Leave No Trace Seven Principles: Getting Back to Nature
- Amy Flack
- Aug 19, 2024
- 10 min read
Updated: Oct 22, 2024
As I spent the July 4th holiday weekend hiking through various parts of the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia, I was reminded of the Leave No Trace principles I mentioned in my previous post, Day Hiking for Beginners. Being able to enjoy the solitude and serenity of the lush green forest before ascending to the top of a mountain to take in the stunning views of the Blue Ridge or Great Smokey Mountains is a privilege. One that I will forever be grateful for. As such, I feel it's everyone’s responsibility to help maintain nature so that these same majestic views can be enjoyed by our children and our children’s children after that.
The Leave No Trace principles are not only easy to understand but they can be practiced at any time, in any place, for any person visiting the great outdoors. Whether you are on top of Blood Mountain, kayaking in the Gulf of Mexico or just visiting your local state park, it's important to have at least a basic understanding of each of these seven principles.
So let's take a look at the Leave No Trace or LNT for short principles as found on the Leave No Trace website. Each one is important in its' own right and although they are widely known, they are not set in stone. They are continuously being reviewed, reevaluated, and updated when required. However, the seven basic principles are as follows:
Now that we know what these principles are, let's take a deeper dive into each one to gain a better understanding of how we can lessen our impact on the environment.
Plan Ahead & Prepare
Although all the principles of Leave No Trace are pretty self explanatory based on their titles, the first is especially true and one of the most critical. I say that as if they aren’t all as equally important, which they are. However, planning ahead and preparing for your trip helps ensure you will accomplish whatever goals you had planned for your excursion in a safe and enjoyable manner while minimizing your impact on your surroundings.
I have been both the let’s just go, go, go and play it by ear type of girl as well as the let’s set a schedule for each day of the trip person to ensure all the sights get seen and items are checked off the list. Not that there is anything wrong with either method but if you have very specific goals for your trip, planning ahead and preparing is the way to go. For example, as some of you may know from my previous posts, I made it part of my bucket list many years ago to hike as many of the day hikes found in the Best of The Appalachian Trail Day Hikes book as I could before my failing (and more times than not, broken) body prohibits me from doing the things I love. As such, when I take trips to the mountains, I tend to lean towards the ‘set schedule’ Amy versus the go-with-the-flow version of myself.
It can seem like a daunting task, to plan ahead and prepare. And although I won’t cover everything there is to know about this principle, there are some basic considerations to keep in mind when making your preparations such as:
Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you are visiting
Prepare for the worst (i.e. extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies)
Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use
Visit in small groups or break up larger groups into smaller groups
Repackage food to minimize waste
Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of rock cairns, flagging or marking paint
Now, let’s touch on the importance of planning ahead. Why should we do it?
It helps ensure the safety of you and your party
It prepares you to minimize resource damage
Assists in accomplishing your trip goals safely and enjoyably
Increases self-confidence and ability to learn more about nature
Don't forget to do your research about the area you will be traveling to. Determine what goals you have for the trip. Are there any must-do’s versus would be nice to do if time permits? When I plan a trip there are many things I take into consideration. How long will I be gone? Where am I staying? What things do I absolutely want to see or accomplish? How long is it going to take me to do each of those things (and then add in some extra time as a buffer)? What is the travel time from one location to the next if I have multiple stops in a day?
There are always items on my to-do list for each trip that are most important. I tend to scheduled those for the first day or two so that if something happens, I still have time to rearrange things to make sure whatever goal I had set, can still be accomplished before we head home for our latest adventure.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
This principle is designed to instruct travelers on the proper way to travel outdoors. Understanding how to move through nature while leaving as little impact as possible is critical to preserving vegetation, waterways, and communities of organisms. How do we minimize the impact we have on the environment when we travel?
First, let’s learn some basic terminology. Durable surfaces are those areas that consist of established trails, campsites, rock, gravel, dry grass, or snow. Riparian areas refer to transition areas between an aquatic area and the upland area, where vegetation changes. Switchbacks are paths with alternating sharp ascents or descents on a mountainside. Travel off-trail is any travel that takes place on anything other than a designed trail.
Things to remember, good campsites are found, not made. There is no need to create a new site or alter an existing one. The same goes for trails. Stick to the existing trails and walk single file, even when wet or muddy. This will lessen the footprint you have on nature and lead to less scarring of the landscape. If you are taking a break along your hike, move over to allow other hikers to pass so that they are not traveling off-trail and having a greater impact on the vegetation. Refrain from taking shortcuts. It would be so easy to cut across the land versus going the length of a switchback, but you not only damage the existing area, you run the risk of creating a new path that results in multiple paths that can confuse travelers.
An additional impact to consider is traveling off-trail. While there are times when this is necessary, such as bathroom breaks, exploring near and around your campsite, or traveling to remote areas, there are two main factors to consider when traveling off-trail. The first is durability and the second is frequency. Durability is just what it sounds like. The ground surface or vegetation’s ability to withstand wear and tear. Frequency means how often will the area be used. Will it be trampled multiple times or by large groups of individuals?
Another easy way to minimize the impact we have on the environment is to use already developed or existing campsites. Ensure that the campsite you have selected is the right size for your group and your group’s gear. If not, something referred to as site creep will happen over time. This is when the campsite continues to expand as a result of campers trampling over the outer boundaries of an existing site.
Backcountry camping refers to camping off the grid, in an undeveloped site. Possibly somewhere no one has ever camped before. Therefore, choosing the most appropriate spot is even more crucial. Where will you make the least impact on the existing vegetation and wildlife? Unfortunately, it’s a judgment call you will have to make but analyzing the surrounding area to determine which parts are fragile and which are more durable is a great first step.
Dispose of Waste Properly
Probably the most important saying any hiker has heard (or even seen) is “pack it in, pack it out.” This means exactly what it states. If you brought it in with you, bring it back out with you. Whether it’s leftover food, trash, or litter, pack it up and bring it back out with you when you leave. Please do not attempt to burn it. I have hiked through many trails and saw many campsites that had bunches of litter still left in the fire ring where campers threw their garbage in an attempt to burn it away. Except it didn’t burn. It was still there, not only being a giant eyesore in nature but also posing a danger to the wildlife that may happen upon it.
This next one stinks to talk about (literally) but it’s equally as important when it comes to disposing of waste properly. This waste though is the kind created by humans. Solid waste should be deposited in something called a cat hole. Cat holes are holes that have been dug approximately six to eight inches deep, four to six inches around, and at least 200 feet from any bodies of water, camps, or trails. Toilet paper can also be buried in the cat hole or packed out with you along with with any feminine products. Once you have finished, be sure to fill the hole back in and disguise the surrounding area.
It doesn’t seem like it would be a big deal, does it? Human waste. After all, it’s as natural to humans as it is to animals. And while that may be true, there have been a multitude of bacteria, viruses and diseases that have been discovered in human waste. Not disposing of it properly can lead to water pollution as well as the risk of spreading disease among wildlife.
It’s so important to remember to pack it in and pack it out. This pertains to all kinds of waste. I have seen everything from empty water bottles, discarded clothes, fishing lines with hooks, and even doggie bags with poo in them. The last of those items just happened to be discarded next to a very well-traveled trail not far from where the trailhead starts. I love that people bring their pets outdoors with them so they can enjoy Mother Nature, but like anything else, they need to be picked up after.
I’ve never understood how someone could profess to have a deep love of nature yet dump their garbage wherever they happen to be at the time. Could be on the side of the trail, at the top of a mountain, or down the stream. Regardless of where you are, there is never a reason to discard your trash in nature. Pack it in, pack it out.
Leave What You Find
There are so many wonderful things to see in nature. Maybe you are going for a quiet walk in the woods along a small stream, climbing to the top of a mountain by switchbacks the entire way, or better yet, visiting the tallest waterfall in a state (thank you Amicalola Falls for the breathtaking views). Some of these places are largely untouched by us while other areas may see thousands upon thousands of visitors in a year. In either scenario, the message is the same, leave what you find behind. Preserve the past as well as the current environment so that future generations will be able to enjoy the same opportunities we have had.
Leave what you find is this..... look but don't touch, especially as it pertains to historical structures and artifacts. They persevered all this time because they were left alone. Leave what you find in nature as it is. If you happen upon a rock cairn or a field of wildflowers, take as many photos as you like, but don't disrupt what is there. Each rock, flower, structure, and animal plays an important part of that area's ecosystem. And lastly, do not introduce anything that can be considered a non-native species to a new location. It could end up being detrimental to the existing plant and animal life.
Minimize Campfire Impacts
The goal of this principle is to minimize campfire impacts. There are several reasons for this. First, the use of campfires in the same area over time has not only led to the deterioration of that area but also of the natural habitat surrounding it. Forest fires, almost always caused by humans, will always be a concern also.
How can we minimize our impacts? Use established fire rings or pits in designated areas only. Keep your campfire small and only use sticks and wood already on the ground that can be easily broken by hand. Use an electronic or candle lantern for light versus a campfire. Burn all wood and coals down to ash and then spread the cooled ash. And finally, should you be unable to wait, put the existing fire out with water instead of dirt. Dirt may not extinguish the flames entirely.
Respect Wildlife
The great outdoors are home to some of the most amazing, but deadly wildlife. When we traverse the outdoors, we are invading their space. Just like each of the other principles discussed in this post, how we interact with nature and animals alike will determine what impact we have long term. It can lead to negative human-wildlife interactions, aggressive animals, damaged ecosystems, and the relocation or euthanizing of animals.
Some of the basic ways to show our respect and avoid those negative interactions include the following:
Observe wildlife from a distance.
Never feed animals.
Control your pets at all times or leave them at home.
Avoid sensitive times such as mating and nesting seasons.
I don't know about you but I do not want to tangle with a black bear, mountain lion, or equally predatory animal who will more than likely win any fight we find ourselves in and possibly have me for lunch. It goes beyond the fear of losing life and limb for me. This is their space, their home, and I am just a guest here.
I want to walk through the woods and see whitetail deer, a herd of elk, or even a bear (in the distance for that last one). If for no other reason than to observe them in their natural habitat. But first, we need to be respectful.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
As much as we would like to believe we are the only ones who want to spend time outdoors or that there isn't anyone who loves nature more than we do, we are most certainly not alone in our love of the outdoors. Judging by the number of hikers I have seen along any given Appalachian trail hike, many share my sentiments. As such, it's up to each of us to be considerate of other visitors.
The Golden Rule applies in this instance. Do unto others as you would have done to you. If you want to enjoy your time in nature in peace, give that same courtesy to the next person.
Some other basic rules of thumb include:
Respect each other and protect their experience
Courtesy goes a long way. Yield to the folks who are passing by
Ask which side of the trail a rider prefers when encountering pack stock
When taking breaks or setting up camp, be sure to give other travelers their privacy
Enjoy the sounds of nature; Limit loud voices or noises (it scares the wildlife away)
The seven principles of Leave No Trace (LNT) were established to give those who visit nature some guiding principles if you will. Each principle is as equally important as the next and many intersect or overlap each other. There is no one principle that is onerous in nature. They should come as naturally as the desire to be outside if you are as passionate about hiking as I am. As with any adventure, it takes planning, preparing, doing, and achieving. Some adventures are easier to accomplish than others but LNT applies no matter the adventure. Are there any tips or tricks you have for keeping in line with the Leave No Trace principles? Something that makes your trip and abiding by those principles a little easier?
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