Leave no trace Principle
4. leave what you find
Preserve the wildness, history, and integrity of the places we visit by leaving natural and cultural features untouched.
This principle is often misunderstood as "don’t take souvenirs" — but in climbing, it goes much deeper. It means not altering the environment to suit your objectives, and respecting both natural ecosystems and human history. Every rock scar, scraped patch of moss, or removed artifact tells a story — often of someone putting their own needs above the collective good.
What This Means for Climbers
Don’t “Clean” or Modify Rock
Lichens, moss, plants, and crystals are not yours to remove. While some routes may require minimal cleaning for safety, excessive cleaning ("gardening") permanently alters the rock and surrounding ecosystem.
Example: Scrubbing moss from granite boulders in alpine areas can destroy microhabitats and change the route forever. If a route isn’t climbable in its natural state, it might not be ready to be climbed.
Chipping, gluing, or reinforcing holds for the sake of making a climb possible or easier violates this principle — and the community ethic.
Nuance: Some older areas have “historical” chipped holds. While they may exist, this doesn’t justify continuing the practice today.
Don’t Build or Modify Structures
Avoid creating rock benches, wind walls, or fire pits, especially in wilderness or backcountry zones.
Example: In alpine camps or at remote crags, it’s common to find wind walls made of rocks. While they seem harmless, these rearrangements disturb natural landscapes and often encourage further impact.
In established areas, use existing infrastructure (trails, belay stations, fire rings). Don’t build your own unless absolutely necessary for safety — and even then, aim for minimalism.
Leave Cultural & Historical Artifacts
Climbing areas are often on land with Indigenous, historical, or archaeological significance.
If you come across petroglyphs, artifacts, pottery shards, or stone tools — do not touch, move, or remove them. Report any significant finds to local land managers.
Respect cultural boundaries: Some routes or entire areas may be closed out of respect for Indigenous sacred lands.
Example: Areas of Indian Creek and Bears Ears contain ancestral Puebloan artifacts and are co-managed with Indigenous tribes. Knowing and honoring these boundaries is part of our ethical responsibility.
Don’t Take Natural Souvenirs
Rocks, wildflowers, antlers, or feathers should stay where they are.
Removing a rock may seem harmless — but in aggregate, it depletes the environment and disrespects others who come to see it as it is.
Photos last longer — and they don’t change the place.
Respect the Character of the Land
"Leave What You Find" isn’t about being passive — it’s about actively choosing to honor the landscape, just as it is. It’s a reminder that:
Not every boulder needs to be climbed
Not every route needs to be improved
Not every place needs to be made easier to access
By resisting the urge to take, alter, or "improve" — we preserve the magic and integrity of wild places for the next climber, hiker, or kid who comes along with fresh eyes.