As the weather gets warmer and more people get outside, it’s critical that outdoor enthusiasts understand how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly and with as little impact as possible so the incredible places we love can prosper for us to continue to enjoy long into the future. This is where the 7 principles of Leave No Trace come into play.
First of all, before we get into the 7 principles and how we can use them to minimize our impact when playing outside, let’s go over what Leave No Trace is not about;
Leave No Trace is not about rules and regulations
Leave No Trace is not about right vs. wrong
Leave no Trace is not black and white
Having said that, Leave No Trace is more than a set of guidelines. It is an ethical code and provides us with a way of existing in a world where we respect our surroundings and others while making positive decisions that create an environment we wish to live in.
In this post, we will cover the 7 principles as well as how to follow them so we can all do our part to keep our outdoor playgrounds healthy!
What is Leave No Trace?
Leave No Trace is a non-profit organization that has established an easy to understand framework of ethics and best practices for minimum impact when we are playing outside. The purpose is to build a foundation of respect for our wild places so we can conserve the integrity of the land we love to get out and experience.
The 7 principles of Leave No Trace are a framework for making responsible decisions when we spend time outdoors so that we can continue to have healthy wild places to explore for generations to come.
They are not placing rules on what we can and cannot do in the outdoors; instead Leave No Trace gives us the opportunity to have fewer rules. If we all take care of our surroundings, then there is no need for rules. Issues come into play once we begin to leave trash, venture off the trails and do our business anywhere - that’s when we begin to see areas degrading, closing and rules being enforced.
Plan ahead and prepare
The first principle of Leave No Trace is to plan ahead and prepare. This will not only make your trip more enjoyable, comfortable and safe but will also help prevent damage to natural resources.
Do research! This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 months! It is crucial to know the regulations or special concerns of the area you’ll visit.
Check the weather, prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies
Schedule your trips during non-peak times. No one wants to wait in a line to be outside.
Visit in small groups or split larger groups into smaller groups.
Repackage your food to minimize waste. Leave the cardboard cliff bar box at home.
Use a map, compass GPS or your orienteering skills to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging
Let someone know where you’re going, when you plan on coming back and what to do if you don’t.
Travel and camp on durable surfaces
The general rule of thumb here is if a trail or campsite exists - stick to it. If a trail or campsite does not exist- do your best not to create one. The purpose of this Leave No Trace principle is to help us avoid creating new “scars” on untouched areas and trampling vegetation and communities of microorganisms essential to the ecosystems we love.
Durable surfaces include maintained trails and designated campsites, rock, gravel, sand, dry grasses or snow
Camping at least 200 feet (70 big steps) from water
Good campsites are found not made. If you need to alter a site to camp, pick a different spot.
In popular areas:
Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
Stay on the trail! No cutting switchbacks. Walk right through that mud puddle in the middle of the trail - that’s why you wore the proper footwear, get dirty!
Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.
In pristine areas (untouched areas)
Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails (you want to leave the area pristine)
Avoid fragile surfaces like vegetation and riparian zones (the area near a water source)
Avoid places where impacts are just beginning. Do not make them worse
Dispose of waste properly
As we’ve said we want to leave places as good or better than we found them, and a crucial part of that is packing out all of your trash along with any you find along the way.
Pack it in, pack it out. Absolutely everything, including food scraps. These items biodegrade, but not instantaneously and in the meantime they can harm wildlife and take away from the beauty of a secluded location. Inspect your campsite, food preparation areas and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter. If you see trash that isn’t yours, pick it up!
Utilize toilet facilities whenever possible!! Use the bathroom before you leave!
If you need to poop, deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep (if catholes are too shallow the microorganisms won’t be able to break down your waste) at least 200 feet (70 big steps) from water, camp and trails. Cover and disguise catholes when finished.
Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products. We recommend Ziploc bags covered in duct tape or doggy bags so you don’t have to look at your used toilet paper or other hygiene products.
To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet (70 big steps) away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.
DO NOT use soap (even eco-friendly biodegradable soap) directly in water sources
Leave what you find
This one is easy! See something cool? Take a picture! Leave what you find behind so the next person can enjoy it too. In some places it’s illegal to remove natural objects.
Preserve the past: examine, photograph, gawk, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts. They were there before you, respect them.
Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them. Don’t pick wild flowers! The seeds are needed for future seasons. It doesn’t seem like much but when you think about it if everyone picked a few flowers on every trip the impact would be enormous...
Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species, this can be avoided through properly cleaning gear (shoes, tents, clothing, your car) when moving between areas for different excursions.
Do not build structures, furniture or dig trenches. Don’t carve your initials into trees or draw on rocks.
Minimize campfire impacts
This one can be kept simple as well. If there is a designated fire pit and no fire ban in effect, it’s okay to sit around a cozy fire to enjoy s’mores and share stories. If this is not possible, use a lightweight stove to cook and connect with your surroundings without firelight. Enjoy the big beautiful sky full of stars you might not always be able to see when back in the city.
Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
Keep fires small, never leave your fires unattended. Only use down and dead wood from the ground that can be broken by hand.
Assess the situation and only have a fire if you feel like you have the skills to keep it under control.
Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes. Don’t try to burn your trash or throw garbage in the firepit for the next camper to find.
Respect wildlife
It’s super important when we go into nature to remember we are in other creatures' homes so we need to show them respect! Observe wildlife from a safe distance and don’t disturb them by trying to get too close for a picture. Let them go about their day and do their thing in peace.
Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not touch wildlife, some animals can harbor rabies or other diseases, it's possible if you touch young animals abandoned by their parents. Do not follow or approach them.
Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife creates a plethora of issues, it damages their health, alters natural behaviours (Habituates them to humans) and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely
Control pets at all times or leave them at home. You know your pet's comfort level and don’t let them bother or chase wildlife. If you know your dog is triggered by deer, don't take them to an area where you’re likely to see a lot of deer!
Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young or winter.
Be considerate of others
This is the golden rule. Think about your actions and how they affect those around you. Be considerate and mindful, most people go out in nature to find peace so keep that in mind and be respectful.
Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
Be courteous, yield to others users on the trail (brush up and be aware of hiking etiquette, yes it's a thing) Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors
Let the sounds of nature speak. Keep excessive noise to a minimum and avoid loud voices and noises. Everyone loves music but not everyone loves your music. Sound travels far so if you must listen to music, ensure the volume is kept to a minimum so it doesn’t bother neighbours.
If you like to use earbuds to listen to music, keep the volume at a level where you can hear what’s going on around you in case.
Keep your pets under your control at all times and pick up after them.
These are simple things that we can all do to minimize our impact and help preserve the health of ecosystems and the experiences we can share out there.
Don't forget that Leave No Trace is not black and white but about making the best possible decision to minimize our impact in the specific environment and circumstances that we are in. This is not a set of dos and don’ts but a set of guidelines to help us preserve the places we love and leave them possibly even better than we found them.
These principles were established by the Leave No Trace Centre for Outdoor Ethics and built by the US Forest Service, National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management during the 80s.
These principles are based on and informed by scientific research in the fields of recreation ecology and human dimensions of natural resources.
Let’s protect and enjoy our beautiful world in the best responsible way possible!
Source:
The 7 Principles - Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/