Leave No Trace
An overview and introduction to the principles that make up one of the most important movements in outdoor recreation today.
Exploring and enjoying natural wilderness is something many people often overlook in deciding on a vacation or getaway. Camping, hiking, and other activities in America’s National Parks, for example, can be a truly memorable experience. The low cost of these activities is an obvious bonus.
The “great outdoors” also bring one closer to nature and can even foster a sense of national pride. No doubt, with the numerous national parks in the United States, it can be easy to find a sense of patriotism while camping in our great back country.
What may not be as clear, is that enjoying these natural areas come with a set of unwritten rules that govern the protection of the ecosystem and surrounding wildlife.
The most important principle from these unwritten rules, is that campers and hikers should not leave any tangible impact from visiting these natural areas. These rules are a framework to help preserve these spaces for future generations to enjoy.
One organization focused on these unwritten rules is the organization Leave No Trace.
Leave No Trace sets out “The Seven Principles” for enjoying the outdoors responsibly, which are:
- Planning ahead and preparing.
- Traveling and camping on durable surfaces.
- Disposing of waste properly.
- Leaving what you find.
- Minimizing campfire impact.
- Respecting wildlife.
- Being considerate of other visitors.
While these principles may seem abstract and even vague to the average hiker, keeping these concepts in mind will enable everyone to be responsible with having the privilege of enjoying these awesome, natural wonders around us.
Practical methods can be implemented into one’s plans in order to be a more responsible outdoors-enthusiast. It is always best for groups to plan ahead by knowing the regulations governing the area that will be visited.
Planning
Exploring all that America has to offer, especially in terms of national parks, can be crowded, especially at peak times. Scheduling your trip to avoid these peak times may cut down any further impact these areas may experience, and will be even more enjoyable in terms of your own travel experience.
One of the best free, resources to prepare for your next trip into the great outdoors YouTube. Scoping out the terrain that awaits via videos is a fun and educational way to make you a smarter outdoors person.
Campsite Selection
Focusing your traveling and camping to existing, designated areas goes a long way in eradicating any physical impact left behind by your experience.
You will find that many natural streams, lakes, and other areas are close-by, but it is best to not camp directly next to these areas, due to the fact that you could unknowingly be disrupting a natural and important ecosystem.
Using maps to plan where your campsite will be beforehand is a great way to familiarize yourself with the environment around you and could help give you options for contingency plans.
Waste Disposal
Disposing of waste properly seems like a no-brainer in such natural and pristine areas, but human waste should be considered. Some of the most highly-impacted areas of human waste occur on high-elevation mountain tops.
Some of these peaks are littered with human waste in grocery bags. Unfortunately, due to the lack of bathrooms in these places, many people are susceptible to leaving them behind. However, it is better if you pack away all waste in a designated pack within your backpack.
If you are just looking to have a great camping experience and hike nearby trails, deposit solid human waste in holes dug at least 8 inches deep and far away from bodies of water and campsites.
Check the regulations for the park in which you are camping. Some parks require that you pack out all waste, including human waste.
Campfires
While there is nothing quite like a campfire, they can prove to destructive to the surrounding environment. Even the smallest of campfires, if not managed properly, can turn into dangerous wildfires.
This may be one of the most important things to consider when enjoying the wilderness, especially with recent mega-fires breaking out in parks across the country.
If you do insist on making a fire, properly extinguishing a campfire is integral to the preservation of the ecosystem around you. One way to ensure that this can be accomplished is if you keep your fire small.
Using only materials around you such as sticks, which can be broken down by hand, are a great way to minimize your impact on the environment.
One of the least known facts about campfires, especially to novice campers, is that you should not bring firewood from home. Gathering this material from the source prevents the possible introduction of new pests or diseases that are foreign to the ecosystem.
Leave It How You Found It
Leaving behind what you find is obviously important. However, this extends to even the smallest parts of the environment around you. It is vital to leave rocks, trees, and smaller plants as you find them.
They should not be disturbed. It is also important to avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
Best practices include clean hiking boot soles, kayak hulls, and cleaning off bike tires in-between trips around your area.
Wildlife
It is paramount to respect the wildlife around you. As a visitor in their environment, it is important to keep in mind that you are in their home.
As such, do not approach any wild animals-if you do encounter any. Instead, observe them at a distance. If you must take pictures, make sure you are at a safe distance, and are not disturbing their natural habitat.
NEVER feed wild animals to avoid conditioning them to associate humans with an easy meal. This is especially important for larger, more dangerous animals like Grizzly Bears and Black Bears.
Sadly, bears are inevitably put down every year a result of aggressive encounters with humans, often because they have gotten a taste of their food.
Respect Others
Lastly, it is important to consider the “golden rule” while enjoying the great outdoors. Respecting other visitors adds to the experience for everyone.
These are ethics that exist today to help us sustain natural environments that we can enjoy for the future. Taking into consideration the principles of leaving no trace behind goes a long way in preserving the beautiful environments around us.
