Christina Conklin, University of Vermont
The popularization of hiking and backpacking in the 21st century calls for humans to adopt and encourage sustainable practices in the outdoors. For our first group trip into the backcountry, our cohort left basecamp, in Cochrane, and drove three hours South to Valle Tranquillo where we would hike 11 kilometers North to a glacial filled mountain called San Lorenzo. The overall goals of this trip were to learn about the integral practices of “Leave No Trace” in the backcountry, the geomorphological features of San Lorenzo, and the natural environment of alpine zones in Chile.
At 8:00am on February 11th we gathered for our first check-in circle to see how everyone was feeling and then we hopped into the cars and headed South. As we drove, we learned about the various valleys and locations that we passed through. After two hours, we arrived at an estancia in Rio Tranquillo that is owned by a woman named Lucy. We had lunch in the sun and then collected ourselves to start our 11-kilometer hike. As we hiked through the valley, our instructor, Ben, taught us about the 7 core principles of Leave No Trace.
After the first kilometer we learned the first principle: plan ahead. This includes looking into your route ahead of time, knowing what is and isn’t allowed in the area, planning appropriate food, and understanding safety regulations. Planning ahead is helpful for being aware of rules, regulations, and safety strategies you might need to know. Further along the trail we learned the second principle: Walk on durable surfaces. This includes walking on designated trail routes to avoid disturbing local plant and animal habitats. This can also be important for safety reasons such as variable weather conditions or unstable environments. As we kept walking, we learned the third principle: dispose of waste properly. This includes digging cat holes far enough from water sources and deep enough to keep waste from emerging from the ground. An appropriate size is about that of a Nalgene water bottle. When we were over halfway, we learned about the fourth principle: take only photos and leave only footprints. Although it is tempting to take natural souvenirs from the environment, it is important to leave them behind to avoid disturbing ecosystems. In addition, taking out all trash, compost, and recycling is key. For example, when cooking in the backcountry, you can wash dishes and then strain the dirty dish water to trap leftover food scraps and then carry out any compost that is left over. Another kilometer later and we learned about principle number five: minimize impacts from fires. Knowing whether an area allows fires or not can save you from causing a disaster. For example, Patagonia National Park does not allow campfires within its boundaries. This is because most of the wildfires in Chile are caused by humans and have been extremely devastating to the wildlife and local communities. As we neared closer, we learned about the sixth principle: respect wildlife. It can be tempting to get closer to wildlife for the perfect photo but disturbing the wildlife is not only harmful for the ecosystems but dangerous for all visitors. It is important to respect wildlife to foster a safe and healthy relationship between humans and the environment. When we arrived at the refuge, we learned about the seventh principle: be considerate to other visitors. This might look like, allowing those who are going up the trail to pass first or being quiet in the evening. It is important to keep in mind that others are also trying to enjoy the environment and that we share the natural world with others.
The seven principles of leave no trace
When we arrived, we set up our tents and cooked our first dinner. After dinner, we strained our dirty dish water through a strainer and into a large hole in the ground. Any food scraps were thrown in a bigger bag and hung high off the ground. All other food was also lifted off the ground to prevent any animals from getting to it.
The next day we started class at 9:00am where we learned about the basics of using binoculars and went on a birding walk. We went along trails through the woods to find and listen to birds in the alpine zone. We heard birds such as the Thorn-Tailed Rayadito, the Whited-Throated Treerunner, the Black-Chinned Siskin, and the Chilean Flicker at San Lorenzo.
Thorn-Tailed Rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda)
Then, we learned about tracking animals in the wild by identifying animal scat, prints, and forage signs. For this we looked for signs along trails for any animals in the area. After lunch we went on a nature walk to identify local plants in the alpine zone. Some of these included the abundant Lenga tree (Nothofagus pumilio), the Romerillo (Chiliotrichomj diffusum), and my favorite was the Hairy Chocolate Flower (Nassauvia Magellanica).
Leaf of a Lenga tree (Nothofagus Pumilio) at San Lorenzo
When we were done with the walk, we read the Round River Essay by Aldo Leopold in 1972. We reflected on and discussed his call to action for ecologists. He explained the importance and need for ecologists to learn through hands-on experience in their natural environments. We learned that Round River Conservation Studies had gotten its name from this essay. After this discussion, we wrapped up the evening and went to bed.
The next morning, we began our day at 8:00am to hike to an alpine lake and observed the geomorphological features of San Lorenzo. For context, we had mapped out what geomorphological features we thought we might see in this valley using Google Maps a few days prior to our trip. When we were hiking, we were changing our maps along the way according to what features we saw. We were searching for features such as glacial deposits, deltas, moraines, and striaes. These were important to identify for understanding the history of the glacier that had existed in the last glacial maximum in Chile. After a long day of hiking and mapping we arrived back at basecamp and enjoyed our last evening at San Lorenzo.
The following morning, we packed our things, checked for any loose trash or food scraps before we left, and waved goodbye to San Lorenzo. As we hiked out, I realized that I had gained a new perspective on my reason for being here in Chile and that I had gained a greater understanding of my connection to nature and my responsibility to take care of it.