---
title: "Vanish without a trace: leave no trace"
description: "With more and more mountain lovers out there, it doesn't hurt to revisit the basics of outdoor ethics. Read the principles of the Leave No Trace organization."
canonical_url: "https://gramino.com/blog/leave-no-trace"
last_updated: "2023-01-15"
---

# Vanish without a trace: leave no trace

Authors: Tomáš Roztočil

Date: 2023-01-15

With more and more mountain lovers out there, it doesn't hurt to revisit the basics of outdoor ethics. Read the principles of the Leave No Trace organization.

Picture this: you're lying on the most remote summit you can find, a gentle spring breeze is blowing, and you're just about to dig into the dinner you've been looking forward to all day on the trail. You lean back against your backpack, pull the pot off the stove… and right then the wind sends a suspicious little tumbleweed rolling toward you – on closer inspection, best case, it turns out to be just a tissue… Trash and other indelible traces of humans, of every kind, in the forests and mountains have caught nearly all of us off guard at some point – so how should we behave in nature so that every adventurer after us can enjoy it just as much?

All it takes is sticking to a handful of simple principles in the spirit of the *Leave No Trace* philosophy, so you can truly vanish in nature without a trace. You've probably followed many of them for years already, but repetition is the mother of wisdom, and with more and more people heading for the hills, it doesn't hurt to revisit the basics of outdoor etiquette.

## **To each their own mountain**

From devotees of [lightweight hiking](/blog/lightweight-hiking-benefits) to [bikepackers](/blog/how-to-get-started-with-bikepacking), all the way to seasoned backpackers with fully loaded packs – pretty much everyone heads out into nature mainly to clear their head. Forests and mountains are one of our last refuges from the rush and grime of cities. But how is a person supposed to clear their head when even once-untouched places are slowly but surely filling up with civilization's litter? You might be thinking that the more sensible members of the species *Homo sapiens* are the ones who head for the mountains – so how do you explain the piles of trash in shelters and along the trails, the toilet paper behind every spruce tree, and the carelessly trampled mountain meadows?

That's exactly the question the international organization [*Leave No Trace*](https://lnt.org/) set out to answer. It was originally founded in response to the growing popularity of long-distance trekking in the US, which brought piles of trash sprouting up at every trail junction. For outdoor enthusiasts, they put together 7 recommendations – or principles, if you like – that everyone who cares even a little about pristine nature should take to heart. These principles were originally meant mainly for stays in remote wilderness, but you can apply them anywhere nature reaches – from national parks, to your nearby woods, to a city park or even your own backyard.

## Plan ahead and prepare

Every good adventure needs a certain dose of the unknown – we all know the best experiences are waiting just beyond the edge of the map and your comfort zone. That doesn't mean you shouldn't know anything about the area you're heading into, though. The more you know about the specifics of the local ecosystem, the less harm you'll do to it, and the more you'll enjoy the trip. When planning multi-day treks, don't underestimate the importance of knowing local regulations on bivouacking or camping and traveling off marked trails. Information on available drinking water sources is essential too – if you know you'll need to top up on fluids from open water sources like rivers or lakes, a [water filter](/c/gear/water-filters) will come in handy. Mark all the key points nearby on a paper map and save them in your navigation device too – that way you'll always have plenty of options if your plans change unexpectedly.

- [HydroBlu Versa Flow Water Filter Package](/p/hydroblu-versa-flow-water-filter-package.md)
- [Katadyn BeFree 1 L](/p/katadyn-befree-1-l.md)
- [CNOC Hydriam 500 ml 28 mm](/p/cnoc-hydriam-500-ml-28-mm.md)
- [Platypus Softbottle 1.0 L Platy Logo Closure Cap](/p/platypus-softbottle-1-l-platy-logo-closure-cap.md)
- [HydroBlu Versa Flow Water Filter](/p/hydroblu-versa-flow-water-filter.md)
- [HydroBlu Collapsible Canteen](/p/hydroblu-collapsible-canteen.md)
- [CNOC Vecto 2 L 28 mm](/p/cnoc-vecto-2-l-28-mm.md)
- [CNOC Vesica 1 L 42 mm](/p/cnoc-vesica-1-l-42-mm.md)
- [Sawyer Mini SP128 Orange](/p/sawyer-mini-sp128-orange.md)

If you're heading for mountain ridges on a bike, check whether parts of your planned route are off-limits to cyclists. Many regions publish online cycling maps and atlases that show marked restrictions as well as surface classifications, so you can tell in advance whether you're in for fresh asphalt, solid gravel, or even a natural singletrack trail – it's worth checking your region's equivalent before you set off. If you're planning to visit well-known national parks, it's also worth finding out when they tend to be busiest. During peak season, when trails and campsites are bursting at the seams, you won't enjoy the mountains as much, and you'll needlessly add to the strain on the local ecosystem.

Last but not least, think about how you'll handle your food supplies and trash. Pack a few sturdy plastic bags or resealable pouches so you can carry out of nature everything you brought into it.

## Travel and camp on durable surfaces

Walking on waterlogged mountain trails isn't exactly pleasant, but above all it destroys them. Especially in soft mountain terrain, it churns up the ground irreversibly and speeds up erosion and landslides. Wherever possible, stick to trails that already exist – on sharp ridgelines especially, people tend to trample new paths, which then fill with water and slide during rainy periods. Find out about seasonal rules and closures ahead of time, and always use common sense. This advice applies doubly to cyclists – check the weather forecast, and if it's been raining for the past week, skip your favorite ridge trail for now. Otherwise, even solid ground will eventually turn into a muddy, impassable quagmire. Erosion is irreversible.

When it comes to bivouacking and camping, most national parks and reserves have strict rules. Get familiar with them and follow them – that's the only way to keep these places accessible for future generations too. But think carefully about where to sleep even in countries where wild camping is allowed – for your own sake as well, avoid soft, waterlogged terrain and open slopes on mountain ridges, where erosion is a risk. Consider the size of your group too – especially at mountain bivouac sites and campsites with limited capacity, larger groups can be a real problem.

## Dispose of waste properly

Nothing ruins the mood on a trek quite like wrappers scattered through the forest and in shelters. Always keep a trash bag handy and throw every wrapper straight into it. Once you reach your destination, think about sorting your waste properly instead of stuffing your entire 'trash can' into the first bin you see.

One of the major problems with longer stays and overnights in nature isn't just plastic waste, but human waste too. Plenty of people who'd never dream of tossing food wrappers into the forest have no problem leaving a 'trace' behind the first tree they find, and that's not something other visitors appreciate either. Especially lately, with more and more people heading into the forests and mountains, trails are unfortunately starting to be lined with unsightly scraps of toilet paper and tissues that don't exactly add to the experience of unspoiled nature – stumbling across such a 'landmine' while looking for a place to sleep at night or wading through the morning dew can ruin your whole day.

For the question of 'where and how do you go when there's no civilization around with conveniences like a flush toilet,' there's luckily a simple answer: a [trowel](/p/thetentlab-dirtsaw-deuce-2-ul-trowel). This simple yet genius invention is still only slowly making its way into common use here, but as our trails grow more popular, we won't be able to do without it much longer. It's not rocket science. Just find a quiet spot far enough from the trail and any water sources, squat down, and dig a hole at least 15–20 cm deep. Once you're done, carefully fill the hole back in and no 'trace' will really be left behind. Always use plain toilet paper free of chemical additives, and steer well clear of wet wipes, which take an eternity to break down in nature. It's even better for the environment if you pack out your used toilet paper in a resealable bag (a zip-lock) and throw it away properly. Join the revolution and always bring a trowel into the woods!

Another handy trick that lets you take things a step further and ditch paper tissues altogether is a [travel bidet](/p/gramino-sagiflow-ultralight-bidet). It's an ultralight attachment that screws onto any plastic bottle, turning it into a tiny pocket shower!

[Gramino SagiFlow](/p/gramino-sagiflow-ultralight-bidet.md)

Women will also appreciate the antibacterial personal hygiene cloth [Kula Cloth](/p/kula-cloth-pee-cloth), which you simply use to wipe after peeing instead of a paper tissue. The Kula Cloth is reusable, and you can easily wash it whenever you like, whether at home or out in nature.

[Kula Cloth](/p/kula-cloth-pee-cloth.md)

Value clean water – we couldn't get by without it, not just in the mountains – if you need to wash your clothes or wash up with soap, always use readily biodegradable products that won't harm nature, such as the cleaning and laundry detergent [Wilderness Wash from Sea To Summit](/p/sea-to-summit-wilderness-wash-100-ml).

[Sea To Summit Wilderness Wash 100 ml](/p/sea-to-summit-wilderness-wash-100-ml.md)

## Leave what you find

Mountains belong to the mountains, nature belongs to nature, and that's how it should stay. So don't carve your initials into rocks, boulders, and trees along the trail, and don't build all sorts of sculptures out of them either. Nature knows how to keep itself tidy – leave everything where you found it. If you want others to know about your trips, share your adventures with friends over a beer, or on social media. Try to make sure the only thing left behind after your trip is a memory of unspoiled nature.

## Fire: a good servant, a bad master

Building a fire in the great outdoors is governed by strict rules in most countries, and especially in national parks and reserves. Many regions have designated fire pits where you can safely build a fire – but first make sure there's enough dry wood nearby, and that you have water on hand to put it out. Before you go to sleep, let the fire burn down and douse it thoroughly with plenty of water. As droughts become more frequent, wildfires are becoming more common too, and they can devastate a huge area of forest within moments – keep an eye on the weather forecast, and be extremely careful with open flames during dry spells.

## Respect wildlife

In nature, humans are visitors first and foremost. On trips into the forests and hills, we're constantly passing through the homes of countless other creatures. Treat them with respect – every organism plays a role in keeping the ecosystems that fascinate us in balance. Don't startle animals needlessly, and if you come face to face with one, give it the widest possible berth. Be especially careful during mating season, and pay attention to current notices and warnings, which you can usually find on the websites of the specific area you're visiting or on regional trail maps and park alerts.

Then there's a whole separate category of animals you should avoid for the sake of your own survival. In some mountain ranges you might run into bears, moose, or even musk oxen, mountain lions, and other potentially dangerous creatures. Think of them as the true rulers of the mountains – before entering their territory, always find out how to behave around them, and never take local advice lightly. Most of them will treat you exactly the way you treat them.

- [MSR IsoPro 227 g](/p/msr-isopro-227-g.md)
- [MSR PocketRocket Deluxe](/p/msr-pocketrocket-deluxe.md)
- [EMO Outdoor](/p/emo-outdoor-alcohol-stove.md)
- [Yate – 6 Tablets in a Tube](/p/yate-solid-fuel-tablets-6pcs.md)
- [TOAKS Titanium 750 ml Pot](/p/toaks-pot-750-ml.md)
- [Sea To Summit Frontier UL Cutlery Set Long Handle 2P](/p/sea-to-summit-frontier-ul-cutlery-set-long-handle-2p.md)
- [TOAKS Titanium Folding Spoon](/p/toaks-titanium-folding-spoon.md)
- [Deejo Black 27 g coralwood](/p/deejo-black-27-g-coralwood.md)
- [Sea To Summit Frontier UL Collapsible Bowl](/p/sea-to-summit-frontier-ul-collapsible-bowl.md)
- [TOAKS Titanium Long Handle Spoon With Polished Bowl](/p/toaks-titanium-long-handle-spoon-with-polished-bowl.md)
- [Jetboil Flash 1.0 L](/p/jetboil-flash-1-0.md)

## Be considerate of others

As much as we'd sometimes like to be, we're almost never truly alone out in nature. Let others enjoy the mountains and forests in peace. Don't disturb them with music, and respect their personal space, whether it's day or night. Remember that bivouac shelters exist mainly for sleeping in rough mountain conditions – you can chat over a beer until sunrise down in the valley pub. If you're traveling in a large or even organized group, avoid smaller-capacity shelters – in some countries, where they've become popular targets for (pseudo) tour operators, park authorities have already started closing them to the public. On exposed mountain ridges, always be considerate of others – you never know when you might need their help. Be especially careful when riding a bike on hiking trails – pedestrians always have the right of way!

The better we treat each other, the better an experience we'll take away from nature. Mountains bring people together – on their ridges, we're all equal.

## **Vanish without a trace**

The recommendations above are surely nothing new to you – they're among the absolute basics of outdoor etiquette. If we follow them, the paths into all those fragile ecosystems that fascinate and recharge us will stay open to us. No matter how or where we're headed, we should always remember that a journey into nature is, above all, a journey into our own inner selves. Treat it with respect, and it will show you the unimaginable. Vanish into the mountains without a trace.

- [Sea To Summit Wilderness Wash 100 ml](/p/sea-to-summit-wilderness-wash-100-ml.md)
- [Liteway Wash Bag](/p/liteway-wash-bag.md)
- [Sea To Summit Trek and Travel Liquid Body Wash 100 ml](/p/sea-to-summit-trek-and-travel-liquid-body-wash-100-ml.md)
- [Curaprox Travel set](/p/curaprox-travel-set.md)
- [Kula Cloth](/p/kula-cloth-pee-cloth.md)
- [FlipFuel® Fuel Transfer Device](/p/flipfuel-fuel-transfer-device.md)
- [Gramino Trail Slang Men's](/p/gramino-tshirt-trailslang-mens.md)
- [Gramino SagiFlow](/p/gramino-sagiflow-ultralight-bidet.md)
- [Gramino Ultralight Sit Pad](/p/gramino-ultralight-sit-pad.md)
- [Gramino Trucker Hat](/p/gramino-trucker-hat.md)
- [Tyvek 75x230 cm (for 1 person)](/p/tyvek-groundsheet-230-x-75-cm.md)

This post is also available as [HTML](/blog/leave-no-trace).

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.