Leave No Trace

Remember the slogan, "Pack it in, pack it out"?  Although that principle applies, there is more to be learned about using and respecting the outdoors.  Here is some information about "Leave No Trace" to get you started.       

Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an educational organization whose mission is to teach people how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly and reduce their impacts on the environment.

A little history of LNT from their website:   

"Leave No Trace was incorporated as a 501-c-3, nonprofit organization in 1994, though the Leave No Trace concept is over 40 years old. Leave No Trace was formally conceived of by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service in the 1960’s. However, as public land use expanded and land managers witnessed the biophysical effects of this use, the Forest Service along with the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management developed early wilderness ethics practices.

By the mid-1980’s, the Forest Service had a formal “No-Trace” program emphasizing the cultivation of new wilderness ethics and sustainable no-trace travel and camping practices. The success of this program lead to cooperation among the Forest Service, National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management’s authorship of a pamphlet entitled “Leave No Trace Land Ethics.”

In the early 1990s, the Forest Service worked with the National Outdoor Leadership School to develop hands-on, science-based minimum impact education training for non-motorized recreational activities.

An outdoor recreation summit was convened in 1993 including the various outdoor industry and sporting trade associations, NOLS, nonprofit organizations, outdoor manufacturer and federal land management agencies to create an independent 501-c-3, nonprofit organization called Leave No Trace, Inc. The organization, now known as the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics (the Center), was incorporated to develop and expand Leave No Trace training and educational resources, spread the general program components, and engage a diverse range of partners from the federal land management agencies and outdoor industry corporations to nonprofit environmental and outdoor organizations and youth-serving groups..."   
  
Are you familiar with "Leave No Trace" principles?  These principles are both guidelines and techniques recommended to minimize overuse of both backcountry and frontcountry natural areas. 
    

**Plan Ahead and Prepare

**Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

**Dispose of Waste Properly

**Leave What You Find

**Minimize Campfire Impacts

**Respect Wildlife

**Be Considerate of Other Visitors


Check out the LNT principles page for an in-depth discussion of the list above and then take the Online Awareness Course to see how much you learned!

For both the outdoors and for ringing in the new year: Enjoy Responsibly! 

Hiking as Creative Inspiration

Do you document your hikes? In what way? Photos? Sketchbook? GPS?

Here are a few samples of hike-inspired artwork I've done over the years.  Enjoy and Happy Solstice, everyone!

           

Settling into Winter

Late fall on Mt. Yale, Colorado

Oh, so many activities and so little time!

You hear the crunch, crunch, crunching of snow under your feet.  Sparkling crystals of hoar frost on tree branches may catch your eye.  Animal tracks are imprinted into the snow.  The beauty of nature changes with the seasons and winter is often a more peaceful time to get outside.  

Snowshoeing is a great way to keep hiking during winter months.  A basic pair of snowshoes, warm boots and socks, gaiters, poles, and several layers of clothing are all you need for a great day out in addition to your winter hiking pack.  I like bringing along a thermos full of hot tea or apple cider to enjoy during breaks along the trail.     

Many people like cross-country skiing as a crossover sport to hiking and bicycling.  If you have trails close and gear handy, this is a fun way to keep fit.  Groomed trails, golf courses, and parks are often available as nearby places to explore with cross-country skis.

One simple activity that I really enjoy during the winter is trail running! We are lucky enough to have some beautiful trails just blocks from where we live. Low snow volume in winter (we live in the "banana belt" rainshadow of the Continental Divide) keeps the local trails navigable. There are a few hearty souls out there that run in any weather, keeping the trails closer to town quite packed down.  However, I found myself out breaking trail in 6-12" of new snow last week... and loving every minute of it!  It was quite the workout but the temperature was comfortable and the scenery was amazing!

While it is nice to have the latest and greatest new gear, used snowshoes and cross-country equipment may often be found in sports consignment shops.  Many specialty outdoors stores rent equipment if you'd like to "try before you buy".  If you don't have anyone experienced to go with, there are often local guides or groups to check into (contact your local outdoors store).  One website that might be of help is here. 

What are some of the ways you enjoy winter outside? 

Blister Basics

I have developed a blister.  Now what?


If you can figure out why the blister developed, it will be easier to understand what to do to prevent the blister from becoming worse.  Some possible causes:

• Ill-fitting shoe (too loose, too tight, loose heel pocket)
• Pressure Point(s)
• Toenails hitting front of shoe
• Callous/thick skin rubbing next to soft/supple skin

Where is your blister located?

• Heel
• Side of foot
• Next to a callous
• Between toes
• Under a toenail
• Tip of toe

 
Is the pressure ok with the blister intact or do you need to lance it?
Depending on the location of the blister and your tolerance to pain, consider whether to lance or not.  If you do lance the blister, are you able to keep the area clean to prevent infection? 

Techniques

For basic, easy to access blisters, a traditional donut works well.  Cut an oval or circle from a piece of moleskin or molefoam 1/4" or so larger than the blister circumference.  Then cut a hole out of the circle just larger than the blister.  Peel off the sticky backing and stick to clean skin surface.  (If you are having trouble getting anything to stick to the skin, use tincture of benzoin on the skin to help increase the stickiness.)  Cover with a protective layer of paper tape, making sure the tape is smooth and not creating further wrinkles.  If the blister has been opened, a layer of 2nd Skin between the blister & donut soothes and protects the skin.

You can modify this technique to use for various scenarios.  I will often use a smaller, second donut on top of the first (looks like a topo map from above) if I need to raise the area around the blister to alleviate pressure.  If a full donut won't fit, you can contour strips of moleskin instead.  This often works for the blister that develops on the side of the foot next to a callous. 

Ends of toes can be a challenge.  If there is enough room in the shoe without causing further pressure, try a small donut.  Very carefully tape a toe-width strip up & over the top.  Add tape wraps around the toe, smoothing out any wrinkles. 

Donuts can work well between the toes also.  Make sure you create enough space for the blister to reside within the donut hole.  Cover smoothly with tape.

Blisters developing underneath toenails can cause a lot of pressure to build up (even lifting the nail off its bed in extreme cases).  Lancing a blister such as this is more advanced and not for the faint of heart.  I'm not going to go into detail about that today. 
  
Bottom line:  Do your best to figure out and correct the cause of the blister.  Experiment to find what works for you.  If something doesn't work for you, change it on the trail, don't suffer if you don't have to!  

Suggestions for making your own "Blister Kit":

• scissors
• moleskin, molefoam
• Band-Aid blister blocks or similar gel-type pads
• Adhesive strips
• Paper (i.e., Micropore) tape
• Tincture of benzoin vials (available here or here)
• needle(s) and something to sterilize them with, such as a lighter
• Sterile gauze pads
• Water based gel pads (such as 2nd Skin) 

Here's an excellent article on blisters by WMI.

Footcare 101

Hikers frequently ask me, "How do I deal with hot spots and blisters on my feet?"  The best choice, in my opinion, is Preventive Care.   

You may already know if and where your feet have sensitive or irritated areas while hiking.  In that case, you may wish to cover those "hot spots" with moleskin, a gel pad, or tape before heading out for your hike.  I prefer to use a breathable paper tape called Micropore (available at most pharmacies) but there are many different tapes out there that will work. 

 

Here are some ideas for preventing blisters: 

Cover "hot spots" & sensitive areas. 

• At the first sign of irritation or discomfort, check your feet.  Cover hot spots to keep friction between the sock & your skin from causing blisters. 
• Make sure the tape or whatever you are using is smoothed out -- wrinkles may promote more blisters!

 Wear appropriate socks.

• Fabrics that wick such as acrylic, merino wool, or wool blend are great for hiking socks. Most are available in various thicknesses.
• Cotton can be too abrasive and retain moisture so it is not recommended for hiking.
• There are "toe" socks (i.e., Ininji, etc.) that some people find easier to wear than taping between their toes. 
• I prefer a thin sock in hot weather and sometimes use a coolmax/cycling sock to minimize foot perspiration.  

Keep feet as dry as possible.

• Air them out at lunchtime if weather permits. 
• Change socks if necessary.

Wear a good fitting hiking boot/trail shoe. 

• A proper fit will minimize blisters and pressure points.  

Clip toenails. 

• Nasty, blood-filled blisters can form under toenails from repetitive jamming into the front of your shoes.

What works for you? 

An upcoming post will discuss what to do once you get a blister.  Thanks for visiting!