Protecting a sufficient percentage of parkland is high priority, too. The Sierra Club & many others have a mandate to protect Trails, to preserve the natural state. Unfortunately the Nootka is not yet protected in any way.

We Nootka hikers want to help speed the process of protecting the west coast of Nootka Island. E-mail if you have any advice on how we can do so.

An Environmental Philosophy

… appreciation for the joys and rewards of wilderness experiences. Enlightened outdoor users have a feeling of stewardship for the land, travel & camp with minimum impact on the natural environment & clean up areas of those who are less environmentally sensitive.

- The Canadian Recreational Canoeists Association Code

Removing marine life, fossils, artifacts is verboten. Resist the urge to collect a natural souvenir. (Who wants to carry the extra weight, anyway?)

Respect wildlife. Observe but don’t interfere.

Respect private property, cultural & historical sites, cemeteries, etc.

When brushing your teeth, spit well away from water sources.

Use biodegradable soap or no soap at all.

Respect the reverie of other hikers, local peoples, fishermen, etc.
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Trash

The Nootka Trail is a mess — rubbish everywhere. Beach combing the debris is part of the fun of hiking.

Gladly, a Nootka Trail Cleanup was organized in 2002, part of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup sponsored by the Vancouver Aquarium and locally organized by Kathryn Ridley of Nootka Fishing Company.

Organizations which supported volunteers cleaning included:

• Nootka Fishing Company
• Coastguard ship "Tanu"
• Zeballos Expeditions
• Water Logger Salvage
• Sentry Charters
• Tatchu Adventures
• Surfing Adventure

More details and photos of Cleanup by Jim Pook of TahsisBC.com and Kathryn Ridley.

Volunteers wishing to help with future Nootka Island cleanups can contact Kathryn Ridley at 250-934-7934 or info@nootkafishing.com

Practice low impact, no trace camping. Leave the Trail cleaner than you found it.

Always cleanup your campsite before departure. Collect any trash left by those who have come before you.

If you pack it in, pack it out.

Bring thick plastic (string-tied) trash bags. We've even used waterproof stuff sacks to carry out trash. Once emptied of food, stuff sacks can be used as trash containers — they are easy to hang with the food & easy to fix to the outside of a pack.

Plan meals which minimize the amount of trash you will need to carry out. For example, package your food in containers which can be burned. Be sure to burn trash completely (in a hot fire) to avoid attracting animals.

Gray water should be dumped into the sea, or disposed of at least 30 metres (yards) away from any drinking water sources. This includes even biodegradable soap.

Pack out garbage with plastic or metal content. (e.g. twist-ties, foil, etc.)

Thoroughly burn or pack-out sanitary napkins, tampons, etc.

Pack-out or burn cigarette butts. (Why don’t you go cold turkey this hike)

Pack-out or burn fruit peels, especially orange peels.