I think most people on here recognize whats right and wrong when it comes to wheeling. What about outside of wheeling, how does Tread Lightly! affect you then?
Excellent topic! There is a lot of damage that can be done to the environment due to impactful or ill-prepared primitive camping. The art of 'leave no trace' camping seems a lost art outside of the military. The biggest thing to remember is to bring the necessary items that generate the least amount of trash and still offer a certain level of comfort without harming what's around you (trees, undergrowth, fresh water, etc).
Lighting: For ages, the general idea of a lantern is one that either runs on fuel or propane. With today's LED technology, this type of lighting is as outdated as the dinosaurs. Propane lanterns are heavy, create heat, can cause fires and require cans of propane which usually only last a few hours and when they're empty you have a big green can that is rather difficult to dispose of. If you must use one, NEVER put a propane or gas lantern close to a tree trunk!! It will cause permanant damage to the tree! This is an example of what I use: They're cheap, create no heat, run on batteries and last forever. At $9 a pop, buy 3 or 4 of them and pump out nearly 1000 lumen for less than $40. When you do swith out for fresh batteries, throw the old ones in your camp bag and you'll never know they're there.
http://www.amazon.com/Pop-Up-Flashlight-Lantern-Ultralight-Collapsible/dp/B00HY3HWY8/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1401748802&sr=1-1&keywords=pop up lantern
Sleeping: Tents have their place. One downside to a tent is you do have to place the weight of it and it's occupants/contents onto whatever is on the ground. It can kill undergrowth not giving it a chance to ever grow (aka footprint). A great alternative for the solo camper is a hammock. These can get expensive but offer a great night sleep with very minimal sign of it's use if any. They can be good down to single digit weather if you know how to pack the right sleeping bag. This is my Hennessey Scout. Notice that underneath it is undisturbed undergrowth where a tent will squash it to a pancake and potentially kill it.
Cooking/campfire: I see a lot of folks using propane/gas grills. Sometimes there is no getting around it and that's OK. Every campsite must have a fire right? Sure. When it comes time to cook, so many people overlook the ultimate free heat source... the fire itself. If you can grill on an outdoor charcoal grill, you can cook a great meal over an open fire so kill two birds with one stone. Use the same spot that was cleared by the last campers, clean out what unburned debris was left over (cans don't burn folks!) and get your coal bed going. Uneaten food should be put in the trash. Like mentioned previously it's not really a good idea to leave it in the fire. If you have grease or oil left over, put it into a heat resistant container and reuse it (if you're into that) rather than pour it in the ground. A simple homemade grate is not hard to fabricate yourself or buy from several outdoor products companies that sell them. This is one that I made out of stainless stair tread mesh and 1/8" thick 1x1" angle iron and 10 minutes with a welder.
Food and beverage packaging: A lot of folks overlook what their food and drink comes in. If it comes in a tin/aluminum can, it's gonna leave you with a lot of trash. No room in your camping supply will be gained even after the contents are used. Plastic water bottles I have mixed feeling about depending on available space in a cooler. I try to use a Camelbak or 1 gallon resealable jugs for water. Resealable and reusable containers for everything. Food packaging generates a lot of trash and most assume it can be burned without a trace and that's not always the case. Prepackaging food in meal sized portions with parchment paper or perhaps tinfoil is the way to go. Saves room in the cooler too.
There's of course a LOT more to low footprint camping that I'm leaving out. With a little thought and planning, you can pack for an awesome and comfortable camping trip to fit any preference and lifestyle. Go out and practice and have fun!
I was hoping I wasn't a total black sheep around here.
