Wednesday, August 24, 2016

How to Leave No Trace while running in the desert

Leaving No Trace on your next desert run- 
Tips to help take care of the desert

The Mojave Desert is a special desert, covering over 22,000 square miles. The Mojave Desert is the driest and smallest of the North American deserts and was named after the Mohave tribe of Native Americans.

Running through this beautiful landscape is a treat and should be treated as such. The Mojave Desert environment is a very fragile place to explore with small impacts possibly lasting years rather than months as they would in more fertile areas. A single piece of garbage may be preserved for decades instead of decaying in a few weeks. A footprint in rare soft ground may harden and still be there in the next rainy season.So it goes without saying, that there are certain things you want to do while running in the desert. Here are a few tips to ensure you protect the desert and prevent damaging it in any way.

1. Plan Ahead-
  • Plan on bringing plenty of water...water can be scarce in the desert 
  • Plan your run for cooler times of the day and year
2.  Durable Surfaces-
  • STAY ON THE TRAIL! Rock, gravel, or sand is often plentiful in arid areas and are very durable surfaces
  • Use the most highly traveled trail you can find so no additional disturbance occurs to the vegetation and surrounding area 
3.  Disposal of Waste-
  • Since there may be no organic soil in arid lands, the moisture and organisms that usually break down human waste in catholes are not present. In these situations, it is best to pack out human waste along with your other garbage.
  • If you do make catholes, they rely on the heat of the sun to help break down the waste so the holes should not be too deep. Also, toilet paper should be packed out rather than covered in the cathole.
  • Locating catholes on south-facing slopes, well away from trail, camp, and waterways (even if currently dry) will maximize decomposition and minimize impact.
4.  Leave What You Find-
  •  Crybtobiotic crust is an extremely fragile, living community of organisms found in the desert. It retains moisture and provides protection against erosion, giving other plant life a foothold. This crust withstands the harsh environment, but the crushing force of even a single footstep will destroy it. Once broken, the crust can quickly disintegrate and a domino effect of erosion can occur, turning a previously stable area into shifting dunes of sand. Completely avoid cryptobiotic crust areas without developed trails since there is no minimal impact way to traverse them.
  • Desert pavement is gradually created over thousands of years as sand is blown away, leaving an open expanse of interlocking pebbles and stones. These stones sometimes develop a desert varnish coating, turning them dark. Removing any of these stones, or even overturning them, makes a visual impact for centuries. Ancient peoples made Intaglio artwork across the desert and they are still easily visible - except where they've been vandalized. Avoid walking or running on desert pavement.
5. Respect Wildlife-
  • Scarce water is especially important to wildlife. Make sure you treat water sources with respect and minimize your impact on the source by leaving it alone.
  • Gather water during day and avoid water sources after dark. Most desert animals come out at night and you will minimize your impact on their activities.
  • Do not swim or wash in water holes. This may be the only water available for all the animals in the area and one mistake can have dire impact on all the local wildlife.
6. Be Considerate of Others-
  • Match your gear and clothing colors to the surroundings so you blend in.
  • Be aware of the needs of native cultures. Some sites/trails are sacred and may be regulated at certain times of the year. Check with local authorities when planning your trip.
We can all help take care of the desert. Be an integral part of taking care of it and ensure that future generations will get to enjoy it as well. Enjoy your trail run and don't forget to take plenty of photos!

Happy Running!

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