Leave No Trace

So many John Muir quotes, so little time – how do you even begin to express the exquisite allure that the mountains hold for so many of us? If there’s one thing connecting all climbers, it’s a deep love for the earth and a calling to protect our home. Stepping out into the world brings a responsibility to be mindful of your impact on it and the creatures you encounter along the way. This can all be neatly summed up in one simple doctrine: Leave No Trace. 

Simply put, Leave No Trace is a set of guidelines, developed by the Leave No Trace Centre for Outdoor Ethics, that seeks to promote ethical adventuring and encourage environmental conservation. LNT does a whole bunch of fantastic work in the world, first and foremost being raising awareness for the importance of minimising human impact on the environment. Although this may seem simple enough at first glance, there’s far more to it than just picking up your trash and burying your poop.

Below is a quick guide to the 7 founding principles of Leave No Trace.

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. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

The only way to know that you’ll be leaving no trace is to plan specifically for that goal. Take the time to figure out everything you and your group will need to stay warm, safe and fed without compromising natural resources, and make sure that you are fully aware of any guidelines or regulations for the area that you will be visiting. Elements to consider include food prep, ablutions, trails and fires. Here are a few tips for erasing your tracks before you set out the door:

• Eliminate excess waste by taking food out of its original packaging and placing it into resealable bags that you can wash and reuse once you’re home (remember to recycle what you can!). These can also double as rubbish bags once empty.
• Consider bringing along a compact camping stove or two for quick, one-pot meals that have no need for a campfire.
• Pack fresh food mindfully – anything that becomes stale or stinky will still need to travel home with you.
• Consider packing a pair of gloves so that you can safely dispose of any trash you find along the trail. 
• Bring a small trowel or spade. You don’t want to be digging poop holes with your hands. 
• Know exactly where you will be walking and camping so that you can avoid any bundu-bashing and stick to designated camping areas.
• Research the area’s rules about pets if you want to bring your furry friend along, and be prepared to handle any illness or injury.

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

Exploring untamed areas is exciting, but it’s crucial to avoid damaging delicate ecosystems. Whether you’re on a well-worn trail or forging a new path, follow these principles to leave no trace:

On-Trail Travel: Stick to the trail to prevent vegetation damage and avoid creating unofficial paths. If you must step off, do so with minimal impact by following off-trail travel guidelines.

Off-Trail Travel: Consider frequency of use and surface durability:

• Best surfaces: Sand, rocks, gravel, snow (if thick enough).
• Vegetation: Choose dry grasses; spread out to avoid creating new trails.
• Avoid: Living soil (biocrust), desert puddles, and mudholes, as these are vital for the ecosystem.

Camping Guidelines: Choose sites based on group size, wildlife impact, and soil fragility.

In established campsites:

• Camp at least 60m from water sources.
• Clean and restore the site before leaving.
• Use existing impacted areas for tents and kitchen setups.

In undisturbed areas (for experienced campers):

• Camp on durable surfaces, never on vegetation.
• Spread out tents, minimise foot traffic, and rotate camp spots.
• Use a rock slab for cooking and bring water containers.
• Restore the site before leaving—cover scuffed areas, brush away footprints, and avoid creating new trails.

By following these guidelines, you help preserve natural landscapes for future adventurers.

3. Dispose of Waste Properly

We have arrived – it’s time to talk about poop. You knew it was coming.

Proper disposal of human waste helps to minimise the chances of spreading disease, avoids the pollution of water sources, promotes decomposition, and saves other explorers the trauma of happening on your gifts. To correctly handle human waste:

• Consider commercial pack-out systems such as waste bags. If you will be packing out your poop, make sure that you have an appropriate container for the job.
• Used catholes for solid waste:
  • Use a small space to dig a hole that is at least 15–20cm deep and 10–15 cm wide. 
  • Try to locate catholes where they will receive maximum sunlight to speed up decomposition. If you are in a desert area, make your hole only 10–15 cm to aid this process.
  • Keep catholes at least 60m away from camp, trails and water.
  • Choose an inconspicuous site that other people are unlikely to visit, such as thick undergrowth. 
  • Fill the hole with the same dirt you dug out of it and cover the site with natural materials.
  • Disperse cathole sites widely; if you have a large group and decide to build a latrine, make sure to choose your location very carefully.
• Choose an elevated area that water is unlikely to run through in case of rainfall or flooding.
• Try to find an area of organic soil – this is usually rich and dark in colour, and is likely to have more microorganisms which drive decomposition.
• You can bury your toilet paper if absolutely necessary, but it is preferred that you pack it out, along with any sanitary items (If you have a uterus and want to further minimise waste, consider getting yourself a menstrual cup – it also saves a TON of money).
• Stick to plain white, non-scented toilet paper, and never burn it to dispose of it.
• Be conscious that urine can sometimes attract animals, so try to choose areas that will disperse or mask it, such as pine needles or gravel. You can also dilute it with water.

4. Leave What You Find

As much as you don’t want to introduce any foreign matter to the environment, it is equally important that you avoid making any alterations or removing natural items. It doesn’t matter how cool a rock is or how gorgeous an autumn leaf may be – other visitors want to enjoy the unique features of the landscape, and you don’t want to risk upsetting the area’s delicate ecosystem. 

Avoid creating any makeshift furniture or structures and make sure to replace any pine cones, rocks or twigs that you clear from an area. When you break camp, dismantle any extra fire rings or structures you may have made. If there are any legal, established structures or fire rings, leave these as is, otherwise the land will need to be disrupted again to build new ones. Incredibly important is leaving all live trees and plants alone, which includes not tying your guy ropes to vegetation. If you find any interesting cultural objects, leave them as is and tell the land owner about them; if you do disturb or remove these items, you may be liable for prosecution according to the National Heritage Act.

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

There’s nothing quite like a crackling fire under the stars, but campfires leave lasting scars on the environment and they should be lit sparingly. Not only can fire itself damage or mark the area, but the collection of firewood can have severe consequences for the space if not done responsibly. You should never bring firewood from home, but rather purchase it from a local source or collect it from the area

You should also be aware of any alien vegetation in the area, as this can increase the risk of a wildfire starting and spreading, as explained in this article by Professor Brain van Wilgen of Stellenbosch University.

If possible, eliminate the need for a fire by taking along a compact camping stove or two; this allows you to enjoy wholesome one-pot meals for less mess and a lower impact.

6. Respect Wildlife

We love all creatures big and small, and it’s essential that we avoid disturbing them in any way for the sake of their wellbeing. This is pretty straightforward, but here are a few ideas for minimising your impact on wildlife: 

• Observe animals quietly, from a distance; pack some binoculars if you think you will have some interesting sightings.
• Keep your group small.
• Never follow, feed or get close to wild animals.
• If you are concerned about a young or wounded animal, leave it alone and inform the relevant authority.
• Store food securely and keep any scraps or leftovers out of reach.
• Give animals a wide berth, and be conscious of any spoor or other tracks that may be on your path.
• Allow animals easy access to water and avoid water holes at night.
• Make sure to practice proper waste disposal so as not to pollute the water source.
• Swimming in lakes, rick pools and rivers is generally okay; just be aware of what animals may be around and don’t swim in arid areas.

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

While the primarily goal of LNT is to minimse environmental impact, it also serves to improve the experience of our fellow adventurers. So many of us find our haven in nature, and we don’t really want to see tracks of other people in the area. To keep a community of happy campers:

• Keep your noise levels down, especially late at night and in the early mornings.
• If you have any pets with you, keep them on a leash if possible and make sure they are quiet and under your control at all times. Pack out or properly bury any pet waste.
• Keep your group size relatively small
• Consider how your use of technology may affect other visitors. For example, don’t clog the trail taking snaps for Instagram, and be aware of your surroundings if you are wearing earphones.
• When meeting others on the trail, step aside to allow them to pass. Right of way goes to those travelling uphill.
• If you are on a bike and need to pass people, politely make your presence known and pass carefully.
• When resting, opt for durable surfaces well off the trail.
• Try to choose a campsite that is screened from view by rocks or vegetation. 
• Opt for clothing and equipment in natural colours to lessen the visual impact on the environment.

Climbing-Specific Leave No Trace Tips:

1. Be mindful not to crush any vegetation with rope mats, boulder pads, backpacks or other equipment.
2. Remove any tick marks or excess chalk when you leave.
3. Keep volume levels low and give everyone ample space.
4. Only leave draws up on a route if you will be visiting the area soon.
5. Enjoy the psych and cheer on your buddies without causing too much of a disturbance – we don’t all need to scream like Ondra.
6. Pack out any snack scraps and do a final sweep of the area for micro trash before you depart. 
7. Keep your gear neat and together, out of everyone’s way.
8. If you are taking a pet with you,make sure they are properly trained for the crag and keep them close.

This may seem like a lot to take in, but once you get into the swing of things it will come naturally. Nature is home to all of us – let’s keep a clean house.

For more LNT advice and tricks, take a look at the Leave No Trace Centre’s YouTube channel.