I have been hiking a lot lately. In my long walks, I find that I sometimes move very quietly, depending on the surface. The reward for this is that I have seen some amazing wildlife up close, many who have proven cooperative enough to stand still for some great photographs. This makes me think of one of the more-forgotten types of pollution that we need to consider and avoid -- noise pollution. Had I been making a lot of noise, I would have not had the benefit of seeing the wildlife. A few days ago, I was on the trail taking pictures of a whitetail buck deer with spike antlers who was grazing less from ten meters away from me on the trail. A family approached with and saw what I saw, then stopped, went silent and watched the deer with me, making sure not to make sudden moves to scare the animal. This reminds me of one of the seven principles of the Leave No Trace program -- Be Considerate of Others. From the Leave No Trace website, it defines this principle as "One of the most important components of outdoor ethics is to maintain courtesy toward others. It helps everyone enjoy their outdoor experience. Excessive noise, uncontrolled pets, and damaged surroundings detract from the natural appeal of the outdoors. Being considerate of others ensures everyone can enjoy nature no matter how they interact with it." It goes on to define the basics as: respect others and protect the quality of their experience; be courteous, yield to other users on the trail; greet riders and ask which side of the trail to move to when encountering pack stock; Take breaks and camp away from trails and others; and let nature's sounds prevail, avoid loud voices and noises. I am grateful that this family allowed me to enjoy nature so I could "take only pictures, [and] leave nothing but footprints" I ask you to consider your impact when you are hiking, biking or running on trails in the woods.
A Scout is Courteous.