‘Leave no trace’ is the rule for outdoors conduct – SC Times

Scott Mackenthun| Special to the St. Cloud Times

Minnesotans have flocked to the outdoors during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

Some were regular participants who have always spent time outdoors;some are lapsed participants who are rediscovering the tremendous benefits of outdoor recreation;and a third grouping are the new recruits folks who dont have backgrounds in the outdoors at all and are seeing Minnesotas great outdoors in many places for the first time.

The outdoors is a place where everyone should feel welcome. But it is also a place that deserves respect and requires its visitors to follow some basic rules. Based on the accounts of bad behavior and poor etiquette seen locally and nationally in 2020 and 2021, it seems that some folks need a reminder of a few things when they get outside and into nature. Just like in kindergarten, where you learned the golden rule of treating others as you want to be treated and have carried that idiomatic rule throughout your lifetime of interpersonal relationships, there is a simple rule that should govern your behavior outside.

Leave no trace covers just about everything in the code of human conduct while outdoors.

Stay on designated trails. Unless you are going to a wilderness area or a wildlife management area that promotes disbursed recreation, most places have trails, and managers implore you to keep you on said trails. When you get off trail, you disturb vegetated sites and have impacts to flora and fauna. Stay on the trails. Leave no trace.

Dont vandalize park property. Seems pretty obvious. No one needs to see graffiti or your initials in a wood bench, or stickers on signs. Dont cut down trees to construct forts or to make your own firewood. Leave no trace.

Keep fires in designated locations only. Its amazing how many leftover fires are found in places they dont belong. Unless you are in a back country area where its specifically allowed, most places want fires in fire rings only. With how hot and dry this past Minnesota summer was, its amazing we didnt have more manmade fires. Leave no trace.

When you go to some places with remarkable natural beauty, do your best to keep it that way. Get your picture or take in the view, then move aside for others to do the same. Dont hog the good viewing areas and dont start stacking rocks up to make your mark. Too many trails, trailheads, stream crossingsand beaches are getting filled with rock cairns. When you start stacking cairns, its a sign to me that youre inexperienced outdoors. Leave the rocks alone; youre messing with microhabitats that are important to birds, fish, insectsand small mammals.

See some wildlife nearby? Great. Admire it from a distance. It seems like foolishness is rewarded these days when people make the news for taking selfies by bison and grizzly bears and then wonder why they are being gored or charged. It isnt just the big, dangerous critters that deservesome space. Respect nature and give her some space. Leave no trace.

When youre loading up gear at a BWCA portage, grabbing gear at a trailheador unstrapping the boat at the public launch, get out of peoples way as you start. Its a courtesy to others to stay out of the way as you get things ready. Once you have everything ready, then embark and take to the trail or launch.

Finally is the issue of rubbish. How can people come to these beautiful natural areas, and leave so much waste behind? Its a very simple rule if you pack it in, pack it out! Any wrappers, containers, bottles, cans, dog waste, garbage ... take it with you! Dont expect someone to grab it for you or for the parks department to put out a trash can. Take it home with you and dispose of it properly. Leave no trace.

To those who have been leaving no trace and are good ambassadors to the outdoors, keep up the good work. But moving forward, outdoors folks need to start policing ourselves. Speak up when you see bad behavior. Natural Resources and Parks Enforcement is stretched far too thin to respond to the huge outdoor exodus that is happening in COVIDtimes. There is plenty of room for everyone outdoors, and all should feel welcome. We just need everyone to be respectful.

This is the opinion ofoutdoors columnistScottMackenthun. You can follow him on Instagram @scottmackenthunand on Twitter @ScottyMack31.

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'Leave no trace' is the rule for outdoors conduct - SC Times