By Alexis Sohlden
Special to the Turnagain Times
Has your wilderness experience ever been spoiled by a careless visitor? Do you ever worry that your favorite wild places won’t be around for years to come? Have you ever wondered what you can do to help?
Every summer, recreation and use of the outdoors increases. With this increased use also comes increased impact on the land. These impacts can vary from minor to devastating. A minor impact can be magnified several times by many users. This creates a much larger problem.
There is something, however, for those of you wondering what you can do to help. Join a US Forest Service Interpreter in exploring Leave No Trace (LNT). There are seven principles of outdoor ethics that you can apply in the Chugach National Forest and in all your wilderness experiences to come. These principles will help reduce or even eliminate frustration caused by increased use and impact.
Leave No Trace is backed by several large federal organizations including the US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation. Several other organizations and partnerships exist including REI, Subaru, and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).
Alexis Sohlden, a US Forest Service Interpreter, will be giving a 20-minute program regarding Leave No Trace at the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center.
Dates/Times to see the Leave No Trace Program:
• Sunday, July 19 at 10:20 a.m. and 11:20 a.m.
• Monday, July 20 at 2:50 p.m. and 4:20 p.m.
• Sunday, July 26 at 2:50 p.m. and 4:20 p.m.
• Friday, July 31 at 10:20 a.m. and 11:20 a.m.
Please contact the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center at (907)783-2326 for more information. Visitors are encouraged to call before visiting to receive an up-to-date program schedule. The Begich, Boggs Visitor Center is open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Alexis Sohlden is currently working for the Forest Service at the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center in Portage Valley.