Category: 7 Principles of Leave No Trace

I’d like to share some advice for everyone whether or not you are a hiker, enjoy visiting parks ( local, state, and/or national) please Leave No Trace.

What does it mean to Leave No Trace? The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace are as follows:

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

I want to emphasize and strongly urge everyone especially to adhere to Principle #3 – Dispose of Waste Properly.

• Make sure whatever you pack in, pack it out. Don’t forget to inspect your campsite, food preparation areas, and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter. Inspect and Make sure the site is completely clean.
• Utilize toilet facilities whenever possible. Otherwise, deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.
• Pack out any and all toiletries ( e.g.toilet paper) and hygiene products.
• Carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes when you plan to wash yourself or your dishes. Be sure to use biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.

This is extremely important and were established by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, and built on work done by the United States Forestry Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management in the mid 1980’s.

There has been too many times I’ve taken my grandson hiking in local parks and greenways, state parks where we have seen trash discarded along the side of trails or in nearby waterways such as creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes.

I have been trying to teach and emphasize to him how important it is to leave what’s in the park or on the trail to leave it on the trail and in the park. I want him to learn the vital role he has in protecting our local, state, and national parks. I am trying to instill in him the effects his actions may have on the plants,, animals, other people, and even our entire ecosystem. He maybe too young to fully understand and appreciate the importance of Leave No Trace, however, he is not too young to know that it is important to not leave trash/waste behind.

Finding trash/waste along the trails we hike is sad to know that some are not contentious enough to leave an environment clean and not care how their actions may effect the environment or wildlife in the surrounding areas.

Please use the waste receptacles provided in our many parks and greenways. If none are available, carry your trash items out with you and dispose of them later at a proper disposal area.

Ragtag Daily Prompt-Advice & Waste

Photo Credit: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all.