Re: [Paddlewise] Chief Seattle's words

> myself, are.  So given my druthers, I'd prefer to see more discussions of
the paddling
> environment, and what we can do to preserve it.

Perhaps such topics really belong to some other environment-oriented forums.
I just want to check some thoughts.  The least we can do (to preserve) is
leaving campsites in more or less same condition as they were before.  In
national/provincial etc parks there are either garbage cans, or
take-in-take-out rule.  The problem is, what if it's not any protected area
(no garbage cans or state-funded cleaners), but still nice to camp, and it
is not feasible to fill and load a garbage bag at the beginning of long
trip.  I normally make a little bonfire before paddling off, burning
everything that can be burned (like toilet paper), and throw in empty tin
cans, then flatten them between two rocks, and bury in sand.  (Throwing in
aslo a couple of somebody else's "items" from previous days and years). A
sort of making a sacrifice to the weather god :-) - though I didn't have a
chance to notice his positive reaction so far.  My understanding is that
fire destroys protective layers on cans (made to slower down their
corrosion), and they will disappear faster. Probably it would corrode faster
in sea water, but in sand it doesn't increase visual contamination and won't
cut anybody. Hopefully animals won't dig it out, since it doesn't have any
attractive smell after the fire.
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************