Leave No Trace

I'm just going to say if we're in a flash flood, we're both pretty much just screwed and we're just going to swim for sure.

All right, Chad, do you follow Leave No Trace principles religiously or mostly?

Oh, 100%.

Two of our closest friends actually work for Leave No Trace.

So we've gotten many, many lessons on Leave No Trace.

In fact, they've been on our podcast.

And

I learned a lot.

And I think a lot of times the things that people think are the most unsafe are very unlikely to actually happen when you're out there.

I think looking at the statistics helped me a lot to know, like, there's thousands of people hiking the PCT every year and they're alone and they... are fine nothing has happened to them so if i'm out on a two-night backpacking trip the chances of something happening that isn't my own fault is very slim right if i'm pla if i planned ahead and was prepared like leave no trace tells us to do i shouldn't be in a situation i shouldn't have put myself in a situation that makes me unsafe the things i think people are worried about and they think threaten their safety the most are things like wildlife The chance of a bear attacking you is negligible.

It's not going to happen if you're following proper bear safety or people are afraid of just being alone.

I think you can learn to be alone in your everyday life before you go out there.

All right.

Yeah.

And drinking that dirty pot water is also part of leave no trace.

And I know you're a big leave no trace proponent out there.

So in that office, we were working in the entire Indian River Lagoon with all the counties and all the nonprofits, all the organizations, community programs, you know, for the Indian River Lagoon.

So I had a lot of connections and knowledge and passion already for the area in the environment, had already been working with Leave No Trace in the area for the aquatic preserves.

And that position was also a lot of focus on education, community involvement, sustainable recreation.

So when this position came open, it was a lot of this wonderful combination of these things as well.

And being able to utilize the things I love to do, you know, I love the environment and I have the conservation biology background, biology background, but being able to share that with the community on the public and then having that opportunity through tourism, which I already kind of had experience in, it was just really exciting.

Well, as a Leave No Trace master educator, Emily, I'd love to hear what is Leave No Trace and how can, how'd you guys make this a part, that official partnership?

Yeah, absolutely.

So Leave No Trace is a nonprofit and they're actually physically based in Colorado.

welcome to let's go outside a podcast bringing moms together to chat about the raw unfiltered reality of doing the exploring we love after having kids no matter your comfort level of adventuring with the little ones this is a space to have honest conversations about the real struggles of getting out the door with the kiddos I'm Danika, a mama living in a small mountain town who's totally obsessed with healthy food and taking my kids outside every single day.

I professionally guided backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies, and I'm certified as a Leave No Trace instructor.

On the show, you'll hear real experiences from other moms, plus tips on gear, trail snacks, and the best practices in the wilderness.

Whether it's hiking, camping, backpacking, skiing, or traveling the world you want to do more of, This is your place to learn, find encouragement, and strip away any comparison.

Um, Matt, aka PDCat766, did the Breakneck Ridge and also cleaned up some trail trash, so thanks, Matt.

I know Josh is a big advocate of doing Leave No Trace.

Oh, yes.

You're a Leave No Trace advocate, correct?

Yeah, I'm a licensed trainer as well.

Um, yeah.

That's one of the ways we help their hike leaders get equipped for the outdoors.

So November 7th through the 8th, wilderness first aid, Catskill 3500 Club signup.

In season six, we hit the trail for an episode called Sharing the Path: The Art of Being Trail Kind, where we discuss the unwritten rules of hiking and backpacking etiquette.

We covered everything from practicing Leave No Trace to letting fellow hikers know when you're about to pass.

But one topic really got us fired up, because it's one of the biggest distractions and annoyances you can encounter on the trail.

What trail kind tip did we say every backpacker should pay attention to? Is it A, yielding to uphill hikers; B, keeping dogs on a leash; C, wearing headphones instead of blasting music; or D, stepping aside for faster hikers? Which trail kind tip should everyone pay attention to?

Sit back and enjoy this question.

Go get my whole Barbie trophy.

In episode 96, Leave No Trace, On the Road with Janelle Solan and Rob Pelton, who make up the Leave No Trace/Subaru traveling team.

Rob and Janelle taught the audience all seven Leave No Trace principles using memorable hand motions.

But even, you know, like y- you're just a typical visitor, you know, just come and be respectful.

Leave No Trace is a big one.

Um, you know, put your, throw your trash away, 'cause that seems to be what I've seen it at other parks too, is that just that little bit of trash that people just like lose or toss out, like bottle caps, things like that, it adds up.

And so even just picking up some trash, being mindful, um, checking out local partnerships is a good way.

So yeah.

yeah.Nice, nice, nice.

And I also think to the listeners, if you wanna help protect the parks, any park, your local state park, attending these interpretive programs because some- you do learn about ways that, like leave no trace principles, um, cutting switchbacks, like what damage can, can that do over time.

So like it's, you know, as fun and exciting as the interpretive programs are, it's a- there's an, at times an educational...