Leave no trace: seven habits we teach on every trip

Every year more people discover the hills, which is wonderful. It also means that small habits add up. A single apple core does not matter. Ten thousand of them along one path do. These are the seven habits we teach on every Northwilds trip.

The seven habits

• Plan ahead. Know the route, the weather and the local rules, so you do not end up making poor choices in a hurry.
• Stay on durable ground. Walk on the path, even when it is muddy, and camp on rock, gravel or dry grass.
• Take everything home. Including food scraps, tea bags and orange peel, which take years to rot in the mountains.
• Leave what you find. Flowers, stones and antlers belong where they are.
• Keep fires small, or skip them. Use a stove, and only light fires where it is allowed and safe.
• Respect wildlife. Watch from a distance, never feed animals and keep dogs on a lead in nesting season.
• Be kind to other visitors. Keep voices down, give way on narrow paths and leave gates as you found them.

Why the path matters

Stepping around a muddy patch widens the path a little each time. Over a summer, a path one person wide becomes a scar ten metres across that takes decades to heal. Good boots and a willingness to get them muddy are the simplest form of conservation there is.

Going further

On our trips, each guest gets a small bag for litter they find along the way. Last year our groups carried out over 400 kilograms of rubbish that other people had left behind.