Site Selection & Soil Layer

By: Kristen Downey

Campsite Selection

How to choose a campsite…

“An ideal campsite is a blend of both what is desirable and necessary.”

There are a many factors to consider when choosing a campsite:

●Carrying capacity (environmental conditions and number of participants)

●Skill levels of participants

●Wildlife

●Scenic and historical significance

●The challenge to push into unexplored regions

• Should be aware of potential hazards (cliff edges, water sources, weather, animal dens and trails, widowers- dead falling trees), or other environmental concerns.

• Choose a campsite with a slight slope for water to drain away in the rain.

●The ground at a site should absorb rain easily, remain firm under heavy traffic, and not be dusty when dry.

●Sandy, gravelly soil absorbs water quickly and dries quickly, but mosses stay damp longer.

Do’s and Don’t’s when Choosing a Campsite:

DO pick a spot that is:

●Durable

●At least 60m away from water sources

●Relatively level

●Safe

●A bit breezy (keep bugs away)

●Easy to access other points of camp

●Scenic

●Has no tripping hazards or eye-level branches (day/night)

DON’T pick a spot that is:

●Environmentally fragile

●Hazardous

●Near possible flood zones or water hazards

●Situated in a bowl (lower than surrounding areas)

●Near any widowers

●Near any toxic plants

●Near lots of animal activity

Soil Layers

LayersThere are 5 different layers in the soil:

●Duff or Leaf Litter: organic material natural to the area, the material that decomposes into sticky brown material.

●Organic Layers: able to absorb significant amounts of water to prevent drastic erosion.

●A- Horizon: finely reduced organic material, able to absorb significant amounts of water to prevent drastic erosion.

●B- Horizon: mineral soil mixed with organic material.

●C- Horizon: unmodified parent material, original material of the place it was deposited.

●Final Layer is bedrock

Soil Layers

●On average, it can take up to 200 years to form 1cm (.4 inch) of soil.

●This is a very slow rate of renewal which signifies the importance of not interfering with the natural production or erosion of the natural soil layers when hiking and camping.

To minimize our impact on the soil layer when

camping… ● Hike in a single-file line

to contain and control trail damage.

● In the camp area, follow random routes which will prevent the formation of social trails. These areas are not subject to frequent use so the new random pathways will have time to rebound.

● Camp on spaces that are environmentally durable.

References

● Redmond, K., Foran, A., Dwyer, S., (2010). Quality Lesson Plans for Outdoor Education. United States: Human Kinetics

● Leave No Trace Canada. (2009). Leave No Trace Principles. Outdoor Ethics. Retrieved from: http://www.leavenotrace.ca/principle-travel-camp-durable-surfaces