7 Leave No Trace (LNT) Principles
Regardless of what outdoor activity you engage in, you should always adhere to Leave No Trace (LNT) Principles. If you are lucky enough to spend time in the great outdoors and experience nature’s beauty, it is your duty to protect that environment.
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics organization was established as a nonprofit in 1994, and they put forth the 7 consistent principles that we refer to today.1
Put very simply by Leave No Trace Canada, the 7 LNT principles can be summarized as a simple rule: pack it in, pack it out.2 Meaning that if you take it with you out in the wilderness, don’t leave it behind, make sure to bring it back with you.
With that in mind, let’s quickly go over the 7 leave no trace principles:
1. Plan ahead & prepare
Adequate preparation will keep you safe and prevent unnecessary disruption to the environment.
If you know the rules and regulations of the area you intend to visit, you will likely be made aware of the associated hazards. Knowing about the area allows you to pack appropriately, assess your own physical limitations, and know the local terrain. Knowledge is power, and it can protect both you and the environment. (Learn more by reading Let Someone Know Before You Go: Trail Safety + Trip Planning).
2. Travel & camp on durable surfaces
It is always recommended that you remain on the trail. Venturing off the beaten path may be fun, but it can also lead to trampling of the local vegetation, soils, and even wildlife (such as insects!).
However, there are circumstances where we are encouraged to step off-trail (for example, when we need to dig a cat hole). LNT encourages us to remain on unvegetated regions, rocks, sand or other more durable surfaces to prevent unnecessary damage to the area. Alpine regions are most at risk due to their relatively-extreme growing conditions and shorter growing seasons.
3. Dispose of waste properly
There are 2 popular options for waste disposal:
- Digging a cat hole; and
- Packing it out!
Yes, these ideas may seem a little strange to those of us accustomed to using a proper toilet, but they are not as bad as they sound!
Digging through rocks and roots is by far the hardest part of digging a cat hole, but you can usually get the job done. The ease with which you can complete this task depends entirely on the area you’re in.
Regardless, a cat hole should be 4-6″ deep. The reason is microbes that are able to degrade the waste are present in this part of the soil. If your hole is too shallow or too deep, you miss the sweet spot, and that waste will sit there for much longer periods of time (and can attract animals).
Some regions require you to pack out your waste. The double-bag system is commonly used, which involves picking up your waste with one plastic bag and then sealing that bag inside another bag before placing it in your pack.
If the area you are visiting requires you to pack out your waste, there may be a designated disposal area. Otherwise, make sure you are not just throwing your fecal matter in the trash! RV dump stations, flush toilets, and pit toilets can be used SO LONG AS YOU DO NOT THROW THE PLASTIC BAG IN. Unfortunately, you must rinse out the bag before disposing of them in the trash. The environment thanks you!
4. Leave what you find
Have you ever heard the expression “take only photos, leave only footprints”? Then you already have the general idea. Leave the flowers, the insects, and other natural items where they belong!
5. Minimize campfire impacts
Did you know that evidence of campfires can be seen decades later?3 Not only that, but campfires are also a fire hazard for the forest. Taking proper care and accountability for the fires you create will make them less dangerous. Simple steps, such as constructing a fire pit and ensuring that the fire is COMPLETELY out when you leave the area go a LONG way.
Fires are often discouraged, and may even be illegal. in certain alpine regions. Be sure to check local fire restrictions and regulations before heading out! If possible, use designated fire rings or use your camp stove to cook instead.
6. Respect wildlife
Feeding wildlife is not good for them! You are not actually helping the animal by providing them with food or getting in their personal space for that close-up photo shoot.
- First of all, our food is not good for their health and digestive systems.
- Second, the animals may become dependent on human food rather than searching for their own.
- Finally, animals that accustomed to humans have no fear, which means that they may annoy you while camping or even become aggressive.
7. Be considerate of other visitors
Many of those who seek the outdoors appreciate the stillness that comes with it. It is important that other visitors don’t ruin that experience.
Here are a few tips to prevent disturbing your neighbors:
- Use headphones, not a speaker
- Respect the privacy of others. If there are other campsites, use those first before trying to cozy up to other campers.
- If camping near others, make sure not to have conversations loud enough to disturb your neighbors.
The basic idea of LNT is that your presence in the wilderness goes unseen by those who come after you, so as to prevent degradation and to preserve the beauty that you were lucky enough to experience.
Thank you for taking the time to learn how to protect our natural environment. The more time you spend outdoors, the more you’ll see just how important these principles are.
Happy trails!
-Slaughterhouse
References
1 History of LNT – Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2020, from https://lnt.org/about/history/.
2 Leave No Trace Canada – Outdoor Ethics [Build Awareness, Appreciation & Respect for our Wildlands]. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2020, from https://www.leavenotrace.ca/home.
3 The Mountaineers. (2017). Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills. (9th Edition). Seattle,WA/USA: Mountaineer Books.
