Leave No Trace LNT for Old Rag

LNT in my blog is short for Leave No Trace.

All three organizations that I volunteer for on Old Rag (SNP, ORMS, PATC TP) are supporters, practitioners, and trainers of LNT.

For those that are new to LNT it is both a system of outdoor ethics and an organization whose primary mission is to foster outdoor ethics.
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The LNT organization focuses outdoor visitors on seven main principals that are summarized below. Keep in mind that these seven principals should be applied with individual judgement and common sense. They are principals not laws or rules. That said, a lot of thought has gone into crystallizing current thought on outdoor ethics into these seven concise but comprehensive LNT principals.

The LNT organization provides material for use in learning or teaching outdoor ethics. It continuously improves and maintains a standardized education program including the supporting education and outreach materials. LNT also oversees the LNT Trainer certification process for the purposes of making sure that LNT outdoor ethics are being taught in consistent high quality ways.


ADVICE LNT

Learn and practice outdoor ethics as presented by LNT.

The link to the LNT organizations web site is:
http://www.lnt.org/index.php

The Seven LNT Principals Are:

The following copyrighted language has been reprinted with permission from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www. LNT.org.

Plan Ahead and Prepare
Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting larger groups into smaller groups.
Repackage food to minimize waste.
Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.


Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.
In popular areas:
Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.
In pristine areas:
Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.
Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.

Dispose of Waste Properly
Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter.
Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.
Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.


Leave What You Find
Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.

Minimize Campfire Impacts
Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.

Respect Wildlife
Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.

Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors.
Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises