If you’re an outdoor lover you’ve probably heard of the “Leave No Trace” Principles of outdoor ethics. I strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with these if you haven’t already. Pass them along to your kiddos and your friends. It’s SO important that we keep nature wild!
1. Plan Ahead + Prepare
- Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use. Specifically watch for National Parks timed entry systems and rule and regulations before visiting.
- Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you’ll be visiting.
- Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
- Visit in small groups. Split larger parties into smaller groups.
- Repackage food to minimize waste.
- Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns, carving or flagging.
2. Travel & Camp on durable surfaces
- Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
- Protect riparian areas by camping 200 feet from lakes and streams.
- Good campsites are found, not made.
- Concentrate use on existing trails & campsites.
- Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy. If your gear is good this shouldn’t be an issue.
3. Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
- Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
- Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
- Don’t bring firewood from home. It may be contaminated with tree-killing insects or diseases. Instead, buy local would near your destination or gather on site if allowed.
- Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.
4. Respect Wildlife & Critters.
- Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
- Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
- Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
- Control pads at all times, or leave them at home.
- Avoid wildlife during sensitive times; mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.
5. Be considerate of other visitors.
We’re one big ol’ outdoor loving fam… please respect other hikers when your out and about enjoying the scenery!
- Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
- Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
- Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
- Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors.
- Let natures sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises. And for the love of Pete, do NOT be that person who brings a portable speaker and blares their music on the trail. It’s a personal pet peeve of mine LOL.
- Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.
In Pristine Areas: Disperse used to prevent the creation of campsites in trail & avoid places where impacts are just beginning.
6. Dispose of waste properly.
- Packet in, packet out. Inspector campsite and rest areas for trash or spoiled food. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter.
- Deposit solid human waste in cat holes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, and trails. Cover in disguise the cat hole when finished.
- To wash your self and your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.
- Pack out all toilet paper and hygiene products.
7. Leave what you find. AKA leave it WILD.
- Preserve the past: observe, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
- Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
- Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
- Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
Leave no trace!
While these principles may seem trivial. They are oh so important when it comes to exploring the outdoors. We want to preserve the beauty of nature for as long as humanly possible. If we each do our part we can enjoy it for years to come.
For more information please contact the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics at www.lnt.org or call 1–800–332–4100.
“Take only memories, leave only footprints”
Planning ahead tips and tricks for hiking a 14er here.
