L E A VE NO T R A C E OutdoorS k i l l s & E thi c s...home. A lways,inquire aboutgroup size...

“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

L E AV E N O T R AC E

O u t d o o r S k i l l s & E t h i c s

N O RT H A ME R I CA E DI T I O N

LNT Ou t d o o r S k i ll s a n d Et h i c s

N O RT H A M E R I C A - 2 -

People enjoy the outdoors inmyriad way s. We ex plore onfoot, kay ak, horseback, moun-tain bicycles, skis, snowshoes,and crampons, to name a few,and t here are more of us push-ing our sport s to greaterextremes and into remoterparts of the natural worldevery day . Our experiences arepersonally satisfy ing, but theycan be costly to t he places wev isit and the animals w eobserve.

America’s wildlands arediverse and beaut iful. They canalso be fragi le. Pollut ed waters,displaced w ildl ife, eroded soils,and t rampled vegetation arejust some of the impacts linkeddirectly to recreational activ i-ties. Ev en our mere presencehas an influence. Considerabledamage could be prevented ifrecreationists were bet terinformed, especially aboutLeave No Trace techniques.

This booklet is part of anational educational program

called Leave No Trace whichaims to be part of the solution.At the heart of LNT are sevenprinciples for reducing the dam-age caused by outdoor activ i-ties, particularly non-motorizedrecreation. Leave No Trace con-cepts can be appl ied anywhere—in remote w ilderness, ci typarks, even in our own back-yards—and in any recreat ionalendeavor.

LeaveNo Traceprinciplesand prac-ticesextendcommoncourt esyand hospi-talit y tootherwildlandvisi tors and to the naturalworld of which w e are all apart. They are based on an abid-ing respect for nat ure. Thisrespect, coupled with goodjudgment and awareness, willallow you to apply the princi-ples to your own unique circum-stances. We can act on behalf ofthe places and w ildlif e thatinspire us—in North America andbeyond. First, let’s educateourselves and adopt t he skillsand ethics that enable us toLeav e No Trace.

“The notion that [outdoor] recreation has no

environmental impacts is no longer tenable.”

—Curtis H. Flather and H. Ken Cordell, Wildlife and Recreationists

At the heart of LNT

are seven principles

for reducing the

damage caused by

outdoor activities,

particularly non-

motorized recreation.


LNT O u t d oo r Sk il l s an d Et h ic s

PRINCIPLES OF Leave No Trace

• Plan Ahead and Prepare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

• Dispose of Waste Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

• Leave What You Find . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

• Minimize Campfire Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

• Respect Wildlife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

• Be Considerate of Other Visitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Wildland Ethics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

A Final Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

A Few Terms Defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Visitors interested in stockuse, mountain biki ng, kayakingand climbing, or other regionsand recreat ional activities,are referred to the otherbookl ets in the Leave No TraceSki l ls and Ethics series.

Information on obtaining Leave NoTrace curriculum materials, coursesand trainings is available by callingLeave No Trace, Inc.

1-800-332-4100or visiting the extensive

LNT O u t doo r S k i ll s a n d E t h i c s LIBRARY

PLAN AHEAD a n d P re p a re

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Plan ahead by consid-ering y our goals andt hose of y our group. Pre-pare by gathering infor-mation, communicatingex pect ations, and acquir-ing the technical skil ls,first aid knowledge, andequipment to do t he tripright.

Build Leave No Traceinto y our plans by pick-ing an appropriat e desti-nation for your groupand al lowing plenty oftime t o travel and campin good style. Be pre-pared to sit t ight or turnback i f you sense dangeror sustain an injury.That way , you won’thave to abandon LeaveNo Trace techniques forthe sake of safet y. Forinstance, poor planningor disregard forapproaching bad weathercan t ransform an easyhike into a riskyencounter wit hhypothermia. Cold andwet , it’s tempting tothink that the impacts ofpoorly sited campfiresand makeshift shel tersare w arranted.EDUCATE YOURSELF.

Know the regulations andspecial concerns for anyarea you visit. Becauseevery wildland is unique,regulations and permitstipulations vary . Learnhow to Leave No Tracew herever you go. Startby asking about localecology and local mini-mum impact practicesand guidelines.

Land managementagency websites,of fices, and visitorinformation centersoff er information onspecial regulations,environmental concerns,and trip planning, asw ell as educat ion andvolunt eer opportunities.Other informationsources include sport inggoods suppliers, book-stores, clubs and non-profi t groups, local con-servat ion organizat ions,libraries and nature cen-t ers. These sources canoften be contacted

PLAN FOR YOURGROUP. Recreation man-agers can suggest placessuited to your group.Your group, its skills,and behavior should f itwell w ith y our w ildlanddestination. For example,people expect some noiseand commot ion aroundpicnic areas, large camp-grounds, and dev elopedrecreation sites. In thebackcount ry, v isitorsw ant to experiencenature without these dis-t ract ions.

Small versus large

PLAN AHEAD an d P re p a re

groups. Regardless of thesize of your group andthe purpose of y our out-ing, the pract ice of LeaveNo Trace techniquesrequires care and fore-thought. Whenever possi-ble, visit w ildlands insmall groups. Largegroups can be boisterousand disruptive unlessthey are w ell superv ised.If y ou are planning for alarge group, try toinclude enough experi-enced leaders so thegroup can be divided tohike and, if possible,camp separately. Avoidproblems by teachingeveryone about Leave NoTrace before leavinghome. A lways, inquireabout group size limita-tions in advance. Largeand less knowledgeablegroups are best accom-modated in popularplaces, w here there arealready developed t railsand campsit es.

SCHEDULEYO UR T R I PTOAVOID TIMES OFHIGH USE. Visits to popu-lar wildlands during peakuse periods, such as hol i-day s and weekends, areoften fraught with traf -fic, crowding, delays,

and conflict s with ot hergroups. Instead, visit atother times, such as mid-week, for a less crowd-ed—and more enjoyable—experience. Or, exploreout-of-the-way places.Make reserv ations andobtain permits w ell aheadof time t o avoid unpleas-ant surprises. Avoidtravel when environmen-tal conditions, such asmuddy trail s, makerecreation impacts morelikely or severe.

USE PROPER GEA R. Pre-pare for extreme weath-er, hazards, and emer-gencies. Pack a campstov e and fuel, a pot,matches, a signal mirror,and w histle or fluores-cent vest . Alw ays carrya good map, plenty offood, water, a water fil-ter or purifi cationtablets, warm clothing,and protection from thesun and insects.

Equipment that keepsus saf e can also reduceimpacts to our surround-ings. A camp stove,which provides a quickmeal w ithout charring asingle stone, is a primeexample. On muddytrails—where w e might

N O R TH A M E R I C A - 5 -

want to step on trai lsidevegetation to keep ourfeet dry —gaitors orw eatherproof boot s letus forge through themuck without gettingwet.

PLAN YOUR MEALS. A de-quate gear can be essen-tial to the success of atrip, but it ’s a mist aket o bring too much stuff.Get a jump on waste

management by planningmeals to avoidleftovers.Packagefood inreusablecont ainersor plasticbags. Getrid ofwrappersand

heavy packaging inadv ance, so you won’t betempted to leave thembehind.

DEVELOP THE SKILLS.Know the ski lls and gearthat are needed for yourchosen activ ity. Learnfrom an experiencedfriend, t ake a course, orhire a competent guide.Make sure that first aid,navigation, and self -res-cue are part of y ourtraining, and be surey ou’re in adequate physi-cal shape f or the trip.Leave No Trace practicesvary geographically. Inthe BLM’s Moab FieldOff ice Area, UT, forexample, it’s important

PLAN AHEAD a n d P re p a re

t o know what cryptobi-otic soils look like. InEverglades NationalPark, FL, y ou’ll be moreconcerned with potent ialimpacts to marl prairies.Learn as much as you canabout your destinationand how to have funt here whi le staying saf eand protecting the land.

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.Getting lost has impor-tant impl ications fory ou, t he people whoattempt to find y ou, andthe terrain. Significantimpacts t o the landscapecan result f rom rescueoperations that involvevehicles or large num-bers of people. Takeresponsibility for y ourown safety by practicingself-awareness, cautionand good judgment. Mini-mize risk by planning atrip that mat ches yourski lls and ex pect ations.Be prepared to rescuey ourself f rom tough sit -uat ions.

Register at the trail-head or with t he ranger.Be a compet ent naviga-tor. A lway s carry a mapand know w here you areat al l times. Stay withyour group. J ust in case,give a friend y our itiner-ary and instructionsexplaining what t o do ifyou don’t return onschedule. Don’t buildcairns or deface rocks ortrees t o mark your way.Flagging should also be


TRAVEL AND CAMP o n Du rab le Su r fa c e s


RECOGNIZE DURABLESURFACES.What effectdoes a foot step hav e?The answer is, itdepends. A foot stepmeans dif ferent things toa tree sapling and mead-ow grass, to leaf litt erand cryptobiotic soi l, toa gravely riv er bank andrain f orest moss.

Unfortunately, tram-pling causes v eget ationdamage and soil erosion invirt ually every environ-ment. Recovery that takesa year in the southernAppalachians mightrequire 25 years or morein Glacier National Park,MT. Other impacts arealso possible. Most pris-tine soi ls contain animalsthat live or f eed ondecaying plants. Trampl ingdestroys habitat for theseinsect s, earthw orms,mollusks and snails, aswell as the fungi that f er-tilize the soil and helpmake regrowth possible.Vegetat ion protectsunderlying soils. Onceplant grow th isdestroy ed, erosion cancontinue with or withoutfurther use.

Wherever you traveland camp, use surfacesthat are resistant toimpact such as rock out-crops, sand, gravel, drygrasses, snow or water.

CONCENTRATE USE INPOPULARAREAS. In popu-lar areas, concentrateuse on trails, establishedcampsi tes, and otherdev eloped si tes such as

trailheads and picnicareas. Concentrating usein these areas and, ifnecessary , on the sur-faces mentioned earlier,w ill minimize distur-bances to soils and vege-tation. Because animalslearn t o ex pect people ontrai ls, they’re less dis-turbed by encounterswith people on-trail thanoff.

Stay on designatedtrails. On trails, walksingle f ile in the center ofthe tread—even whereit’s wet, rocky or muddy.Trails become progres-sively wider and formparallel paths where peo-ple walk on trail marginsor detour around obsta-cles. Likewise, “socialtrails” mar campgroundsand other popular areas.A lways use establi shedroads and trails to visitcampsi tes and otherplaces of interest . Short-cutting a trail , especiallyon sw itchbacks, hassev ere consequences.Shortcuts become trailsor gull ies t hat requirecostly restorat ion. Keepout of areas where

eff orts to restore vege-tation and soi ls are inprogress.

Boating, fishing andother wat er-based activ-it ies can damage shore-lines, wetlands, andreefs. Inquire locallyabout how to minimizeyour impact on theseresources. A lwayschoose durable sites tolaunch, anchor and dockyour boat, and avoid tidepools, coral reefs orsi tes rich in wi ldlife.

Use est ablished camp-sit es. Choose a well-established campsitet hat’s big enough f oryour group. Some popularareas have officiallydesignat ed campsites,shelters or platforms.Use of these amenitiescan reduce damage t ovegetat ion and other nat-ural feat ures. Wherecampsites are not for-mally designated, lookfor and use sites wherethe ground cover isalready w orn away.Wear soft-soled shoesand concentrate youract ivities in the cent er ofthe site to avoid enlarg-ing it.

In grizzly bear country,it is advisable t o separatethe sleeping and cookingareas. Ot herwise, tents,packs, gear, and thekitchen area should beconcentrated in one areaon previously compacted,naturally resistant, orreinforced surfaces. Thisapproach protects sur-rounding vegetation and

TRAVEL AND CAMP o n D u rab le Su r fa c e s

prevents development of“satellit e” sites.

Also consider yourvisual impact on otherusers or wi ldlif e. Takeadvantage of opport uni-ties to tuck y our tent outof view behind nat uralscreening such as treesor rocks.

GOOD CAMPSITES AREFOUND, NOT MADE. Whatmakes t he perfect camp-site? Saf ety, privacy ,and comfort never go outof st yle, and securingsuch amenities does notent ail a major remodelingeffort. We can bring ourown lightw eight furnitureand conveniences along toeliminat e the need tocreate them on-si te.Camp stov es, mattress-es, tables, chairs,lanterns—even solarshow ers—are readilyavailable at reasonableprices, and t hey pack inand out wit h ease.

Leave your campsiteclean and natural look-ing—naturalize it. In wild-lands, we are v isitors,but w e are also hosts t othose who follow . Theyw ill notice our hospitali-ty, or lack of it. Litt er,graffiti, tree damage,v isible human and petw aste, unsightly firerings and the like aresenseless acts. By takingthe t ime to pick up aft erourselv es and others, ifnecessary, w e’ll all ben-efit.

Trees are often dam-aged near campsites.



Take care not to breakoff branches whilesecuring tent or clot heslines, and when suspend-ing food or game car-casses. Don’t use w ire ornai ls. Place a st uff sackor other material underropes or where paddingis necessary to prot ectbark. Likewise, placelanterns where theywon’t singe bark. Whentravel ing with stock, usehigh lines, portable f enc-ing or hobbles to restrainthe animals w ithout tyingthem directly t o trees.Trees shouldn’t be tar-gets or storage sites forhatchets and knives.

Even in campsi tes,leave the area as naturalas possible. Breaking of fa tree branch for fire-wood creat es an uglyscar and opens t he treeto disease. Proper f ire-wood collection is dis-cussed under MinimizeCampfire Impacts.

DISPERSE USE IN PRIS-TINE AREAS. Prolifera-tion of trail s and camp-sites has alarmed bothresource managers andtrav elers across NorthAmerica. Ev en wherevisitor use has remainedrelatively stable, such asthe Spanish PeaksWilderness, MT, camp-sites are sprouting up intradit ionally low useareas. Visit remote orpristine areas only if youare committ ed t o LeaveNo Trace in that environ-ment. Using est ablished


routes, t rails and camp-si tes i s alw ays prefer-able to pioneering newones.

If you must t ravel off -trail, use the mostdurable surfaces such asrock, snow and ice,gravel, sand, and naviga-ble water. Dry grassesand sedges (whichresemble grasses) arealso naturally durabledue to their hardy rootstructures and f lexiblest ems.

Stick to existing trai lswhere soils are prone toerosion, rare speciesare present, or vegeta-tion grows slow ly. Sur-prisingly, some of themost sensitive plantsand animals grow in thetoughest places—l ike t hesandy soils of southernUtah and the rockyledges of upstateNew York.

Avoid creating trail sand campsit es. Consul tlocal land managers aboutoff-trail travel and theappropriate use of gamet rails. In general, spreadout when hiking across

vegetation. If each per-son takes a slightly dif -ferent route, a distincttrail is less likely t oform because no singleplant receiv es multiplefootfalls. Walking singlefile is accept able wherethere is little chance oft rampling plants.

Off-t rail travel maynot be appropriate insome areas. For exam-ple, golden mountainheat her grows on a fewrocky ledges in the Pis-gah National Forest, NC,and nowhere else oneart h. Of f-trail hikersand climbers are theonly serious t hreats toits survival. If y ouabsolut ely must travelthrough fragile terrain,try to place y our foot -steps in the leastdestruct ive locat ions andencourage your compan-ions to step in exactly

the same spots.Campsit es.Select the mostdurable camp-ing locationpossible. Inpristineareas, pre-

existing camping spots,even those that arel ightly used, should beleft alone to recover.Before unpacking y ourt ent, look for obviousbird nesting activit y and


ot her signs of animals.Choose an area thatseems safe, free ofw ildlif e, and w ell suitedto low-impact camping.Look for a large rockslab, a grav eled area, orother equally durablespace to locate yourkit chen. Concentrateyour activities on thissurf ace whenever possi-ble to protect morefragile areas. If neces-sary, reserve lessdurable ground for yoursleeping area.

In prist ine areas,impacts can often beavoided by st aying onlyone night. In these areas,vary your route towater, to t he “bath-room” and t o sleepingareas to prevent trai lsfrom f orming. In general,manage your act ivity toavoid harming the naturalfeatures of the site,especial ly those that donot regenerate or do sov ery slow ly—such asli chens and trees.

BREAKING CAMP. Beforedepart ing, naturalize anddisguise the site byreplacing any rocks orsticks you may hav emoved. Re-coverscuffed-up areas wit hleaf litt er or pine nee-dles. Fluff up mattedgrass and make t he placeless obvious as a camp-site. As long as overallvisitor use is very low,the site will retain itsbest qualities. Ideally, not rails or campsites wil lbe created if visitors

N O RT H A M E R I C A -1 0 -

disperse their activ ities.

PROTECT WATERRESOURCES.Sand andgrav el bars along largeriv ers or the ocean aredurable surfaces thatmay be sui table for low -impact camping. How ev-er, v eget ated lakeshoresand the banks of smallst reams are fragile andeasily eroded. Plants andanimals also congregateat these water sources,

so camp at least 200feet (70 adult st eps)away unless local guide-lines indicate otherwise.In arid regions, t hispracti ce gives wildlifev ital access t o pot holesand springs. By distanc-ing camps from water,we are less l ikely toinadvertently pollutethem.

Even designated si tesor shelters can be tooclose to trails or w ater

N O RT H A M E R I C A - 1 1 -


DISPOSE of Wa st e P ro p e r l y

PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT.“Pack it in, pack i t out ”is a familiar mantra toseasoned wildland v isi-tors. Any user of recre-at ion lands has a respon-sibility to clean up beforehe or she leaves. Inspectyour campsite and restareas for trash or spi lledfoods. Pack out all trashand garbage (kitchenwaste), including left -over food.

Plan meals to avoidgenerating messy , smellygarbage. It is criti cal t owildlife that we pack outkitchen w aste, such asbacon grease and left-overs. Don’t count on afire to dispose of it.Garbage that is half-burned or buried will stillat tract animals and makea site unattractive t oother visitors.

Ov erlooked trash is lit-ter, and l itter is not only

ugly—it can also be dead-ly. Plastic six-pack hold-ers and plast ic bags kill

shorebirds, sea turtlesand marine mammals.Fishing lines, lures andnets ensnare and injureeverything from dogs toherons, so don’t leaveany behind.

Carry plast ic bags to

haul your trash (andmay be someone else’s).Before mov ing on from acamp or rest ing place,search t he area for“micro-garbage” suchas bi ts of food and trash,including cigarette filtersand organic litter likeorange peels, or egg andpistachio shel ls. Invitethe kids in y our group tomake a game out ofscavenging f or human“sign.”

PRACTICE GOOD SANITATION.Human waste“¿Donde está el

baño?” “Ninahit aji kuji-saidie?” No matter howit’s said, “Where’s t hebathroom?” is an impor-tant question, even inwildlands. Where there isno bathroom per se,answering the callinvolves a litt le pre-planning, some initiativ e,and a bit of creativit y.The four object ives ofproper human wast e dis-posal are:• Avoid pollutingwater sources.• Eliminate contact

wit h insects and ani-mals.• Maximize decomposi-tion.• Minimize the chancesof social impacts.Improper disposal of

human waste can lead t owat er pollut ion, thespread of illnesses suchas Giardia, and unpleas-ant ex periences forthose who follow . Wher-ever soils are thin orsparse, such as the arc-tic t undra or above tree-l ine, rainstorms canflush f ood w ast es andother pollutants fromcampsit es directly intow ater sources. Contami-nated w ater is commonnear shelters and huts inthe Whit e Mountains ofthe northeastern U.S.during t he summer. Bothl ivestock and wildlifecan also be responsiblefor t he presence of bac-teria in wildland areas.

Facil ities/ outhouses.Whenever possible, taketime to locate and usebat hrooms, outhouses,and other developed sitesfor human w aste dispos-al.

Cat holes. If no facil i-ties are available,deposi t solid humanwaste in “cat holes” dug6 to 8 inches deep atleast 200 feet fromwater, camp, trails, anddrainages. Bring a trowelto dig t he hole, and dis-guise it w ell after use.The microbes found insoil will break dow nfeces and the pathogens


DISPOSE o f Was t e P ro p e r l y

they contain. Don’t leavehuman w aste under rocksbecause i t wil l decomposeslowly there and maywash into water sources.If the cat hole method isill suited to y our group,try to camp where anout house or pit t oilet isavailable.

Good cat hole sites iso-late waste from watersources such as lakes,st reams, dry creek beds,rav ines, bogs, pot holes,and other visitors. When-ever possible, use aremote location duringthe day’s t ravel to helpprev ent high concentra-tions of cat holes nearcampsites.

Plan ahead to pack outthe toilet paper with youin a plasti c bag. Thispractice leaves the leastimpact on the area. Ot h-erwise, use as little aspossible and bury itdeeply in the cat hole.Burning toilet paper atthe site has caused wild-fires, rarely burns com-pletely, and is not rec-ommended. “Natural”toilet paper like grass,sti cks, and snow can besurprisingly effect ive.Always pack out femininehygiene products becausethey decompose slowlyand attract animals.

Latrines. When trav el-ing w ith children—and inother si tuat ions wherecat holes may not beused properly—it mightbe best to dig a latrine.Site t he latrine as youwould a cat hole and

make sure t hat t he routeto the lat rine is ov erdurable surfaces. Dig atrench 6-8 inches deep,and long enough toaccommodate the needsof your party. Use soilfrom the trench t o cov erthe feces after each use.Dispose of t oilet paper bypacking it out in a plasticbag or burying it at thebott om of the trench.Naturalize the site bef oreleaving.

Carry ing w ast e out.Visitor use is often highand soils sparse in alpineand desert areas. Recre-ation managers trying toprotect human health andwater sources employ aspectrum of t oiletdesigns and approachesto managing humanw aste—even airliftingw aste with heli copters.One option is to carryand use a home-madecontainter such as a“poop t ube” or a com-mercial device designedfor transporting humanwaste. Dispose of thecont ents in pit toilets,porta-johns, or accord-ing to package instruc-t ions. Local land man-agers may recommendother appropriate dispos-al techniques.

Urine. While the odorof urine can be a problemin arid areas, especiallyalong river corridors, itis typically not a healthconcern. Urinate wellaway from camps andtrail s. In rainy environ-ments, urine at tracts



wildlife wit h salt-defi-cient diets. Animalssometimes defol iateplants to consume thesalt in urine, so urinateon rocks or bare groundrather than on the v ege-tation. Where water isplentiful, consider dilut-ing the urine by rinsingthe site.

Special Environments.Winter. Wint er condi-

tions present specialchallenges. Water isev eryw here—it just hap-

pens to be frozen—andthe soil may be sev-

eral f eet out ofreach and as hard

as a rock. Poopt ubes or other“packing

out” prod-ucts maybe thebest dis-posaloptionsunless youcan locate apatch ofbare ground,usually undera tree wherea trowel

might penetrate the duff .Waterw ays. Carrying a

portable t oilet hasbecome a standard prac-tice on many w aterw aysand may be required. Atthe conclusion of a trip,the t oilet’s holding tankis flushed out at a RV orboat dump station. Thestat ion delivers t hewaste and toilet paper t oa municipal sewage

treatment plant . Thedumping of solid humanwaste in landfil ls is usu-ally illegal. While on ariver, be sure to site thet oilet on a durable spotwhere no new trails w illbe created to reach it.

WASTEWATER. To washyourself or y our dishes,carry wat er 200 f eetaway from streams orlakes. Scatter straineddishwater. Hand sanit iz-ers that don’t requirerinsing allow you t o washyour hands without wor-rying about wast ewaterdisposal.

For dish washing, use aclean pot or expandingjug to collect wat er, andtake i t to a wash si te atleast 200 feet aw ayf rom water sources. Thislessens trampl ing oflakeshores, riverbanksand springs, and helpskeep soap and other pol-lutants out of the wat er.Use hot water, elbowgrease, and litt le or nosoap. Strain dirty dish-wat er with a fine meshstrainer before scat ter-ing i t broadly . Do thiswell away from camp,especially if bears are aconcern. Pack out t hecontents of the strainerin a plast ic bag alongw ith any uneat en left-overs. Animals shouldnot be allowed access t oany human f ood and foodw aste for reasons dis-cussed in the “RespectWildlife” section on page21.

N O R TH A M E R I C A -1 4 -


In developed camp-grounds, food scraps,mud and odors can accu-mulate where w ast e-water is discarded. Con-tact your campgroundhost for the best disposalpractices and other waysto Leave No Trace atyour campsite.

SOAPS AND LOTIONS.Soap, even when it ’sbiodegradable, can affectthe wat er quality oflakes and streams, sominimize its use. A lwayswash yourself well awayfrom shorelines (200feet ), and rinse withwater carried in a pot orjug. This allow s the soi lto act as a f ilter . Where

fresh water is scarce,t hink twice before swim-ming in creeks or pot-holes. Lotion, sunscreen,insect repellent and bodyoils can cont aminatet hese vital watersources.

DISPOSE OF GAMEENTRAILS. The remainsof f ish and other gameshould be lef t well awayf rom trai ls, watersources, and campsites.In some sit uations, itmay be appropriate tobury, completely burn,or pack out the viscerawith the garbage. Officialguidel ines and recom-mendations vary consid-erably from place to


LEAVE W hat Yo u F in d

People visit wildlands formany reasons, among themto explore nature’s myster-ies and surprises.When weleave rocks , shells, plants,antlers, feathers, fossils andother objects of interest aswe find them, we pass thegift of discovery on tothose who follow.

It ’s the missing ele-ments of our favoriteplaces t hat should disturbus the most. Leav e WhatYou Find means retainingthe special qualit ies ofevery w ildland area—forthe long t erm.

PRESERVETHE PAST. Dis-covering evidence ofearlier cultures such asclay pots, rock art , andantique glass is exhila-rat ing, and it’s temptingto take such things

DISPOSE of Wa st e P ro p e r l y

home as souvenirs.Archeological and his-

torical artifacts arereminders of t he richhuman hist ory of thelandscape and belong toal l people f or al l time.St ructures, dw ellingsand artifacts on publiclands are protected byt he ArchaeologicalResources ProtectionA ct and the National His-toric Preservat ion Actand should not be dis-turbed. These includeseemingly insignificantpotsherds, arrowheadsand logging or railroadequipment from 50 ormore years ago. It isi llegal to excavate, dis-turb or remove theseresources from any pub-lic lands. Observe but donot touch t hem.

LEAVE NATURALF E ATU RES U NDISTURBED.Load your camera, notyour packs. Let photos,drawings and memoriescomprise your souvenirs.A lthough natural object smay be collected on some

publ ic lands, apermit is

oft en

required. Collecting isprohibited in nationalparks and w ildli feref uges. Federal lawappl ies to wi ldlands. Forexample, t he federalMigratory Bird TreatyAct protects the nestsand feathers of certainw ild birds. Practice andencourage restraint.

Help children inv esti-gate the role of sea

shells and other naturalobjects in their ow nenvironments. Remindthem t hat t hese thingsfill important ecologicalniches: an antler isgnawed by a kangaroorat ; a scorpion f indsshade under a piece ofdrift wood; some petri-fied wood shelters theent rance of a pika’s bur-row ; and a feather isw oven int o the nest of anosprey. Object s in naturederive much of theirbeauty from their sur-roundings and never lookquite the same backhome.

AVOID SPREADING NON-NATIVE PLANTS AND ANI-MALS. Invasive species ofplants, animals, andorganisms can causelarge-scale, irreversiblechanges to ecosy stems


LEAVE W hat Yo u F in d

by eliminating nativ especies over time.According to the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service,inv asive species havecontributed to the declineof 42 percent of t hecountry’s threatened andendangered species. Atleast 1.5 million acres ofNat ional Park Servicelands are severelyinf ested. Invasive plantsaffect ev ery habi tat t ypefound in national forestsand Bureau of Land Man-agement lands in the U.S.There is no eff ectiv etreatment f or manyinvasive species and weare losing t he native,liv ing natural heritageprotect ed lands wereintended to conserve.

Recreat ionists play arole in the spread ofinvasives by t ransport -ing live animals, plantsand seeds, and agents ofdisease such as Giardia.The pot ential for newinf estat ions increasesevery day as more andmore outdoor seekerstravel from one wildlandto another around theglobe. On campsit es inthe Bob Marshall Wilder-ness, MT, for example,three of the four mostcommon species are non-native plants.

We can help prev entthe spread of invasivespecies by fol lowing afew practical sugges-tions.

• Don’t transport flow-ers, w eeds, or aquaticplants into wildlands.

• Empty and clean y ourpacks, tents, boat s,fishing equipment andother gear after everytrip. Water, mud andsoil may contain harm-ful seeds, spores, ortiny plants and ani-mals.

• Clean the dirt out ofyour boots or tiretreads.

• Never discard orrelease live bait .

• Make sure pack stockand pets are immu-nized, and their coatsare free of seeds,twigs, and harmf ulpests such as ticks.

• If you carry hay orother feed, make surei t’s w eed-free. Feedpack animals food t hatis certified weed-freefor at least three daysbefore entering w ild-lands.

• Help landowners orland managing agenciesinitiate cont rol effortsby alerting them toinfested areas.


LEAVE Wh at Yo u Fin d

The natural appearance ofmany recreation areas hasbeen compromised by thecareless use of fires and thedemand for firewood.Campfires are beautiful bynight. But the enormousrings of soot-scarredrocks—overflowing withashes, par tly burned logs ,food and trash—areunsightly. More important,campfires can and do ignitewildfires.

Some of us grew upwith the tradition ofcampfires. But they areno longer essential t ocomfort and food prepa-ration. Many lastingimpact s associated withcampfires can be avoidedby using lightw eightstoves, fire pans, moundf ires and other Leave NoTrace techniques.

USE A STOVE. Visi torsshould carry a stove,pot, matches and suffi-cient fuel to cook allmeals. Build fires only

when condi-tions are

right—the

danger of wildfire is low,downed and dead wood isplentiful, and there issuf ficient time to pre-pare the fire sit e, burn

MINIMIZE C a m p f i re Im pac t s

all the w ood to cold ash,and clean up.

Fires are inappropriatein fragile env ironmentswhere plant growth isextremely slow . Woodfrom an arctic willow oralpine krumholz, which ishundreds of y ears old,will burn only a f ewshort minutes.

BUILDA MINIMUM IMPAC TF I R E .Consider whether af ire makes good sense atyour picnic or campsite.

If a campfire is impor-tantto you:

• Ask about pert inentregulations and camp-fire management tech-niques.

• Judge the w ind, weath-er, location, and w oodavai labil ity. Decidewhether it’s saf e andresponsible to build acampfire.

• Where there are nofire rings or grates,bring a fire pan or setaside time to build amound fire.

• Have a trowel or smallshov el and a containerfor saturating theashes with w ater.

Use an established firering. If you camp near anexisting rock ring, use itinstead of bui lding a newone. The most invitingfire rings are of a rea-sonable size and free ofexcess ashes, half-


MINIMIZE C a m p f i re Im p act s

burned w ood and trash.Leave a fire ring thatencourages others whowant a fire to use it.

Beach f ires. A gravelbar or beach campfire ismade by excav ating ashallow depression in thesand or gravel along theshorelines of oceans orlarge riv ers. Make sureto remove all t he ash,and scatter it beforeref illing the depression.If left in place, the ashwill “float” t hrough thesand or gravel, and thefire site w ill be obviousto others.

Pit fires. Pit fires arecampfires built in a shal-low pit where there is nooverlying vegetat ion. Usegravely, rocky or sandysit es only. Avoid organicsoils and duff, and placeswhere the fire coulddamage plants or othernatural features. Remov eand scatter the ashesbef ore filling in and cam-ouflaging the pit.

Mound or pan fires.Fire pans are metal oilpans or aluminum roast-ing pans that make goodcont ainers for low -impact fires. Use a panon a durable, unvegetat edsurface away f romcliffs or overhangs.Line it with afew inch-

es of inorganic soil , andelev ate it with st ones toprevent damage to vege-tation and soils below.Drill tw o or three holest hrough the side of thepan to att ach it to a packw ith cord f or t ransport .

Mound fires are builton pedestals of sand,gravel, or on soil w ith alow organic cont ent. Tryt o disturb as l ittle vege-tation as possible w hencollecting this mat erial .Haul it t o a durable firesit e using a stuff sack (i twill require severalloads). Construct apedestal 6-8 inches t hickand 18-24 inches indiameter on top of a tarpor ground cloth. Thishelps faci litate cleanup.The clot h can be rolled upunder the edge of themound to prev ent embersfrom singeing it . A thickenough mound insulatesthe ground and the tarpor ground cloth from theheat of the f ire. Be sureto ret urn the soil t o itssource when the f ireis complet elyout.

N O R TH A M E R I C A - 1 9 -

USE DEAD ANDDOWNED WOOD. Keepfires small . Don’t snapbranches off of trees,ei ther living or dead,because this scars t hem.For example, in t he early1980s, 95 percent of thetrees in Eagle CapWilderness, OR, camp-sites were damaged by

people col-lectingfirewood

or

damaging tree trunks.Use only sticks from theground that can be brokenby hand. Larger pieces ofdowned w ood play animportant and unique rolein nutrition, watercycling and soil produc-tivity. They prov ideshelter for wi ldlife suchas lizards and, w hiledecaying, germinationsites for many plantspecies.

F irewood smal ler t hant he diameter of yourwrist breaks easily andburns complet ely to ash,making clean up easier.Half-burned logs presenta disposal problem—andoften a disagreeable sightfor the nex t campsi tevisitor . The use of hatch-ets, ax es or saw s isn’tnecessary or desirable.In the backcountry, gath-

MINIMIZE C a m p f i re Im pac t s

er firewood en route toy our camp so the areaaround your site retainsa natural appearance.

MANAGEYOUR CAMP-FIRE. No matt er w hichcampfire technique youemploy:

• Never leave a fireunattended.

• Don’t try to burn foil-lined packets, lef toverfood, or other garbagethat w ould have to beremoved lat er.

• Burn the wood com-pletely to ash: Stopfeeding the f ire, andgive yourself an houror more to add all theunburned stick ends.

• Saturate the ash withw ater. Make sure it’scool t o the touch, andremov e any trash.

• Scatter all the asheswidely with a smallshovel orpot lid.

• Rest ore the appearanceof the f ire site.

In popular areas, leav ea single, small, cleanrock ring centered in thecampsite. Dismant le andclean up any ext ra firerings. If a fire grat e ispresent, don’t build oruse a rock ring. Leavet he grate clean and readyfor the next person. Inremote areas, clean upthoroughly and disguisethe fire site to make itappear as natural and


RESPECT W i l d l i f e

The stark truth is, if wewant wild animals, we haveto make sacrifices.

—Colin Tudge, WildlifeConservation

Encounters withwildlif e inspire tall talesand long moments ofwonder. Unfortunately,wildlife around the w orldfaces threats from lossand fragmentation ofhabitat, invasivespecies, pollut ion, over-ex ploit ation, poachingand disease. Protect edlands offer a last refugefrom some, but not al l,of these problems. Con-sequently, wild animalsneed recreat ionists whowill promote their sur-vival rat her than add tothe diff iculties theyalready f ace.

We know that animalsrespond to people in dif-ferent ways. Somespecies adapt readily tohumans in their domain,resume their normalbehaviors and are said tobe “habituat ed.” Otheranimals flee fromhumans, abandoning theiryoung or critical habi tat.Still others are attractedand endangered by humanfood and trash.

Because outdoor recre-ation is dispersed ov erlarge areas and at alltimes of the year, it simpacts on wildlife canbe equally extensiv e.Fish, birds, and rept iles,as w ell as mammals, areaffect ed by people using

their habitat s. We areresponsible for coexist-ing peacef ully withwildlife.

OBSERVE FROM ADISTANCE. Always watchor photograph animalsfrom a safe distance toav oid start ling them orf orcing them t o flee. Donot follow or approachthem. If you’re hunting,know your game and takeonly safe, clean shots.

Use t he observationareas, platf orms andtrai ls provided in manyareas, and bring binocu-lars, spotting scopes,and telephoto lenses towat ch w ildlife. Backaway if animals react t oyour presence. To leave

t he

area, move away fromt he animal even if youmust detour from y ourintended travel direct ion.You have more opt ions inyour movement s thananimals do. Treat themgenerously .

Avoid quick mov ementsand direct eye contact,which may be int erpretedas aggression. Don’t dis-turb wildli fe (i .e. byshouting to get t heir


att ention) t o get a betterphot o. If animals are onthe move, stay out oftheir line of trav el. Trav -el quietly except in bearor mountain lion country.Don’t hike at night wherenocturnal predat ors maypresent a hazard t o safe-t y.

Adult behav iors influ-ence the relationship ofchildren t o the nat uralw orld. Show respect andrestraint by teachingchi ldren not to approach,pet or feed wild animals.A lway s keep children inimmediate sight. They ’reoften the same size asanimal prey. Don’t encir-cle or crowd w ildli fe,tease or attempt to pickup a wild animal. Younganimals, removed ortouched by well-meaningpeople, may be abandonedby their parent s. If youfind an animal in t rouble,notify a game w arden.

AVOID SENSITIVE TIMESAND HABITATS. Considerthe seasonal stressesthat wildlife face. Insome situations, av oidt heir habi tats, for yoursaf ety and the animals’.


For example, in MarkTwain National Forest,MO, wintert ime dist ur-bance of endangered Indi-ana and gray bats great -ly decreases theirchance of survival.Grizzly bears frequentberry patches in latesummer in Montana.Eagles and songbirds arewary of humans andtrails when choosingnesting territories inearly spring in manyw ildland areas.

In general, animals aresensitive to recreat ion-ists w hile pursuing anddefending mates and t er-ritories, birthing, guard-ing young or nests, andw hen food is scarce. Themore y ou understandabout a species, themore considerate youcan be of t he animal’sneeds and temperament,especial ly at cri ticaltimes and in criticalplaces.

NEVER FEED ANIMALS.Feeding wi ldlife damagestheir health, alters nat-ural behav iors, andexposes them to preda-tors and ot her dangers.



Headlines are made whenwi ldlife is attracted tohumans and their food.Bears get the most atten-tion for tearing intotent s, coolers and cars insearch of a meal, butcampers more commonlyhave to deal wit h theannoyance of rodents,raccoons or birds lookingfor a handout . These ani-mals pose little threat tohuman safet y, but theirpresence is a nuisance,they can be vectors fordisease, and theirreliance on human food isa detriment to their ownwell-being.

Human foods and prod-ucts are harmful towildl ife because animalswould otherwise forageand eat a nutritious dietderived from their nat-ural environment. Seri-ous illness or death canoccur w hen wildlife con-sumes food wrappers,vehicle antifreeze andother “inedibles.”

Animals are adeptopport unist s. Whenoffered the temptationsof an untidy backcountrykitchen or a handout froma curious camper, theycan overcome their nat-ural wariness of humans.Aggressive or destruc-tive behavior may fol-low, and in conflicts w ithhumans, animals ult i-mately lose. Prospects ofan easy meal also lurewi ldlife into hazardouslocales such as campsit esand trailheads, roads andentry points, where t hey

can be chased by dogs orhit by vehicles. They mayalso congregate in unnat -ural numbers, increasingstress and the spread ofdisease wit hin t heir pop-ulat ions.

STORE FOOD ANDTRASH SECURELY. “Food”includes garbage, cannedfood, stock feed, petfood, fuel and scented orflavored toiletries. Thesal t in hiking boots, back-packs or clothing alsoattracts many smallmammals. Appropriatestorage and transporta-tion methods vary con-siderably from place toplace, so consult localland managers about t hebest practices. Keep aclean camp by removingall garbage and ev en t hetiniest food scraps. Becaref ul not to drop foodon t he trail as well.

In bear country , hang“food” from tree limbs12 f eet off the ground, 6feet f rom the tree’strunk, and 6 feet belowthe supporting limb, orstore it in speciallydesigned bear-resistantcanisters or on-sit e lock-


Today, we must sharewildlands with people ofall recr eational persua-sions .There is simply notenough country for ever ycategory of enthusiast tohave exclusive use oftrails, lakes , river s, andcampgrounds.

Yet the subject ofoutdoor “etiquette” isoften neglected. We’rereluctant to examineour personal behaviors,l east of al l in wi ldlandswhere, to many, as ense of freedom isparamount.

RESPECT OTHERVISITORS AND PROTECTTHE QUALITY OF THEIREXPERIENCE.Some peoplev isit w ildlands to enjoyquiet and soli tude. Otherscome for comraderie.Even remote wildlandsare under increasing usepressure. So, w heneverpossible, find an estab-lished campsite out ofsight and sound of ot herv isitors.

Choose to maintain acooperativ e spirit inwildlands. Our interac-tions should ref lect theknowledge that we canand do rely on each otherw hen mishaps occur .More of ten than not, ourexperiences ultimately


BE CONSIDERATE of Ot her V i s i t o r s

ers. Canisters are avail-able for rent and sale atsporting goods suppliersand some land manage-ment agencies. Usedproperly, they ensure agood night’s sleep for y ouand a natural diet f orbears.

C O N T ROL YOUR PET.Wildlif e and pets are not agood mix—even on a leash,dogs harass wildlife anddisturb other visi tors. Thebest option is to leavethem at home. Obediencechampion or not, everydog is a potential carrierof diseases that infectw ildlife.

If you must travel withyour pet , check f orrestrictions in advance.Most nat ional parks pro-hibit dogs on al l trails.Ensure your animal is ingood condition for thetrip. Dogs should havecurrent vaccinations toavoid being carriers ofor contracting infectiousdiseases such as rabiesand parvo-virus, espe-cially in areas with w olfpopulations. Always usea collar and a short leashto c ontrol your dog.Remove pet feces fromtrails, picnic areas ,and campsites by dis-posing of i t in a cathole, as you would


BE CONSIDERATE of O t he r V i s i t o rs

depend on our treatmentof others and their atti-tudes tow ard us.Although our motiv ationsand sense of adv enturevary, there’s alwaysroom on the trail forpeople w ith open mindsand generous hearts.

YIELD TO OTHERS. Thelit tle things are often themost import ant. Simplecourtesies such as offer-ing a friendly greeting onthe trail , wearing earth-toned clot hing to blend inwith the scenery, st ep-ping aside to let someonepass, w aiting patientlyfor a turn, or preservingthe quiet, all make a dif-ference.

Show your respect tonative peoples whosecommunities and seasonalcamps support a subsis-tence li festy le in a w ild-land setting. Be friendly,unobtrusiv e and sel f-suf-ficient . Take note of trib-al land boundaries, askpermission to cross pri-vate lands, and obey spe-cial laws and restric-tions. Uphold voluntaryclosures of public landsfor Nat ive Americanreligious ceremonies.

Likewise, don’t disturbthe livestock or equip-ment of ranchers,anglers, loggers, trap-pers, miners and otherswho derive their incomefrom the permitted use ofpublic lands. Leave gat esopen or shut, as you findthem.

Groups leading or ridingl ivest ock have the right-of -way on trail s. Hikersand bicyclists shouldmove to the downhill sideand talk quietly to t heriders as they pass,since horses and otherpack stock f right en easi-ly. Stay in control whi lemoving quickly whethery ou are jogging, skiing orriding a mount ain bike.Before passing others,polit ely announce yourpresence and proceedwith caution. Boaters,climbers, campers andother v isitors to popularareas frequently f indt hemselves waiting inline. Lend a hand, i fappropriate, to help t hoseahead.

KEEP A LOW PRO F I L E .Take rest breaks a shortdist ance from the trail ondurable surfaces, such asrock or bare ground. Ifthe v egetation around youis thick or easilycrushed, pick a wide spotin the trail so others canpass by. If possible, camp


out of sight and sound oftrail s and other visitors.

LET NATURE’S SOUNDSPREVAIL. Av oid the useof bright lights, radios,electronic games andother intrusiv e dev ices.To some, technology is anecessity even in wild-lands. To others, it isinappropriate. Av oid con-flicts by making a con-scious effort to alloweveryone his or her ownexperience.

Some outdoor activi-

BE CONSIDERATE o f Ot h er V i s i t o rs


t ies are necessari ly loud.The discharge offirearms can be heardfor miles, t he barkingfrom a sled dog teamalmost as far. As muchas possible, keep thenoise down, especially atnight or in remote areas.Sight-in ri fles on a firingrange. Teach dogs to bequiet. Wear headphonesto listen to music. Keepvoices low. Use cellularphones discreetly. Mostof all, tune in to the

WILDLAND ETHICS

Those of us wit h a stake in thef u t u re of wilderness must begin tod evelop … an agenda which willplace a clear, s t ro n g , n a t i o n a lfocus on th e question of theresponsibilit y of the wildernessuser to wilderness.

—Paul Petzoldt

Paul Pet zoldt believed in thepower of t he “wild outdoors”to make us bett er, more capa-ble, compassionate people. Overa 70-year career he traveledwild lands around the globeteaching technical outdoorskills, leadership and “expedi-tion behav ior” to t housands ofyoung adul ts. Paul w as an advo-cate nonparei l of youth andwilderness. The f ather of “min-imum impact” died in 1999 atthe age of 91.

Like others, Paul noticed thatout door recreation altered theland, but he was the first todevelop a systemat ic approachto reducing the impacts ofcamping and outdoor travel. Atfirst this meant tossing tin cansinto the w illows where theywouldn’t be seen and buildingsmal ler f ires. Ultimately, itmeant an entirely new way ofseeing and appreciating nature.

Paul thought that people couldenjoy w ildlands w ithout harming

them—if they w ere educated.Mill ions of outdoor enthusiastshav e shared his dream of sus-tainable outdoor recreation. Butthat dream is fading as moreand more acres are lost todevelopment around the globe.The pursuit of non-mot orizedout door recreat ion, long consid-ered a “non-consumptive” useof wi ldlands, is taking a tol l onnativ e species, the appearanceof the land, and the quality ofour ex periences.

We can travel the w orld,climb the peaks, ride thew aves, float the rivers, andsai l down the single track, butwe won’t save a single acreunless we put our experiencesto use as wildland advocates.The future of wildlands andwildlife depends on responsiblerecreation—and a whole lotmore.


Contact land manage-ment agencies and groupsin y our area to learn howy ou can help. Be active inthe planning and manage-ment of areas that areimport ant t o you. Volun-teer for clean up efforts,t rail maintenance, andrehabilitation projects,or organize them foryour local area. Getinv olv ed and let youropinions on land use beknown. Today, that’swhat an outdoor ethic is

A FINAL C h a l l e n g e

all about.Informat ion on obtain-

ing Leave No Trace cur-riculum materials,courses and t rainings isavailable by cal ling 800-332-4100 or visiting theextensive LNT website:www.LNT.org.

A nother resource f orvisitors using motorizedor mechanized craft orvehicles is the TreadLightly program. ContactTread Lightly, Inc. at(800) 966-9900 or


A FEW TERMS D e f i n e d

cryptobioti c soi ls: Living soil “crusts” containingmosses, lichens and algae.

established campsite: Campsite made obvious bydev eget ated ground or “barren core.”

invasive species: Plant or animal t hat aggressivelyout-competes native species.

pristine: A place where signs of human impactsare absent or difficult to detect.

social paths: Paths created by travelling on non-durable surfaces between campsit es and other sites ofinterest.

krumholz: Stunted forest characteristic of t imberline.

Written byTami Pokorny

Illustrations by Jacque Devaud & Scott Knauer

Cover Photo: CarlYarbrough Photography

L E A VE NO T R A C E OutdoorS k i l l s & E thi c s...home. A lways,inquire aboutgroup size...

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