How To Preserve Nature While Hiking
Walking is one of the best things that you can do for your health, and walking in nature by going on a hike will deliver double the benefits because walking in nature is good for your mental health as well as your physical health. Hiking has become one of the most popular outdoor activities because it has huge health benefits and it’s free and easy to do. But, with more than 30 million hikers using local and national hiking trails every year those trails end up with a lot of damage from hikers who don’t take care of nature the way they should. When you hike it’s important that you always do these five things to protect the natural world:
Keep Your Dog Leashed
Dogs are almost always welcome on hiking trails as long as they are leashed. If your dog isn’t on a leash they might run after animals and scare them, or bark at the other hikers or at the animals. Dogs that aren’t on a leash can also run through the woods breaking off branches and tearing up plants. They also can eat grass and flowers and anything else that might be lying on the ground. Bring your dog hiking with you if you want to just make sure that your dog is always on a leash and make sure that you clean up after your dog.
Stay Away From Animals
You will probably see animals on your hike from time to time. Depending on where you like to hike you could see animals like rabbits and chipmunks or you could see foxes, deer, or even bears. Remember that these are wild animals who shouldn’t ever be around humans. Don’t try to feed them or get close to them. Use your smartphone to take some photos from a safe distance if you want a fun memento but never try to approach a wild animal.
Don’t Leave Anything Behind
This is the worst thing that hikers can do and yet they do it every single day. Take all of your trash with you when you leave the trail area including any food waste. Your food wrappers, drink bottles, napkins and everything else that you bring needs to be taken with you and thrown out properly. That means that you also can’t leave behind things like apple cores or orange peels or other food trash. Just because these things are natural doesn’t mean they will break down swiftly. Throw them away.
Wipe Off Your Boots
Hikers should always give their boots a cleaning after they finish a hike. When you hike your boots pick up soil and debris that can contain seeds, bacteria, and other things that can easily transfer to a new trail if you walk in a new area without cleaning your boots. You could be responsible for introducing a new invasive plant series or deadly bacteria that can kill trees and plants. Don’t take that chance. Clean your boots.
No Shortcuts
Even though you might want to try exploring the woods and fields near the trail on your own you shouldn’t. Making your own shortcuts and trails is forbidden in most hiking areas because it can cause a lot of damage to the environment. If everyone made their own trails and shortcuts pretty soon the entire area would be destroyed. Stay on the paths provided.
This article was provided by www.personalinjury-law.com, an organization dedicated to providing the public with information about personal injury and safety information. Nothing in this article should be construed as legal advice, and it is intended for informational use only.
Walking is one of the best things that you can do for your health, and walking in nature by going on a hike will deliver double the benefits because walking in nature is good for your mental health as well as your physical health. Hiking has become one of the most popular outdoor activities because it has huge health benefits and it’s free and easy to do. But, with more than 30 million hikers using local and national hiking trails every year those trails end up with a lot of damage from hikers who don’t take care of nature the way they should. When you hike it’s important that you always do these five things to protect the natural world:
Keep Your Dog Leashed
Dogs are almost always welcome on hiking trails as long as they are leashed. If your dog isn’t on a leash they might run after animals and scare them, or bark at the other hikers or at the animals. Dogs that aren’t on a leash can also run through the woods breaking off branches and tearing up plants. They also can eat grass and flowers and anything else that might be lying on the ground. Bring your dog hiking with you if you want to just make sure that your dog is always on a leash and make sure that you clean up after your dog.
Stay Away From Animals
You will probably see animals on your hike from time to time. Depending on where you like to hike you could see animals like rabbits and chipmunks or you could see foxes, deer, or even bears. Remember that these are wild animals who shouldn’t ever be around humans. Don’t try to feed them or get close to them. Use your smartphone to take some photos from a safe distance if you want a fun memento but never try to approach a wild animal.
Don’t Leave Anything Behind
This is the worst thing that hikers can do and yet they do it every single day. Take all of your trash with you when you leave the trail area including any food waste. Your food wrappers, drink bottles, napkins and everything else that you bring needs to be taken with you and thrown out properly. That means that you also can’t leave behind things like apple cores or orange peels or other food trash. Just because these things are natural doesn’t mean they will break down swiftly. Throw them away.
Wipe Off Your Boots
Hikers should always give their boots a cleaning after they finish a hike. When you hike your boots pick up soil and debris that can contain seeds, bacteria, and other things that can easily transfer to a new trail if you walk in a new area without cleaning your boots. You could be responsible for introducing a new invasive plant series or deadly bacteria that can kill trees and plants. Don’t take that chance. Clean your boots.
No Shortcuts
Even though you might want to try exploring the woods and fields near the trail on your own you shouldn’t. Making your own shortcuts and trails is forbidden in most hiking areas because it can cause a lot of damage to the environment. If everyone made their own trails and shortcuts pretty soon the entire area would be destroyed. Stay on the paths provided.
This article was provided by www.personalinjury-law.com, an organization dedicated to providing the public with information about personal injury and safety information. Nothing in this article should be construed as legal advice, and it is intended for informational use only.
