[pct-l] Trail Proximity to a desperate world (was Trail Integrity)

[bluebrain at bluebrain.ca]

Heading up the front of Whitney in 03, we gathered a large bag of garbage
at one of the camps.  People had thrown their hiker meal foil bags, still
half full of food, in the bushes.  Through the sierras we found bear boxes
with people's garbage left in them.  Deep creek was a mess of beer cans,
wine boxes and spray paint.

It's hard not to feel a fair bit of contempt for people and their
careless, selfish ways.  I try to remember being young and ignorant
myself, which isn't too hard, it was just last year after all.  I guess
one way to look at it is that we're not born being thoughtful, aware and
considerate.  They're learned qualities, and unfortunately not ones that
are considered as virtuous as beauty and financial success in our society.
So, for the time being they're going to be in shorter supply than we'd
like, even in the Sierras.

Philosophy aside, practically speaking ... hmmm, if it's really PCT hikers
leaving a trail of trash in their wake, then maybe the PCT hiking permit
should be more like a PCT hiking license, with required reading and
completion of a test on trail etiquette and maintenance to qualify.  At
least no thru-hiker would be able to claim ignorance on these topics.

- Paul




> It's not just the border region -- I'm sorry to say I even found it in the
> Sierras this year on my hike.  I saw litter (which I picked up), illegal
> fire pits, and unburied human feces.  Living in brush and wildfire
> country, and walking through devastated burn areas, it's shocking to me
> that hikers are building fires.
>
> L-Rod
>
> -----Original Message-----
>>From: Brett <blisterfree at yahoo.com>
>>Sent: Aug 14, 2006 12:20 PM
>>To: Acu4harmony at aol.com, pct-l at backcountry.net
>>Subject: Re: [pct-l] Trail Proximity to a desperate world (was
>> Trail	Integrity)
>>
>>Litter and human waste along the PCT are problems unsolvable
>>via this list, unfortunately. Everyone around here surely
>>knows better. As for human waste (and prescription med
>>bottles, diapers, canned goods) deposited on the trail
>>itself, it's likely a border control problem. I'd be curious
>>to know how far north such calling cards have spread.
>>
>>- bf
>>
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: <Acu4harmony at aol.com>
>>To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>>Sent: Monday, August 14, 2006 3:01 PM
>>Subject: [pct-l] Trail Integrity
>>
>>
>>> Hey everyone,
>>> Just reading about the stealing along the trail and I
>>> wanted to bring up
>>> another subject that is really sad and is related to
>>> hikers not  caring.  Being
>>> that Scott (Williamson) started at the back of the pack
>>> and  past by everyone,
>>> His main topic of conversation with me in Kennedy Meadows
>>> was  how much trash
>>> and human waste was left ON and around the trail this
>>> year.   He was extremely
>>> sad about it.  He could not believe what people left
>>> behind.  I am wondering
>>> who they think is going to pick up their trash  and toilet
>>> paper?????????
>>> This really worries me, How can we save the integrity of
>>> the trail for
>>> future hikers?  A few people are ruining it for everyone.
>>> What  do you guys thi
>>> nk?????
>>> Michelle
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> pct-l mailing list
>>> pct-l at backcountry.net
>>> unsubscribe or change options:
>>> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>pct-l mailing list
>>pct-l at backcountry.net
>>unsubscribe or change options:
>>http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>
> _______________________________________________
> pct-l mailing list
> pct-l at backcountry.net
> unsubscribe or change options:
> http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l
>