Greener travel option for this fall season

In cozy fall, when the air becomes nicer and cooler, the outdoors are calling.

One of the great ways to answer this calling is to go hiking.

You won’t need special training, intricate equipment, and any age is not a problem.

Simply put, hiking is a short walking trip (with a small hiking backpack) along a special clearly marked route.

You can start with smaller, less demanding routes - step by step to new adventures.

But how do we make hiking not just enjoyable for ourselves, but also environmentally friendly?

Backpacking list: what do you really need?

In our fast paced era that produces all kinds of ready-to-grab goods in complex packaging, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to not leave traces of trash behind anywhere any modern people go. Grassy lawns sprinkled with disposable tableware, juice boxes and plastic bags, unfortunately, hardly surprise anyone these days...

Despite this, it is in our collective power to change this for the better by trying to minimize our influence on nature.

And so, when speaking about reducing waste during hiking, we need to consider some basic human needs to see the areas of potential littering.

Hiking essentials for beginners: 4 importances

For successful zero waste hiking, you should take care of the following groups of things:

Group 1: Zero waste backpacking food

When choosing an easy and short hiking route, you should not worry too much about stocking up on a lot of food - it’s good enough to just have snacks.

The rule here is “less purchased - more from home”. Pre-washed vegetables, fruits and nuts in eco friendly produce bags are a much better fit for wildlife than chips in plastic packaging. Reusable cloth bags are lightweight and won't overload your backpack. Linen is considered the best fabric for produce bags for its safety and durability.

tiny reusable shopping bag from Varvara Home

Group 2: Stay hydrated!

Instead of purchasing beverages at a store, bring along fruit punch, home-made juice or tea in a thermos or refillable bottle. In addition to delicious drinks, never forget about clean drinking water!

Group 3: Containers as hiking accessories rather than something to throw away

A complete refusal to use anything disposable can also help to leave a clean mark. Of course, disposable tableware and utensils are very convenient, they are cheap and light, but think about it - even if you take this trash with you and throw it away later, it will still end up in the landfill. But there is an alternative - light reusable containers and dishes (for example, stainless steel boxes or small glass jars) as well as forks and knives made of natural material like bamboo.

Group 4: How to stay clean on a hike

Disposable wet wipes have already become many modern people’s loyal companions. They may be convenient, but the problem is that in most cases people use them even when it is possible to just wash their hands.

Wet wipes are made of a mixture of synthetic cellulose and plastic fibers, soaked in a chemical solution. Thrown away after use, these wipes dry out and become so light that they take off from the slightest wind blow, spreading all around. Once in the soil, they take a very long time to decompose, turning into microplastic.

But reusable wet wipes can be hand-made and here is how you make them:

• Get pieces of fabric or cloth napkins, olive or almond oil, Castilian soap and essential oil (optional).

• Pour 1 tablespoon of oil and 1 tablespoon of soap into a glass of warm boiled water and a few drops of essential oil for aroma.

• Stir the mixture and place your fabric or napkins in there.

• In about 10-15 minutes, drain the excess liquid, and place the napkins in a container of choice.

Voila!

This option will easily replace wet wipes, and you can wash and re-soaked them in solution as many times as you would need.

Stay warm and enjoy your hiking experience!