Plan ahead and prepare before you go
Unnecessary impact in backcountry areas can be avoided by carefully preparing for your trip. For example, if you do not have adequate equipment for grazing restraints, you may be forced to put horses on short picket, perhaps even utilizing live trees as the picket anchor. The potential for overgrazing and girdling live trees is extremely high. Impacts resulting from being unprepared may seem minor, but they are not uncommon and over time result in long-lasting damage.
Expectations.
Determine the goals and expectations of your trip. Consider your group size, number of horses needed, route length, possible activities, the age and abilities of other group members and their expectations. This will help you choose the best times and places to travel in order to meet your goals.
Knowledge of the area.
Many backcountry visitors do not live near the areas they wish to visit. Inquire with local land management personnel for information on such considerations as access, weather conditions, snowpack, available feed, high-use areas and wildlife considerations (such as presence of black or grizzly bears). There may be closures and prohibitions that you should be aware of. You may not be able to camp where you had planned. Some areas are closed to grazing and most areas restrict the number of horses a party can use.
Get out your maps and go over the route.
Consider the river crossings, alternate campsites, mountain passes and fishing opportunities. Familiarize yourself with other trails and roadheads that you could use in case of an emergency.
In popular areas you can assume you will be able to find existing highly impacted campsite to use. Conversely, in remote or seldom visited areas, you must be willing to take extra time and use a variety of techniques in order to Leave No Trace of your having camped there. With good information you will be better prepared for your trip, have a more enjoyable experience and be better prepared to minimize your impact.
Meal planning and food preparation.
Plan your meals carefully. Repackage food into reusable containers or plastic bags. This will reduce the amount of potential trash or litter you bring into the backcountry. Carefully planned rations also reduce waste from leftovers and minimized the amount of extra food carried.
Equipment.
Make an equipment list. Select equipment and horse gear that allows you to minimize signs of your stay. Lightweight gear, such as compact stoves and nylon tents and seeping gear, can help reduce the number of horses needed to support your trip, thus reducing impact to trails and meadows. Examine the gear itself. Many amenities can simply be left at home. Taking only what you need will make setting up and breaking down camp go much more quickly. A simple camp makes it easier to Leave No Trace.
The horses.
Before entering the backcountry you should consider the following points concerning the horses themselves:
- Take only the minimum number of animals necessary.
- Take only animals that are fit, calm and experienced.
- Practice at home the techniques to be used in the backcountry before heading out. The roadhead is not the place for an animal to learn about breechings, clinking and clanging pannier loads or windblown mantis.
- Accustom your horses to the type of restraints you will be using.
- Prior experience with backpackers, llamas and other odd-looking wilderness users may save a major wreck and the impact it can cause.
