Leave No Trace: Winter Tips
Originally published in the Adirondack Explorer printed magazine. A sample is available here
Whether you are winter camping, snowshoeing or skiing, Leave No Trace skills and ethics can help keep you safe and minimize your impact on the wild places you love. Cold temperatures, limited daylight and variable snow conditions make preparing for your next winter adventure even more imperative. Here are the seven Leave No Trace principles to know before you go!
1. PLAN AHEAD AND PREPARE
Most search and rescues are due to lack of preparation. Check weather reports (and avalanche warnings) regularly and monitor snow conditions frequently. Prepare for the worst weather conditions by bringing extra layers, an emergency shelter, food and water. If recreating in avalanche terrain, pack an avalanche beacon, probe and shovel and know how to use them. Always bring a map and compass so that you don’t have to rely on tree markings, rock cairns or flagging that might be covered in snow. Leave your itinerary with someone and travel in small groups. Recreating in winter alone can be risky. If you would like to learn more about Winter LNT principles, take a course through the Adirondack Mountain Club. (https://www.adk.org/discover/leave-no-trace/leave-no-trace-courses/)
2. TRAVEL AND CAMP ON DURABLE SURFACES
Snow is a great durable surface when it is more than 6 to 8 inches deep. Whenever possible, stay on deep snow cover and camp in designated campsites. Wear snowshoes and skis to keep the trail safe for everyone and to travel more efficiently on snowy ground.
3. DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY
Pack it in, pack out. Pick up all food scraps, wax shavings and pieces of litter, even if they aren’t yours. Before leaving your campsite, naturalize the area by dismantling all snow shelters, igloos or wind breaks.
Frozen ground and snow make burying your poop in the ground challenging during winter. If there is not an outhouse or thunderbox nearby, it is best to pack out all human solid waste and toilet paper with products like a WAG Bag or Biffy Bag that make it easy to carry out poop.
4. LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND
Respect nature by leaving all plants, animals, rocks and archaeological artifacts as you find them for others to enjoy. Leave what you find, take a picture instead.
5. MINIMIZE CAMPFIRE IMPACTS
Campfires cause lasting impacts on our public lands. If building a fire, use dead and down wood. Do not cut or break limbs off live or dead standing trees. Put out all fires completely and scatter cool ashes if the fire is not in a designated fire ring. Always bring a lightweight camp stove for cooking.
6. RESPECT WILDLIFE
Animals are particularly vulnerable in winter so it is best to observe them from a distance, do not follow or approach them. Although animals may act like they want your food, don’t feed them. Human food can make them sick, so protect your food by storing it securely in a bear canister or with a bear hang and pick up all crumbs.
7. BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER VISITORS
Share the trail and yield to downhill or faster traffic. Move off the trail if you are stopped. Avoid hiking on ski or snowshoe tracks and separate ski and snowshoe tracks whenever possible.
Keep noise to a minimum so that you can enjoy the sounds of nature and respect other people. If bringing a dog, keep it on a leash and pack out your pet’s feces.
This information was provided by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and by Adirondack Mountain Club. For more information, see https://lnt.org/teach/winter-recreation.