One of the most basic concepts you must learn before you go camping anywhere is the concept of ‘Leave No Trace’. 

This essentially means that you leave a place looking as untouched as possible. Hence, leave no trace. 

Over my years of traveling, outdoorsying, and tour guiding, I have seen some truly embarrassing displays of tourism. And between being a tourist, a camper, a hiker, and a guide, I have realized that the main missing component is a lack of knowledge on how to be a good tourist. 

The leave no trace principals also apply to traveling!

Traveling are liberating and empowering things you can do. It makes it easy to let go and just have a good time. But it can be hard to enjoy it when you go to a place and see garbage all over the ground, or there is some super loud and obnoxious people, tourists blatantly disrespecting the culture or surrounds, or fires. 

The 7 principals of leave no trace travel are…..

1. Plan ahead and prepare: Know the laws, rules, and cultures of the area. Prepare for weather. Buy maps. Know where you are and where you are going. 
2. Travel and stay in safe places: No matter where you are, be sure to be self aware while traveling. Stay in safe area’s, know where your belongings are and be aware of your surroundings. ie is there a cliff or a buffalo?
3. Dispose of waste properly: “Pack it in. Pack it out.” Inspect hiking areas, campsites, snack areas, eating areas, sleeping areas, etc… for garbage and signs of you! Always leave it better than you found it! 
4. Leave what you find: Preserve the past. don’t mess with cultural or historical sites or things. Don’t pick wild flowers, especially in Montana. Do your best to not bring invasive species with you. Basically, just don’t mess with stuff. 
5.  Minimize campfire impacts: This is more camping related than tourismy travel related but hey! Fire can happen anywhere. Even with smoking or driving over dry grass. So basically just be careful with things that can start fires. 
6. Respect wildlife: Observe wildlife from a distance. Don’t feed them, don’t touch them, don’t take a selfie with them, don’t let your pets near them, and please don’t mess with them during mating season, nesting, raising young or winter. This is for their safety and yours. But mostly their’s.
7. Be considerate of others: Be respectful of others, don’t be obnoxious, or rude, or ungrateful. Yield to other folks on the trail (or road) and let your surrounding sounds prevail! Also, smile! That just makes the world a better place. 

To read more about Leave No Trace click here.

The concept of leave no trace is simple and so important.

Not enough people are educated on this matter or simply don’t care. While I was in CANADA, a lady just kept cutting up the switch backs and I know she could have benefited greatly from learning these concepts of leave no trace. And don’t even get me started on Yellowstone National Park! That place is a leave no trace graveyard… Anyways!

I encourage you to apply these principals and to help teach others about them as well! Share this article, quote it, teach it… it’ll probably change the world!

Happy leave no trace travels my friends!