Hikers love to be outdoors and are therefore key players in environmental protection efforts. It is clear that hikers must take the responsibility of natural leaders, caring for nature seriously along with enjoying their recreational hobby. In order to take responsible, positive action, hikers and backpackers need to understand their direct impact on the environment.
How Hiking Affects the Environment
Hiking is considered to be one of the most eco-friendly ways to enjoy the outdoors. Hiking the trails gives us the opportunity to connect with incredible ecosystems and animal species. There are many additional considerations, however, to hike with environmentally friendly practices.
Hikers can leave their footprint with very little effort, oftentimes unintentionally. Just venturing off the path can disrupt ecosystems and degrade soil. Destruction of plant and animal wildlife can occur from mere ignorance, which is more common than intentional destruction.
For the most part, every hiker I know would do the right thing for the environment if they knew exactly what that was. Following the Leave No Trace (LNT) principles should be mandatory for all hikers to understand before grabbing the trekking poles and hitting the trail.
The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace
Hikers that follow the 7 principles of Leave No Trace, the golden rules of hiking, help to protect vegetation, air, water, soil and animals. The main goal of LNT is to do no harm on the trail. The 7 principles of Leave No Trace:
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
Follow these guidelines when hiking to reduce your impact on the environment. Some examples of things you can do to make a difference while hiking are to use only biodegradable soaps and properly dispose of trash.
Biodegradable Soaps and Body Products
Dilute soaps and toothpaste when backpacking and carefully choose your body products like bug spray and sunscreen. Be careful to not contaminate water sources.
Pick Up and Pack Out
No one wants to see trash on the trail. Keep a trash bag in your pack so you can pick up your waste. If no other option, burying your waste to an appropriate level can make a difference.
Let’s all model these environmentally friendly hiking etiquette principles and respect the natural world we all enjoy.
Cascade Mountain Tech for All Your Hiking Gear
Cascade Mountain Tech is your source for hiking and camping gear for the outdoor enthusiast. We offer high quality camping and hiking gear including:
- Camp bedding, 30° and 0° mummy sleeping bags
- Hiking trekking poles including carbon fiber and 3k carbon fiber
- Camp chairs, lightweight, high-back and wide stadium seating
Cascade Mountain Tech is your one stop for camping and hiking gear for the avid outdoor enthusiast. We offer high quality gear and expert assistance in selecting the right gear for you. Contact us to learn more about our products and the principles of environmentally friendly hiking.
No comments:
Post a Comment