Lessons from the Wild #9

Leave-no-trace camping is an increasingly popular, and necessary, approach to travel in wilderness areas. As the term suggests, the goal is for the camper to have as little impact as possible on the location they are visiting. One of its mottos is "Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints."

The principles of "Leave No Trace" were developed in response to concerns that the increasing number of human visitors to previously uninhabited (or lightly inhabited) wilderness areas would destroy the very characteristics that make them attractive, and irreparably harm native species. While each individual visitor might have an insignificant impact, the cumulative effect of thousands, and even millions of visitors to a site over the years would be profound. Rather than removing humanity altogether from these environments, leave-no-trace camping seeks to minimize the changes we make just by visiting. It's also a courtesy to the people who'll be visiting the same place the next day, or the next year, giving them a chance to experience the area the same way you did.  

Here's a great list of 29 Leave No Trace principles to keep in mind.  

Because I do so much backcountry camping, and like to go cross-country (where there are no established trails) the approach is almost the opposite. Rather than trying to concentrate your impact (such as on a single trail) the idea is to disperse it as much as possible. Try to avoid following trails others have left, because that tends to make them larger and more damaging. Several people walking single-file etches your shared trail more deeply, but each member of your party can instead tread more lightly on their own path. Walk on the most durable ground you can: rock instead of dirt, dead grasses instead of live plants, dry soil instead of muddy. 

Once you start practicing Leave No Trace, you'll wonder why it took you so long to get the hang of it.  Wilderness is a rare and precious thing, and it's up to us to be its stewards.  Unfortunately, many people are still clueless about these principles.  So why not help out and take it a step further?

Negative Trace is about actually removing trash or undoing damage that others have caused. It can be as easy as bending over and picking up a stray trail bar wrapper. Some people also refer to this ethic as "Erase The Trace".  Those of us that get so much enjoyment from spending time in nature should take time to give back. Land managers are often short on trail maintainers and wilderness rangers, so why not help maintain your favorite areas? A little preventative maintenance can make a big difference.

Lessons from the Wild #8

By now, you've probably gained a sense of the importance Nature has in my life.  As it should.  In all of ours.  We were born from nature, and we rely on it for the very essence of life.  Every time I have the privilege to be immersed in it, I never fail to gain some new insight.

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."  - Albert Einstein

My most recent immersion was a 9-day section of the High Sierra Route - a much more adventurous alternative to the popular John Muir Trail across the Eastern Sierras of California.  My aim was to do something more challenging... to get off the beaten path... challenge myself.  And I did.  I traveled almost exclusively cross-country - without a trail - crossing six 12,000' passes, and summiting two 14,000' peaks.  There were many lessons I learned along the way, but chief among them was the importance of finding your own path.   

Humans seek. It's what we do. We seek enlightenment, self-improvement, physical perfection, a shorter commute...  Nature is such a strong force in the world that no matter where we live or what our lifestyle, there is always a bit of the natural world creeping in. Even the concrete jungles of major cities are still home to a number of "greenspaces" where the inspiration of nature can be felt. 

“I see a vision of a great rucksack revolution thousands or even millions of young Americans wandering around with rucksacks, going up to mountains to pray, making children laugh and old men glad, making young girls happy and old girls happier, all of 'em Zen Lunatics who go about writing poems that happen to appear in their heads for no reason and also by being kind and also by strange unexpected acts keep giving visions of eternal freedom to everybody and to all living creatures.”   - Gary Snyder  

If you haven't already realized what life changing effects nature can have, you probably haven't spent much time in natural surroundings.  Or if you have, you haven't really taken the time to gain the awareness of what nature does. Nature is a connection to your soul. It's how you spend time getting to know yourself - your true self.

In modern life, while nature is still present, there is a tangible disconnect for people. This is especially true for those of us who live in suburban, or urban environments. We have pills for every ailment, GPS units to navigate, and we get our "food" from the supermarket.  Our advances in technology and convenience aren't necessarily bad things, but we need to keep things in perspective and not forget about our past. Our connection to nature should always be cherished and remembered.  There are many benefits to "getting back to nature". Research has shown that a connection to nature decreases stress and stimulates healing, and it makes people nicer!

As society continues to become more isolating, a growing number of people are uncertain about what to do with their lives - how to add value to it, provide meaning for it, or to simply find some measure of happiness in it.  Spending time in nature can bring clarity.

“Not all those who wander are lost.”                 - J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring 

Everyone has heard that life is a journey and not a destination. As we journey through life, we can do so with a path in mind. The path doesn't have to be specific at first, or necessarily ever. It could be one we deliberately set, or one with no deliberate intent. A path is as much an expression of our individuality or uniqueness as it is a direction, purpose, or intent.  Finding the right path means getting to know ourselves first. We can have more than one path going at any given time, so long as they aren't in conflict.

"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives."   - Henry David Thoreau

The key is to become an intuitive navigator.  Be aware.  Look closely and see the signs, as subtle as they may be.  Respect your own individuality.  Not everyone will see things the same, and you may not have chosen the best path, but there are lessons to be learned on the journey all the same. 

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”   - Ernest Hemingway