Yesterday, I decided to give this “leave no trace” thing a try. I’d heard about it, you know, the whole “pack it in, pack it out” deal, but never really put it into practice. So, I picked a local trail I like, nothing too crazy, just a nice loop through the woods.
Getting Ready
First, I made sure I had the right gear. I packed a reusable water bottle instead of buying those plastic ones. I also brought along a couple of cloth bags for snacks – no plastic baggies this time! I even remembered to grab a small trash bag to carry out any waste I might create.
On the Trail
As I was hiking, I was really paying attention to my surroundings. It’s actually pretty cool how much you notice when you’re trying not to leave a mark. I stayed on the marked trail the whole time, even when it got a little muddy. I figured stepping through the mud was better than widening the path and messing up the plants on the sides.
- Snack time? I unwrapped my granola bar carefully and stuffed the wrapper into my cloth bag.
- Found a cool rock? I admired it, maybe took a picture, but then left it right where it was.
- Saw some other people’s trash? Ugh, it’s annoying, but I picked up a few pieces and stashed them in my trash bag.
Wrapping Up
When I finished the hike, I double-checked my surroundings. I didn’t want to accidentally leave anything behind. Back at the trailhead, I emptied my trash bag into the proper receptacle, and took my reusable stuff home to wash. Honestly, it wasn’t that hard!
It felt good to know I did my part to keep the trail nice for everyone else. It’s not like I became some super eco-warrior overnight, but it’s a start. I’m definitely going to try to do this “leave no trace” thing more often. It’s just common sense, really.
