Responsible Overlanding & Tread Lightly!

Overlanding is freedom. Exploring new places, facing challenges and reconnecting with the great Outdoors. This though comes with a great responsibility. 

As outdoors enthusiasts, we have to be the first ones to protect the outdoors, protect the adventure and ensure that we have a minimal impact on the wildlands that we are exploring. 

On this note, this year, we were lucky enough to go through the Tread Trainer program by Tread Lightly! A non-for-profit Organisation, based in the US, whose role is exactly that. Educating Adventurers how to recreate responsibly; whether they are overlanders, hikers, mountain bikers, motorcyclists etc. 

So, without further ado, we'd like to introduce you the TREAD Principles! 

T - Travel Responsibly! 

While exploring the Outdoors, make sure you stay on routes designated specifically for 4wds and avoid driving over routes designed for hikers, mountain bikers and other Outdoor users. While travelling those routes be sure to STAY ON TRAIL, avoid driving over rough terrain simply because you want to test the capabilities of your 4x4, as you may have a serious impact on the ground below you. 

Talking about 4wd capabilities, when you tackle an obstacle, make sure you drive OVER it and not around it, in order to prevent widening the trail and opening a new secondary route that souldn't be there. In case you cannot tackle the obstacle with your vehicle, then probably you shouldn't be there in there first place, to avoid damage or injury, turn around and go with your plan B.

Tip: When crossing and obstacle make sure you cross it at an angle; if you try to cross it straight ahead you risk of damaging your undercarriage. 

Scout ahead! jump of your vehicle and make sure you can go through what's ahead of you before recklessly driving and then getting into a difficult situation.  

In order to minimise wheel spin ,which can have a serious impact on the trail, always drop your tyre pressures while you are driving off-road. This will not only reduce wheel spin but it will also make your tread longer and help you gain additional traction.  

Tip: Once you hit a dirt road, engage 4wd! In that case you avoid unnecessary risks and minimise wheel spin.try to be preemptive and to corrective. Also, keep your speeds low and tackle obstacles slowly, that's the best way to do it. 

Last but not least, respect local regulations, signage and when barriers are in place! They are probably there for a good reason. 

R - Respect the Rights of others! 

This is a really important part of the TREAD acronym and it goes both for humans and animals. 

Respecting other people is essential to outdoor ethics and respecting our community. 

• Slow down when you pass by other outdoor users, like hikers, other overlanders and especially while you are driving past by a campsite
• Keep your engine noise down and avoid unnecessary engine revving while passing by a campsite or a picnicking area. 
• Keep your music to a low volume in order not to disturb other people who are out there to enjoy the outdoors and relax - you are out exploring in order to enjoy the sound of silence and disconnect from your daily routines anyway. 

Now respecting the rights of others also includes the local wildlife! 

• Slow down and keep you distance in case you meet any wildlife while you are out exploring.
• Don't disturb wild animals. Keep your distance and let them pass by.
• Keep your music and camp lights low! Night predators can loose their night hunt and other animals may leave their nesting grounds because of you! 

E - Educate yourself! 

Before you head out in the Great Outdoors make sure you know what is wand what is not allowed at the places you plan on visiting. Some areas, are protected by international heritage laws and driving near them is not allowed. Also, a lot of areas can be nesting grounds, so make sure you do your research before you actually start your trip. 

Another thing that you should pay attention to is the weather. Make sure you check the forecast plenty of times before and during your trip in order to minimize unnecessary risks. Weather can also change drastically and quickly so always have a back up plan and be prepared. 

Last but not least, educate yourself about the gear you have with you. Know how to use your recovery kit, in fact, test it before your trip. Know how to safely use your winch and how low you can go with your tire pressures, based on the tire dimensions you have and your rims size, in order to avoid rolling a tire out of your wheels. 

A - Avoid Sensitive Areas

While you are out exploring, make sure you avoid sensitive areas at all cost, wether this means you having to reroute your whole trip. 

Sensitive areas can be Protected National Forests but also specific eco-systems which are very vulnerable. These are places Wetlands, lakes, rivers & meadows, as the ground around these places is really soft and carries a lot of microorganisms. While crossing a river, always make sure that you don it over a designated fording point and at 90 degrees, without changing your direction while you're crossing. 

Another sensitive terrain is Wet ground. Wet soil is soft and can easily be destroyed by the slightest of wheel spin, so tread lightly and avoid mud and wet ground as much as possible. 

Last but not least on our list are Sand Dunes with vegetation. This vegetation takes years to grow and hardly sustains itself on those dunes; if you drive over it you risk doing almost permanent damage as it will take years to recover. 

D - Do Your Part

Finally, keeping the outdoors beautiful and accessible really is up to you and up to all of us. So let's do our part, volunteer and participate in trail cleanups and maintenance and be an active member of your outdoor community by also spreading these principles; so that other people overland responsibly. 

Always carry multiple trash bags with you, not only for your stuff but for waste left by other people on the trails, beaches, mountains and forests. Leave it better than you find it. 

Tip: make sure you also carry gloves with you, so that you don't have to touch trash left by other people. 

So, be Responsible, make sure you protect the adventure so that future generations will be able to enjoy the Outdoors as much as we do now! 

Our video is also available on our Youtube channel to watch HERE