Leave No TraceBy: Kary Lin

Plan Ahead and Prepare

Identify and record the goals of your trip. Identify the skill and ability of trip

participants. Gain knowledge of the area you plan to visit

from land managers, maps, and literature. Choose equipment and clothing for comfort,

safety, and Leave No Trace qualities. Plan trip activities to match your goals, skills,

and abilities. Meal Planning

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces Select a flat, safe place to camp. Stay on the Trail; never shortcut switchbacks. Take breaks

off-trail on durable surfaces, such as rock or grass.   Restrict activities to areas where vegetation is already

absent.

Dispose of Waste ProperlyDig a Cat hole to in your waste productPack it in, Pack it out.” Don’t burn, bury, or

leave litter or extra food. This includes cigarette butts, and fruit peels. Keep your trash bag handy so you can pick up litter left by others.

Leave What You Find

Avoid Damaging Live Trees and PlantsLeave Natural Objects and Cultural ArtifactsConsider using rubber tips on the bottom of

your trekking poles to avoid scratch marks on rocks, “clicking” sounds, and leaving holes along the trail.

Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species by checking your boots, socks, packs, tents, and clothing for non-native seeds that you could remove before hitting the trail.

Minimize Campfire Impacts

Firewood Avoid using hatchets, saws, or breaking branches off

standing or downed trees. Dead and down wood burns easily, is easy to collect and leaves less impact.

Use small pieces of wood no larger than the diameter of an adult wrist that can be broken with your hands

Cleanup Provide adequate supervision for young people when using

stoves or fires. Follow all product and safety labels for stoves. Use approved containers for fuel

Respect Wildlife

Quick movements and loud noises are stressful to animals. Travel quietly and do not pursue, feed or force animals to flee.

Do not touch, get close to, feed or pick up wild animals. It is stressful to the animal, and it is possible that the animal may harbor rabies or other diseases. Sick or wounded animals can bite, peck or scratch and send you to the hospital.

Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Many people come to the outdoors to listen to nature. Excessive noise, unleashed pets and damaged surroundings take away from everyone's experience.

Hikers and bicyclists should move off the trail to the downhill side.