Leave No Trace 101

Question 1

What are the six main categories that humans impact when recreating outdoors?

Answer 1

The six main categories humans can impact when recreating outdoors are wildlife, soils, vegetation, cultural resources, water resources and other people.

Question 2

What are cumulative impacts?

Answer 2

Cumulative impacts are the total affect of repeated small damage to outdoor spaces that create eco-system wide changes. To put it simply, cumulative impacts are the combined effects that all of us have on nature.

Question 3

What are the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace?

Answer 3

The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace are:
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. Repeat wildlife
7. Be considerate of others

Question 4

What is “site creep”?

Answer 4

Site creep occurs when the boundary of a campsite is continually trampled, causing the camp to expand over time.

Question 5

What does “durable” mean?

Answer 5

Durability refers to the ability of surfaces or vegetation to withstand wear or remain in a stable condition.

Question 6

What are the tree main types of waste humans create?

Answer 6

The three types of waste that humans create are grey water, human waste (feces, urine and menstrual waste) and trash.

Question 7

What is grey water?

Answer 7

Grey water is the wastewater created whenever we wash ourselves, our clothes, clean our dishes and brush our teeth. Improper grey water disposal can pollute streams, harm wildlife and diminish other visitors’ experiences.

Question 8

How do you properly dispose of grey water?

Answer 8

To properly dispose of grey water, run it through a strainer to collect any particles, and then take the bucket of water 200 feet, or 70 big steps, away from all water sources and “broadcast”, toss the water, to widely disperse it. Pack out any particles from the strainer.
Even better would be to pack out all grey water and dispose of it in the nearest toilet.

Question 9

Why is it important to properly dispose of human waste (feces, urine and menstrual waste)?

Answer 9

Over one hundred types of bacteria and viruses have been identified in human waste. Proper disposal of human waste is important to avoid pollution of water sources, minimize the spread of disease and keep areas nice for other users.

Question 10

Why is it important to properly dispose of pet waste and how do you do so?

Answer 10

Pet waste adds excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to the environment. Excess of these nutrients in the ecosystem creates unstable conditions that allow algae blooms to cloud our rivers, lakes, and streams, and creates an easy habitat for invasive weeds to grow.

Pet waste can be bagged and packed out, or in backcountry environments, can be deposited in a 6-8″ deep hole at least 200 feet (70 big steps) away from any water sources, trails and highly trafficked areas.

Question 11

What factors should you consider when choosing a location for a cat hole or trench latrine?

Answer 11

It is best to pick an elevated spot where water would not normally go during runoff, being careful to avoid dry creek beds and sandy washes. Stay at least 200 feet, or 70 big steps, away from all trails, water sources and highly trafficked areas. Choosing an area that will receive maximum sunlight will aid in decomposition. Try to find an area with deep, organic soil that is dark and rich in color. Remember to follow park regulations to ensure that you aren’t required to pack out your waste and travel on durable surfaces when finding a place for your cat hole. If camping for multiple nights or with a large group, cat holes should be widely dispersed.

Question 12

How do you properly dig a cat hole?

Answer 12

Using a trowel, dig a hole that is 6-8” deep and do your business into the hole. Try to pack out your toilet paper whenever possible, but you can bury it in the cat hole if needed. When you’re done, fill in the cat hole with soil and cover it to make the area as inconspicuous as possible. If camping for multiple nights or with a large group, cat holes should be widely dispersed.

Question 13

How do you properly dig a trench latrine?

Answer 13

Dig a hole 6-8” deep and as wide as it needs to be. Try to pack out your toilet paper whenever possible, but you can bury it in the trench latrine if needed. Do your business at one end and bury that section, leaving the rest of the trench open for later use. Fill in the rest of the trench with soil and cover the area to make it as inconspicuous as possible before leaving that campsite.

Question 14

Which is better, cat holes or trench latrines?

Answer 14

Although cat holes are preferred due to their ability to speed up the decomposition process, certain situations, such as camping in one spot for multiple night or camping with small children, may call for a trench latrine.

Question 15

What situations would require you to pack out your waste instead of digging a cat hole?

Answer 15

Certain areas such as alpine and winter environments, rivers, canyons, oceans, lakes, steep cliffs, climbing routes, highly trafficked trails and areas with sensitive surfaces like cryptobiotic soils are all places that you should pack out your waste so as not to damage that environment. Check local park regulations to see if the areas you intend to go require or recommend that you pack out your waste.

Question 16

Why should you follow the trail?

Answer 16

• Undesignated trails, also called social or user-created trails, suffer from poor design, leading to more significant erosion, poor drainage, and damage to sensitive plants and habitats. Social trails near rivers have increased bank erosion, channel width, and sediment transport.
• Shortcuts are often less safe than the designated trail, increasing the chances for bruises, bumps, and twisted ankles — and they contribute to erosion.
• Trail restoration is expensive, takes a long time, and is extremely hard work!
• Animals quickly learn that trails are not good places to build homes or protect their young, and will avoid them. Traveling off-trail can frighten wildlife away from vital food and water sources, and cause them to abandon their young.
• What’s worse than muddy feet? Ten-foot wide trails that resemble mud pits! When hikers continually hike around, rather than through muddy spots on the trail, trails get wider and muddier and destroy plants and animal habitats.
• Fewer than 25 passes over sensitive vegetation can permanently damage sensitive plants.

Question 17

If the trail has puddles, mud or snow on it, should you walk around these patches or straight through them?

Answer 17

When hiking on designated trails, it is important to stay as close to the center of the trail as you can to avoid widening it and trampling vegetation, even if that means hiking through mud or puddles of water.

Question 18

What is cryptobiotic soil?

Answer 18

Living soil, often called cryptobiotic crust or crypto, is often found in desert environments and consists of tiny communities of organisms that often appear as a blackish raised crust. This crust retains moisture in dry climates and provides a protective layer, preventing erosion. One single footstep can destroy this fragile soil and take years to recover. It is essential to use developed trails in these areas.

Question 19

When hiking off trail, which surfaces are the most durable?

Answer 19

When hiking off trail stick to durable surfaces such as barren dirt, gravel, sand, rock and snow that is at least 6” deep. Leaf litter, pine duff and dry grasses are also good options. When hiking in a group, fan out widely to avoid creating new trails.

Question 20

When hiking off trail, which surfaces are the least durable?

Answer 20

Ferns, wet soils, steep slopes, lichens, mosses, wildflowers, and biological soil crusts should be avoided when hiking off trail. When hiking in a group, avoid walking single file as it can take as few as 25 passes on vegetation to begin to create a new trail.

Question 21

Which of the 7 Leave No Trace Principles is considered to be the “parent principle”?

Answer 21

Plan Ahead and Prepare is the Leave No Trace parent principle, meaning that the other six principles rely on this one being thought through thoroughly. Plan Ahead and Prepare helps ensure the safety of groups and individuals, prepares you to Leave No Trace and minimize resource damage, contributes to accomplishing trip goals safely and enjoyably, and increases self-confidence and opportunities for learning more about nature.