[pct-l] Cat Holes a la Colin Fletcher, 1968 in The Complete Walker

[mulligankevin@yahoo.com (Kevin Mulligan)]

>From an LNT standpoint, I would be less concerned with accidental brushfires
then I would be with the impact the fire has on the soil and surrounding
area.

1. Unless using a mound file, the heat of the fire kills organic material in
the soil thus retarding plant growth.
2. Unless ring rocks are scatter, we can all look forward to many
unnecessary fire rings scattered about the "pristine" wilderness we so
cherish
3. What's used to fuel the fire? If everyone builds a fire the area soon
begins to look like an International Paper clear cut with every dead branch
consumed and flammable item in the immediate area consumed.

Don't get me wrong. I don't deny the beauty of a fire. Although, having
never burned TP I wonder how pleasant smelling it would be. But fires ARE
destructive and should be kept to a minimum.

And, though your toothpaste spit may not destroy the ecosystem, I would hate
to be hiking and see pieces of Aqua Fresh (or whatever kind of toothpaste)
you use everyplace I go.

I'm with Charlie. Yes, as hikers, our impact to the land is minimal when
compared to horse-packers and ORV users. However, there still is an impact.
On the flipside, I do think that your quota idea is a decent one. However,
why impose quota needlessly when all it may take is some care in what we do?

Back into my hole...

Kevin Mulligan
PCT 2002
-----Original Message-----
From:	pct-l-admin@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-admin@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of
CMountainDave@aol.com
Sent:	Wednesday, April 11, 2001 11:37 AM
To:	charliethorpe@att.net; pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject:	Re: [pct-l] Cat Holes a la Colin Fletcher, 1968 in The Complete
Walker

I'd like to see some statistics on the burning of T.P. causing wildfires.
I'm
betting its just a handful started during very dry and windy conditions when
common sense dicated it was unwise to do so. Then lets see the number of
fires started by forest managers (ala Los Alamos) who should have known
better and then have the audacity to tell us how to hike and camp when they
can't even get their own house into order. Sorry Charlie, but you seem a bit
too obsessive about LNT to the point of dictating to us: Your way is best,
ours has fatal flaws. We might as well declare all wildernesses animal
sanctuaries and just stay home. My tootpaste spits aren't about to destroy
any ecosystem.  One has to remember that our camps make up a very minimal
amount of the total acerage of any given wilderness and unless we turn them
into hazardous waste sites were not about to ruin the wilderness by simply
camping there. If these areas DO have too much impact, the answer is very
simple: make quotas and put our user fees to use by placing portable
latrines
in place that are flown out on a regular basis. Problem solved and I'm going
to continue to burn my T.P. when conditions warrant. That way there is NO
chance of some critter digging it up
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