Outdoor Etiquette and Leave No Trace Principles
Complete Show Notes HERE
There are three main areas to consider when we talk about minding our manners in outdoor environments. We will discuss proper behavior in regards to the landscape, wildlife and other people we encounter.
Links Mentioned in this episode:
Active Travel Adventures podcast (the companion podcast to this one that focuses on destinations)
Hiking in Bear Country Episode 5 of the Adventure Travel Show podcast
What to do if you get lost in the woods Episode 6 of the Adventure Travel Show podcast
American Hiking Society Etiquette Tips
National Park Service Safe Wildlife Viewing Guidelines
Contact Kit
Subscribe to the Active Travel Adventures Podcast
APPEARANCE
- Leave No Trace. Use trash cans when provided, otherwise pack out any trash or belongings. In some areas, if you litter or leave things behind, someone literally has to helicopter it out or else you are asking someone else to pack out your trash - not cool!
- This includes biodegradable food scraps. What’s the problem, you think? Native animals will smell human scents on the scraps and learn to associate humans with food and you might contribute to them becoming pests. Plus you could be messing with their digestion or they might eat rotted food and get sick and/or die. Worse, in the case of bears, you could be responsible for giving that bear a death sentence if they have to put it down.
- This also includes toilet paper. I keep a labeled gallon trash bag in my pack to collect all of my used TP, wrappers, etc.
- Be a Hero and instead of Leave No Trace, practice Negative Trace, meaning pack out trash you see that others have left behind.
- If you have to go to the bathroom in the wild, choose a spot at least 200’ from water, a trail or a campsite. Dig a hole about 6”- 8” deep, and then do your business. If there’s a stick handy, stir your waste with the soil and leaf mold and then cover your hole - remember your TP goes in your trash zip bag. If you are in a camping area, it’s also considerate to leave your stick vertically to alert others that you have used that spot.
- In some areas that are particularly overused and/or especially fragile, you may be required to pack out your fecal waste. This is truly brown bagging. Other areas that don’t get a lot of rain, the rangers may ask you to spread your waste over the rocks so that it speeds up decomposition. Check with rangers or the visitor’s center to see what they would like you to do.
- In addition to Leave No Trace, leave everything you find behind. This means don’t bring back souvenier rocks, flowers, seed pods, etc. I have been guilty of this in the past, but finally realize that we should just bring back photographs and memories.
- Unless it is encouraged, do not make cairns with rocks. Cairns are piles of rocks used sometimes to mark trails. They are pretty and are necessary on some trails. Likewise do not knock over any trail marking cairns. Let Rangers and trail maintenance folks decide what cairns and trail markings need to be there.
- In the same vein, try not to disturb things and leave items in their natural condition, whether it’s rocks or vegetation. Don’t mess around with cultural or historic artifacts, including pencil rubbings of gravestones or markers. In one alpine area I was hiking, they said that the tiny tiny lichen on the rocks took a DECADE to get the size of a quarter! That said, on non-trail tundra, it is better to spread out so as minimize impact.
Trail Sustainability:
- If you come to a puddle, walk or bike through it rather than forming a new trail around it. This is considered keeping trails and maintenance sustainable.
- Likewise, when you come to a switchback, don’t cut corners - literally. This is super bad as you may be creating a channel for rain runoff that can truly hurt the trail.
WILDLIFE
- DO NOT feed wildlife. Not only are you teaching them to beg, you are creating a pest. If animals become dependant on humans feeding them, when tourist season is over, the animals may have difficulty learning how to fend for themselves. You are hurting not helping wild animals when you feed them. This also includes picking local food such as berries or apples and feeding them. You are emboldening the animals and making them comfortable approaching humans - not cool!
- Clean up your camp area and picnic table. Even crumbs can turn small wildlife into pests.
- Don’t get too close to wildlife. If the animals starts changing its behavior, you are too close. For your safety, keep certain distances. It is not worth getting hurt or worse to capture that perfect shot of a moose or bear. The rule of thumb is, actually using your thumb: close one eye and then if you hold your thumb up to your open eye and can cover the animal with your thumb, you are at a safe distance. This works out to about 100 yards for large animals like bears and moose, and 25 yards for most medium-sized wildlife. Check with the Ranger about requirements where you are visiting. For example, Olympic National Park has even more strict requirements.
- You can use binoculars or the zoom on your camera to get a closer look. Put yourelbow on your ribcage or knees to steady your camera.
- Be quiet and still so as not to startle or scare the animal. Quick movements and noises can make wildlife feel threatened. A threatened animal can behave unpredictably.
- DOGS: If you are bringing your dog, keep it on a leash. Most places require a 6’ leash. This is not only considerate, it is also safer for your pet, especially in bear territory. You do not want a bear confrontation. On a leash, you will also be able to see when your dog goes to the bathroom so you can pick up and pack out its waste.
- HORSES: Horses and livestock have the right of way - ALWAYS! And speaking of who yields to whom, bikers yield to hikers, and both yield to horses and livestock.
Be Considerate to Others & Mind Your Manners
- Be quiet! If you want to listen to music or podcasts, use earbuds so that your audio doesn’t interfere with the enjoyment of nature by others
- Don’t block the trail if you stop to take a break, Get over to the side. Obviously don’t camp directly on a trail.
- I have always been taught that the hiker going uphill yields to the person heading downhill. However the American Hiking Society says the opposite. What this tells me is that different areas have different etiquette, so pay attention to what the locals do and adapt accordingly. Usually what I do is act to yield and I make eye contact with the oncoming hiker and that, with gestures, it all gets sorted out. Usually you see each other with enough time for someone to find a good place to step aside. Basically, be polite, kind and generous. Observe group size limits, if any, requested by sites. Often ten or less. If you are in a group, don’t take over the whole width of the trail. This makes it easier for others to pass. As much as possible, hike and bike when you’re on natural trails in single file, or no more than double file.
- When YOU pass, pass on the left and announce yourself, “Passing on the left”. On a bike, ring your bell so you don’t scare folks. Bikers yield to hikers (although I find it no problem to let them by)
- Try to choose times to hike or bike when it is less crowded. More pleasant for you and others.
- Be considerate and informed: Know the weather forecast before you head out and bring appropriate gear. Know the terrain and what will be expected of you so you are capable of doing your activity without assistance or rescue. Train for your activity so that you do not hold up your group. It is up to YOU to bring the proper gear, have the proper fitness and be prepared to self rescue.
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- Bring a map and know how to navigate [See ATSP: What to Do if your get lost in the woods].
- Let someone know where you are going, when you expect to return, and when to sound an alarm.
- Be nice when others are inconsiderate. It’s ok to NICELY ask others to tone it down, or pack out their trash, etc., but keep your voice down and polite. Give people the benefit of the doubt and assume that they didn’t intend to bother you.
CAMPING AND CAMPFIRES
- When choosing a campsite:
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- Use pads when provided. Otherwise, try to choose durable surfaces that are resilient, such as sand, gravel, rock, dry grass or snow. These surfaces are better able to recover from heavy use.
- Allow space, meaning don’t set up your camp right next to another camper unless the campground is packed. Try to find a site where you can’t see or hear each other for privacy and so that you can both enjoy the nature you are out seeking. Don’t assume other campers or even hikers want to hang out with you. Some people go into the wild for solitude, so don’t take it personally. Look for verbal and physical cues and act accordingly.
- Keep noise level at your campsite such that only those in the campsite can hear it. This includes not just music and children, but the adults, especially after they’ve had an adult beverage or two. Be considerate of other campers.
- Cleaning: Use only biodegradable soaps.
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- Wash yourself with baby wipes or a bandana rather than bathing in a stream or pond and getting your sunscreen and bug spray in the water. THEN jump in the water!
- Ditto for washing dishes. I just use boiling water to sterilize and clean and don’t bother with any dish soap at all. Strain your food scraps and then pack it out. I use a small square of cotton fabric as my dishrag. I then strain my pot and dish water through it. I keep it clean with boiling water.
- Brushing your teeth: Smells attract critters and bears. Spit your toothpaste into the campfire.
- Campfires are being discouraged more and more these days. You do not want to be the one to start a wildfire. Some campfire thoughts:
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- Keep it small or go without.
- If it has been really dry, go without. If it is windy, go without. Remember that embers can travel a mile, so be sure to control your fires. Know what the fire danger is in the area you are camping. If frie restrictions are in place, honor them!
- Use fire rings if provided. If not, use existing campfire areas instead of making a new one.
- Use only fallen branches. Do not mess with fallen trees as they can be home to critters. Obviously don’t mess with live trees.
- Buy firewood locally so you don’t inadvertently introduce a pest to the area. This is mandatory in most areas.
- Not as fun or romantic, but camp stoves are more efficient and safer than campfires for cooking, plus they leave no trace.
- Do not burn any garbage in your fire. Some people would except paper, and I personally don’t have a problem with non-coated paper. It never fails to amaze me how many cans and bottles I see in old campfires. Surely these folks know that metal and glass don’t burn. Shame on them!
- Make sure your fire is always attended and then COMPLETELY OUT before you go to bed or leave the campsite.
- Store Your Food Properly: This is critical in bear country! Use bear bins, cages or poles when provided. Listen/see ATSP Safety in Bear Country for proper food storage in the wild.
RANGERS
If you see something, say something. Rangers want to know about large animal sightings, carcasses and even improper behavior of others.
Check with Rangers about the Do’s and Don’ts in the area you are visiting.
