Leave No Trace
In order to preserve the wilderness environment, individuals should follow to the best of their abilities the following recommendations. These recommendations are made solely upon the basis of their environmental impact and not upon their monetary or economic impact or the desires or politics of individuals or nations.
Use renewable energy sources. An example is a solar electricity-generating panel, rather than disposable batteries, when charging mobile personal devices, lights, and lanterns. Seek to consume less energy. For instance, use cold water in preference to water that is heated by consuming nonrenewable energy. A good alternative to burning wood or fossil fuel to heat water is a “solar shower,” in which the rays of the sun can be passively harnessed to heat a container of water.
Create shelters that take optimal advantage of natural protection from the elements and therefore do not require exogenous fuel consumption for warmth or ventilation. When it is necessary to harvest plants, replant similar vegetation if needed to create a net neutral biomass tally. Learn which foods, clothing, and other consumables require the least water and energy consumption for their creation, and shift your habits and style preferences toward these.
Sustainability in the Wilderness
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics organization promotes sustainability in the wilderness. The principles espoused reflect a sense of stewardship and passion for and about the world, especially in untamed wilderness areas. Below are the seven guidelines, of the official principles of The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare:
Before departing for an expedition, trip, or hike, research the environs and become familiar with the regulations for use.
Acquire permits if needed.
Limit party size or split the group if necessary to minimize impact. Hike and camp separately if necessary.
Avoid high-use times on popular trails.
Do not travel if poor conditions, as when a trail is muddy, would cause adverse impact.
Use proper gear and plan meals to minimize waste. Repackage food before departure in reusable containers or plastic bags that can be easily packed out.
Register at the trailhead or with the ranger.
Be responsible and aware of personal and party limitations to minimize the chance of needing a rescue.
Use a map and compass or global positioning system (GPS) to eliminate the need for rock cairns or markings on the trail that can mar the landscape.
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces:
Travel on surfaces that are resistant to impact. These include rocky outcroppings, sand, gravel, dry grasses, snow, and water.
Stay on well-traveled trails and hike in the center of the trail in single file.
Do not take shortcuts and injure terrain.
When boating, launch the craft from a durable area and camp at least 200 ft (70 adult steps) from the waterfront.
Use preestablished campsites rather than creating new campsites.
When campsites are not apparent, try to disperse the impact rather than camping in a tight group.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly:
For human waste, use outhouses where available.
If necessary to use a cathole, dig it 6 to 8 in (15 to 20 cm) deep, and choose a site far from water sources. Disguise the hole as much as possible.
Bury toilet paper in the hole or pack it out. Do not burn it.
Pack out feminine hygiene products.
Treat pet waste the same as human waste.
Urinate far from camps and trials. Aim to urinate on rocks or bare ground to discourage animals from eating tasty and salty urine-soaked foliage.
On the water, use a portable toilet.
Plan meals to minimize leftovers that are tempting for wildlife and potentially dangerous.
Clean pots with hot water and a scant amount of soap and, after it has been strained to remove food particles, scatter the dishwater at least 200 ft (61 m) from any water source.
4. Leave What You Find:
Leave artifacts where they are found.
Do not collect rocks or other portable objects.
Take care to avoid transporting plant species from one location to another on pack animals, on boots, or in tire treads.
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts:
Avoid campfires unless they are essential for survival, comfort, or food preparation.
If a campfire is unavoidable, use a fire ring.
Gather wood that has fallen on the ground. Do not cut down plants for fuel.
Terminate any campfire properly and completely to avoid igniting an uncontrolled grass fire or forest fire.
For campfires on the beach, dig a shallow depression in the sand or gravel along the shoreline. Once the fire is cool, scatter the ashes and refill the depression.
6. Respect Wildlife:
Observe wildlife from a safe distance. Do not approach wildlife if you are not an expert.
Avoid wildlife outright during mating season, nesting season, and when animals are rearing young.
Do not come between an adult animal and its offspring.
When traveling with pets, keep them under control.
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors:
Be considerate of other visitors, natives, and native lands.
Yield to other users on the trail.
On encountering pack animals, step to the downhill side of the trail unless otherwise advised by an expert.
Avoid loud talk, music, and other cacophony unless advised to make noise in order to warn away potentially dangerous animals.
Sustainability in Special Environments
The Mountains:
Approach the route on an established trail, using a trail guide to minimize impact.
Use removable protection and as little chalk as possible.
Avoid “scrubbing” or “gardening” the route, removing vegetation only when necessary for safety reasons.
Do not climb near archeologically sensitive sites or animal habitats.
For feces removal, the preferred method (over smearing them on the rocks away from the route) is to pack them out in a “poop tube” constructed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe with a screw top that can be attached to the outside of a pack or haul sack.
Defecate into small brown paper bags, add cat litter, place the bag into the tube, and then deposit the collection into a vault toilet or dumping station.
Snow:
Avoid skiing or camping near game trails or in areas with obvious animal activity.
Campfires are not recommended.
When camping, attempt to “fluff up” the trampled snow for the benefit of subsequent visitors.
Do not leave visible “yellow snow” near well-traveled areas.
Pack out all waste. Digging a cathole in the snow simply leaves the frozen trophy eventually to thaw on the exposed ground.
Water:
Do not litter or dump waste in the water or on the shore.
Recreate when possible in the ocean intertidal zone.
Camp in an established campsite above the ocean high-tide line.
Tread on durable surfaces such as trails or rock.
If fires are permitted and driftwood is available, build a campfire, if necessary, below ocean high tide.
Urinate below the high-tide line away from fellow campers and tidal pools.
Use a cathole above the ocean high-tide line or pack out feces.
Launch and land watercraft on sand or gravel, avoiding dirt and vegetation.
Do not approach marine wildlife.
On rivers and freshwater, camp in the river's floodplain.
Bury waste in a cathole at least 200 ft (61 m) from shore or pack it out.
For large groups, use a toilet tank or other latrine.
Tundra:
Avoid trampling on summer tundra.
Preserve the thin layer of ground-cover plants.
Hike and camp only on durable surfaces.
If trails are not available, travel on shallow streambeds or snow. As a last resort, walk on tundra grasses rather than on lichen beds.
Do not hike in single file on tundra unless upon a durable surface.
For waste disposal, do not dig a cathole. Rather, smear feces on a rock or pack them out.
Do not create campfires.
Desert:
Remain on designated trails or durable surfaces (e.g., slickrock, gravel, sand washes) to avoid disturbing delicate biologic soil crusts.
Camp on a durable surface or in an established campsite.
Avoid campfires.
Do not wander off the trail in search of water.
Do not use precious water sources for bathing because soaps and body oils contaminate the environment.
Catholes are the preferred method for waste disposal, but keep them 200 ft (61 m) from any water source.
Adopting these principles is not merely an obligation; it is a moral necessity for every hiker. These guidelines are not intended to limit the freedom of outdoor adventurers but to safeguard the very wilderness that makes their experiences unforgettable. By following Leave No Trace, each hiker can guarantee that the pristine landscapes they navigate remain untarnished for future generations. Backpacking should not only be a personal journey but also a pledge to conserve the natural environment, leaving a legacy of responsible stewardship for all to emulate.
