Wilderness Skills - Olympia Mountaineers

Minimum Impact
Minimum Impact (Leave No Trace) information and materials are available at Forest Service and Park Service
ranger stations. You can also call the Leave No Trace "hot line" 1-800-332-4100 for free materials and
information.
Stewardship
A Generous Spirit for service to the forests,
mountains, trails, wildlife and waterways of our
natural world.
The incredible trail system throughout our
beautiful Pacific Northwest needs continuous
attention, in part, because of use by outdoor
organizations like the Mountaineers. Each year
the Olympia Branch of The Mountaineers trains
over 200 students in backcountry travel, requiring a minimum of 3 trips and often as many as 10 trips on trails
in parks, forests and wilderness area. Couple the student trips with the outings of over 700 members and the
Olympia Branch accounts for hundreds of hiking/climbing days on backcountry trails.
The Mountaineers is one of the nation’s oldest and strongest advocates for the preservation of our federal and
state lands for human powered travel. For decades Mountaineers have testify on the need to protect and
increase access to public lands. Because of the additional management requirements of increased access and
shrinking budgets, land managing agencies now need help. It follows that those organizations, which champion
for and use the outdoors for their own benefit, should have a similar enthusiasm for the upkeep of the trails and
public lands and for volunteering for a Stewardship Project. There are several returns to be gained from the
time invested in helping to maintain our trail system and volunteer Stewardship projects.
• Stewardship provides an opportunity to give back to the land for all the personal enrichment received.
• Stewardship is an extension of Wilderness ethics. It’s the next step beyond Leave-No-Trace by taking
action to restore our natural world.
• The trails are in better condition when needed.
• You may gain additional outdoor skills, leadership training, conditioning and camaraderie as a byproduct
of your service.
• Stewards enjoy the experience and receive a sense of accomplishment and personal fulfillment from
good deeds.
• You may uncover a hidden spirit for volunteer service in the outdoors.
• Most land managing agencies provide a pass for free access or entry for a minimum number of hours
of volunteer service.
Wilderness Skills Module Page 41 of 73
Olympia Mountaineers - Hiking, Alpine Scrambling and Basic Climbing