Book
NOLS Soft Paths
David Cole and Rich Brame
TL;DR
A 2011 NOLS Library book on enjoying wild places with minimum impact, built around Leave No Trace skills and ethics. It runs 224 pages from Stackpole Books.
Quick Facts
- Authors
- David Cole and Rich Brame
- Foreword
- Dana Watts
- Publisher
- Stackpole Books
- Published
- June 15, 2011
- Pages
- 224
- ISBN
- 978-0811706841
NOLS Soft Paths details minimum-impact techniques for a wide variety of environments, so outdoor lovers can do a better job when enjoying wildland. It covers Leave No Trace skills and ethics, trampling, litter, waste disposal, fire use, wildlife health and protecting cultural resources. The book outlines not only how, but more importantly, why.
Why OGSP Recommends It
One Good Story Project recommends NOLS Soft Paths because it answers practical questions hikers and campers face outdoors. It explains how far to camp from water, how to choose a tent site, and how to decide whether a fire belongs there. Authors David Cole and Rich Brame also explain the reasoning behind those choices, helping readers make responsible decisions across many types of terrain. store.nols.edu
Cole brings a background in wilderness research, while Brame helped lead NOLS’s early Leave No Trace curriculum work. Their experience gives the book a strong mix of research and field knowledge for anyone who wants to enjoy wild places without slowly wearing them down.
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Related Resources
Key Takeaways
- Its minimum-impact techniques come from new research and field experience at NOLS.
- Part of the NOLS Library series from Stackpole Books.
- Rich Brame has taught NOLS conservation practices in the wilderness on five continents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NOLS Soft Paths about?
It teaches minimum-impact techniques for camping and travel in wild places, built around Leave No Trace skills and ethics.
Who wrote NOLS Soft Paths?
David Cole, a research geographer with the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, and Rich Brame, who headed up NOLS' early Leave No Trace curriculum development. The foreword is by Dana Watts.
Does NOLS Soft Paths cover where to camp?
Yes. It covers how far you should camp from water, where to pitch your tent, and whether to build a fire in the first place.
Is NOLS Soft Paths still in print?
Yes. Amazon listed the 2011 Stackpole Books paperback in stock on October 23, 2026, and the NOLS Store lists it for $19.95.