. My wife and I have wild camped several times on our cycle tours in Finland and Norway .

All wild campers need to remember their responsibilities and try to minimise the impact that they might make on the environment they camp in. We want everyone to continue to experience the joys of un spoilt wilderness camping, so the message is quite simple:

'Leave no trace'

After you have left a site, no one should have any idea that you had been there.

Here are a few tips to help minimise that impact:
 

  • Protect water supplies - don't wash up or bath in streams, lakes or rivers, as they may well be a local water supply. Instead collect the water and move at least 50m away from the water to wash up or bathe, then dispose of the soapy water along way from the water source to give the earth a chance to filter it. We have a folding bucket made by Ortlieb which is very handy for washing and you can even get shower attachments for some water carriers.

     
  • If you do use soap and detergents, try and take biodegradable versions.

     
  • Don't light fires unless it is essential for your survival or there is a designated fire place, like in the bivi spots in Finland. Remember that fallen and dead wood is a potential habit for all manner of creatures that make up that ecosystem.

     
  • Some upland areas have very fragile ecosystems and have taken years to establish, therefore minimise the trample factor e.g. by using a water carrier so that you only make one trip to get water. Heat from a stove or hot pan can easily scorch plants, use the stove on gravel or a flat rock to minimise scorching.

 

  • Take all your rubbish with you. Don't burn or bury it, even waste food, orange peel, apple cores etc. Although these will biodegrade, it can take some time and in the meantime wild animals could be attracted to the smell and dig it up, making quite a mess! Make sure you have some poly bags and wire ties to put all your rubbish in and dispose of it when you get to civilisation.

     
  • If there is an earth closet then use it, you will probably find a pile of wood chipping's or similar material outside, so that you can cover up your business to prevent smells, flies and make it nicer for the next person.

     
  • If there is no earth closet then you will need to go at least 100m away from any water source, dig a small hole about 6 - 9 inches deep (there is no need to dig any deeper as the bacteria needed to break it down are in the top 9 inches of soil) and then do your business. Any toilet paper can be burned in the hole (unless there is risk of fire), wet wipes, sanitary towels and tampons can take an age to break down and should ideally be bagged and taken out. Don't be tempted to be a lazy 'Rock crapper' i.e. the numpty who just lifts up a rock, does his/her business and places it back, it's not very pleasant when you trip over a rock to see a whirler starring back up at you!

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