For those of you who have never heard of Leave No Trace, it is made up of 7 principles that help minimize human impact on our environment. Through these principles we are able to avoid the impacts of recreation, or minimize our impact.
These principles will help us respect and sustain our environment, but are also backed scientifically. Visit their site here to learn more about Leave No Trace.
The Seven Principles
Hammock camping is already very low impact, but there are a few things you can do to mitigate your impact even more.
- Be sure to use tree friendly straps that are at least 1-1.5″ wide. Also make sure you set your tree straps at the thickest part of the tree.
- Choose trees that are sturdy, and alive to avoid impact.
- To help protect high branches and leaves, try to keep your hammock no higher than 18″ off the ground.
- To help protect other campers and wildlife, take down your hammock when not in use.
- Try to avoid hanging over sensitive vegetation. It is best to find a durable surface like rock, gravel, dirt, or dry grasses to hang your hammock.
- Use established campsites when possible. If that’s not possible stay 200 ft away from water, trails, and other campsites.
The principles of Leave No Trace are pretty simple and all it takes is educating yourself on best practices. We love to hang and want to make sure everyone has the best experience, practicing leave no trace while hammock camping will ensure that everyone does! Happy hanging!