Leave No Trace: Winter Edition
Ahh, winter-time. Resplendent in white, untouched by man… well...until we start showing up in droves to ski, snowshoe, hike, fat bike, (the list goes on). But just like in the summer, there are steps we can take to keep the winter wilderness wild by adhering to the Leave No Trace Winter Use Principles of backcountry travel and recreation. These principles cover everything from disposing of waste, distancing from vulnerable wildlife, and best practices for traveling on winter trails and skin tracks.Leave No Trace Winter Use Principles:
Plan ahead and prepare
Dispose of waste properly
Leave what you find
Respect wildlife
Be considerate of other visitors
Plan Ahead And Prepare For Winter Conditions
Planning and preparation are at the heart of Leave No Trace, and with all the additional variables inherent in the winter environment, they take on even more importance. Before your outing, check avalanches and weather reports. This information should inform your decision of whether now is the right time to travel, and if so, where to go, what to pack, and the time you should allot for your outing (keeping in mind that the days are short in the winter). Prepare by packing your own food and snacks and bringing essentials including extra batteries for any electronics and spare snacks/water. In the course of your research, check whether warming huts and backcountry cabins are available in your area in case of emergency. Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies by carrying extra layers, preparing your vehicle for winter travel, and, when traveling in avalanche terrain, carrying and using an avalanche beacon, probe, and shovel. You can educate yourself by taking a winter backcountry travel course, many of which are available through AIARE. Never visit the backcountry alone; leave your itinerary with family or friends and approach this winter with respect.Dispose Of Waste Properly
Leave No Trace outlines the best methods for disposing of or packing out human waste, which requires either bringing along a shovel or a wag bag. This doesn't change in wintertime! If your plan is to bury human waste in the snow, locate a place away from travel routes and at least 200 feet (70 adult steps) from water sources. Bring bags to dispose of your dog’s waste if it is within range of the trail or likewise bury it. Due to limited services in many areas this time of year, consider packing out everything you bring with you including obvious items like food scraps (yes pistachio shells, yes sunflower seeds, yes tangerine peels) and trash, but also that pile of wax shavings from scraping your skis or snowboard. Scrape your skis onto a piece of cardboard or other surface that you can easily gather the shavings back up to dispose of—even better do it at home. It’s also suggested to flatten any snow shelters to naturalize the area before you leave.Respect Wildlife
In the wintertime, animals are especially vulnerable. Give wildlife extra space in the winter and observe them from a distance. Know that in the case of an emergency, help may be delayed due to conditions, so your best bet is to research what animals might be in the area and what to do if you come across one. Remember, this is their home. We are just visiting.Leave What You Find
You might not be finding all that much this time of year, but leaving what you do find in its place is still crucial. Items found in nature are essential to the habitat and the animals that live in it. Transporting natural materials also increases the risk of tracking spores and other potentially harmful invaders into other ecosystems.Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Lastly, be sure to share the trail and be courteous. Refresh yourself on who has the right of way on the trail and be mindful of your actions (i.e. bumping your speaker for the whole hike) and how they might affect others trying to enjoy the beauty of winter recreation. This includes following the holy grail of separating the ski and snowshoe tracks and avoiding hiking on ski tracks. Amen.We hope you get out there and embrace all that winter in the outdoors has to offer. Have fun, be safe, respect the land - we'll catch you out there!