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If you're gonna be all snooty about LNT going as far as admonishing cairns, then hiking trails are aren't LNT either.

• TheCraiggers 6y ago
  It's all about compromises. A hiking trail keeps foot traffic to one known area and helps minimize damage to the surrounding area. So yeah, the trail itself could be considered impacting wilderness, but if not for that trail, it would actually be impacted more.
  • bluntfang 6y ago
    >but if not for that trail, it would actually be impacted more. Or maybe it would impact it less by keeping tourists out. If it's about compromise, maybe we shouldn't call it Leave No Trace? That phrasing doesn't imply compromise, but it seems like every individual has their own ruleset when it comes to LNT, even though the wording is pretty absolute.
• ticmasta 6y ago
  That's pretty unfair, the parent explicitly differentiated between navigational and aesthetic purposes. The former is a critical part of any trail more remote than a boardwalk, while the latter for someone's FOMO insta post.
  • bluntfang 6y ago
    Maybe someone's insta post is their critical part of their experience? Maybe they want to build cairns because they think they are beautiful. Who cares, it doesn't affect to environment as badly as a well traveled hiking trail with clear signage that attract lots of tourist who leave trash.
    • deleted 6y ago
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