For many years, outdoor enthusiasts have maintained that one should leave no trace when in the outdoor. So why should “leave no trace” be your mantra of choice? The reason’s simple: this rule ensures you’ll continue to receive maximum enjoyment from the great outdoors. It also ensures that future generations of outdoor enthusiasts can derive similar enjoyment.
Whether you primarily enjoy backpacking, mountain biking, or hunting, there is no doubt that you should follow these rules. Following the leave no trace principle can be more tedious and cumbersome in the short term. In order to minimize environmental impact, you must make the extra effort to properly dispose of waste. Other crucial aspects of LNT are minimizing campfire impacts and respecting local wildlife. This can be done by traveling and camping on approved trails and camping on assigned surfaces.
There’s no doubt that it takes extra effort to leave no trace when engaging in outdoor activities. However, the long term reward of a more pristine natural setting makes it worth it. The negative impact of a single, reckless individual’s activities upon the natural environment may seem inconsequential. What if thousands of careless individuals over a long period of time were to camp carelessly? The effects of this are already adding up and should be kept to a minimum, when possible.
Given these ramifications, take the time to educate yourself on leave no trace best practices. Consider consulting with a local outdoor sporting goods store. Another alternative is to find a more experienced and educated outdoor enthusiasts in your area. Numerous organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America, actively promote principles to minimize environmental impact. These principles make for a great source of educational materials and exciting training opportunities.
The more we all strive to preserve the integrity of the natural environment, the more we can enjoy all the splendor of the outdoors. We only have one planet, let’s take care of it!
Related article: Teaching the “Leave No Trace” Philosophy to Kids also The Tenets of Leave No Trace
Featured Image from Cam Bradford/Unsplash
