Leave no trace: seven rules for everyone who goes to the mountains

The number of people on Azerbaijan's mountain routes has multiplied over the past five years. That is good news — as long as no trace is left behind.

The international "Leave No Trace" principles are simple and fit local conditions exactly.

1. Plan ahead

Knowing the route, the weather and the size of the group is a matter of both safety and ecology. An unprepared group runs late, and a late group ends up camping where it should not.

2. Walk on durable ground

Leaving the trail to find a "shortcut" damages the vegetation. Skirting a muddy section widens the path a little each time — within one season the trail becomes twice as wide.

3. Carry your rubbish back

All of it. Including:

• orange and banana peel (in a mountain climate it does not rot for months)
• seeds and nutshells
• wet wipes (they do not break down naturally)
• cigarette butts

Keep a separate rubbish bag in your pack. The rule: take out more than you brought in — if everyone picks up one or two extra pieces, the route gradually gets cleaner.

4. Leave what you find

Stones, flowers, archaeological fragments. Especially at historic sites like Qirkhotaq fortress or Alinja: every piece taken as a "souvenir" never comes back.

5. Fire

Avoid making a fire if you can — a gas stove is both faster and safer. If you do need a fire:

• use an existing fire ring, do not start a new one
• burn only dry branches that have fallen, do not cut trees
• put it out completely with water before leaving — until the ashes are cold

6. Respect animals

Do not feed them. A fed animal learns to approach people, and that ends badly for both sides. On shepherd dogs, see separately: dealing with dogs in the mountains.

7. Think of other people

Most people come to the mountains for the quiet. Music from a Bluetooth speaker is heard across the whole valley. Headphones exist.

How long a route survives is decided by the people who walk it. The Qochyataq waterfalls were closed for years — keeping them from closing again is up to us.