Leave No Trace while hiking

Many are familiar with the 7 Leave No Trace principles. It's like a little outdoor guide that tells us why and how to act in the natural environment, while continuing to fully enjoy it. Because of our vocation, it goes without saying that these principles resonate strongly with us, at Mont-Orford.

Recently, Mont-Orford employees received a two-day training session given by the De Ville en Forêt organization on the principles of Leave No Trace. This has put the wind in our sails to progressively integrate these principles into many of the daily actions we take and decisions we make.

We know that you also have the mountain at heart and want to admire its beauty and enjoy its attractions far into the future! That's why it is our pleasure to share with you some Mont-Orford hiking behavior tips based on 3 of the 7 Leave No Trace principles. We believe that by applying these principles your next hike will be a more nature-friendly experience that will bring you closer to the mountain

Want to share your other tips with us? Do not hesitate to communicate them to us!

Thanks to Danielle Landry, director and founder of De ville en forêt, Bernard Mercier, Biologist, M. Sc. and project manager, and Cody Danaher, B. Sc. Env. & Agri., M.Sc. and project manager - wetlands, both from RAPPEL – Coop de solidarité en protection de l’eau for these discussions and notions.

Depending on the time of year, the mountain may or may not be accessible. For example, during the spring thaw, we have to wait for the natural melting of the snow before going on a hike. As you know, a ski resort produces a lot of snow, much more than on other mountains! So sometimes we have to wait a little longer for the environment to dry out. Erosion is a natural phenomenon that is created by water runoff, but it is desirable not to accelerate it by human trampling in order to preserve the soil and protect waterways.

“Soil on steep slopes is very sensitive to erosion since the water can pick up a lot of speed when flowing over it.’’, says Bernard Mercier of the RAPPEL group.

“Early in the spring, the snow melts, the ground is soft and there is a lot of surface runoff. When this happens, the repeated passage of hikers can easily strip the ground and make it even more susceptible to erosion. The path can sink and become a preferential channel for water flowing over the ground. During this time, the consequences for waterways can be very great. The trail is eroding and can lead to massive sediment and nutrient inputs to waterways which is undesirable.“, concludes the specialist.

Hence during a short period in the spring the mountain will not be accessible. So why not take advantage of this time to prepare your gardening season, put away your skis and make adjustments on your bikes? Your hiking boots will certainly be waiting for you!

The trail map will also help you “stay on trail”, a key element in the sustainability of the mountain's natural environment.

“By staying on the trail, we concentrate our impact on nature. If you walk everywhere, the human impact increases on territory where the fauna often needs to be undisturbed, the impact of which is not easily noticed by the human eye”, says Danielle Landry, director of De ville en forêt. “When we walk outside the marked trails, we can disturb habitats that are rare without knowing it and which are important for maintaining the varied species and biodiversity,” continues Danielle. “An area too compacted by trampling can take up to 10 years to regenerate”!

And besides, our trails we designed with purpose. Follow them, and you will enjoy the most beautiful views without extra effort!

Of course, how you dress and what to bring for a hike in Mont-Orford will vary depending on the time of year. Most importantly, you’ll want to wear a good pair of sneakers or hiking boots. Leave your sandals at home or in the car! Dress comfortably and wear a hat or cap to protect yourself from the sun.

A backpack is also essential to carry a snack or lunch, as well as a warmer sweater that could be useful once at the top. And don't forget your water bottle, which can be filled inside the main chalet before and after your hike.

Those are the essentials! Do not hesitate to add a few items to your backpack such as sunscreen, a waterproof bag to bring back any trash, a small foam mat to take a well seated break, walking poles and your camera to immortalize this moment!

Did you know that we don't have trash or recycling bins at the top of our mountain? This is for good reason. Unattended trash cans attract many animals and require more rigorous and constant maintenance, a challenge at best of times and impossible in these days of labor shortages.

But even more importantly, human food waste left in nature can be addictive to animals. By feeding on our food, they lose their bearings and find it harder to survive in the wild.

“Unfortunately, both the food and the packaging can also be very dangerous, even fatal for certain animals, '' mentions Danielle Landy. Some foods can cause diseases in several species, while plastic packaging or aluminum cans can cause animals to get caught in them or injure themselves ”

Also, leaving food in nature has a great impact on changing animal behavior.

"Let's not forget that animals are naturally afraid of humans and that their survival and reproduction are the two most essential elements in their eyes. If for example, a bear feeds on our food and brings its young along, there is a strong risk that the adult bear could become dangerous in the sight of people” explains Cody Danaher.

“It's the same for the famous raccoon! Even if it may seem more harmless than a bear, if it is used to feeding on our trash and is no longer afraid of humans, it could behave differently and transmit diseases such as rabies for example”, adds the expert.

So remember that what goes up, must come down! Do like many hikers and bring a light bag with you to bring your trash down to the foot of the slopes if you don't want to leave it loose in your bag. And when we leave your rest site please make sure nothing is left behind (yes, yes, even the little piece of granola bar wrapper!)

Finally, on the terrace at the bottom main chalet you will find sorting stations with three options: compost, trash and recycling! It is easy to make sure your trash is disposed of the best way possible. Be assured that we keep the stations tidy and emptied regularly!

Let's remember this fundamental principle in hiking: if I bring it in, I bring it back!

It goes without saying that the forest and nature is home to animals, but it is also their place for reproduction and raising the young which require tranquility.

“Consider birds for example, in Canada, we classify nesting periods by area. Mont-Orford is in the C3 area. It is always interesting to be aware of these periods and to remember that humans must intervene as little as possible in the life of wildlife during these times, says Cody Danaher. I give binoculars to my children so that they can observe wildlife from a respectful distance!” concludes the expert.

Additionally, listening to your music on your headphones rather than on a speaker may seem trivial, but it does a lot of good for the wildlife around us, visible or not!

Finally, even if people are not part of the "wild life", it goes without saying that being respectful of the other visitors who you share the trails with us is important. Kindly signal your presence in a courteous way when you run or walk faster than other visitors.

With a quick hello, a nod or a smile, everyone can go at their own pace and fully enjoy their Mont-Orford experience!