HIKING TRAIL ETHICS

“THE TRAIL LEADS NOT MERELY NORTH OR SOUTH BUT

UPWARDS TO THE BODY, MIND AND SOUL OF MAN”

HIKING TRAIL ETHICS

The following suggestions on how to help conserve the natural environment you are enjoying have been divided into five headings.

Land

Do not litter. Tissues tucked into sleeves or under watch straps inevitable fall out and are e of the most common forms of litter in the outdoors. Cigarette ends, plastic sweet papers and toilet paper are also a nuisance. Even orange peels, commonly regarded as biodegradable, should not be discarded as they can take up to five months to decompose. The following are estimates of how long it can take for litter to decompose under ideal trailside conditions: plastic-coated paper: 1 – 5 years, plastic bags: 10 – 20 years, plastic film: 20 – 30 years, nylon fabrics: 30 – 40 years, aluminum cans: 80 – 100 years and glass indefinitely.

Carry a refuse bag and pick up litter along the way.

Never bury litter. In most cases it will be uncovered by the elements or animals such as baboons. This is not only unsightly, but broken glass and tins with sharp edges can cause injury to fellow hikers and animals. Remember: carry out what you carry in.

Avoid shortcuts. If hikers take shortcuts the trail’s gradient and consequently its erosion potential is increased. The steeper gradient also demands greater exertion.

Step over erosion bars, not on them, and avoid kicking up stones.

Avoid areas with little or no vegetation. They are extremely susceptible to erosion and can take up to 25 years to recover after human trampling.

Avoid scree and talus slopes for the same reasons. Hiking on them can cause miniature rockfalls which destroy vegetation that has become established under difficult conditions.

Never roll rocks down slopes or over cliffs. This may injure other people, cause fires and erosion and destroy vegetation.

Disturb the area as little as possible when setting up camp where there are no developed campsites. Pitch you tent on level ground, not only for your own comfort, but also because sloping ground erodes easily once the vegetation is compacted.

Keep your backpack as light as possible. This will not only lighten your load and thereby increase your enjoyment of the trail, but will also reduce compaction and erosion.

Water

Many of the rivers and streams of Southern Africa are the habitat of rare and endangered aquatic life which can easily be destroyed by carelessness.

Avoid camping close than 60 meters from any water body, wherever possible. It is dangerous doing so.

Do not use soap directly in streams or rivers – a good swim is normally sufficient to clean up – and don’t brush your teeth directly in the rivers, or streams. Cooking and eating utensils should be washed away from the water.

Air

One of the main reasons people go trailing is to seek solitude. Noise pollution is as objectionable as littering.

Avoid shouting, yelling and whistling – it also decreases your chances of seeing wildlife.

If you smoke, take care, especially in dry grasslands. Never smoke while you are hiking. Stop, sit down and relax. Use a flat rock as an ashtray and remember to put the filter in your litter bag.

Smoke from campfires also causes air pollution. Where fires are permitted, keep them small. Remember, no fires are allowed in the Drakensberg Wilderness!

Flora and Fauna

Do not pick flowers.

Avoid shortcuts which could destroy sensitive or endangered vegetation.

Fires are not permitted in wilderness areas. Where they are permitted, remember the following: if an old fireplace is available use it rather than making a new one, choose a level spot where the fire will be protected from the wind. Extinguish your fire properly before going to sleep or breaking up camp: douse it with water, stir the coals and douse it again.

Do not break seemingly dead branches off trees; it is not only unsightly but often the branches are merely dormant.

Do not cut vegetation to sleep on – carry a groundpad.

Disturb animals and birds as little as possible, particularly those with young or in nests, as well as seemingly lost or injured animals or birds.

Do not feed animals and birds. Some animals, especially baboons, soon learn to associate humans with food if they are fed and later become aggressive scavengers. In addition you may pass on harmful bacteria to animals.

General

Where toilets are not provided human waste can be disposed of by the “cat method”. Select a flat, screened spot at least 50 meters away from the footpath and open water. Dig a hole no deeper than 20 to 25 cm to keep within the biological disposal layer and after use fill the hole with loose soil and trample lightly over it. Alternatively loose stones can be used to cover human waste. Toilet paper should always be burned.

Do not sleep in caves with rock paintings, and never tamper with or spray water over the paintings.

Leave all archaeological sites untouched. In terms of the National Monuments Act it is an offence to disturb such sites in any way.

Your enjoyment and appreciation of the outdoors will be considerably enhanced by reading more about the area beforehand. There are numerous pocket-size field guides on flora and fauna that can be taken along on your outings. Use a camera for later identification.

We as hikers, explorers, and adventurers have the absolute duty to respect and protect our Wildernesses. Nobody else will do it for us. Take ownership!

The End.

Safe Hiking.