By Trevor LaRose
“Leave No Trace” is an important set of principles to keep in mind when you’re out camping, hiking, or just Exploring the beauty nature has provided. There are seven key points that will help you to prepare your trip and respect the environment and others who want to enjoy the outdoors just as much as you do. My first introduction to these principles came as I was working at a nature camp for kids. My coworker Dave was a self-titled “expert” on the matter and took it upon himself to teach these ideas to a group of children. I knew it was going well when a young boy pulled his finger out of his nose and shot his hand into the air to ask, “Does this mean I have to leave my mom? Her name is Tracey. Dad calls her Trace.” As my hand naturally rose for an undeniable face-palm, I couldn’t help but wonder if these lessons might be better suited for a more appropriate audience. So just keep these principles in mind next time you want to take a 30-rack on your canoe trip or even take a short hike around the gorges to minimize your own impact and make sure everyone can keep enjoying Ithaca’s beauty.
- Plan ahead and prepare
Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you’ll visit. Ithaca is pretty chill, but it can’t hurt to take precautions. Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow. It’s important to minimize impact on sensitive areas so if you can try to keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.
- Dispose of waste properly
Don’t leave your campsite looking like the hotel room from The Hangover. Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter.
- Leave what you find
Try to keep things the way they were found. Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts. Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them. Even if they’re shiny. I know it’s difficult.
- Minimize campfire impacts
Remember what Smoky the Bear said? It was something like, “Come on baby, light my fire. Try to set the night on fire.” Maybe that was Jim Morrison. Either way we shouldn’t take that advice. Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires. Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
- Respect wildlife
Yes, a selfie with a squirrel might be cool, and I’m sure you feel tempted to pet some of the deer, but it’s important to view wildlife from a distance. Don’t follow or approach them and never feed wild animals. You don’t want to wake up to a family of bears chowing down all the food you packed for the weekend. So protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
- Be considerate of other visitors
Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience. Make sure that they can have as much fun as yourselves. There’s no need to crank the music so loud that you piss off both the animals and your neighbors. Let nature’s sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.
The member-driven Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics teaches people how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. This copyrighted information has been reprinted with permission from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org
Explore Magazine 