Skip a Rock, Make a Ripple: Leave No Trace

Skip A Rock, Make A Ripple

Spreading Outdoor Ethics Throughout the Jewel of the Sierra

BY JULIA KASETA

As we dive into summer and the crystalclear waters of Lake Tahoe, the Jewel of the Sierra and all its inhabitants will once again be engulfed by the area’s uptick in summertime vacationers. The nooks and crannies of the Tahoe Basin will be flooded with backpackers, climbers, bikers, paddlers, splish-splashers, and everyone in-between. From the bustling casino corridor of South Lake Tahoe to the remote ranges of the wilderness, there will be people and there will be pollution. Broken sled pieces left on the corrals of Spooner Summit and Van SickleBi State Park will make their way into the streams and bellies of hungry trout. East shore beaches will be overrun with plastic bottles, cans, and cigarette butts from shoulder-toshoulder holiday celebrations. Take-out food containers will make their way around and on top of bear-proof trash bins, but not quite in them. Water clarity, wildlife, soil, vegetation, and the experience of others will continue to lay victim to their exploiters.

The ‘someone will clean it’—mentality behind it all is running environmental groups ragged as they scramble with upkeep. The Tahoe Rim Trail Association and partners are implementing innovative strategies to manage the impacts of 15 million people within driving distance of Lake Tahoe. Sustainable trail maintenance, natural resource restoration, land and water trash clean-ups, and clever informational messaging are some ways the local collective is tackling the pollution problem. And while preventative and repair efforts are making ripples in the right direction, education efforts are making waves. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has developed a user-centered solution to the irresponsible recreation crisis. With a focus on civic stewardship, the globally-recognized framework is bringing awareness to outdoor novices and experts alike. With seven golden rules, Leave No Trace (LNT) is steering environmental health and wellness into the hands, and the minds, of the user.

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare—

Know Before You Go 2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces — Choose the Right Path 3. Dispose of Waste Properly— Trash Your Trash 4. Leave What You Find—Leave it How You Found it 5. Minimize Campfire Impacts— Be Careful With Fires 6. Respect Wildlife—Be Kind to Wildlife 7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors— Be Kind to Others

The Seven LNT Principles illustrate responsible recreation practices in a way that all can understand, with attention to detail where it matters most. Understanding the area’s governing organizations, informational resources, and natural history can be the difference between good and bad practices. The Tahoe Basin, a cooperative of national forests, wilderness areas, and state parks, sets regulations to protect the national treasure by enforcing permit requirements for backcountry camping and Basin-wide fire bans. Other stewards of the area promote LNT etiquette that is most neglected and misunderstood by visitors. For example, you may see signs hanging with mantras like “when in doubt, pack it in, pack it out.” This includes all things trash - wrappers, dog poop bags, bottles, food scraps, peels, pits, toilet paper, masks, etc. All but human waste. That has a place underground, 6-8 inches deep and 100 steps away from any water sources, to be exact. Food? That goes in a bear-can, so bears can’t get take-out. And once you’re back from your outing, unpack, trash your trash, then latch.

To ensure these LNT specifics are accessible for your upcoming adventures, the TRTA’s education initiatives are sweeping the Tahoe Basin this summer. Trail-wide resources include Leave No Trace posters, designed and illustrated by local and regional students, are available for reference at each TRT trailhead. Weekend ambassador support at TRT trailheads will provide local resources and sustainable recreation information. Certification in LNT Awareness for youth through the TRTA’s hands-on curriculum will engage youth in stewardship practices. As we create a cleaner and more cared-for environment, others will follow suit. This is the ripple effect of outdoor ethics.

Call to Action: Care, Clean, Certify! Become a steward for the Tahoe area by participating in the TRTA’s Leave No Trace Awareness Program. Completely free and accessible online, you(th) can earn a LNT Awareness certificate from the Center for Outdoor Ethics by completing the hands-on curriculum. Cut out the flyer on the next page and start with a sample activity on your next adventure.