Introduction to Leave No Trace by Philip Werner, Leave No Trace Master Educator and 4 Season Hiking and Backpacking Leaders for the Appalachian Mountain Club

1. Introduction toIntroduction to
Leave No TraceLeave No Trace
Philip WernerPhilip Werner
Master Educator, Leave No TraceMaster Educator, Leave No Trace

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Leave it the Way You Found ItLeave it the Way You Found It

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Wilderness Ethics not RulesWilderness Ethics not Rules
 Well founded principles of behaviorWell founded principles of behavior
 Guide our actionsGuide our actions
 Choices we makeChoices we make

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7 LNT Principles7 LNT Principles
1.1. PassPass
2.2. TheThe
3.3. DonutsDonuts
4.4. LeftLeft
5.5. MyMy
6.6. RastaRasta
7.7. BrotherBrother
Boston
Strong

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1. Plan Ahead and Prepare1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
 Avoid large group sizes that are noisyAvoid large group sizes that are noisy
and crowd out other visitors.and crowd out other visitors.
 Displacement of
others at popular sites
 Noise
 Crowding
 Conflicts
 Heavy site impacts
 Waste concentration

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2. Travel and Camp on2. Travel and Camp on
Durable SurfacesDurable Surfaces
 Avoid widening trails by hiking two orAvoid widening trails by hiking two or
more abreast, creating new trails, andmore abreast, creating new trails, and
cutting switchbacks.cutting switchbacks.

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2. Travel and Camp on2. Travel and Camp on
Durable SurfacesDurable Surfaces
 Avoid creating new campsites orAvoid creating new campsites or
enlarging existing sites by tramplingenlarging existing sites by trampling
surrounding vegetationsurrounding vegetation

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3. Dispose of Waste Properly3. Dispose of Waste Properly

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4. Leave What You Find4. Leave What You Find
• Leave flowers for others to see. Picking them prevents
formation of seeds vital to their reproduction and survival.
• Do not remodel trails, pile rocks, or take them home

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 Proliferation and migration of campfire sitesProliferation and migration of campfire sites
 Scorch ground at pristine sites so it loses it “wildness”Scorch ground at pristine sites so it loses it “wildness”
 Use minimal amount of wood or camping stoveUse minimal amount of wood or camping stove
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

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6. Respect Wildlife6. Respect Wildlife
 Feeding wildlifeFeeding wildlife
(unintentional or(unintentional or
intentional), attractingintentional), attracting
them to people andthem to people and
developed areas.developed areas.
 Damages their health
 Alters natural behaviors
 Exposes them to predators

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7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
 Respect different users (birders, bikers, climbers)Respect different users (birders, bikers, climbers)
 Be quietBe quiet
 Be politeBe polite

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 Better planning leads to safer trips andBetter planning leads to safer trips and
lighter packslighter packs
 Prevents avoidable impacts, minimizesPrevents avoidable impacts, minimizes
unavoidable impactsunavoidable impacts
 Protects the quality of natural environmentsProtects the quality of natural environments
and recreation experiencesand recreation experiences
 Avoids or minimizes the need for restrictive
management regulations or use limitations
Benefits of Applying LNTBenefits of Applying LNT