Do's and Don'ts: Outdoor ethics in Lebanon.
Humans have reached a certain point where they could care less for what happens beyond what could represent a threat to their physique in a direct way. This post is not about generalizing this idea, but to shed a light on things that need to change in Lebanon , specifically written for the climbing and outdoor sports communities in Lebanon. If you think that you are targeted by this post, it means that you need to take things less personal and look out for the acts that you might do without noticing and change something.
The do's and don'ts cited in this article have been formulated through being inspired mainly by logic and through many initiatives (Leave No Trace, Access Fund, Scout Movement, Black Diamond Rock Project...) that aims to spread awareness on sensitive issues related to the human impacts.
DO's:
1- Do appreciate, respect and preserve the natural resources you find in nature when you practice your outdoor activities.
2- Do pay attention for safety measures, whether it is while climbing, hiking or any other instance you interact with nature. Minor accidents could lead to death, and a friction of seconds could matter between being safe and getting into trouble.
3- Do support the efforts made to ensure your safety at the areas you visit, areas under construction are closed temporarily for a reason.
4- Do respect the local developers, and in this matter the issue related to closed projects. Closed projects are usually hard routes that will have less traffic. If certain routes are closed, they are this way for a certain time and will be later opened for everyone.
5- Do dispose of human waste and other type of waste in a proper way.
6- Do leave the outdoors cleaner than when you first came.
7- Do keep a low profile, minimizing group size and noise. Excessive noise may cause social impacts and ruin other climber's experience.
DON'Ts:
1- Don't disrespect rules set up at each different crag, some crags are set-up on private lands and could be at risk of closures if rules are broken. Good examples of rules broken from the Olive Grove of Tannourine el Tahta are the slacklines, hammocks, pets, camping, fires...
2- Don't be the " Lord of the Toprope Rings" on any route. Quick links and rings at the anchor of each routes are valuable and to be used by everyone, toproping using these links and rings will shorten their life span, please use two draws to toprope and remove them before moving to another route.
3-Don't leave your gear unattended even on your projects, if you want to leave gear don't let it obstruct others from trying it, Other climbers would want to try the project. If you see pre-set gear, be decent enough to respect it as other climbers have worked hard to buy this gear and it is common courtesy to not take any gear that does not belong to you. Common sense should be used by everyone.
4-Don't pee under routes even if you are about to climb, walk a far distance and do your business, It will save you the bad smell that might mess you up going on a project.
5- Don't pick fruits growing on the trees, local farmers cannot attend their lands all of the time, and it is our duty as visitors to not trespass and brake this rule.
6- Don't expose people with no hiking or scrambling experience in exposed trails which could cause falls and accidents.
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Last but not least, there could be hundreds of Do's and Don'ts added to this post. But i have chosen mainly ideas that are general and specific at the same time i have observed take place in several crags in Lebanon.
After all, quoting the Black Diamond 'The Pact-Rock Project' : "these are guidelines not rules, the spirit of the pact, we all make mistake and we are all in this together. Each person will interpret the pact in their own way...".
Every Climber is responsible, every climber has the duty to set the good example.
Jad El Khoury.
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