Leave No Trace is a plan that helps people to be more concerned about their environment and to help them protect it for future generations. Leave No Trace applies in a backyard or local park (frontcountry) as much as it does in the wilderness (backcountry).

We should practice Leave No Trace in our attitude and actions--wherever we go. Understanding nature strengthens our respect toward the environment. One person with thoughtless behavior or one shortcut on a trail can spoil the outdoor experience for others.

Help protect the environment by remembering that while you are there, you are a visitor. When you visit the outdoors, take special care of the area. Leave everything just as you find it.

As an American, I will do my best to -

• Be clean in my outdoor manners.
  I will treat the outdoors as a heritage.
  I will take care of it for myself and others
  I will keep my trash and garbage out of lakes, streams, fields, woods, and roadways.
• Be careful with fire.
  I will prevent wildfire.
  I will build my fires only where they are appropriate.
  When I have finished using a fire, I will make sure it is cold out.
  I will leave a clean fire ring, or remove all evidence of my fire.
• Be considerate in the outdoors.
  I will treat public and private property with respect.
  I will use low-impact methods of hiking and camping.

and

• Be conservation minded
  I will learn how to practice good conservation of soil, waters, forests, minerals, grasslands, wildlife, and energy.
  I will urge others to do the same.

Some local places to check out are:

Seagrove Park is a good place to start.

The Roy Maness Nature preserve in Troy has a good trail, two waterfalls, and a good fishing lake.

The Thornburg Farm is great, you can tour the historic farm, buildings and fields, then take on the Birkhead Mountain Wilderness.

Morrow Mountain State Park has 10 different trails to chose from, the have a museum, and the Dentist's homesite that you can tour.
Click on the link below.

Morrow Mountain State Park

The ranger station in troy, just off of 24/27 has some good maps and information on the local national forest system.
The book store at the mall has some good books that cover hiking in NC, one is calle the Uwharrie Trails Region, I suggest it, it is one of my favorite and has many trail maps and decribes each one so you will know what eack trail has to offer.
Click on the link below.

Uwharrie National Forest

Remember to follow youth protection guidelines and the outdoor program guide for age appropiate activities.
Fill out your tour permit and get it approved at least one week before your trip.

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GEAR

What to take with You

Don't ever go out hiking alone, always take an adult with you. Use the buddy system. Get you a fanny pack or a small day pack to carry your these outdoor essentials. They are:

1. First Aid Kit
2. Filled water bottle
3. Flashlight
4. Trail Food
5. Sunscreen
6. Whistle
7. Map and Compass
8. Rain Gear
9. Pocketknife (If you are a bear scout and have your whittling chip)
10.Matches or a fire starter
11. An emergency blanket

Check out your cub scout book, it has some good information in it about going outdoors.

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Make a Hiking Staff Start with a fairly sturdy stick about shoulder height Cut off the excess branches. Use a knife and a wood file to remove the bark. Sandpaper and file staff until smooth. Decorate as desired using acrylic paint or markers. Varnish finished product.

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Take Only Pictures - Leave Only Footprints Almost everywhere there are trails, there has to be a few rules to remind visitors about how to protect our trails. The two rules you are most likely to hear about are first "Pack it in, pack it out." There's no trash and garbage collection along the trail like there is in your neighborhood. Even if each visitor left only one bit of trash our trails would soon be a big garbage dump.
The second rule you will hear is "Take only pictures, leave only footprints." It's easy for most of us to see that if each visitor on the trail carried off an interesting rock or flower or pinecone or butterfly, soon all that would be left it a barren land. These sayings are just common sense -- and easy to remember.

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Good Ole Raisens and Peanuts

Trail Munchies It is a good idea to avoid super sugary meltable snacks like chocolate bars. Instead, try some trail mixes. Many hikers "graze" their way up and down the trails. A few eat only at mealtimes. As a beginning hiker, you'll probably feel livelier if you snack often. There's no need to stop while you snack if you put your munchies where you can reach them easily. Many hikers put snacks in several pockets or on a walking stick.

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WATER, WATER, WATER Beside trail munchies another way to keep your energy up is to drink, drink, drink plenty of water. Because the human body's thirst indicator is a little slow to kick in, you'll need to drink EVEN WHEN YOU ARE NOT THIRSTY. As you go down the trail, image a sing dangling in front of you, like a carrot on a stick. The sign says, "DRINK!” In hot weather, drink at least a cup of water every 20 to 30 minutes. In cool weather, you can drink a little less often. Be sure to keep your water bottle where you can reach it without taking off your pack or stopping your walk. Hook it on your belt.

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REST It's a good idea for beginning hikers to take a short rest every 20 to 30 minutes, or even more often if the trail is steep. While you're resting, take a drink. Munch. Look around you. You should rest for about 5-7 minutes before continuing your walk.

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Hiker's Injuries Blister
Hike only in well-broken in athletic shoes or hiking boots. When day hiking, wear thick, absorbent socks. If you're hiking and a spot on your foot starts to feel 'hot," stop. Take off your shoe and sock. Put a piece of moleskin on the hot spot. Now you probably won't get a blister. Next time you go hiking, put moleskin on the sensitive place before you start. If you do get a blister, ask someone who knows first aid to treat it for you.

Heat Exhaustion
If hikers get too hot while hiking, they may get heat exhaustion. When you feel faint and sick to your stomach and your skin is pale and sweaty, you may have heat exhaustion. Immediately lie down in a shady place, drink water, and rest. After you're feeling well again, you can continue hiking - slowly. And keep drinking lots of water.

Sunburn Whether it's hot or cold, you can get a sunburn. If you're a few thousand feet above sea level, it's even easier to get a burn. Art higher altitudes, there is less of the earth's atmosphere to protect you from the sun's rays. Today, there's no excuse for getting a sunburn. All you need to do is use some sunblocking lotion and wear a hat with a brim on it.

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SAFETY FIRST REMEMBER

Be in shape before you begin your hike. Always allow yourself enough daylight to finish your hike. Always dress sensibly and for any kind of weather. Learn how to read maps and a compass. Act in a mature and safe manner at all times. Be aware of your environment. Always carry a first aid kit.

Stay on the trail- Trails are there for you to hike on. They are expensive to build and hard to maintain. You can help by hiking ONLY on the trail. There'll be times when you'll want to take a shortcut, especially when the trail is zigzagging - but please don't do it. When people take shortcuts all over the place, soon it's impossible to tell where the trail is. This makes it a lot easier to get lost. Short cutting can quickly destroy a beautiful area.

Pack it in, pack it out -This means everything, including toilet paper and chewed over gum.

Give a hoot, don't pollute - If there are no toilets near your trail, walk at least 100 feet (50 paces) from the trail - 300 feet from any water source - before using an outdoor, "do-it-yourself" toilet. Take someone with you or make sure you can still see the trail and your group. For solid wastes, use a sharp rock or small trowel to dig a shallow hole. After you've finished, cover up the wastes with the dirt you just dug out.

Hike in small groups - It's easier to get to know and keep track of hikers in a small group (three to eight). Fewer people mean less trampling of plants and less disturbance of animals. A bonus is that you're more likely to see wildlife if your group is small and quiet. Also if one person becomes sick or injured, a second person can wait with the injured hiker while the third person goes to get help.

Help keep it wild - because people are going hiking to enjoy nature talk and walk quietly. NEVER bring along CD players, cassette player or radios. This way everyone can enjoy the sounds of nature and not the sounds of your bedroom! Hiking is both a challenging and a rewarding experience. Hiking can be tiring, but it is also great exercise. You will find that hiking gives you an opportunity to experience nature and the world around you. Hiking also gives you the chance to spend quiet, peaceful times with closes friends or family.

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