Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics for Camino de Santiago

[arturo garcia]

Between 2004 and 2005 I attended two wonderful courses with National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Wyoming and California. Part of that training was the Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics master course, which we apply for many years leading expeditions in the Amazon. This time I would like to share the Leave No Trace Ethics for pilgrims doing the "Camino de Santiago". Because I´m a pilgrim too and we manage a private albergue in the camino.

check the info at: https://lnt.org/research-resources/leave-no-trace-outdoor-ethics-for-camino-de-santiago/

 

[dougfitz]

Between 2004 and 2005 I attended two wonderful courses with National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Wyoming and California. Part of that training was the Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics master course, which we apply for many years leading expeditions in the Amazon. This time I would like to share the Leave No Trace Ethics for pilgrims doing the "Camino de Santiago". Because I´m a pilgrim too and we manage a private albergue in the camino.

check the info at: https://lnt.org/research-resources/leave-no-trace-outdoor-ethics-for-camino-de-santiago/

This document was aired in an earlier post, here, in early 2022. I didn't think then that it was a reasonable guide to the ethical application of the LNT principles to the Camino or any other pilgrimage, and while it might have become one if the LNT organisation were not so hidebound and inflexible, clearly that situation hasn't changed.

I don't intend to repeat my criticism of the document here. Those who are interested can read my comments in the thread I have linked above.

 

[Former member 104756]

Between 2004 and 2005 I attended two wonderful courses with National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Wyoming and California. Part of that training was the Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics master course, which we apply for many years leading expeditions in the Amazon. This time I would like to share the Leave No Trace Ethics for pilgrims doing the "Camino de Santiago". Because I´m a pilgrim too and we manage a private albergue in the camino.

check the info at: https://lnt.org/research-resources/leave-no-trace-outdoor-ethics-for-camino-de-santiago/

Thank you for this, Arturo. You live on the Camino - it has been your home for many years I understand - so you see first hand, and would understand better than most, some of the negative impacts of our combined presence along these wonderful paths.

I appreciated reading the recommendations. I hadn't seen the earlier thread so it was first time reading this document. I don't know anything about LNT but the document contained some worthwhile reminders and information on things I hadn't thought about. Some may disagree with particular principles or recommendations or take issue with the organisation under whose banner the doc was published, but people are not obliged to adhere to any of this - they can judge what - if anything - is appropriate and relevant for them. But I think this is a positive contribution to the forum that many people will appreciate. This was the case for the majority of commenters when the document was posted by @Faith Walker in the earlier thread from 2022. Muchas gracias.

 

[arturo garcia]

Thank you for this, Arturo. You live on the Camino - it has been your home for many years I understand - so you see first hand, and would understand better than most, some of the negative impacts of our combined presence along these wonderful paths.

I appreciated reading the recommendations. I hadn't seen the earlier thread so it was first time reading this document. I don't know anything about LNT but the document contained some worthwhile reminders and information on things I hadn't thought about. Some may disagree with particular principles or recommendations or take issue with the organisation under whose banner the doc was published, but people are not obliged to adhere to any of this - they can judge what is appropriate and relevant for them. But I think this is a positive contribution to the forum that many people will appreciate. This was the case for the majority of commenters when the document was posted by @Faith Walker in the earlier thread from 2022. Muchas gracias.

Take what you need , leave what you don´t from this recommendations. But the camino or the wilderness will always be thankful with you. Buen camino

 

[davebugg]

Take what you need , leave what you don´t from this recommendations. But the camino or the wilderness will always be thankful with you. Buen camino

Those who come from nations where there has been strong anti-littering and Leave No Trace outdoor programs for decades are not the target, though. It seems this is more of an issue for pilgrims where such strong messaging in nations, and even legal and ethical enforcement, has been missing.

That is not to say that pilgrims who come from countries that lack such programs always litter, or that those from nations which have strong LNT and anti-littering messaging never do. It means that broad brush assumptions of a need for LNT education for pilgrims is a bit misplaced. My guess is that this is more of an issue with individual scofflaws who are lazy and self-centered, rather than the pilgrim population in general.

Heck, we do not even know how much of this issue is caused by locals within an area vs pilgrims passing through.

 

[trecile]

. My guess is that this is more of an issue with individual scofflaws who are lazy and self-centered, rather than the pilgrim population in general

I agree!

 

[Rick Davidson]

Between 2004 and 2005 I attended two wonderful courses with National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Wyoming and California. Part of that training was the Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics master course, which we apply for many years leading expeditions in the Amazon. This time I would like to share the Leave No Trace Ethics for pilgrims doing the "Camino de Santiago". Because I´m a pilgrim too and we manage a private albergue in the camino.

check the info at: https://lnt.org/research-resources/leave-no-trace-outdoor-ethics-for-camino-de-santiago/

All sounds pretty reasonable to me. I would support more strict waste management such as packing out all feces. It is very doable. My other pet peeve is putting packs on beds and lying down on beds is dirty hiking clothes. We can do better.