Leave No Trace

  By Mike Ryckman

Whether you are backpacking, hiking, climbing or experiencing the outdoors in some other way, it is important to always be conscious of the impact you have on the environment.  In the backpacking world, the rules and standards for how to have as little an impact as possible are know collectively as “Leave No Trace”.

Most people identify seven basic things to keep in mind while experiencing the outdoors:

• Plan and Prepare

• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

• Dispose of Waste Properly

• Leave What You Find

• Minimize Use and Impact from Fires

• Respect Wildlife

• Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Plan and Prepare

Leaving no trace really starts here, it is important to know the regulations and rules for anywhere that you are visiting, have food items properly prepared, be ready to deal with waste items, and plan your trip so as to have a minimum impact.

• Talk to park authorities to find out anything you may not know regarding wildlife, trails, fire safety conditions and special rules for that area.

• If you are hiking with a larger group, consider dividing into groups of no more than 6-8 persons.  The more people you have on a trail, the more impact you will make

• Do not bring cans or glass bottles into a park; you are really just asking for trouble.  Utilize zip lock bags, and other reusable items as much as possible.

• Be prepared to dispose of your trash.  Bring an extra zip lock back to hold garbage. 

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

It is important to remember that you will have an impact anywhere you travel; however, you can minimize that impact if you have the proper considerations.

• Always stay on designated trails while you hike.  On a trail, travel single file so as not to widen the path.

• Walk through mud.  Muddy areas are notorious for widening a trail because hikers have a tendency to walk around them; this widens both the trail, and the muddy area. 

• If it is necessary to leave the trail for some reason, be considerate of durable surfaces; try to hike on rocky or other solid ground.  In addition, spread out your group so that you do not end up creating a trail.

• Look for durable ground for a campsite.  Many areas have designated camping areas; use these as much as possible.  Generally, consider how long it will take the ground to heal in an area if you camp there.  There is generally no reason you should have to make a new campsite.

Dispose of Waste Properly

• Pack out anything that you pack in to the wilderness.  Carry out all of your trash.  

• Do not bring small wrapped candies (Starburst ext.) into the wilderness, the wrappers easily slip out of your pocket and end up on the ground.

• Always inspect your campsite before you leave, keep your eyes open for any sings of human impact.  Look for small pieces of garbage and misplaced gear.

• Never bury trash; animals will dig it up.

• This is sometimes a contested point, but do not burn trash.  First, you generally do not want to build fires; secondly, most garbage will burn up into the air, and is more likely to start a forest fire.  Finally, most items that you would potentially want to burn will likely pollute the air to do so.

• Remember that not everyone will follow leave no trace policies, do the world a favor and pick up miscellaneous garbage that you find on the trail.

Dispose of what cannot be packed out

What you choose to do with human waste is up to you.  Some believe that toilet paper should always be packed out; but many agree that because of sanitation reasons, this is not feasible.  If you choose to not pack out toilet paper, keep in mind the impact that it could have.

• Always bury waste in a hole 6-8 inches deep, be sure to completely cover all waste.  Be especially careful of toilet paper, animals sometimes have a tendency to dig this up, so bury it deep.

• When washing dishes, find an exceptionally durable section of land to handle wastewater.

• Do anything that creates waste 200 feet from a campsite, trail or water source.

• Try not to use soap or shampoo.  Even so called biodegradable soap has an impact on the environment; always use it 200 feet from a water source.

Leave What You Find

The leave no trace continuum is “Take only pictures, leave only footprints”. 

• While in the wilderness, never pick up souvenirs on the trail.  Remember, if something is interesting to you, it will be to the next person also, so leave interesting artifacts, stones, vegetation, shells and bones.

• Do not create trail markers or cairns. 

Minimize Use and Impact from Fires

• There is no single activity that could potentially result in a greater impact on the environment than a fire. 

• Do not build fires unless it is absolutely necessary.  Fires are risky, leave an obvious sign of human activity, and require gathering wood.

• Cook on a camp stove, not a fire.

• A good backpacker can build a fire just about anywhere, but almost never does.

• If you must build a fire, use a fire ring, and keep it small.  In addition when finished, cover the area, nobody wants to see unsightly coals on their trip.

Respect Wildlife

• Always remember that you are visiting the wilderness, it is not a zoo or a playground.

• Observe animals from a distance, and treat them with respect.  You are visiting them.

• Never feed animals!

• Always know how to properly store your food so that animals cannot get to it.  It is important to not make wildlife dependent on humans.

• Do not camp near water.

Be Considerate of Other Visitors

• Preserve the solitude, do not bring radios or loud devices into the wild.

• Respect others by traveling quietly, do not yell, and stay far away from other hikers so as to avoid noise and visual “pollution”

• Remember that while you probably do not want to see many other humans in the wilderness, they feel the same way about you, be respectful and try not to disturb someone else’s wilderness experience.