Ecology

Sustainable hiking and leave no trace

Lizzy Ryan
Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve

(5/2020) The days are warming, the sun is shining, it’s a beautiful time of year. I write this article during a tumultuous time. COVID-19 is alive and well. Everyone is quarantined and directed to keep away from other people. People are getting antsy. They need to do something; go somewhere. Now, they flock to our local trails. I went into work the other day to feed our animal ambassadors and saw our parking lot so full, that people were parking along the road! There were just about as many cars in our lot that day as there is when we host an event. It made me so happy so see so many people finally getting outside and enjoying nature. Who knew that something like a global pandemic could do that?

Tons of people are utilizing our trail systems, which is great, but also can cause some serious environmental concerns. The Appalachian Trail has seen such an overuse of their trails that they have requested that people not use it. Granted, they made this declaration to help flatten the curve of Corona Virus. But also, the trail was getting so heavily used that volunteers could never keep up with the amount of damage that could potentially be done to the trail, trailheads, privies, and shelters.

Now, that’s the AT. Strawberry Hill and the trails of Michaux State Forest remain open. We can only hope that everyone is respectful of the trail, the environment, and of others during this trying time.

You may be thinking, "how can I sustainably hike?"

I always refer to the "Leave No Trace Seven Principals". Some of these principals are related to camping, but I am going to go through each one and describe how you can implement them even if you are just day hiking.

Plan ahead and prepare - Always know where you are going to hike, the trail you are going to take, and have all your gear ready. When you are looking for trails to go hiking on, know what your comfort level is as far as distance and topography. You never want to hop on any old trail and assume you can safely tackle it without knowing how long it is, if it is a loop, if you will have to traverse water, trek up any large hills, etc.

Hit the trail prepared with proper equipment, water, and snacks. For clothing: have sturdy and waterproof hiking shoes, rain gear, a hat, and extra socks. Bring plenty of water! Many places do not have a spot to refill your bottle.

Bring some snacks as well. You may get hungry on your hike, especially if you’re going for several miles. When packing snacks, bring things that don’t have much packaging. Nuts, raisins, trail mix, etc. are all good options.

And always have a first aid kit when on the trail (and sunscreen and bug spray)!

You also want to take into account the weather. It sounds silly that someone would even think about going on a hike without knowing the weather, but it happens. Get yourself a good weather app on your phone or tablet. Check it right before leaving for your hike. Know what the possibility is of severe weather. You’d be surprised how fast a sunny day can turn into a windy, lightning mess! Be prepared with a rain jacket, waterproof shoes, etc.

Always let someone know where you are going and how long you will be out. When you are back from your hike, check in with them to let them know you are okay.

And remember, you are not always going to have cell service when you are out on the trail. I know at Strawberry Hill, we don’t. But don’t let that scare you away. Have a hard copy of your trail map ready to go and a compass.

Travel and camp on durable surfaces - When you are hiking, always stay on the trail. Going off trail can harm the native flora and fauna of the natural areas. If you are camping in an area that is highly used, choose a spot that looks like it has been camped on before. If you are camping in a more remote area, find a spot that is 200 feet from the water’s edge and a spot that you will not make a huge ecological impact. Perhaps try and find a spot that is already fairly clear.

Dispose of waste properly - One of the things that you have to think about when you are out on the trail is, "what if I have to go to the bathroom?". Simple: dig a hole! Make sure you are at least 200 feet from a water source, did a hole around 6-8 inches deep, and bury it.

The rest is simple: pack in what you pack out! Litter is not only unsightly to look at, but it also harms wildlife. Bring a plastic bag to pack all trash in (even grease and compostable items).

Leave what you find - This one is self-explanatory. Don’t harm or take any of the local flora or fauna. This includes not nailing into trees, carving into trees, picking flowers and other plants, etc. Picking up a leaf or a flower really doesn’t seem like that much, but if everyone did it, that would be a problem.

Minimize campfire impacts - Obviously if you are just hiking during the day, this wouldn’t apply to you. But, in case you are reading this and you plan on doing an overnight trip, you’ll need to know about this principal. Before building a fire, think about what impact it might have on the land around you. Are you allowed to build a fire here? The best thing to do is find a spot where there is an existing fire ring. Keep fires small and put them out with water.

The other thing to think about is firewood. If you need to collect firewood, collect it from already dead and downed trees. Use small pieces of wood and gather wood over a large area away from your campsite. If you are going to bring wood, buy it locally to your campsite. Don’t bring it from home. This only encourages the spread of invasive species. In fact, there are laws in place about moving firewood for this very reason.

Respect wildlife - Observe wildlife from a distance. Travel quietly as to not scare any wildlife. Don’t touch, feed, or get close to any wild animal. This can not only be harmful to you, but also to the animal.

Be considerate to other visitors - People go out in nature to be at peace, to get exercise, and to enjoy themselves. Being noisy, having your dog run loose everywhere, and taking up trail space can just be rude to others trying to enjoy their hike.

For hikers, the polite thing to do is step aside for horses, groups, trail runners, and bicyclists. Keep your pet on a leash so that your pet is not disrupting wildlife and other visitors.

These are the recommended ways to hike sustainably. Visit the official Leave No Trace website for details: https://lnt.org/.

Strawberry Hill and Michaux State Forest has miles of hiking trails to discover. Get outside and let nature refresh and renew you.