MOUNTAIN HIGH HIKERS (MHH)
CONSERVATION POLICIES
General. In accordance with MHH by-laws, the organization supports the general premise of being good land stewards in the context ofconservation. Overall MHH supports the concepts espoused in the “Leave No Trace” program. MHH believes in promoting environmental sustainability for future generations to enjoy. Encumbent in this effort is being good land/water stewards of the priceless treasure we know as our National Forests and Parks. Conservation advocacy is necessarily linked to stewardship. One cannot advocate for forest protection/conservation
unless one is willingly to accept the accountability for commensurate
stewardship.
To help accomplish the general principles enumerated above the MHH
club endorses the following policies:
- Encourage/educate new generations of land stewards. Thisincludes inculcating a sense of the priceless resources that has
been given to us particularly by taking a youth hiking, speaking to
groups of young people in various settings including the
schoolroom..
2. Enhance public access to the outdoors. Promoting responsible
creation of trails and assuming the responsibility of the continuing
maintenance thereof.
3. Endorse the concept of “Pack it in pack it out”. Everything brought
into the woods is carried back out of the woods.
4. Avoid leaving litter. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and any other
litter. If able, be pro-active by picking up trail litter left by others.
5. Deposit solid human waste in holes dug 6-8 inches in depth at least
200 feet from water, camp, and trails.
6. Treasure water resources. Washing (of the person, dishes, or
utensils), should be a minimum of 200’ away from the trail. Soap
should be of the biodegradable variety.
7. Minimize impact. Stay on the trail (no crosscutting), walk in a single
file, minimize noise, no cell phones except for emergencies, have a
responsible group size or split into more than one group. NOTE:
Wilderness areas mandate hike group sizes: limited to 10 in North
Carolina and 12 in Georgia. Where fire is permitted, thoroughly
extinguish all camp fires.
8. Report trail issues. If a trail condition requires attention (due to a
safety issue, misuse, erosion, tree/shrub/weed encroachments,
report these to a responsible agency or in the case of trails
maintained by MHH, the club trail maintenance supervisor.
9. Respect wildlife. Observe from a respectful distance. No feeding is
allowed and can be dangerous. Hang any food bags high enough to
prevent pilfering.
10. Conserve water. Respect and preserve watersheds and promote
their continuing sustainability. Help ensure continuing free flow of
clean unspoiled natural water routes. Channel water flow to minimize
trail impact and erosion.
11. Each Mountain High Hiker is asked to reflect on his/her role in
both the enjoyment and protection of the Forests that each of us are
privileged to enjoy.
12. As a corollary to item #11, ALL MHH members are encouraged to
pay attention to all articles or news items that they read in papers,
magazines, or on TV that deal with Forest Service or public land, or other
conservation issue that might affect our area, and report these issues to
the conservation chair or the MHH board for further research and
possible follow-on action.
