Hiking and Environment

Protecting biodiversity of the trails

Balancing the joy of exploring the great outdoors with the preservation of biodiversity requires a delicate equilibrium. At high altitudes, this balance is even more precarious.

Here is an overview of outdoor ethics based on the "Leave No Trace" code, along with an analysis of how vulnerable alpine ecosystems are to our footsteps.

The 7 "Leave No Trace" Principles

The Leave No Trace movement offers seven fundamental principles to guide our behavior in nature.

Plan ahead and prepare: Knowing regulations, weather conditions, and terrain helps avoid emergencies and minimize impacts (e.g., staying on the main trail even if it is muddy, rather than walking around it and widening the path).

Travel and camp on durable surfaces: Rock, gravel, and snow are resilient surfaces. In alpine zones, the golden rule is to walk single-file on the trail—or, conversely, to spread out when off-trail if the terrain is durable—to avoid creating new erosion channels.

Dispose of waste properly: Whatever you bring in must come back out with you. For human waste, digging "catholes" (15–20 cm deep) is the standard in forests; however, at high altitudes, frozen or non-existent soil often necessitates packing out solid waste (using waste removal bags).

Leave what you find: Leave stones, plants, artifacts, and flowers where they are. Picking even a single flower deprives pollinators of food and prevents the species from reproducing.

Minimize campfire impacts: In alpine environments, deadwood is a scarce resource that is essential to the nutrient cycle. Opt for a lightweight camping stove instead.

Respect wildlife: Observe from a distance. Mountain animals have limited energy reserves to survive the winter; forcing them to flee puts their lives at risk.

Respect other users: Yield the right of way to hikers heading uphill and preserve the quiet of the area.

Trampling and Alpine Flora: A Disproportionate Impact

Alpine flora (found above the tree line) has adapted to extreme conditions: fierce winds, frequent frost, intense UV radiation, and an extremely short growing season (sometimes barely 6 to 8 weeks a year).

To survive, these plants (such as saxifrages, dwarf willows, or mosses) adopt prostrate or cushion-like growth forms. While they can withstand the weight of snow, they have no mechanical defense against the shearing force caused by hiking boots.

The Mechanics of Degradation

The impact of repeated trampling triggers a destructive chain reaction:

• Direct breakage: Alpine plant leaves and stems are often brittle. Just a few dozen passes are enough to destroy the structure of a plant cushion.

• Soil compaction: Repeated weight eliminates air and space between soil particles. Water can no longer infiltrate, and roots suffocate.

• Accelerated erosion: Once the vegetation cover is destroyed and the soil compacted, rain and snowmelt wash away the thin layer of topsoil. What took centuries to accumulate disappears in just a few hiking seasons, leaving the bedrock exposed.

Did you know? An alpine plant cushion the size of a dinner plate may take 20 to 50 years to reach that size—and decades to recover if a hiker inadvertently crushes it.

When hiking in the mountains, every step taken off the official trail jeopardizes the survival of this tiny yet vital biodiversity. Staying in the center of the path—even if it is rocky or muddy—remains the best way to protect these exceptional landscapes.