What It Means To Tread Lightly While Four-Wheeling

The term tread lightly is well known among four wheelers. (And, I hope, everyone who enjoys the outdoors.) Many folks have joined Tread Lightly!, the organization. That’s great. But what does it mean to tread lightly?

It’s easy to remember the fundamentals with the help of this mnemonic based upon the word TREAD:

Travel responsibly and only on designated roads and trails, and launch your watercraft only in the proper areas.

Respect the rights of others, including private property owners, recreational trail users, campers.

Educate yourself by learning rules and regulations, obtaining travel maps and regulations.

Avoid sensitive areas such as meadows, lakeshores, wetlands and streams, unless on designated routes.

Do your part by leaving the area better than you found it.

Let’s take a deeper look at some of these concepts. 

Littering leaves an ugly mess

Laws and rules against littering help keep our public spaces enjoyable for all. But that’s true only if people comply. It doesn’t take much to ruin the experience for others.

Let’s say Fred Four-Wheeler tosses his apple core at the campsite (or worse, somewhere off a trail). Is that really such a bad thing? In a word, yes. On the one hand, the action probably violated the law.

Compounded, it becomes a real problem. If everyone starts tossing apple cores, banana peels, and garbage, pretty soon the landscape looks really glum.

It’s not just apple cores, either. Campers enjoy sunflower seeds, pistachio nuts, peanuts… all sorts of snack foods. Sitting around the campfire, they like to toss the shells into the fire. That’s the plan, anyway.

The next day, the ground around the fire pit is littered with nut shells; it’s a real mess. The campsite is not only untidy, but there’s the risk of attracting unwanted pests.

Food items last a long time in the environment

Food items take time to decompose. A surprisingly long time, it turns out. Scientists study this sort of thing. Here are some examples of food and nonfood items.

Banana peels: two to four weeks

Orange peels: one to two months

Egg shells: three to six months

Cigarette butts can take up to 10 years to decompose.

Single-use wet wipes can last up to 100 years in landfills. Yes, you read that correctly.

These are approximations. Many factors determine the rate at which a product decomposes. But there’s no denying that all products – food and otherwise – are slow to break down in the environment. Plus, it’s just plain unsightly to have that junk cluttering landscape.

You wouldn’t want someone leaving garbage in your backyard, would you? Refrain from tossing those food scraps in the “people’s backyard.” Haul it in, and then haul it out.

Dispose of “gray water” properly

“Gray water” – water left over from washing dishes – tends to get overlooked. Most people just toss it on the grounds. That’s a bad idea. That wastewater often contains food scraps that attract birds and other critters.

Strain the water using one of these materials:

• A large coffee filter
• A fine mesh of something
• Some knit fabrics filter effectively
• Paper towel. This is what I use, especially when dumping old coffee. I pour the water onto the paper towel, then throw the towel in the Trasharoo. The wastewater is filtered enough to pour onto the ground. Try to get at least 50 feet from the campsite, and never dump near a source of water.

Of course, if a toilet or utility sink is available, take advantage of that.

Another option is to pour the wastewater into an empty container, and take it home with you.

Bear in mind that one day we may be forced to haul out the gray water. It’s best to get accustomed to handling it now.

Be mindful of sensitive areas

Typical sensitive areas include wetlands and marshes. But all open areas should be treated with respect. Always stay on designated trails, whether driving, hiking or biking.

Two public areas in California bear specific mention. Racetrack Playa in Death Valley (often called the Racetrack) is very fragile when wet. Driving is never permitted on the surface. Walking is allowed as long as the surface is dry.

Another sensitive area is the State Vehicular Recreation Area near Pismo. The concern here is the snowy plover, which nests on the ground. Its eggs are small and nearly the color of sand, making the eggs (and nests) difficult to see. At times, certain portions of the SVRA are fenced off to protect the nests.

Whether driving or hiking in the SVRA, always be on the lookout for snowy plovers and their nests.

How to reduce waste while off road

Reducing waste and the amount of material to be hauled out starts with preparation. Calculate how much food you’ll need for the trip, factoring in a little extra to be safe. Just don’t go overboard.

Focus on food items available in smaller packages. Avoid large packages, jars or cans. Once opened, you have to deal with the contents, which typically are perishable. Any food not consumed or saved by refrigerating or freezing would be wasted.

Fewer packages taken along and less food wasted equates to less garbage to haul out.

Regardless of how you enjoy the outdoors – four-wheeling, hiking, biking or boating – always adhere to the principles of Tread Lightly. Be mindful of your impact on the environment, and stay on designated trails. Proper preparation will help you enjoy that vacation while generating a minimal amount of waste that needs to come back.

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