Friends of Hyalite Backcountry camping

By Kyle Marvinny

High summer is here and our neighborhood alpine lakes are calling! Whether you want to fish, swim, camp or all of the above, July and August are the ideal time to visit these spectacular, high-altitude places. In Hyalite Canyon, Emerald Lake, Heather Lake and Hyalite Lake make for excellent camping destinations for experienced and new backcountry campers alike. That being the case, all of these lakes see a tremendous amount of use and unfortunately, abuse. Friends of Hyalite, Wild Montana and Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association recently worked with the Forest Service to clean up 31 fire rings and camp sites that were too close to Emerald Lake. While the Forest Service and organizations like Friends of Hyalite and Wild Montana carry out some cleanup projects like this, it is easiest if we all do our part to protect these places so they can continue to be spectacular for everyone. A sense of solitude can still be found even when other people are using the same place. Here are some guidelines and tips for camping around alpine lakes (and streams) so that all may continue to enjoy their beauty into the future:

·       Set your camp at least 100 feet from the lake shore (200 feet in designated wilderness). If you assume each step you take covers 2 to 2.5 feet, count off 40 to 50 steps from the lake shore.  Locating camps back away from the lake shore does several things; it leaves the lake open for others to enjoy, it gives your camp more privacy, and it protects lake shore vegetation and the shore itself.

·       Wildlife also like lakes and camping back from the shore gives them space and helps keep us, and them, safe.

·       Once back a suitable distance from shore, look for areas that have been previously camped on. Concentrating use into already disturbed areas protects vegetation, wildlife and the wild aesthetic of the place. Look for tent sites that are free of vegetation and kitchen sites on rocks or gravel (and away from your tent!)

·       Don’t build more fire rings, keep existing fire rings small, clean and at appropriate camp sites (100+ feet from water). Keeping fires in existing fire rings protects vegetation and the forest floor while also helping to maintain the wild appearance of the place. Fire rings should be one layer of rocks high, no more.

·       If you build a fire, collect dead, dry wood off of the ground. Don’t cut down trees or use green and wet material. Keep fires to a manageable size. Always make sure to check for fire restrictions before your trip and if you do have a fire, make sure it is out and cold before you leave it (use water!).

·       Pack out your trash and if you find trash from others, pack that out too!

·       Questions about bathrooms in the backcountry? Watch our great video about “How to poop in the woods”!

·       Be kind and respectful to other users! These places are a wonderful, peaceful, escape from the noise, hustle and heat of the valley, do your part to keep them that way!

·       Find more information on Leave No Trace principles here!