Unofficial Rules For Hut Use
In general, these huts do not have regular maintenance schedules nor paid maintenance staff. Unofficial rules for use have arisen. For example the Australian Alps National Parks Site states:
Caring for the huts
- Huts are for temporary shelter only
- Enjoy visiting the huts, but do not use them for overnight accommodation as their cultural values can easily be destroyed. In Victoria some huts are not available for public use.
- Leave the hut as you would like to find it. If you must use the fireplace, check the fire is out, and close the door and windows securely.
- Don't leave emergency food stores in the hut, they clutter up the hut and encourage rats.
- Keep fires small and within existing fireplaces.
- Never leave a fire unattended and ensure it is out before leaving.
- If you must have a fire, never leave it unattended and ensure it is out before leaving. If you need to light a fire to keep warm, make sure you keep it small and within an existing fireplace.
- Use a fuel stove for cooking and reduce your use of firewood.
- Some areas are designated fuel stove only. Escaping fires will severely damage the delicate environment.
- Firewood can be scarce or even non-existent above the treeline.
- Leave the hut clean and secure
- Check the fire is out, restock dry firewood and close the door and windows securely.
- Pack to minimise rubbish, don't take potential rubbish such as bottles, cans and excess packaging.
- Don't bury any rubbish. It is often dug out by native animals and may harm them.
Got to ‘go'?
- Use a toilet or take a walk - at least 100 paces from hut and campsites. Dig 15 cm deep and cover well.
- Where no toilets exist, bury your toilet wastes in a hole 15 cm deep, at least 100 metres from the nearest watercourse or hut. In high use areas without toilets, plan to carry out your toilet waste.
Collecting water
- Collect water from upstream of the hut to avoid possible pollution. Boil water for at least five minutes to avoid gastroenteritis and giardia and help ensure they do not spread to new areas.
- Wash at least 100 metres from watercourses - Alpine waterways are easily damaged. Detergents, toothpaste and soap, even biodegradable types, harm aquatic life. Use sand, gravel or snow to wash up, rather than detergents
Read more about this topic: Wilderness Hut
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