It’s time we talked about your manners… Mountain Manners, that is.
Like all parents, Mother Nature Loves good manners. Everyone knows the Golden Rule “Take only photos; leave only footprints,” but here are a few other Mountain Manners etiquette tips to help protect the Eastern Sierra:
MANNER #1: Follow the Beaten Path
Straying from designated paths can cause harmful erosion, and damage fragile plants, so we ask you to take the road most traveled (with apologies to Robert Frost).
MANNER #2: Scoop the Poop
Your #2 is becoming our #1 issue. If it’s your pet’s, please bag it and take it out to a trash can. If it’s your own, bury it in a cat-hole at least 6-8 inches deep, or better yet, pack it out.
MANNER #3: Gather up Garbage
Even if it’s not yours, please pack out litter. Nothing makes Mother Nature happier. Remember, food scraps are litter, too. Even if food is considered “biodegradable,” no one wants to see your orange peels lying around – and human food is unhealthy for wildlife.
MANNER #4: Don’t Feed The Bears
Or deer, birds, chipmunks, etc. Please keep yourself – and your food – out of the reach of wildlife. Store all food in bear boxes or bear-proof containers, NOT in your vehicle.
MANNER #5: Remove Fishing Line and Hooks
Fishing hooks and tangled lines are dangerous to wild animals, birds, fish, pets, and kids. Please remove this litter from the water and shoreline and pack it out.
MANNER #6: Keep Invasive Species Out
Take all steps to keep invasive species from spreading and destroying lakes, streams, rivers, and meadows.
MANNER #7: Don’t Pick The Flowers!
It’s no easy task to blossom and survive in challenging alpine conditions – wildflowers work hard to grow. Please don’t disturb or remove plants, rocks, or artifacts. Their home is right where you found them. Always stay on the trail and never destroy or walk on vegetation.
MANNER #8: Social Media Dos and Don’ts
Keep wild places wild, and don’t geotag your Instagram Photo. Insta-fame can destroy special places. Remember that people may want to get the same photo as you – be sure your pics are taken from a safe place and do not show a dangerous activity or one that could disturb wildlife.
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