As we continue to highlight the importance of protecting our public lands through our collaboration with American Hiking Society, we acknowledge that both within our community and as outdoor enthusiasts, it takes a collective effort to engage with the land we recreate on sustainably.
As American Hiking Society is a leader in providing hiking resources and education, we’ve compiled some tips from them on how to participate in outdoor recreation responsibly!
Pack It In, Pack It Out
Anything that you bring with you on the trail or to your campsite should be removed when you leave. While you may remember to toss food packaging into your pack or trash bag, be sure to also pack up any biodegradable waste as well- this includes your banana peel or apple core! Remember to dispose of human or pet waste in holes dug at 6 least six inches deep in the ground and 200 + ft away from any water source. All toilet paper and personal hygiene products should be packed out as well (even if compostable!).
Choosing your Campsite
Remember when camping to utilize a campsite commonly used by other hikers while reusing already established sleeping areas to reduce environmental impact. Concentrate your activity on durable surfaces such as sand, gravel, rock, or dry grass. Camping this way prevents the erosion of additional land and ensures the campsite can remain for years to come.
Leave What You Find
Take only photos and memories home! Enjoy the sights, but always leave the wilderness as you found it and avoid removing anything. Additionally, avoid removing rocks, picking out plants, leaves, or flowers, or disturbing any other discovery you may make.
Stay on the Designated Path
When you encounter mud or water puddles, walk through them and not around them- unless you can walk around while remaining on the trail. Widening the trail by bypassing obstacles and going off-trail is harmful to the longevity and sustainability of the trail. Additionally, try to avoid cutting corners and making/utilizing shortcut paths when out hiking, as this will also help trail preservation.
Be Smart About Your Fire
To minimize your camping impact, keep your fire small or forgo it altogether if possible. Utilize already existing fire rings or mounds, and only use small pieces of dried wood found on the ground. Additionally, always be aware of the fire danger level of the area where you are camping for any potential for dry wildfire conditions, and make sure that your fire is completely extinguished before leaving your campsite. Consider using small camping stoves for cooking as a low-impact alternative.
Minimize Noise Pollution
Keep noise levels low while hiking to preserve the natural soundscape. By keeping conversations quiet, silencing loud devices, and avoiding unnecessary shouting or loud music, we can help to respect the natural sounds of the environment that wildlife depends on. However, loud noises may need to be utilized in the event of warding off a bear or other wildlife for safety purposes.
Sign Up For AHS Advocacy Alerts
AHS has a long history of political advocacy in regards to policy issues and legislation that ensure funding for trails, preservation of natural areas, and protection of the hiking experience. While they work hard on Capitol Hill to ensure hikers’ voices are heard, it helps to have all of our voices heard alongside theirs. You can sign up for their action alerts to let the government know that protecting our trails matters to you when widespread input is needed.
Volunteer Locally
Consider volunteering for a local environmental or trails stewardship organization to directly work on projects close to you. Recover has partnered with many organizations in the past who work to help protect public lands for all through various environmental cleanup and trail stewardship projects.
If local to the WNC region, check out Asheville Greenworks, MountainTrue, Catawba Riverkeeper, The Pisgah Conservancy, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, and Carolina Climbers Coalition, just to name a few!
Give Community Input
Speak up in your community and make your voice heard by attending public meetings on issues pertaining to local parks, greenways, and forests.
Join American Hiking Society
Consider joining or supporting American Hiking Society. Our trails exist because of the network of individuals, organizations, and businesses that continue to support them both nationally and locally. AHS is the only nationwide movement dedicated to bringing them together to preserve the places we love to hike.
By working together through continued advocacy and trail sustainability efforts, we can protect the vital role that our public lands play, not only as places for recreation but as spaces for environmental conservation. Our collective effort helps to ensure these places remain for future generations to enjoy just as much as we do today. For more tips about responsible hiking and best practices, check out the American Hiking Society Hiking Resources HERE.
“We protect the places we love. Because hiking directly engages hikers with their surroundings, it invites deeper personal connections with that land, leading to a commitment to care and advocate for its health and preservation.”
- American Hiking Society
Check out the Recover X American Hiking Society collection HERE for sustainable summer apparel that gives back to our public lands.
