Green Hiking Guidelines from Leave No Trace

All responsible hikers and campers know by now that they should “pack it in, pack it out” and “take nothing but pictures.” Fair enough: But what exactly does the Leave No Trace (LNT) approach entail?

First, stick to the trail. If the trail is narrow, walk single file and not side by side. The cumulative effect of thousands of boots on the ground can be enormously destructive. Walk through muddy sections and not around them, and don’t cut across switch-backs on steep sections, as they are especially prone to erosion.

In wilderness without an established trail, take the opposite approach: Spread out as much as possible. Wherever possible, walk on rock, not dirt; dead vegetation instead of living plants; dry soil instead of mud. In short, think as if you’re being tracked and try to avoid detection.

In an established campsite, leave the area just as you found it. Better yet, pack out any trash left by those who were too lazy or inconsiderate to do so. In a pristine area, don’t build a fire pit or a ditch around your tent. While your ability to roast marshmallows will be compromised, a campstove leaves no footprint; it also means that you won’t have to gather firewood and run any risk of forest fire.

Hardcore proponents of the pack-it-in, pack-it-out ethos insist you should carry out the peels and pits of your fruits and veggies. While I applaud anyone who does so, I’m of the opinion that burying them or tossing them in a crevasse should be okay unless you’re in a park with bears and other large predators. When it comes to human waste, bring a trowel and bury your business along with the (unscented) TP at least 200 feet from a water source or trail.

Here are the seven principles of Leave No Trace:

1. Plan ahead and prepare.
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
3. Dispose of waste properly.
4. Leave what you find.
5. Minimize campfire impacts.
6. Respect wildlife.
7. Be considerate of other visitors.

For additional insights, go to www.lnt.org.