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Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics for Mount Kinabalu Climbers
With the rise in
popularity of
backpacking and climbing, the
mountains around the world are being visited
by ever increasing numbers
of people. We are drawn to the mountains for their beauty, purity,
remoteness, ruggedness, and the unique challenges they present. The
mountains are our home, and it can sometimes be challenging to Leave No
Trace and maintain the natural beauty of the wilderness areas we
explore. At Mount
Kinabalu Borneo.com
we take Leave No Trace ethics and
practices
very seriously. The mountains are our home and we are unwilling to
sacrifice their preservation for human objectives.
We
believe that given the proper information most people will do all they
can to help protect and maintain the environment. There is
nothing
more beautiful than working hard to get
high into the mountains, witness
incredible views and have the feeling that no one has been there
before. And there is nothing more disheartening than working hard to
climb a mountain, reaching a site and encountering trash, food waste
and/or toilet paper. Please read the seven LNT principles below and
feel free to call the office if you have any questions about what you
can do to plan ahead and prepare.
Thank you for taking the time to read this information.
mount-kinabalu-borneo.com
administrator.
1.
Plan Ahead
and
Prepare
- Define
your trip itinerary and objectives by researching relevant information
including: route conditions, avalanche danger, weather forecasts, and
local permits and regulations.
- Prepare
for extreme weather, hazards, emergencies and self-rescue.
- Determine
the strategy for your teams food and fuel consumption, and for waste
disposal.
- Choose an
appropriate route that suits your team's size, ability and experience.
Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends.
- Repackage
your food into reusable containers or bags.
- Carry
and
know how to use a map, compass, altimeter, route markers and, possibly,
a global positioning system unit.
2.
Travel and
Camp
on Safe, Durable Surfaces
On
Trail
- Focus your
activities on durable surfaces, including: established trails, deep
snow, rock or inorganic soil. Avoid vegetation, thin snow cover and
organic soils.
- Establish
an appropriate route up the mountain, taking into consideration the
teams safety and Leave No Trace principles. Plan your route with the
idea that others will follow.
- Whenever
possible and safe, remove route markers during your descent.
At
Camp
- In
high-use areas, use established campsites. In pristine areas, minimize
your impacts by breaking down constructed snow walls and wind breaks.
- Use
man-made tent anchors (ice screws, axes, poles, etc.) whenever
possible. Replace any rocks or other natural anchors where found.
3.
Dispose of
Waste
Properly
- Pack It
In, Pack It Out. Pack out everything you carry with you including
garbage, trash, and extra fuel. Trash left at altitude or in crevasses
does not biodegrade. Whenever possible, remove others discarded waste
from the mountain.
- In high
use areas, use established restroom facilities. Otherwise, pack out
solid human waste via "blue bags" or other techniques. If packing out
all solid human waste is not possible due to trip duration, refer to
local protocols on how to dispose of human waste.
- Designate
a "clean snow" area (up slope from camp) to serve as your water source.
Focus your activities and waste disposal sites away from this area.
- Consolidate
liquid human waste in a designated urinal down slope from camp and away
from the designated water (snow) source. Consider using a "pee bottle"
in camp to facilitate disposal. When traveling, step off the trail to
urinate, so others wont have to hike through yellow snow.
- Dispose
of
gray water (dishwater) in a designated sump hole down slope from camp.
Strain the dishwater and pack out all leftover solids.
4.
Leave What
You
Find
- Leave all
rocks, plants, animals and historical or cultural artifacts as you find
them.
5.
Minimize
Campfire Impacts
- Always
carry a lightweight camp stove. Adequate wood is generally unavailable
on mountaineering expeditions, making fires infeasible and
inappropriate.
6.
Respect
Wildlife
- Observe
wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
- Never
feed
wildlife or leave food behind to be eaten.
- Protect
wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
Anticipate changing weather conditions by marking your cache.
7.
Be
Considerate
of Other Visitors
- Communicate
and cooperate with other teams.
- Yield to
uphill climbers by stepping off the route onto a durable surface.
- Avoid
unnecessarily clustering campsites whenever possible.
- Take
rest
breaks off the route, away from other campsites, and on a durable
surfaces.
- Let
natures sounds prevail. Keep loud voices and noises to a minimum.
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