Top 5 tips for eco-friendly hiking and trekking

share | tweet | MORE |

 

photo by Fred Fokkelman

The whole point of hiking is to experience the beauty of nature, to breathe fresh and clean air and to exercise your muscles in a way that is fun and environmentally sound. But as eco-friendly as hiking generally is, there’s always the risk of destroying or damaging a bit of the natural environment where you are.

Since all hikers want to be able to return to their favorite trails and find them unchanged, there are some small steps that you can take in order to make this happen: here are top 5 tips for eco-conscious hiking and trekking.

Take only pictures, leave only footprints

This is the basic tenet of environmentalism, and if you want to be more thorough about it, you cal also add ‘kill only time’. The point is that when you set up camp or when you stop for a break, you should collect all litter, even the biodegradable stuff, because even biodegradable waste can affect the natural resources of the ecosystem, or may attract animals.

Respect your porters

High altitude climbs and organized hiking trips often employ porters to carry luggage and equipment on steep and difficult slopes, often working for very small wages. Responsible, eco-conscious travel implies helping local economies sustain themselves and preserve their natural riches, and this can’t happen unless the people are treated fairly. Pack as light as you can, distribute heavy items in different bags and treat the porters with respect.

Clean up after others

Just because you’re eco-conscious, it doesn’t mean that everybody is like that. Most hikers and trekkers who are traveling on well known trails have found litter at some point. You can make a difference by picking up the trash you find on your way, and at least you’ll be happy with the knowledge that the hikers who come after you will not feel like they’re in a waste yard.

It’s not always good to travel off the beaten path

Stepping off the beaten path takes a huge toll on fragile environments, even if you don’t intend to ruin anything and you clean up after yourself. The trick to truly eco-friendly hiking is to become a passive observer, and keep your distance from untouched areas you see on your way. Sticking to the beaten path will minimize the impact you have on wildlife and environment.

Protect water sources

While it might seem like a good idea to take a refreshing dip in a stream or maybe quickly wash your clothes, but streams and rivers you that you encounter on your way might be a source of water for local villages, as well as for animals living nearby. So never wash dishes (or yourself, if you are using soap or products) directly in a water source, and dispose of the dirty water in a place that’s not near it.

Category: Product #: Regular price:$ (Sale ends !) Available from: Condition: Good ! Order now!

You might also like

share | tweet | more |

 

Leave a comment on Top 5 tips for eco-friendly hiking and trekking

Enter your comment below, or Trackback from your own blog. You can also subscribe to these comments via RSS
 

Leave a comment:

* your name

* your email address (will not be published)

your website

 

*=required