stay within the bounds of the existing trail to protect trailside vegetation - usually walk single file stay on the trail even if it is muddy or rutted save vegetation and prevent erosion by not cutting across trail switchbacks select resilient areas instead of vegetation for rest breaks look and photograph instead of picking or collecting choose talus or scree instead of fragile meadows for cross-country travel spread out when it is necessary to cross a meadow to minimize damage to vegetation if you need to mark your route, remove the markers on the way back place tents on rock or soil if possible, not on vegetation; do not make trenches for water runoff use the 'cat hole' method for bathroom stops - dig a small hole into the active soil layer, replace vegetation pack out all garbage, do not bury it or toss it away; garbage is not only unsightly, it habituates animals, especially bears