What are the 7 Leave No Trace Principles?
What is Leave No Trace? The “Leave No Trace Principles” are seven ideas that guide outdoor enthusiasts on how to respect their environment. The principles range from caring for the land to being kind to the people we encounter. The guidelines try to limit disturbance to both wildlife and the physical earth beneath our feet. Following the Leave No Trace Principles will ensure that we protect the beautiful places we go to relax, exercise, and connect to our planet.
Principle 1: Plan Ahead and Prepare
Exploring the outdoors takes preparation and a certain level of self reliance. When you go outside, you are responsible for yourself. Make sure you have plans for water, food, and clothing. Even the most experienced outdoor recreationalists can be surprised by random storms. Here in the Adirondacks, we often see storms rolling in without an easy way to escape. You don’t want to end up as a victim in a search and rescue mission. Know the routes around you, how to shelter in place, and the safest way to get home.
Principle 2: Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
This direction tells us to walk on established paths instead of creating our own, camp in designated areas, and be mindful that traveling in certain weather conditions can cause environmental damage. For example, when hiking the in the High Peaks Wilderness, we need to be cautious about the sensitive alpine environments where it takes extra long for vegetation to grow. When biking on one of Saranac Lake’s many mountain biking trails, avoid riding after a heavy rain as to not make deep ruts in the mud.
Principle 3: Dispose of Waste Properly
It is so important to take your trash home with you. Do not bring human-made objects into natural places and leave them there. Once on short hike, Aaron found 48 plastic bags of dog poop along the side of the trail. He picked up every single bag and carried a backpack of poop down the mountain. This includes human waste. There are safe ways to poop in the backcountry and they must be followed. Bury your poop at an appropriate depth or take it with you. No one wants to see your doodoo!
Principle 4: Leave What You Find
Some things are meant to be left just the way they are. Humans love changing environments but nature creates beauty that others deserve to see. Sometimes it’s tempting to pick up a cool bone or take home a nice rock. Ultimately we are changing the environment for our own selfish reasons, so it’s best to leave life existing the way we find it. The only exception here is to leave the place better by picking up trash.
Principle 5: Minimize Campfire Impacts
This one is pretty easy. Don’t make campfires where there isn’t already a pit. Only make fires in pits that already exist. If you must make a fire in an emergency situation, disperse the ashes and bury your burn site once the fire is out. The goal is to leave the smallest impact possible. Be mindful of uncontrolled fires and never let a fire burn without supervision.
Principle 6: Respect Wildlife
Animals create homes in the ecosystems we enjoy and it’s important not to disturb them. Do not create unnecessary noise or destroy animal dens. If you want to see and understand wild animals, adjust to their habitat by sitting quietly in the woods. Notice after a few minutes the bird songs will resume and the insects continue crawling. If you are lucky you may see a deer or a bear in these Adirondack woods. Give all living creatures the respect they deserve. They have survived many long, cold winters. We thank the natural world for being so abundant!
Principle 7: Be Considerate of Others
This principle is telling us not to be a knucklehead outside. Lots of people want to spend time in nature and there is enough public land to be shared by all. Someone else might want to watch birds while you go swimming in a creek. We want to be kind to other people enjoying their outdoor experiences.
Following the 7 Leave No Trace Principles is the best way to be a safe and thoughtful outdoor enjoyer. Feel free to read more on the Leave No Trace website by clicking here. This post is not sponsored. We just like these ideas and wanted to share.
Enjoy your outdoor time!
Aaron and Lily
