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LEAVE NO TRACE Outdoor Skills & Ethics “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.” —Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac NORTH AMERICA EDITION LNT Outdoor Skills and Ethics LNT Outdoor Skills and Ethics “The notion that [outdoor] recreation has no PRINCIPLES OF Leave No Trace environmental impacts is no longer tenable.” • Plan Ahead and Prepare . .4 —Curtis H. Flather and H. Ken Cordell, Wildlife and Recreationists • Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces . .7 People enjoy the outdoors in myri- Trace which aims to be part of the • Dispose of Waste Properly . .11 ad ways. We explore on foot, kayak, solution. At the heart of LNT are • Leave What You Find . .15 horseback, mountain bicycles, skis, seven principles for reducing the snowshoes, and crampons, to name a damage caused by outdoor activities, • Minimize Campfire Impacts . .18 few, and there are more of us push- particularly non-motorized recre- ing our sports to greater extremes ation. Leave No Trace concepts can • Respect Wildlife . .21 and into remoter parts of the natural be applied anywhere—in remote world everyday. Our experiences are wilderness, city parks, even in our • Be Considerate of Other Visitors . .24 personally satisfying, but they can be own back- costly to the places we visit and the yards—and At the heart of animals we observe. in any LNT America’s wildlands are diverse recreational Wildland Ethics . .27 and beautiful. They can also be frag- endeavor. are seven principles ile. Polluted waters, displaced Leave No for reducing the A Final Challenge . .28 wildlife, eroded soils, and trampled Trace prin- vegetation are just some of the ciples and damage caused by A Few Terms Defined . .28 impacts linked directly to recreation- practices outdoor activities, al activities. Even our mere presence extend com- has an influence. Considerable dam- mon cour- particularly non- age could be prevented if recreation- tesy and LNT Outdoor Skills and Ethics ists were better informed, especially hospitality to other wildland visitors about Leave No Trace techniques. and to the natural world of which we This booklet is part of a national are all a part. They are based on an educational program called Leave No abiding respect for nature. This Visitors interested in stock use, respect, coupled with good judgment mountain biking, kayaking and climb- and awareness, will allow you to ing, or other regions and recreational apply the principles to your own activities, are referred to the other unique circumstances. booklets in the Leave No Trace Skills We can act on behalf of the places and Ethics series. and wildlife that inspire us—in North America and beyond. First, Information on obtaining Leave let’s educate ourselves and adopt the No Trace curriculum materials, skills and ethics that enable us to courses and trainings is available Leave No Trace. by calling Leave No Trace, Inc. 1-800-332-4100 or visiting the extensive LNT website: www.LNT.org. NORTH AMERICA -2- NORTH AMERICA -3- PLAN AHEAD and Prepare PLAN AHEAD and Prepare Small versus large groups. and conflicts with other EDUCATE YOURSELF. Regardless of the size of your groups. Instead, visit at other Know the regulations and group and the purpose of times, such as midweek, for a special concerns for any area your outing, the practice of less crowded—and more you visit. Because every wild- Leave No Trace techniques enjoyable—experience. Or, land is unique, regulations requires care and fore- explore out-of-the-way and permit stipulations vary. thought. Whenever possible, places. Make reservations and Learn how to Leave No Trace visit wildlands in small obtain permits well ahead of wherever you go. Start by groups. Large groups can be time to avoid unpleasant sur- asking about local ecology boisterous and disruptive prises. Avoid travel when and local minimum impact unless they are well super- environmental conditions, practices and guidelines. vised. If you are planning for such as muddy trails, make Land management agency a large group, try to include recreation impacts more like- Plan ahead by consider- websites, offices, and visitor enough experienced leaders ly or severe. ing your goals and those of information centers offer so the group can be divided your group. Prepare by information on special regu- to hike and, if possible, camp USE PROPER GEAR. Pre- gathering information, lations, environmental con- separately. Avoid problems by pare for extreme weather, communicating expecta- cerns, and trip planning, as teaching everyone about hazards, and emergencies. tions, and acquiring the well as education and volun- Leave No Trace before leav- Pack a camp stove and fuel, a technical skills, first aid teer opportunities. Other ing home. Always, inquire pot, matches, a signal mirror, knowledge, and equipment information sources include about group size limitations and whistle or fluorescent to do the trip right. sporting goods suppliers, in advance. Large and less vest. Always carry a good Build Leave No Trace into bookstores, clubs and non- knowledgeable groups are map, plenty of food, water, a your plans by picking an profit groups, local conser- best accommodated in popu- water filter or purification appropriate destination for vation organizations, lar places, where there are tablets, warm clothing, and your group and allowing libraries and nature centers. already developed trails protection from the sun and plenty of time to travel and These sources can often be and campsites. insects. camp in good style. Be pre- contacted online. Equipment that keeps us pared to sit tight or turn SCHEDULE YOUR TRIP safe can also reduce impacts back if you sense danger or PLAN FOR YOUR GROUP. TO AVOID TIMES OF to our surroundings. A camp sustain an injury. That way, Recreation managers can sug- HIGH USE. Visits to popular stove, which provides a you won’t have to abandon gest places suited to your wildlands during peak use quick meal without charring Leave No Trace techniques group. Your group, its skills, periods, such as holidays and a single stone, is a prime for the sake of safety. For and behavior should fit well weekends, are often fraught example. On muddy trails— instance, poor planning or with your wildland destina- with traffic, crowding, delays, where we might want to step disregard for approaching tion. For example, people bad weather can transform expect some noise and com- an easy hike into a risky motion around picnic areas, encounter with hypother- large campgrounds, and mia. Cold and wet, it’s developed recreation sites. In tempting to think that the the backcountry, visitors impacts of poorly sited want to experience nature campfires and makeshift without these distractions. shelters are warranted. NORTH AMERICA -4- NORTH AMERICA -5- PLAN AHEAD and Prepare TRAVEL AND CAMP on Durable Sur- on trailside vegetation to look like. In Everglades RECOGNIZE DURABLE keep our feet dry—gaitors or National Park, FL, you’ll be SURFACES. What effect weatherproof boots let us more concerned with poten- does a footstep have? The forge through the muck tial impacts to marl prairies. answer is, it depends. A without getting wet. Learn as much as you can footstep means different about your destination and things to a tree sapling and PLAN YOUR MEALS. Ade- how to have fun there while meadow grass, to leaf litter quate gear can be essential to staying safe and protecting and cryptobiotic soil, to a the success of a trip, but it’s a the land. gravely river bank and mistake to bring too much rain forest moss. stuff. Get a jump on waste TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. Unfortunately, trampling management by planning Getting lost has important causes vegetation damage and areas. Concentrating use in meals to avoid implications for you, the soil erosion in virtually every these areas and, if necessary, leftovers. people who attempt to find environment. Recovery that on the surfaces mentioned Package you, and the terrain. Signifi- takes a year in the southern earlier, will minimize distur- food in cant impacts to the land- Appalachians might require bances to soils and vegeta- reusable scape can result from rescue 25 years or more in Glacier tion. Because animals learn to contain- operations that involve vehi- National Park, MT. Other expect people on trails, ers or cles or large numbers of peo- impacts are also possible. they’re less disturbed by plastic ple. Take responsibility for Most pristine soils contain ani- encounters with people on- bags. your own safety by practic- mals that live or feed on trail than off. Get rid ing self-awareness, caution decaying plants. Trampling of wrap- and good judgment. Mini- destroys habitat for these Stay on designated trails. pers and mize risk by planning a trip insects, earthworms, mollusks On trails, walk single file in heavy packaging in advance, that matches your skills and and snails, as well as the fungi the center of the tread—even so you won’t be tempted to expectations. Be prepared to that fertilize the soil and help where it’s wet, rocky or leave them behind. rescue yourself from tough make regrowth possible. Vege- muddy. Trails become pro- situations. tation protects underlying gressively wider and form par- DEVELOP THE SKILLS. soils. Once plant growth is allel paths where people walk Know the skills and gear that Register at the trailhead or destroyed, erosion can contin- on trail margins or detour are needed for your chosen with the ranger. Be a compe- ue with or without further around obstacles. Likewise, activity. Learn from an expe- tent navigator. Always carry a use. “social trails” mar camp- rience friend, take a course, map and know where you Wherever you travel and grounds and other popular or hire a competent guide.