Your forest is home to a vast ecosystem of trees, plants, mountains, lakes, and wildlife. With these can come unpredictability and even danger. We’re here to help you take the steps you need to stay safe in nature.
Falling in love with the forest isn't hard—it's a beautiful place! But being a responsible visitor should be the priority to preserve the wonder and beauty of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (MBS). Here are the 7 principles to practice while you're in the forest:
1. Plan and Prepare
When outdoor visitors plan ahead and prepare, it helps to accomplish trip goals safely and enjoyably while simultaneously minimizing damage to the land.
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
The goal of travel outdoors is to move through natural areas while avoiding damage to the land, foliage, or waterways. Travel damage occurs when surface vegetation or communities of organisms are trampled beyond recovery.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
The waste humans create while enjoying outdoor spaces can have severe impacts if not disposed of properly. It is crucial to anticipate the types of waste you will need to dispose of and know the proper techniques for disposing of each type of waste in the area you are visiting.
4. Leave What You Find
The items we find in nature have a role to play, either in the ecosystem or the story of the landscape. Leaving what we find in place helps to preserve both. Allow others a sense of discovery by leaving rocks, plants, archaeology artifacts, and other objects of interest as you find them.
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
Once necessary for food and warmth, campfires are steeped in history and tradition. However, the natural appearance of many areas has been degraded by overuse of fires and increasing demand for firewood.
6. Respect Wildlife
When you are in an outdoor space, you are in the natural habitat of many wild animals and should work to minimize your impact on them. Human impacts on wildlife can result in negative human-wildlife interactions, aggressive animals, a decline in the ecosystem's health, and relocated or euthanized animals.
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
One of the most important components of outdoor ethics is to maintain courtesy toward others. It helps everyone enjoy their outdoor experience. Excessive noise, uncontrolled pets, and damaged surroundings detract from the natural appeal of the outdoors.
Resources:
Know Before You Go: learn what to do in case of an emergency, view safety guidelines for winter recreation, find hiking tips and more.
Planning Your Trip: what to do, how to get there, and how to be prepared.
For more information on safety for specific recreation activities, such as camping, mountain biking, or wildlife photography, visit our national website.
Leave No Trace: When visiting your forest, it’s important to take care of the lands your feet walk upon. Use the 7 Leave No Trace principles as your guide, and remember to leave it better than you found it.
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