Traveling is a wonderful way to experience new cultures, incredible sights, enjoy new foods, and meet amazing people. Just as traveling will leave a positive impact on you, there are many ways you can leave a positive impact wherever you go! We’ve put together five tips for responsible travel in Mesa Verde Country on your next visit Kambo Practitioner.
LIMIT YOUR WATER CONSUMPTION
The Southwestern United States is experiencing extreme drought, so it is very important to take care to limit water use. You can do this by taking shorter showers and skipping daily cleaning when staying in a hotel. While these actions may seem small, every drop of water counts.
PRACTICE FIRE SAFETY
We all know that a campfire is a great way to bring people together and stay warm while camping. However, as we see more and more wildfires in the western United States, it is crucial to practice fire safety. If there is a ban, we promise you can still have a great time camping without the fire. Always be sure to obey local laws, fire restrictions, and prohibitions regarding open fires and campfires. Choose a safe, open location for your campfire and never leave it unattended. When you are ready to go to bed for the night, be sure to extinguish it completely by drowning the fire. For more detailed tips on preventing wildfires, check out Smokey Bear’s How – Cough .
LEAVE IT WHERE YOU FOUND IT
When recreating outdoors in Mesa Verde Country, it is common to come across archaeological sites and artifacts. Some examples of this include broken pieces of pottery and arrowheads. While it may seem appealing to pick them up and take them home, please leave them where you found them . Artifacts exist where they are to tell the story of that place; When you delete them, the stories and history may disappear along with it. Archaeological sites and the artifacts found in and around them are an important part of the history of the living descendants of those who built them. Please leave things as you found them, so that future generations can enjoy and admire them.
LEAVE NO TRACE
The Leave No Trace principles are a great framework for minimal impact travel. Although originally created for backcountry travel, many of the guidelines are applicable to any outdoor recreation, as well as simply traveling in the communities of others. Below is a summarized list of the seven Leave No Trace Principles. For an even more detailed overview.
- Plan ahead and prepare – it will help you make sure the places you visit, the roads you can drive, and the restaurants you want to try are open to the public. This will also help you achieve your travel goals and must-sees safely and enjoyable!
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces: When hiking in Mesa Verde Country, be sure to stay on the trails and do not ride your mountain bike when the trails are wet and muddy. The high mountain desert environment is more fragile than it seems. Traveling carelessly through these landscapes can leave scars that take a long time to heal.
- Dispose of Waste Properly: Be sure to pack out any trash you create or bring with you from any wilderness adventure (this also includes human waste and toilet paper!). When camping, try to avoid large food spills (as this can cause harm to our local wildlife). It’s also best to only use small amounts of biodegradable soaps.
- Leave what you find: Be sure to take only photographs and leave only footprints. Rocks, plants, archaeological finds, and anything else of interest should be left where you found them. This is the easiest way to preserve our ecosystems and cultural heritage for future generations.
- Minimize Campfire Impacts: Make sure you are informed about current fire hazards, local laws, and current fire restrictions and bans before building a campfire. As mentioned above, wildfires are a very real threat to landscapes, wildlife, and people in the southwestern United States. Please be careful with your campfire.
- Respect wildlife: Do not disturb local plants and wildlife; If you see wildlife, watch it from a distance. Loud noises and fast movements can be very stressful for animals. It is best to always give them the space they need to feel safe. Remember, you are a visitor in your home. Never try to touch or feed wildlife as it can be very dangerous for you and the creature.
- Be considerate of others: Maintaining respect for others when recreating outdoors, visiting our communities or our national parks will help create a great experience for visitors and locals alike.
RESPECT LOCAL PEOPLE AND CULTURES
Mesa Verde Country is home to many people and we have an interesting mix of cultures in our communities. This allows for an incredible variety of experiences, foods and traditions. We also have a rich indigenous culture in the American Southwest and the Four Corners region. When traveling through the ancestral lands of these tribes, it is important to respectfully participate and ask permission, support local indigenous communities, and continue to educate yourself as you travel through these communities.