Leave No Trace

I am always so surprised to learn when people have never heard of the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace. As outdoor enthusiasts and lovers of nature, it is our responsibility to leave our public lands better than they were when we discovered them and fell in love with them. We need to ensure that our trails and wilderness spaces are kept clean and maintained so that the generations after us can enjoy them in the same way we do today.

So, without further ado, I give you the 7 Principles to practice Leave No Trace.

1. Plan ahead and prepare: In conversation with many adventurers, the word spontaneous usually comes up at some point. The “drop everything and go” mentality among those who love the outdoors seems to be pretty prevalent. And while being spontaneous and in the moment is one of the most awesome feelings in the world, maybe taking a week to fully plan out logistics isn’t so bad. Some areas have different rules than the areas you may be familiar with. For example, not many hiking trails in Southern California require permits. However, if you head up towards the Sierras, you’ll find that many of the popular routes do require one. And let’s not forget about Mother Nature and her ever changing weather patterns. Knowing before you go can help you get out of some sticky situations out in the wilderness.
2. Travel & camp on durable surfaces: Obviously, if there’s a designated trail or camping area, use those and don’t stray off of them. When hiking or backpacking in the backcountry, try to minimze your impact as much as possible. Don’t setup camp where vegetation is present. Try to seek out areas where you don’t see anything growing. Keep your groups small (a lot of wilderness trails have a limit of 12), hike in a single file when possible and remember to camp at least 200 feet from any rivers, streams or lakes.
3. Dispose of waste properly: This is the principal everyone thinks of when they hear “Leave no trace.” But it doesn’t just refer to packing out your trash. It also refers to human waste and the leftovers you need to wash from your dishes. Human waste should be buried in a “cathole” 6 to 8 inches deep, so always make sure to carry a shovel with you. When you’re done, remember to pack out your toilet paper and/or wipes. And don’t forget to dig your hole at least 200 feet from water, camp or trails. Be sure to scatter strained dishwater, rather than pouring it all in one spot when washing dishes with biodegradable soap 200 feet from any water source.
4. Leave what you find: Unless it’s trash, you shouldn’t be packing anything out with you. Before learning about Leave No Trace, I collected rocks from my journeys as a kid. Now, I take the time to admire them and snap a photo, but I leave them where I found them for the next person to admire. This principal also refers to historic artifacts. Not only should you leave them, but please do not touch them! There are petroglyphs in parks that are now off limits because they were being destroyed by folks touching them, among other things. Don’t introduce non-native species to areas and never erect non-native structures (cairns, forts, podiums promoting your challenge and go-fund-me accounts, etc.).
5. Minimize campfire impacts: Unless you are in a designated area with a fire pit or fire ring, try to only use a backpacking stove. Every year we see the destruction caused from makeshift fires created by campers and hikers in the backcountry. If you do start a fire, make it a small one. Put out the fire completely when you are done. If you cannot properly put out a fire with the supplies you have, you should not start one.
6. Respect wildlife: Wildlife is wild, which means they are unpredictable. For your safety and theirs, view them from a distance. If you’re hiking or camping with your dog, keep them close. Preferably on a leash. And never feed the wildlife your food. In fact, when you’re in the backcountry, make sure your food and trash are properly secured so that the wildlife cannot get to it.
7. Be considerate of other visitors: This final principal is my favorite! Most hikers are going into nature to…wait for it…enjoy nature! If you want to listen to your favorite song on repeat while you trek through the wilderness, that’s totally cool. Just make sure you bring your headphones with you so that you don’t disturb those that chose to leave their music at home. And it might be best to leave your noisy drone for city parks rather than a quiet wilderness trail. This principle also includes stepping to the side for hikers going uphill or for pack animals. We all need to take a break at points on the trail. When this happens, be sure to step to the side so that others may pass while you stop to drink some water or eat a snack.

Officially, those are all of the principles. However, in recent months, bloggers have taken to the interwebs to discuss some potential additions to Leave No Trace. In our digital world, platforms like Facebook and Instagram, with all of the beautiful photos being taken on our high-tech phones, have seen outdoor enthusiasts flocking to areas that were once totally secluded. This has caused all kinds of damage to areas and left some of the wilderness’ wonders feeling more like tourist traps. But rather than scolding those not in the know, we need to encourage and educate them. In a recent blog post, Modern Hiker’s Casey Schreiner suggests three Digital Leave No Trace principles.

1. Use conscientious geotagging: It’s okay to be vague in your tagging on social media. I often see geotags of “Neverland,” “California,” or “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on nature photos. I tend to be a little more specific in my tags, but still vague. For example, a designated wilderness hike I discovered while in Death Valley was simply tagged with “Death Valley National Park.” For those who took the time to read the description, the trailhead info was there. Or, if they went a step further and sent me a direct message, I let them know exactly where it was and where they could get a trail description and GPX file. When people take the time to reach out, it lets me know they’re more serious than the casual profile lookie loo who’s just interested in getting the next ‘gram photo. But also, these are public lands we’re hiking on, and we all have the same right to enjoy those areas.
2. Be mindful of what you’re showing: You may not intend for your post to encourage bad behavior, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t. When you take that gorgeous photo off trail, possibly trampling over plants to get there, you have to remember that others may try to do the same thing. Or how about that awesome “camp” photo you took on the side of a cliff? Some of us see that and know it was just for the ‘gram, but others may see it and think it’s the perfect place to camp, putting themselves and others at risk; not realizing that it’s actually not safe. And finally, that beautiful photo of you laying down in that flowing grassland may get you all the likes in the world, but it will also encourage others to get the same photo. And eventually, that beautiful flowing grass will be replaced by a dirt patch.
3. Set a good example: Casey makes a really good point here: “If you’re willing to accept that social media can promote bad behavior, how about also accepting that it can encourage good behavior, too?” Talking about the 7 Principles, hosting trail clean-ups and posting them in your stories, and encouraging others to educate rather than reprimand can go a long way. I’ve seen numerous people respond to my posts and in-person conversations about Leave No Trace, the 10 Essentials and other things. Education is key and we can educate by posting about the 7 (or 10) Leave No Trace Principles in action on social media.

Are you familiar with Leave No Trace? What do you think of Modern Hiker’s digital additions? Let us know in the comments below!