Leave No Trace Guide
A guide to the 7 Principles
If you’re a nature lover like me, then you might be aware of Leave No Trace and its 7 principles. I think as we explore and fall in love with the idea of elopements it’s important that we educate ourselves better to help keep nature wild! Did you know that I am now an official “Leave No Trace” Aware Photographer? Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics teamed up with Maddie Mae, The Foxes and Anni Graham and created this course. Learn more about what that class entails here 100% of the proceeds goes directly to the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics! How cools is that!?
Social Media Impact on the Environment
Social Media has greatly impacted on the outdoors in the most recent years. Places like Horseshoe Bend or Hocking Hills. Both have gained much social media attention, leaving nature vulnerable to our ways. The Leave No Trace Center asks people to consider “Would this place be as impacted as it is now had it not been for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat or Pinterest?”
Think about it! Before you post a beautiful landscape photo showcasing that amazing waterfall or an epic selfie of your elopement out in the mountains, stop to think about what that really is doing. Truth be told, I was guilty of this too in the beginning when I was newer. I reached out to photographers, sent them DMs asking, “OMG! What a beautiful location, where is this?” I didn’t know at the time, how impactful that is for the environment. What all the attention to this spot would do. What if 50 photographers were messaging the same photographer asking “where?” and we all went. What if all 50 of those photographers went to the same location, and started trashing it? Leaving garbage behind, venturing off the beaten path, or worse vandalizing nature?
I personally get messages all the time, comments on Facebook, DMs on Instagram all the time about where locations are. Honestly, it reminds me of humble times, when I wasn’t aware and didn’t even think I was doing something wrong. Outside of popular locations (Like beaches and popular trails) I am not going to geotag or mention my exact locations. Not to mention, I have spent countless hours scouting out my locations, paying for campsites, taking days to explore and edit landscape photos for blog posts. I am putting in the time for my clients to also experience everything I explore first hand. I want to know how long things take, if there are restrooms, what the locations look like, and epic photo locations for your elopement. I have put in the time, you should too while following these 7 principles.
Be mindful of what you are posting and make sure you are posting things that portray the 7 principles we will discuss. Encourage and inspire others in your social media posts to practice Leave No Trace and encourage that they do the same. All it takes is one post with a couple in a field of wildflowers (with no caption) to promote other photographers doing the same, with no knowledge they are doing anything wrong. Educate in your posts, talk behind the scenes and how you got that image. I’m sure there are little tricks like holding your camera off trail while sticking to the trails?!
…but if you see other photographers not practicing Leave No Trace Ethics, let’s not shame them and definitely do NOT do that publicly. Just educate them by sending a polite message. “The world doesn’t need a few photographers practicing LNT perfectly, it needs thousands of photographers practicing it imperfectly and doing their best” -Maddie Mae with Adventure Instead Photography.
What is “Leave No Trace?”
Leave No Trace is an organization built around 7 principles. The organizations accomplishes it mission by providing innovative education, skills and research to help people care for the outdoors. It all starts with us, educating ourselves in order to preserve public lands instead of costly restoration projects or access restrictions. Let’s dig deep into what those 7 principles are:
7 Principles: Short Version
1) Plan Ahead: Have a plan and a backup plan. Have water, food and a first aid kit. Know the weather and your level of activity. Know where you’re going and have a permit.
2) Travel and camp on durable surfaces: Travel on rocks, sand, dirt roads, washes, paths; any surface that can withstand thousands of footsteps and leave it unchanged. Avoid crypto, alpine tundra, moss, lichen, and alpine meadows because these surfaces are super fragile.
3) Dispose of waste properly. Pack it out and I’m talking everything, trash, poop, yes everything! Even biodegradable things like pumpkins or flowers. If something isn’t natively found in the environment, it goes with you.
4) Leave what you find. Sticks, leaves, rocks, etc…if you found it there, leave it there! If you want a souvenir, stop by the gift shop.
5) Minimize campfire impacts. Be careful with fire, even smoke bombs can leave embers behind resulting in large wildfires causing billions of dollars of damage. Keep fires in fire rings and minimize on windy days.
6) Respect Wildlife. Don’t feed them, don’t touch them, just give them tons of space and a way out.
7) Be Considerate of Other Visitors. Specially as a photographer, I allow others to pass when we stop. Basically, don’t be a jerk and share the space! We’re all here to enjoy the beauty.
7 Principles: In Depth Version
Adequate trip planning and preparation helps backcountry travelers accomplish trip goals safely and enjoyably, while simultaneously minimizing damage to the land. Poor planning often results in miserable campers and damage to natural and cultural resources. Rangers often tell stories of campers they have encountered who, because of poor planning and unexpected conditions, degrade backcountry resources and put themselves at risk.
You wouldn’t want to be miserable during your hike. Plan ahead, check the weather and make sure you have all the gear you need.
Why Is Trip Planning Important?
It helps ensure the safety of groups and individuals.
It prepares you to Leave No Trace and minimizes resource damage.
It contributes to accomplishing trip goals safely and enjoyably.
It increases self-confidence and opportunities for learning more about nature.
2) Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
The goal of travel in the outdoors is to move through natural areas while avoiding damage to the land or waterways. Understanding how travel causes impacts is necessary to accomplish this goal. Travel damage occurs when surface vegetation or communities of organisms are trampled beyond recovery. The resulting barren area leads to soil erosion and the development of undesirable trails. Backcountry travel may involve travel over both trails and off-trail areas.
Travel on Trails
Land management agencies construct trails to provide identifiable routes that concentrate foot and stock traffic. Constructed trails are themselves an impact on the land; however, they are a necessary response to the fact that people travel through natural areas.
Concentrating travel on trails reduces the likelihood that multiple routes will develop and scar the landscape. It is better to have one well-designed route than many poorly chosen paths. Trail use is recommended whenever possible. Encourage travelers to stay within the width of the trail and not shortcut trail switchbacks (trail zigzags that climb hillsides).
Travelers should provide space for other hikers if taking breaks along the trail. The principles of off-trail travel should be practiced if the decision is made to move off-trail for breaks. Hikers in the same group should periodically stop to rest and talk. Avoid shouting to communicate while hiking. Loud noises usually are not welcome in natural areas.
The Center encourages outdoor enthusiasts to consider the impacts that they leave behind, which will undoubtedly affect other people, water and wildlife.
Human Waste
Proper disposal of human waste is important to avoid pollution of water sources, avoid the negative implications of someone else finding it, minimize the possibility of spreading disease and maximize the rate of decomposition.
In most locations, burying human feces in the correct manner is the most effective method to meet these criteria. Solid human waste must be packed out from some places, such as narrow river canyons. Land management agencies can advise you of specific rules for the area you plan to visit.
There are several EPA-approved, commercially produced pack-out systems available that are easy to use and sanitary for backpacking/hiking use. Other systems (including reusable, washable toilet systems) are bulkier and may be better suited for paddling/rafting trips. As more and more people enjoy parks and protected areas every year, packing out human waste is likely to become a more common practice to ensure long-term sustainability of our shared lands. In some environments, particularly in fragile alpine settings, land managers may require that all solid human waste must be packed out.
Allow others a sense of discovery by leaving rocks, plants, archaeological artifacts and other objects of interest as you find them.
Minimize Site Alterations
Leave areas as you found them. Do not dig trenches for tents or construct lean-tos, tables, chairs or other rudimentary improvements. If you clear an area of surface rocks, twigs or pine cones replace these items before leaving. For high-impact sites, it is appropriate to clean up the site and dismantle inappropriate user-built facilities, such as multiple fire rings and constructed seats or tables. Consider the idea that good campsites are found and not made.
In many locations, properly located and legally constructed facilities, such as a single fire ring, should be left in place. Dismantling them will cause additional impact because they will be rebuilt with new rocks and thus impact a new area. Learn to evaluate all situations you find.
Fires vs. Stoves: The use of campfires, once a necessity for cooking and warmth, is steeped in history and tradition. Some people would not think of camping without a campfire. Campfire building is also an important skill for every camper. Yet, the natural appearance of many areas has been degraded by the overuse of fires and an increasing demand for firewood. The development of lightweight efficient camp stoves has encouraged a shift away from the traditional fire for cooking. Stoves have become essential equipment for minimum-impact camping. They are fast, flexible and eliminate firewood availability as a concern in campsite selection. Stoves operate in almost any weather condition—and they Leave No Trace.
Should You Build a Fire?
The most important consideration when deciding to use a fire is the potential damage to the backcountry.
What is the fire danger for the time of year and the location you have selected?
Are there administrative restrictions from the agency that manages the area?
Is there sufficient wood so its removal will not be noticeable?
Does the harshness of alpine and desert growing conditions for trees and shrubs mean that the regeneration of wood sources cannot keep pace with the demand for firewood?
Do group members possess the skills to build a campfire that will Leave No Trace?
Lessening Impacts When Campfires Are Used
Camp in areas where wood is abundant if building a fire. Choose not to have a fire in areas where there is little wood at higher elevations, in heavily used areas, or in desert settings. A true Leave No Trace fire shows no evidence of having been constructed.
Existing Fire Rings
The best place to build a fire is within an existing fire ring in a well-placed campsite. Keep the fire small and burning only for the time you are using it. Allow wood to burn completely to ash. Put out fires with water, not dirt. Dirt may not completely extinguish the fire. Avoid building fires next to rock outcrops where the black scars will remain for many years.
Learn about wildlife through quiet observation. Do not disturb wildlife or plants just for a “better look.” Observe wildlife from a distance so they are not scared or forced to flee. Large groups often cause more damage to the environment and can disturb wildlife so keep your group small. If you have a larger group, divide into smaller groups if possible to minimize your impacts.
Quick movements and loud noises are stressful to animals. Travel quietly and do not pursue, feed or force animals to flee. (One exception is in bear country where it is good to make a little noise so as not to startle the bears.) In hot or cold weather, disturbance can affect an animal’s ability to withstand the rigorous environment. 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.
7) Be Considerate of Other visitors
One of the most important components of outdoor ethics is to maintain courtesy toward other visitors. It helps everyone enjoy their outdoor experience. Many people come to the outdoors to listen to nature. Excessive noise, uncontrolled pets and damaged surroundings take away from the natural appeal of the outdoors.
DISCLAIMER: All in depth information was found on the Leave No Trace website under “The 7 Principles” This information has been forwarded to this website in order to help educate. Everything written has been provided by Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. My hope is to forward this information and help educate all my clients so we are best prepared for our elopement.
Want to give back? Consider volunteering to help remove trash from local parks. GET INVOLVED here by either volunteering or donating
Catchfly Photography is a traditional wedding and adventurous elopement photographer based in Highland, MI. Julie Believes in the little details and in between moments. Nature completely inspires Julie and she incorporates nature into almost every photo she takes. Julie travels to photograph traditional weddings and intimate elopements in Michigan’s Upper + Lower Peninsula and Colorado.