Leave No Trace
Module 7
“Take…Only Pictures.”
“Leave…Only Footprints.”
“Keep Nothing…But Memories.”
“Leave No Trace” is a crucial ethos in the hiking, camping, and backpacking world. It means that we should leave the place we explored in better condition than we found it. This includes leaving no trash, using available bathrooms or digging holes for our needs, do not spray-paint or vandalizing a slot canyon (or any natural feature), and avoiding excessive cairn building.
Leaving no trace is essential because it helps preserve the natural environment and maintain the pristine state of the wilderness for future generations. It also helps us to connect with nature more authentically and experience it as it is, rather than as a human-altered landscape. the environment for future generations by minimizing human impact.
Leave it Better: Pack out all trash, use proper bathroom practices (such as pooping 200 feet away from water sources and packing it out (if in a narrow slot canyon), avoid vandalism or spray-painting, and limit cairn building.
Preserve Nature: Protect the environment for future generations by minimizing human impact.
Respect the Wild: As canyoneer Tom Jones once said about canyoneering, “This is not Disneyland”—nature is raw and should remain unaltered.
Avoid Excessive Cairns: They disturb habitats, create visual clutter, and mislead hikers. If you find unnecessary cairns, dismantle them responsibly.
Connect: Experience nature in its pure, untouched state while helping preserve its beauty for years to come.
Do NOT do this:
