Simple Tips

Food Storage ∼ Protect Your Food From Animals With These Simple Food Storage Tips
Leave No Trace ∼ Seven Principles by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
Trail Courtesy ∼ Are You Nice on Trail? Simple Tips from Cactus Huggers
Tips Videos ∼ Simple Videos Showing Some SimpleOutdoorStore Tips
Which Outsak® Bag ∼ A Specifications Comparison of the Different Outsak® Bags

∼ Protect Your Food From Animals With These Simple Food Storage Tips

The following guidelines are meant to supplement local rules and regulations, rather than replace them. Always follow local protocols for food storage. When in doubt, always contact the ranger station designated for your specific travel area.

Keep the animals OUT of your food

It may seem obvious, but preventing animals from getting to your food and other scented items is the only way to keep your stuff safe.

Animals are opportunistic. They are rewarded for their efforts every time they successfully raid a backpack, food sack, stuff sack, etc. Animals are also rewarded for their close proximity to humans when they are fed or otherwise encouraged.

Animals that become habitual raiders often develop nuisance or dangerous behaviors that may lead to their displacement or destruction.

What Can You Do?

Never feed wild animals, no matter how "tame" or cute they may appear

Know which animals are in the areas you are traveling through

Be prepared to store your food and scented items in such a way that it is safe from all the local wildlife

Always educate yourself on the proper use of food storage devices or techniques prior to using them

Try to be aware of ANY impact you are having on your environment, and try to minimize that impact

For more information, see Leave No Trace and the Grand Canyon National Park Backcountry Food Storage pages

Which Food Storage Device Do You Need?

	Outsak® Animal Resistant Storage Bag	Stuff Sacks, Bear Resistant Bags, and Bear Hangs	Bear Canisters, and Wide∼Mouth Bear Resistant Bottles
Weight	Best	Better	Good
Capacity	Best	Better	Good
Resistance To Rodents and Other Small Animals	Best	Good	Better
Resistance to Bears and Other Large Animals	Must Be Hung Properly	Must Be Hung Properly	Best
Compresses When Emptied	Best	Good	Does Not Compress

Which Outsak® Bag to Choose Shows a Comparison of the Different Outsak® Bags

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Leave No Trace
Seven Principles by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics

SimpleOutdoorStore is a Proud Small Business Partner of Leave No Trace

Plan Ahead and Prepare
Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting larger groups into smaller groups.
Repackage food to minimize waste.
Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.

In popular areas:
Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.

In pristine areas:
Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.
Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.

Dispose of Waste Properly
Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter.
Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.
Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.
Leave What You Find
Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.
Respect Wildlife
Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors.
Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises
This copyrighted information has been reprinted with permission from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org

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Trail Courtesy ∼ Are You Nice on Trail? Simple Tips from Cactus Huggers

Rules And Regulations
Most trailheads, entrances, and/or websites will have specific guidelines to follow.
Stay On Trail
Traveling on established trails in high impact areas protects the surrounding nature.
Leave No Trace
Please use Leave No Trace ethics or do your best to minimize your environmental impact. This includes packing out trash, leaving no crumbs or peels behind, staying on trail, eliminating far from water sources, animal proof food storage, etc.
No Rock Throwing
Assume there are hikers, bikers, trail runners, horses, or wildlife below every edge. Never throw a rock below an edge. Innocently thrown rocks can kill.
Stop For Horses
When encountering horses, mules, or other pack animals, step off the trail and stop. Make no contact with the animals. Listen and be open to instructions from the riders, as they sometimes have specific directions about their animals.
Yield To Uphill Traffic
Allow uphill traffic to continue with their pace by stepping to the side. The uphill traffic will sometimes want the break and might wave you through.
Leash Dogs
While on trail, it is respectful to keep your dogs leashed. This protects wildlife from stress and prevents your dog from approaching other people, dogs, bikes, horses, etc. Do not assume other people and animals want to greet your dog. Your dog should be under your control whether they are leashed or not. Know your dog, and do not allow your dog off leash if you are unsure if they will listen and comply with your requests.
Stay Off Cross Country Ski Tracks
Winter time travelers should avoid disturbing cross country ski tracks by walking to the side of them.
Be Quiet
Allow others a quiet environment.