What Is LNT and How Can You Incorporate it Into Your Arizona Trail Thru Hike (or any adventure)?
While on trail we should be practicing Leave No Trace principles. What does this mean? This means we are having a minimum impact on the land that we are traveling on. The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace are as follows:
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 others
(Leave No Trace. https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/. Accessed 1 February 2023)
Let’s discuss how you can incorporate each of these principles into your hike. First and foremost, you should plan ahead. Before leaving each town stop you should have a rough idea of how many days it will take you to get to your next resupply (town) location and carry the appropriate amount of food to get you there (more info on figuring this out in the “Food” section). That way you are not putting your life or others lives in danger. This also means looking ahead in the data sheets and/or FarOut app for viable water sources. This is a BIG important one on the AZT. There will be sections where there are 20 mile stretches between water sources. You need to know this ahead of time so that you don’t get caught off guard. At the very least you need to look at the FarOut app as you’re filling up at a water source to see how many more miles to the next water source. Make sure you look in the comments of the next water source (within the FarOut app) to make sure there is indeed still water at that source.
You should be camping on durable surfaces, such as dirt, sand, or rock. Basically, you should be camping somewhere that looks like it’s already been camped in before or won’t damage resources (including any vegetation like grass or flowers). Obviously, if there’s a sign that says “no camping” or “restoration area” or something to that affect, you do not want to camp there. These signed areas need time and space to regrow. Durable surfaces are abundant on the trail so you don’t need to stress on whether or not there will be any durable surface areas to camp on, making it easy to follow this LNT principle.
The next principle is disposing of your trash (and waste) properly. You should carry a gallon ziplock bag with you that holds all of your trash, like wrappers, open tuna pouches, etc. Please do not just throw your trash on the ground and do not burn your trash. Carry that trash out and throw it away at your next town stop. This also includes your toilet paper. It used to be common and acceptable practice to bury your toilet paper. This is not OK anymore. You should pack out your toilet paper. More info about this in the “Hygiene” section.
On your journey you also want to leave what you find. This means leaving the land the way you found it and not taking home any “souvenirs” from the land. You’re backpacking almost 800 miles, do you really want to be carrying any extra stuff anyway?
You want to minimize campfires, if you decide to have any. The AZT is a very dry landscape and with the abundance of wildfires each year you don’t want to be the cause of one. I personally would not choose to have a campfire on the AZT. The risk is too great! Besides, you will most likely be too exhausted at the end of each day that you’ll just want to crawl into your shelter and go to sleep! Please check for fire restrictions before entering sections of the AZT.
Along the way you may see some pretty cool wildlife. Please respect the wildlife. Observe it from a distance, do not try to get closer to get a better view. Don’t touch or pick up any wildlife you may come across. This can stress it out. Just enjoy it from a distance and go on your merry way down the trail with a smile on your face, happy to have experienced a view of something special. And, of course, don’t feed any wildlife. What you have for snacks in your pack is not healthy for them (and may not even be healthy for you, lol).
And last but not least, be considerate of others. You are enjoying the great outdoors, others should be able to do the same. As a thru-hiker I know you are trying to get miles in, but you should respect other people on the trail, including day hikers. If you are trying to get past a slower hiker, simply let them know there’s a hiker coming up behind them and you’d like to sneak by. There is no need to be rude and/or give them no warning. Just a simple “hey, coming up behind you, can I sneak by?” will do the trick and is respectful. This also means, if you’re going to listen to music on the trail, please be considerate of others and use ear buds. You may be enjoying your music, podcast, etc., but others may be out there to listen to nature or just be alone with their thoughts in the great outdoors.
Practicing Leave No Trace still allows you to enjoy this beautiful trail while allowing others to do so as well. If we all practice these simple principles all those along the trail will appreciate the magnificence of the AZT, both present and future generations.