Let's Talk Trash!

With so many of us visiting the Smokies in the coming weeks, I'd like to propose that we do a little something to give back to the area. Here is my proposal:

I carry a trash bag with me on every hike. Of course I use it for my own trash, but I also make an effort to pick up as much litter as possible along the trail. Wrappers, cans, film canisters, ziploc baggies, cigarette butts, etc. With well over a dozen of us roaming around the hills I imagine we could probably make a decent positive impact on the area if we all picked up some crap that the not-so-eco-conscious leave behind.

Just a thought...

What do you think?

Brett,

I do the same thing. The Smokies stay relatively clean; there are volunteers who look after "their" trail or area doing the trash pickup and other chores. I've found the worst "pollution" seems to be along the trails to the big horse camps - and I don't mean the natural kind of pollution

Along the roads can occasionally be "trashy", but you have to be careful about when and where you stop; I don't want to be picked up off the road and put in a bag.

Steve

Bret,

I agree and I always do the same thing.

This is not nearly the problem in the Smokies as it is in other areas, but its still widespread, especially here in the Southeast. I am not sure why that is.

I am with ya!

I agree with you, Bret and feel it is everone's duty to pick up a little here and there if they come across any litter. I have backpacked in the RMNP and the GSMNP and I can honestly say that the backcountry in the Smokies is a mess in some places. I passed up one place that was allowed for horses and there was so much trash in the form of empty whiskey bottles, clothing, cans etc. I was so p****d. I did carry some out, but was there was too much for me. My point is, in the RMNP I never once seen trash on the ground. I do feel people take better care of the Rockies than the Smokies.Since I am sure you have spent countless hours in the Rockies could you tell me if the above is correct, in relation to litter between the two parks?

Next time your in the Smokies about every pull off heading from Gatlinburg to Clingmans dome I'll bet has trash over its's edge.My girlfriend, at the time, and I picked up a bunch around these areas one day. All the while I was mumbling not so nice words, under my breath, directed to those that do the littering.

I didn't think I was the only one picking up trash! Glad to hear several others are doing it as well. I started doing it when I lived in Arizona. I spent a lot of time hiking the Grand Canyon, and just about every rim to river trail on the South Rim was covered with trash for the first mile or so into the hole. It disgusted me and prompted me to make my own little effort to help out.

Robert: The popular trails in RMNP can get somewhat trashy. Hike to Alberta Falls and you'll find plenty of water bottles, candy wrappers, etc. to pick up. But, go past the falls to Black Lake and above and the trash quickly disappears.

One thing I have noticed is the huge amount of trash dumped from the roads. Washing machines, refrigerators, tires, air conditioning units...you name it. I wish it were as easy to remove them as it is to pick up trail trash.

At any rate, I just thought I'd mention it here. Hope to see a few of you in a couple weeks!

Bret,

Well, this is redneck country where an accepted trash disposal method is put it in the back of your pickup and drive around until it all blows out!

Steve

That does make sense Steve, but how the hell does an entire refrigerator blow out the back of a pickup truck?!

I too, do my part to pick up trash and concur on the trash left by the horse-type people who have also been known to foul backcountry water supplies. The trick to losing a refrigerator is going fast in the curves! Or going backwards fast and slamming on brakes.

Jack

I had a refrigerator blow off my porch during a summer storm once. Does that count? (You should've seen the watermelon.) Ah, life on the mountain...

Lori

P.S. Tennessee trash is one of my pet peeves. I love to see folks talking about doing their part to clean it up.

Holy cow, that must have been some wind Lori!

It always annoys me to see trash anywhere...but esp. so in GSMNP. I always have a few garbage bags in my camera pack.

I keep a 5 gallon can in the back of both my 4x4s for trash that I pick up of other people. I give little verbal reminders to people who trash my world that what they are doing is not going to fly. I as I`m sure some of you are comming to know that I tend to think and play a bit out side the box. I was eating a quick lunch at D.Q. the other day when two young couples pulled up and parked. As they got out of the car one young punk took a empty box of cigs and thru it at the side of the building with smiles from his little group. There were people who saw this and all looked on in disgust. As I drove out after lunch these same people were all happy again and were giving me high fives, I think maby it had something to do with that brite red box glued to the windshield of the red car. I like to do my part to keep the world a happy place!