News & Updates

Vamping, Zombie Hiking and Creepy Doll Heads: A Leave No Trace Halloween

Susy Alkaitis - October 25, 2017

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ: The Traveling Trainers get lots of interesting questions as we travel and teach all over the country, but things can get bizarre around Halloween. Been dying to know what zombies should do with body parts that fall off in the backcountry? Check out the video below to get the inside scoop on monster outdoor ethics.

1. Vlad the Vampire sleeps in the daytime, but we can follow his lead by setting up our coffins, um, we mean, tents on durable surfaces like bare dirt, sand, rock, or snow. The best camp/coffin sites are found, NOT made. Vlad’s case is also a good reminder to be considerate to other visitors when they’re vlamping. Don’t open up anyone’s tent or wooden sleeping apparatus, even if you think it’s a bit odd that they’d be sleeping in the daytime.
2. Dave the Zombie, or “Z,” as we affectionately call him, asks a great question. What should you do with biological waste in the backcountry? We recommend packing out blood, mucus and tissue in a sealed plastic bag. If that’s not possible, bury it 200’ from camp, trails and water in a 6 to 8” hole.
3. Creepy Kyle loves his doll heads, but it’s important to remember that all decorations – and trash, gear and food – should be packed out. Like doll heads, much of our camping gear takes a very long time to decompose, so pack out what you pack in.
4. Sugar high has you howling at the moon? That’s okay, but remember to bring a trash bag for your candy wrappers, making sure not to drop even the smallest wrapper corner, and keep your volume confined to your campsite. Unofficial research has found that quietly howling can have just as much of a therapeutic effect as full-throated howling, and you reduce the risk of attracting a real wolf to your campsite.

Have a Leave No Trace Halloween!

Enjoy Your World. Leave No Trace.
Jessie and Matt, Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers Team West
Leave No Trace’s Jessie Johnson and Matt Schneider are part of the 2017 Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Program that provides free, mobile education to communities across the country. Proud partners of this program include Subaru of America, REI, Eagles Nest Outfitters, Deuter, Thule, Klean Kanteen, Smartwool, and Taxa Outdoors.

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