Requirement 2
Requirement
Hiking
Proper Hiking Ethics and Safety
Do the following:
Do the following:
Requirement
Read aloud or recite the Leave No Trace Seven Principles, and discuss why each is important while hiking.
Leave No Trace and Hiking
Caring for the environment is an important responsibility of every hiker. Leave No Trace and the Outdoor Code is just one set of principles that can help you live up to that responsibility and enjoy the outdoors fully by knowing that you are respecting the environment.
Check out these examples of the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace Seven Principles
Photos courtesy of https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/
Principle 1
Plan Ahead & Prepare
- Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you will visit.
- Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
- Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
- Visit the backcountry in small groups no larger than parties of four to six hikers.
Principle 2
Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
- In popular areas, hike on durable surfaces such as established trails, rock, gravel, dry grasses, and snow.
- Protect shoreline vegetation.
- Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even if it is wet or muddy.
- Conduct activities in areas where vegetation is absent
Principle 3
Dispose of Waste Properly
- When packing, limit the amount of potential trash you take. Simple guideline: Pack it in, pack it out!
- Use bathroom facilities when possible. Urinate away from camps or trails. Choose areas with rocks or bare ground.
- Be sure to bury solid human waste in a 6–8-inch hole. Disguise the site with leaves and topsoil away from campsites, trails, water or dry gullies.
Principle 4
Leave What You Find
- Plant and wildlife environments should not be harmed.
- Leave rocks and other natural objects as you find them.
- Avoid introducing or transporting nonnative species.
- Archaeological, cultural, and historic structures and artifacts can be found on the trails. Observe, but do not touch or take
Principle 5
Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Check with the land agency before your hike to know when campfires are allowed.
- Use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
- Keep fires small. Use only sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
- Burn all wood and coals to ash, make sure the ashes are cold out, then scatter the cool ashes.
Principle 6
Respect Wildlife
- Respect wildlife by always traveling quietly and observing animals from afar.
- Always avoid wildlife when they are mating, nesting, raising young, and during other sensitive times.
- Never feed wild animals. Doing so damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
- Store all your food and trash securely.
Principle 7
Be Considerate of Others
- Speak softly and respect their desire for quiet and solitude. Leave radios and electronic devices at home.
- If you carry a cellphone for emergency communication, turn it off and stow it in your pack until you need it.
- If you encounter horseback riders or pack animals, stop and ask the lead rider what you should do. The lead rider will probably ask you to step a few paces downhill from the trail and stand quietly while the animals pass.
- If you encounter other hikers or backpackers going uphill when you are going downhill, give them the right-of-way. Step aside on a rock or a log to minimize your impact.
- Control pets at all times or leave them at home.
Want to learn more about the Leave No Trace seven principles.
Now that you know how to use the seven principles of Leave No Trace
Find out how the Outdoor Code can be applied to your hiking adventures.
