Leave No Trace: Past, Present and Future

"Mountains are the bones of the earth, their highest peaks are invariably those parts of its anatomy which in the plains lie buried..." Jon Ruskin

I saw this quote on the side of the Hyatt Regency, ironically, as I was taking the airport shuttle, making my way back from the Appalachians to the Rockies, two very different but equally beautiful parts of the country.

Both mountain ranges represent a dynamic piece of geological (and human) history, as do the conservation and Wilderness preservation systems that help protect it. The most recent chapter of the story: September 2009 was proclaimed National Wilderness Month.

The Leave No Trace program represents a part of this history but, more importantly, its future. Our education and outreach programs empower communities to help write the "story" of their respective parks, open spaces and Wilderness Areas. What is the intended outcome? More people, (enjoying the outdoors) less impacts.

There many easy ways to get get involved. Check out our website: http://lnt.org/01_community/get_involved.php

In the meantime, enjoy National Wilderness Month! I'll sign off with a photo from a new place I visited recently: the Cascades in Jefferson National Forest, VA (photo from www.virginiaplaces.org)