Leaving no Trace in Summit County, Colorado
Today, Monday, is blog action day. Bloggers all over the country are blogging about the environment. I always prefer local flavor when I write posts, because I think that is why people read this blog. A few weeks ago I wrote about the Summit County ski areas using wind power to run ski lifts, and I had planned another during hiking season called “Leave no Trace.” I never did write it, so thought I would do it for blog action day. It ended up being a little different than what I had originally planned. Here it is:
In Summit County, Colorado we are very aware of our environment and how we might protect it. We have a wonderful recycling program in Summit County and most people are very conscious about disposing of their trash and recycling properly. So why do people (are they visitors or residents?) insist on throwing their cigarette butts out the car window when we have trees that are dry and flammable? Why do others dump their trash out the door of their trucks? Beer cans, McDonald’s cups and WalMart bags go flying in the wind. Some very dedicated people, including the Over the Hill Gang, a ski club at Copper Mountain, pick up trash a couple of times a year along I-70. Why should it even be necessary? 
This photo was taken yesterday in Silverthorne. No, it is not halloween pumpkins, but rather, orange trash bags that were all along Hwy 9 every 100 yards or so, full of trash that had been picked up in the road right-of- way. They were awaiting the trash truck to come by and get rid of them. Note the broken bicycle that had been dumped!
Leave no trace is a motto that has been used for years to encourage hikers and campers to pack out their trash and leave nothing but footprints behind. I hike frequently, and seldom see any trash once I am past the trailhead. Even people with dogs bring their “mutt mitts” with them and clean up after their pets. Those of us who enjoy the outdoors in the high country got the “leave no trace” message long ago and we are putting it into practice. Most are so aware of hiking etiquette that we walk single file so as not to make the trail wider than necessary and damage the fragile alpine tundra or the wildflowers.
Perhaps we should post “leave no trace” signs along the highway and at rest stops. Parking lots and pullover areas along our state and county roads could benefit from them. I would love to have a big “litterbug!” sign that I could wave from my car window as I drive in the lane next to the truck that has trash flying out of the back while they drive, oblivious, down the road. Of course, if they cared, they would cover the stuff in the back, so all the sign would do is make me feel better! What is your pet peeve when it comes to the environment, and what can we do it fix it?
PS: A Canadian friend of mine wrote a very eloquent post for Blog Action Day, talking about what the world might be like for our grandkids. She is an excellent writer and it will be worth your while to read it.
October 15th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Great article Joanne! I also like my posts to be “local”. Wind power is definately a growing trend. Our LRT (Light Rail Transit) also uses wind power and there is more to come. I love the motto you have there, “Leave No Trace”. It says it all.
October 15th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
I am glad to see more government and public entities using wind power. So much less impact! “Leave no trace” has been used by the Bureau of Land Management for years, and the Boys Scouts have adopted it too. Thanks for visiting Jennifer!
October 15th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Great post Joanne, and elequently written. I did not blog today because I was spending a few days backpacking and just arrived home a few hours ago. My friend and I spent 5 days at one campsite and when we left it was dificult to tell we had been there except for a few areas of trodden grass that will quickly rejuvinate. On the 16 mile hike out we picked trash up from several campsites that had left litter. Is it so hard to pick up and take out?! It’s funny that you wrote about this because I have been rather bothered by our experience today. I love My Pagosa Springs Colorado, and I want to keep it the way God made it!
Thanks for the post, and letting me vent.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
I am glad you did vent, Chris. Perhaps someone will learn something about “Leave no Trace”. I have always heard, “if you pack it in, pack it out”. It sounds like you came back with more than you left with, but I gather you had a great time! If you had been here, you would have been snowed on.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:54 am
Joanne - We do not have organized clean ups at our lakes and trails but as a family we often pick up after others along with our own trash.
October 16th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
There are lots of good people out there Thesa, and your and your family are great examples of them! Thanks so much for your efforts.
October 16th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Joanne - Such an easy thing to do yet so many people don’t. I can’t believe how much trash people throw out. My aunt lived in a rural area and every summer when I went to visit we would walk the roads picking up trash. Makes an impression on children! I think a good trash pick-up day when you are young would make a big difference in the amount we see. Don’t get me started on the dirty diapers I see! YUCK! - Ashley
October 24th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Hi, Joanne…
I think posts should be oriented toward the locals, too.
I did write a post about a subject that might “hit home” for real estate agents all across the country. The topic is:
Brazilian teak hardwood floors, slave labor, and the destruction of the rain forest.
You can find it at http://snipurl.com/1soah
Anything that you can do to help promote awareness of this issue will be deeply appreciated.
Keep up your good work.
Thank you!