Backcountry Ethics

Today's increasing numbers of backcountry visitors are coming to the same realization as they witness their favorite wilderness haunts being "loved to death" as more and more hikers, horsemen, bicyclists, and other recreationalists flock to the backcountry seeking adventure, solitude and the "divine lessons" the wilderness experience offers.

Leave no trace practices and principles are meaningless merely as a set of rules and regulations; rather, to be truly effective, they must be based on an abiding respect for and appreciation of wild places and their inhabitants. Only then can these principles be applied with the judgment necessary to use them in the myriad circumstances we find every time we venture beyond the trailhead.

Simple living, adventure and solitude can still be part of our backcountry travels, but in order to assure their continued existence we must take the responsibility to educate ourselves and to learn the skills, habits and ethics necessary to Leave No Trace.

Teaching a wilderness ethic is a primary goal of the Backcountry Horsemen of California. It is important that stock users, along with other visitors make a conscious effort to minimize evidence of their presence in the backcountry. BCHC assists in this effort with educational materials and programs. How well we care for the land today determines our continued use of the land tomorrow.