Leave No Trace Principles

_{The basic concept behind Leave No Trace is to think beyond ourselves. We individually enjoy the beautiful scenery, the physical exercise, and the company of others in the group. In addition to our own pleasure, we need to think of how our impacts affect the environment and the next visitors. This includes things like noise, litter, hiking off the trail to avoid rocks or mud, leaving toilet paper in the woods, and disturbing wildlife. Our good behavior is more than a matter of following a set of rules; it is a matter of environmental ethics—doing what is right for the land so the next visitors will also have a high quality experience.}

Plan Ahead and Prepare | Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces | Dispose of Waste Properly | Leave What You Find | Minimize Use and Impacts of Fire | Respect Wildlife | Be Considerate of Other Visitors

LNT Principle #1: Plan Ahead and Prepare

by Will Rietveld

Adequate trip planning and preparation help backcountry travelers accomplish trip goals safely and enjoyably, while simultaneously minimizing damage to the land. Note that following this principle results in equal benefits to both the hiker and the land. Here are some specific ways to plan ahead and prepare: 

• Identify the Goals of the Outing: What do we want to accomplish in each outing? Basically, we want to gain the physical and mental rewards, enjoy the camaraderie, and be safe. That takes care of our needs, now what can we do for the land? That should also be one of our goals—to minimize our impacts as much as possible. The details on how we can accomplish this will follow in this and following articles.

• Match Outings to Participants’ Skills and Abilities: Outings planned should match the participants' abilities. There is no sense in pushing tired hikers beyond their limits, and tired hikers are more susceptible to injuries and pay less attention to their environmental impacts.

• Select Destinations and Timing to Minimize Impacts: Some trails will likely to be muddy in the spring or during the rainy season, so plan hikes there when it is expected to be dry. The participants will appreciate the reduced mud, and the environment will appreciate the reduced erosion. Another consideration would be to avoid more popular trails on weekends when our presence will increase crowding and create more disturbance to others and to wildlife.

• Research the Area You Plan to Visit: Consult maps, guidebooks, literature, and land managers to become familiar with the area and the route. Make sure the trip is do-able for the group, and identify any potential obstacles or problems. Know what is expected so it can be communicated it to trip participants. A low-risk and low-impact trip should have no “surprises”.

• Limit Group Size as Appropriate: Groups of hikers have more impacts than individual hikers, especially in desert terrain. Wilderness areas have a group size limits (15 in our area). We should think in terms of the appropriate group size for the area to be visited, so impacts are minimized.

• Check the Weather: If wet weather is forecast, how much will it affect the group’s safety and enjoyment of the proposed trip, and will it result in greater environmental impacts from the group? Sometimes it is wise to choose a more visitor-friendly destination, rather than steadfastly stick to the “plan”.

• Choose Appropriate Equipment and Clothing: When familiar with the conditions that will be encountered on the trip, and the weather expected, recommend appropriate equipment and clothing to group members so they will be safe and comfortable.

• Evaluate the Outing: Upon return, note changes that could be made next time to better meet the goal of a safe and enjoyable trip with minimal environmental impacts.

Why is this important? An inexperienced group that is unfamiliar with the geography of an area or expected weather conditions may put people at risk from falling rocks, terrain too steep, trails too rugged, unstable footing, ridges exposed to lightning, or sheer drop-offs. A group that has failed to develop good travel plans may be unable to travel as fast as expected, and people are more susceptible to injuries when they get overly tired. Group members will not be happy hikers if the trip encounters “unexpected difficulties” resulting in an unpleasant experience. The reason the best trips go smoothly and safely is because of proper planning and preparation.

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LNT Principle #2: Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

by Will Rietveld

What’s an “impact”? A definition I found on a Forest Service website is: “changes visitors create when outdoors, such as trampling of fragile vegetation, pollution of water sources, or social impacts--which diminish the experience of others”. Because we “use” the backcountry, we will create impacts. The challenge is to minimize our impacts. This month I would like to like to focus on impacts we create with our feet. Leave No Trace principle #2 encourages us to use durable surfaces as a way to minimize our impacts. Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses, pine needles, or snow. These surfaces can withstand our impacts much better than succulent vegetation, soft soil, wet soil, or biological soil crusts in the desert. Here are some pointers on how we can reduce our impacts by walking on durable surfaces:

• When established trails are available, use them. Walk single file in the center of the trail. Never walk side by side if it means walking off the trail. This creates “social trails”, which are an eyesore.

• Stay on the trail, even if it is muddy or wet. If you walk around the mud the trail will widen and become even muddier in the future. Taking detours creates additional trails and worsens the impacts. Mud is part of the backcountry challenge. Wear waterproof boots and gaiters to protect your feet from mud and water. Stay on the trail!

• Don’t shortcut switchbacks; it creates a new scar and causes erosion.

• Take breaks on durable surfaces, not on succulent vegetation or soft/wet soil.

• When hiking in remote areas where there are not established trails, it is better for hikers to spread out to avoid creating new trails that cause erosion. Always choose the most durable surfaces available: rock, gravel, dry grasses, pine needles, or snow.

• When hiking in desert country, use trails as much as possible to avoid stepping on the biological soil crust. If you are hiking off-trail, then walk on rock, sand, and dry vegetation. Washes also make good travel routes. It is better to not take dogs on desert hikes because they typically walk off-trail on the biological soil crust.

• Alpine areas are especially sensitive to impacts. Because of the short growing season, it can take decades for vegetation to re-establish. Use trails whenever they are available. When hiking off-trail, spread out and hike on durable surfaces.

• Don’t mark or flag your route. If you must mark a route for others in the group, be sure the markers are removed before you leave the are. The feeling of solitude or adventure is broken when you see cairns, flagging, or other markers left by other hikers to mark a route.

• When camping, choose an existing campsite if possible. Camp at least 100 feet away from water, meadows, or trails when you have a choice. In remote locations, choose a durable surface to camp on. Never alter the site to make it fit your needs, or dig a trench around your tent. Always naturalize the area before you leave.

In addition to our own pleasure, we need to think of how our impacts affect the environment and the next visitors. Trail maintenance is not simply a responsibility that falls on the Forest Service. We all need to do our part to minimize our impacts so the next visitors will have a quality outdoor experience. It’s a matter of backcountry ethics. Rules are what you follow when someone is watching; ethics are what you follow when no one is watching.

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LNT Principle #3: Dispose of Waste Properly

by Will Rietveld

Waste takes many forms. From foil wrappers to apple cores, tin cans to urine, backcountry waste is an issue with which each of us must cope. At best, handling and disposing of refuse can be an organized, well-thought-out process. At worst, it can be unsanitary, unsightly, damaging, and dangerous. 

Consider the words “Leave No Trace.” It’s a challenge to take out everything that you brought into the backcountry. If you packed it in, then pack it out! The visitors following you should have an equal opportunity to enjoy a clean, unspoiled backcountry experience. The following discussion pertains to a range of activities, including day hiking, backpacking, car camping, and boat camping.

Following are some key points to properly dispose of waste: 

• Pack It In, Pack It Out—Trash and litter are unacceptable in the backcountry. Seeing trash spoils our sense of naturalness and solitude. Remember that trash or organic wastes take a very long time to decompose in the alpine country or the desert. Here’s a timely tip from my lovely spouse Janet: it is a good ethic to pick up all trail trash we see so we leave each place we visit even better than we found it.

• Reduce Litter at the Source—Before your trip, repackage food into reusable containers or remove any excess packaging. Take only what you will need. This practice also reduces the weight of your pack.

• Avoid Leftover Food From Cooking—Carefully plan and prepare camping meals so there are no leftovers to dispose of. If you do have a burnt meal or leftovers, pack it out.

• Pack Out Apple Cores, Banana Peels, Orange Peels, etc.—While most people understand that leaving trash behind is wrong, they sometimes consider biodegradable food waste benign. This is garbage and has no place in the backcountry. Although fruit cores and peels are organic and will eventually decompose, they often dry out and last for weeks. The next visitors see these wastes as trash, and it compromises the quality of their visit.

• Properly Dispose of Feces—When you get the urge when out hiking, remember that proper disposal of human waste is important to avoid pollution of water sources, the spread of illness such as Giardia, and has aesthetic consequences for those who follow. The proper procedure is to choose a location at least 100’ (35 adult steps) from water, campsites, or trails; dig a cathole 6-8” deep, and naturalize the spot when you are finished. Toilet paper will last for 1-2 years in the mountains and 5-6 years in the desert, so pack it out in a plastic bag. Same for used feminine products.

• Properly Dispose of Urine—It is best to urinate on rock, sandy areas, or pine duff, away from water sources. Urinating on vegetation will attract animals who consume it for the salt.

• Properly Dispose of Waste Water—Soap is unnecessary for most dishwashing jobs and can make rinsing more difficult. Soap, even if biodegradable, must not enter lakes or streams, so it is best to minimize its use. Waste water should be scattered over a wide area away from camp and water sources.

• Properly Dispose of Fish Entrails—Dispose of entrails well away from camp, trails, and water. This will also help reduce encounters between people and scavenging wildlife. Fish entrails left in lakes decompose slowly and can wash up on shore.

• Store Food Securely—Protect wildlife and your food by storing it securely. When critters get into your food, they create a lot of litter. The best methods are storing it in your vehicle when car camping, hanging it in a tree when backpacking, or packing it in a tightly sealed container when boating.

• Don’t Burn Trash in the Backcountry—Trash that appears burnable is often lined with non-combustible foil or plastic and leaves a residual litter after burning. Many people do not bother to remove unburned items from the ashes after burning trash in a campfire.

• Take a Last Look Before Leaving—Make sure you have not left any trash or gear behind.

With so many visitors on the trails, if each drops just one scrap of food, bit of paper, or twist tie, it can add up to a lot of trash on the trail. Even throwing organic wastes on the side of the trail is an eyesore and takes away from the feeling of being in a remote, unspoiled area. In order to keep our hiking, camping, and boating areas pristine, each one of us needs to do his/her part. If we don't do it, who will?

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LNT Principle #4: Leave What You Find

by Will Rietveld

One of the reasons we enjoy exploring the backcountry is the chance of discovery—finding old cabins, mines, machinery, Indian ruins, minerals, and unique wildflowers. Thoughts run through our minds of what life in that location was like for those people who preceded us many years ago, or how the object we are viewing got there. The more pristine and intact the site is, the more intriguing it seems to be.

However, more and more, the places we “discover” have been stripped of their artifacts, or they are displayed in a local “museum” on a flat rock for all to see. Obviously the opportunity for discovery has been lost, along with any archaeological meaning. The more we leave things intact as we find them, the more the next visitor will enjoy his/her sense of discovery. 

This Leave No Trace principle asks us to enjoy discovering archeological and historical sites, wildflowers, minerals, and undisturbed landscapes—but leave them intact as we found them for the next visitors to discover and enjoy.

Following are some key points regarding Leave What You Find:

• Leave Cultural Artifacts Intact—Things like pot sherds, arrowheads, Indian ruins, old cabins, and even antique bottles found on public lands should be left intact for all to enjoy. In fact, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act makes it illegal to remove or disturb these things. Enjoy rock art by viewing and photographing it, but never touch it. Any contact with the oils in our skin causes these ancient works to begin disintegrating.

• Leave Natural Objects Intact—Natural objects of beauty or interest like antlers, petrified wood, feathers, minerals, or colored rocks add to the mood of the backcountry and should be left so others can experience a sense of discovery.

• Enjoy the Wildflowers, But Don’t Pick Them—Picking a few flowers does not seem like it would have any great impact, if only a few flowers were picked. But if every visitor decided to take just a few, the impacts would add up quickly. The diversity of wildflowers in the backcountry is nature’s symphony, and every note should be left intact for all to discover and enjoy.

• Avoid Damaging Live Trees and Plants—Avoid hammering nails into trees for hanging things, allowing children to hack at them with hatchets and saws, and (gasp!) carving initials into trees. While “arborglyphs” on aspen trees may be of historic interest to some, other viewers find such carvings intrusive to the beauty of the forest.

• Minimize Site Alterations—When camping, avoid making “improvements” to the site, like digging a trench around a tent, or constructing lean-tos, tables, or chairs. If rocks, twigs, or pine cones are moved to set up a tent, replace those items before leaving. A good campsite is found and not made.

• Avoid Spreading Non-Native Plants—Invasive species (weeds) introduced into a natural system can cause large-scale irreversible changes to ecosystems by eliminating native species over time. If traveling a long distance to an area, make sure gear, especially boots and tent, are free of all dirt. This can harbor seeds and introduce them into the ecosystem. Dogs can carry cockleburs and other seeds in their coats. Equestrian introduction of non-native species is a serious problem today.

• Let Nature’s Sounds Prevail—Keep loud voices and sounds to a minimum. This would include two-way radio transmissions. While some communications are needed to coordinate group outings, excessive radio chatter can be intrusive to the enjoyment of the outing for group members and other visitors. 

Some natural objects can be collected on public lands, e.g., mushrooms, conifer boughs, Christmas trees, landscape plants, and natural edibles. A permit is often required. Remember to harvest them away from trails where the disturbance will not be visible, and do not deplete the population. 

To keep the backcountry pristine for all to enjoy, we should load our camera, not our packs. Let photos and memories be our souvenirs. 

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LNT Principle #5: Minimize Use and Impacts of Fire

by Will Rietveld

The campfire is steeped in history and tradition. In old western movies, the campfire was kept going all day long to keep the cowboy coffee hot and ready. Today the tradition lives on, many people would not think of camping without having a campfire. Campfire building is an important skill that every camper thinks he needs to learn.

Fast forward to the 21^st century. The natural appearance of many areas has been degraded by the overuse of campfires and foraging for firewood. The ubiquitous “fire ring”, a circle of rocks that once contained a campfire and the ashes within, is a common feature in the backcountry. The unsightly charcoal and blackened rocks last a long, long time. In far too many cases, a fire ring overflowing with ash and remnants of garbage is what greets the next visitor to a backcountry campsite.

With the high level of use our public lands receive today it is no longer acceptable to build campfires anywhere and everywhere and leave the remains behind. If we want to continue to have a quality backcountry experience for years to come, then we need to heed LNT principle #5. Following are some ways we can Minimize the Use and Impacts of Fire:

• Don’t build a fire—Instead of building a campfire, use a backpacking stove for cooking, it’s a lot faster and cleaner. Use a candle lantern for light instead of a fire. In the summertime, a campfire is optional at best. Consider gazing at stars instead of staring at a campfire.

• Build a small fire—If you must have a campfire, make it as small as possible and use an existing fire ring. If there is no fire ring, don’t build one. Instead dig a small hole (in a safe location) to contain the fire. Use small wood to ensure that it burns more completely. Cover the ashes with soil and naturalize the surface before you leave.

• Minimize the impacts of wood gathering—Use small (wrist size or smaller) dead wood that is already on the ground. Leave your saw and axe at home. Don’t break or saw off dead branches from trees or peel off bark. These unsightly impacts will last for years.

• Never, ever build a campfire above timberline—You may be asking “build a fire with what?” Yet many people need to have their campfire “fix” and build a fire in the alpine zone using willows and wood from stunted trees. That’s just plain desecration!

• Pay attention to fire regulations—Campfires are not allowed in many areas because of overuse and the impacts described above. Also, during dry periods it can be very dangerous or against regulations to build a campfire.

• Never, ever burn trash in a campfire—It doesn’t smell very good, breathing the fumes can be dangerous, and it rarely burns up completely. Consequently most fire rings that receive repeated use contain an accumulation of trash. Don’t add to the problem, pack out your trash!

Foregoing a campfire is easy to do in the summertime. On our wilderness trips, we like to find a good viewpoint and watch the sunset in the evening, head for our sleeping bags when it gets dark, and get up early when it gets light. Cold weather camping can be a different story. When it gets dark early and evenings are cold, it is nice to have a campfire—following the above suggestions—especially when camping with friends. When car camping, we always take a fire pan to contain our fire, then bury the ashes when we are finished

Minimizing the use and impacts of fire is a backcountry ethic that works in concert with other LNT principles. If we all expect to enjoy a quality wilderness experience, then we all need to follow LNT backcountry ethics to keep it that way. Thanks for listening, and happy hiking.

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LNT Principle #6: Respect Wildlife

by Will Rietveld

One of the pleasures of hiking and backpacking is seeing wildlife. When we encounter an area that is rich in wildlife, it enhances our wilderness experience and our perception of wildness and naturalness. Wildlife sightings rank high among the highlights of a trip, and they are one of the first things we relate to others when we get home. 

In return for the pleasure we receive from viewing wildlife, we must remember that we are visitors in their habitat, and we must treat the animals we encounter with respect. If we are intrusive, many of the things we do, knowingly or unknowingly, can alter their health and behavior. Following are some key points regarding respecting wildlife:

• Observe Wildlife From a Distance—Avoid spooking wildlife if possible, and do not approach or follow animals to get a better look. Binoculars and telephoto lenses are good for viewing and photographing wildlife from trails. Give animals a wide berth. You are too close if an animal alters its normal activities.

• Avoid Quick Movements and Loud Noises—these may spook wildlife and stress them. It is better to travel in smaller groups and keep noise levels down.

• Plan Trips to Avoid Sensitive Places and Times—Avoid times when wildlife are bearing or rearing their young.

• Do Not Feed the Animals—Feeding wildlife or allowing animals to obtain human food may encourage them to leave their normal habitat and become nuisance animals. It also alters natural behaviors and exposes them to predators, or they can be hit by cars or chased by dogs. Human food is not good for wildlife and can cause tooth decay or gum infection. When camping, learn how to store your food to protect it from bears and other animals. Food scraps and leftovers should never be buried; animals will come by and dig them up. Pack out food waste along with trash.

• Do Not Allow Pets to Chase Wildlife—Control pets at all times. Never let them run ahead of you to chase or bother the wildlife. If your pet will not obey you, it is better for the wildlife and your pet’s protection to leave it at home. When wildlife are chased or harassed, they change eating patterns and exert more energy that can result in poor health or death.

• Don’t Camp Near Water—Camp at least 200 feet away from water sources. Animals come to drink and may be scared off.

• Touching an Animal is Not a Good Idea—It may have rabies. If you find a sick animal or an animal in trouble, it is best to leave it alone and notify a game warden.

• Prevent Unnecessary Pollution—Washing and human waste disposal must be done carefully so the environment is not polluted, and animals and aquatic life are not injured.

Wildlife is a joy to observe in the wild as well as around our homes. Some wildlife are very sensitive to the presence of humans in their habitat, while others readily adapt to live in human habitats. In all cases our goal should be to observe and appreciate them, and not alter their behavior. Leave No Trace depends on good attitude and awareness. The more we understand the situation and the variables involved, and commit to minimizing our impacts, the more the backcountry will remain in a pristine condition for all to enjoy in the future.

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Leave No Trace Principle #7: Be Considerate of Other Visitors

By Will Rietveld

Our beautiful backcountry has a spiritual effect on many of us. Its also very addictive—we go on a hike to a beautiful place, come home rejuvenated (and tired), and two days later we are antsy to get out again.  Out to get another fix. We are fortunate to be among the select few who are physically fit and ambitious enough to get out often into beautiful country and enjoy the peace and tranquility.

It’s a good thing that everyone else doesn’t enjoy the same things we do, otherwise there would be a problem with crowding and noise. The reality is that it happens in certain places and times—a large talkative group, people hollering and yelling, obnoxious pets, playing radios and frequent use of 2-way radios, wearing bright colors, people blocking the trail or not yielding (downhill) to livestock. Because we are frequent users of the backcountry, we have an inherent responsibility to minimize our impacts on the environment and other people. When we hike in groups, we bring our own crowd. The group's reputation is at stake. Its important hiking clubs to be recognized for: 1) providing opportunities to enjoy our beautiful backcountry and meet like-minded people and 2) promoting and practicing environmental ethics.

Following are some key points regarding being considerate of other people, and information on the Leave No Trace ethics that apply.

• Preserve the Solitude—Respect other hikers by keeping the noise to a minimum. Talking is one thing—hiking together is a great way to visit with your friends and make new ones—but its noise (undesirable sounds) that is the problem. Loud talking and laughing, yelling, and frequent use of 2-way radios are some examples.

• Keep Group Size Small—We already do this to a large extent, since most trip leaders prefer a smaller group, and trips into wilderness areas are limited to 15 people. Hiking with a smaller group (<15 people) is a more pleasant experience, and allows more opportunities to meet everyone in the group.

• Control Pets—Not everyone in the group loves your dog as much as you do. If your dog is running around wildly, chasing wildlife (marmots and chipmunks are wildlife), barking, wading in water sources, or defecating next to the trail—other people in your group or other hikers on the trail may be very upset, but they probably won’t tell you about it. It’s your responsibility to control your pet.

• Yield to Other Visitors and Livestock—Did you know that the right of way rules for the trail are horses>mountain bikes>hikers. In other words, hikers yield for mountain bikers and horses, and mountain bikers yield for horses. It’s important when yielding to horses to step off the trail on the downhill side and talk to the riders so the horses know you are there and don’t spook. On narrow trails uphill hikers have the right of way over downhill hikers. When the group stops for a break, don’t block the trail, rather move off the trail onto a durable surface like rock or grass.

• Avoid Bright Colors—Choose hiking, backpacking, and camping gear and clothing that are natural earth tones like green, brown, tan, or black. Bright colors like red, white, blue, or yellow do not blend in with the environment. Bright colors are easily seen from a distance and contribute to a crowded feeling.

• Avoid Crowded Places and Times—One thing we can easily do to lessen our group’s impacts on other visitors is to avoid weekends. Also, there are certain crowded places that it might be best not to visit as a group.

• Leave What You Find—When you find interesting rocks, wildflowers, artifacts, etc., leave them where you found them for others to discover and enjoy.

To tell you the truth I prefer not to write articles with lots of “Don’ts” and “Avoid’s” in them. I guess someone has to be the bad guy or the preacher. However, my goal is to increase awareness of environmental ethics, and hopefully get everyone to do a little better. I hope you will take these suggestions constructively and think beyond yourself. A hiking club is based on the free use of our beautiful public lands. In return, we have a responsibility to respect the environment and other visitors. Happy hiking!

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