The CMC has a long, proud tradition of supporting environmental ethics. We have an active partnership with the nonprofit organization Leave No Trace, Inc. to support "Leave No Trace" (LNT) hiking and camping principles. Please be sure to follow LNT principles during your trips and activities with the Club so that future generations can continue to enjoy the Colorado mountains.

The most fundamental tenets of LNT include:

• Rest on rock, not on vegetation.
• Leave what you find, including flowers and berries.
• Pack out biodegradable food; don't throw it on the ground.
• Conduct bathroom stops at least 200 feet from bodies of water.
• Pack out toilet paper in plastic bags.
• Stay on designated trails and don't cut switchbacks.
• To avoid creating wider trails or multiple trails, walk through puddles on the trail, not around them.
• When walking on areas where there is no trail, spread out.
• Avoid loose scree slopes; use the most stable route.

How CMC Promotes the LNT principles.

CMC trips are limited in size to reduce environmental impact and disturbances to other visitors. Please travel reasonably quietly in the backcountry; others will appreciate the solitude. You will also become more aware of your environment and have a better chance to see wildlife.

CMC members should always hike on existing trails where possible. Walking outside the main trail to avoid rocks or mud breaks down the trail edge, widens the trail, and leads to destructive creation of additional paths. Short-cutting switchbacks causes erosion. If a trail is impassable, walk on hard surfaces such as rocks, sand or snow, and notify the agency officials responsible for the area. When taking breaks during a hike, rest on a durable material such as stones or sand. Avoid trampling greenery.

Avoid camping close to water and trails, and select a site that is not visible to others. Even in popular areas the sense of solitude can be enhanced by screening campsites and choosing a more out-of-the-way site. Also, be sure to obey any regulations in the area related to campsite selection. Allow enough time and energy at the end of the day to select an appropriate site. Tiredness, bad weather, and lateness of the day are not acceptable excuses for choosing a poor or fragile campsite.

Generally it is best to camp on sites that are so highly impacted that further careful use will cause no additional impact. Avoid sites and trails that show slight signs of use. In remote, pristine areas, camp on a previously unused site; in popular areas, select a campsite that is well established. In popular areas these sites are obvious because they have already lost their vegetation cover. It may also be possible to find a site that naturally lacks vegetation, such as exposed bedrock or sandy areas. When leaving camp, make sure that it is clean, attractive, and appealing to other campers who follow.

Pick up and pack out all of your litter. Burying or leaving trash and litter in the backcountry is unacceptable. On the way out when your pack is light, try to pick up litter left by others. Consider the words "Leave No Trace" a challenge to take out everything that you brought into the backcountry.

Leave natural flowers and plants, architectural artifacts, and rocks. "Take only pictures; leave only footprints."

The CMC strongly discourages campfires.

Dealing with Human Waste

Visitors to the backcountry create certain types of waste that cannot be packed out. This includes human waste. Proper disposal of human waste is important to avoid pollution of water sources, avoid the negative implications of someone else finding it, minimize the possibility of spreading disease, and maximize the rate of decomposition. Burying human feces in the correct location and manner is the most effective method to meet these objectives.

"Catholes" are the most widely accepted method of waste disposal. Locate catholes at least 200 feet from water, trails, and camp: about 70 steps for an adult. Select a site that is inconspicuous, where other people will be unlikely to walk or camp. With a small garden trowel, dig a hole 6-8 inches deep and 4-6 inches in diameter. When finished, the cathole should be covered and disguised with natural materials. If camping in the area for more than one night or if camping with a large group, cathole sites should be widely dispersed.

Use toilet paper sparingly, and use only plain, white, non-perfumed brands. Toilet paper must be disposed of properly. It should either be thoroughly buried in a cathole or placed in plastic bags and packed out. Burning toilet paper is ineffective and can start a wildfire.

For more information on Leave No Trace ethics, visit www.lnt.org.