“And don’t shave a baby black bear.”

This was some comical, but still very much accurate, advice that I received two weekends ago. My wife and I had signed up for an introductory backpacking class through REI, and just before we set out at the trailhead, our two guides took us through the Leave No Trace principles. For anyone thinking about hiking, backpacking and other recreation in our state and Federal parks, these are absolutely crucial. Unsurprisingly, shaving a bear constitutes leaving a trace.

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