Leave it better than you found it
The 7 principles
Principle #1: Plan & Prepare
Be Aware!
How to plan your trip:
Firstly - tell someone where you’re going and when you should be back
Who are you going with?
Alone or with a friend: This changes how you plan and what the dynamic of the trip will be
What do you need to bring?
Make a list: What gear and food is needed (depends on the season, climate and activities)
When will the trip happen?
Make an itinerary: When are you going, what’s the agenda, when are you going to be back
Where are you going?
Map it out: Look at routes, geography, difficultly levels, the weather, and how far you’re going
Why are you going?
Goals: What goals do you have for the trip, if any at all? Be on the same page as your friend
(I’ve gone on trips with people and we’ve had very different expectations of the trip! Highly recommend thinking this one through and figuring that out)
Principle #2: Travel & Camp on durable surfaces
Preserve the habitat!
This includes trails, rocks, snow, fields, roads, etc…
Why?
• Helps preserve habitats
• Reduce erosion
• Reduces scaring to the landscape
• Reduce likelihood of getting lost or hurt
Water crossings:
• Maintain footing by testing the rocks
• When it doubt, three points of contact
•Unbuckle packs in deep waters
Principle #3: Dispose of waste properly
Scoop your poop & take your trash!
Those views
Ask me about the star scale…
Pack out what you pack in
Leave it better then you found it
When you need to go…
Travel 200 ft away from water/trail
Bring hand sanitizer, ziplock bag(I’d put duck tap around it), toilet paper, and shovel
Dig 6-8” deep/wide
Cover hole with dirt
Dispose TP in ziplock
Dispose the used ziplock in garbage after your trip is over
Bring trash bags & ziplocks
Dispose of any trash or food scraps you have - animals aren’t meant to eat the food we eat
Pick up trash you see on the trail
Use sinkhole for micro food scraps from cooking
Don’t pollute waters with soap
Principle #4: Take only pictures
Leave what you find
Preserve and observe
Document and take notes
Only take what you need
If harvesting, know your plant identification
Don’t eat if you don’t know
Principle #5: Minimize fire impact
Safety first…
It’s hot and dry out
ALWAYS CHECK FIRE STATUS
Use established fire area if there is one
Use backpacking stoves as much as you can
Collect and burn wood that is on the ground - “down and dead wood”
Make sure the fire is completely out before you leave
Principle #6: Respect wildlife
Sounds simple, but there’s a reason for this rule
How to respect wildlife
Give them space, remember you’re in their habitat
Don’t taunt them
Know what to do if you encounter wildlife - do the research ahead of time
Principle #7: Be kind & courteous
Always respect others
Bigger groups have the right of way on the trail. Fewer people stepping to the side = less impact
Remember walking on durable surfaces helps preserves vegetation? Protect those habitats!
Now it’s practice time
