cp0915 wrote:Ask him about the time he did the somersault on Edgar Peak.

It was more of a flip, since I didn't touch the ground. Anyway, I blame sport climbers.

Back in the 1970s I was invited onto an Indian reservation in New Mexico and given permission to hike to the top of a "sacred peak" on the reservation. "White men" were not usually permitted on the "sacred mountain."

The trail to the top of the "sacred mountain" was so badly lilttered with beer cans from the Indians that we spent the day packing out dozens of trash bags full of beer cans instead of hiking.

The Indians never did understand why we were so concerned about packing out the garbage.

I live a block away from 2 famous 'rails to trails' systems in the metro Chicago area (The Prairie Path and The Great Western Trail, which cover about 75 miles and connect to still other trails). You would think trail users in such a nature starved area would be more environmentally aware than others. But such is not the case.

There are three classes of garbage found every day along the trail (I know because I regularly pick it up while I take walks):

- Alcohol
- Fast Food
- Water Bottles

I kind of expect the first two because a lot of kids and teens use the trail. But the water bottle litter really annoys me. This has to be generated by adults who use the trail for their health (walking, jogging and biking) but can't be bothered to pitch their water bottle into the trash.

A while back I was on the road with some friends when we were stopped because of an accident ahead. As we sat there somewhat impatiently a burning cig butt flys out of the passenger window of the car in front of us. Usually I would just get angry, curse them and go on. This time was different. I got out and walked towards the car. Meanwhile her husband (the driver) who was standing in the middle of the road trying to figure out what was going on noticed me and with a threatened look on his face walked back towards the car. I just picked the butt up turned to the woman in the passenger seat and said in a friendly almost sarcastic manner "I think you dropped this, here you go" and with an embarrassed, ashamed look she took it back and even said thank you. I wonder if this incident ever made here think twice about doing it again...Doubt it.

Then later someone in front of them, maybe out of spite or just another inconsiderate prick, decided to do the same thing. I really had to stop and breath this time or there might have been more than one "accident". I simply walked over picked up the second butt and gave my most fear inducing glare and walked away.

rmick25 wrote:A while back I was on the road with some friends when we were stopped because of an accident ahead. As we sat there somewhat impatiently a burning cig butt flys out of the passenger window of the car in front of us. Usually I would just get angry, curse them and go on. This time was different. I got out and walked towards the car. Meanwhile her husband (the driver) who was standing in the middle of the road trying to figure out what was going on noticed me and with a threatened look on his face walked back towards the car. I just picked the butt up turned to the woman in the passenger seat and said in a friendly almost sarcastic manner "I think you dropped this, here you go" and with an embarrassed, ashamed look she took it back and even said thank you. I wonder if this incident ever made here think twice about doing it again...Doubt it.

Then later someone in front of them, maybe out of spite or just another inconsiderate prick, decided to do the same thing. I really had to stop and breath this time or there might have been more than one "accident". I simply walked over picked up the second butt and gave my most fear inducing glare and walked away.

I hate cigarette litter also. Good for you for trying to make a difference, but you're probably wasting your time. Anyone who doesn't give a rat's ass about his or her own lungs and health likely lacks the ability to care about much of anything, litter for example.

I have never understood why smokers think it is okay to throw their cigarette butts out the window. And they were doing it long before ashtrays began disappearing from cars, so they can't use that excuse. Few things on the road piss me off as much as seeing some jackass chuck a cigarette out the window.

Sbrande wrote:But the water bottle litter really annoys me. This has to be generated by adults who use the trail for their health (walking, jogging and biking) but can't be bothered to pitch their water bottle into the trash.

It's amazing how many water bottles and granola bar wrappers you find on trails, left by people who supposedly enjoy the outdoors and care for it.

Those of you who chuck banana peels, orange peels, apple cores, and the like out the window: you might think it's okay since it's biodegradable, but it attracts animals that in turn run a greater risk of turning into roadkill. It also attracts raptors that prey on some of those animals, which is one of the reasons you sometimes see dead owls and hawks on the side of the road. Some of you probably don't care, but those of you who try to take it easy on the critters as much as you can might want to think twice before throwing food items out the window.

Sbrande wrote:This has to be generated by adults who use the trail for their health (walking, jogging and biking) but can't be bothered to pitch their water bottle into the trash.

I had a girlfriend once who thought it was OK to litter because someone would be paid to come pick it up later. She actaully thought she was supporting the workforce . The relationship did not go very far.

Bob Sihler wrote:I have never understood why smokers think it is okay to throw their cigarette butts out the window.

With this I try to see the selfish silver lining. Those people often cause large forest fires, which results in a lot of people, including me, making a lot of money to put it out. Its not as good for them if they are caught because they likely will do a little jail time and get the suppression bill, which for a big fire typically is in the millions. So after jail, they are financially devastated. Hope it was a good smoke.

Day Hiker wrote:I hate cigarette litter also. Good for you for trying to make a difference, but you're probably wasting your time. Anyone who doesn't give a rat's ass about his or her own lungs and health likely lacks the ability to care about much of anything, litter for example.

The odd thing: litter from filter-less cigarettes is less a concern. The filters are basically cellulose acetate, which takes a while to degrade, especially if unburied. The parts that are tobacco and paper degrade quickly (especially if buried).

I'm always amazed to find the filters at places like the Grand Canyon, 2000' below the rim. These people must have made it back up...

Day Hiker wrote:I hate cigarette litter also. Good for you for trying to make a difference, but you're probably wasting your time. Anyone who doesn't give a rat's ass about his or her own lungs and health likely lacks the ability to care about much of anything, litter for example.

Not true of everyone. My brother-in-law has smoked for 35 years but it is not a very good idea to drop a cigarette butt on the ground around him. I've watched him put a lit butt into someone's shirt pocket after the guy dropped in on the ground (in the city, no less).

mconnell wrote:

Day Hiker wrote:I hate cigarette litter also. Good for you for trying to make a difference, but you're probably wasting your time. Anyone who doesn't give a rat's ass about his or her own lungs and health likely lacks the ability to care about much of anything, litter for example.

Not true of everyone. My brother-in-law has smoked for 35 years but it is not a very good idea to drop a cigarette butt on the ground around him. I've watched him put a lit butt into someone's shirt pocket after the guy dropped in on the ground (in the city, no less).

Funny thing is I smoke too. Roll-my-own of course in case I lose one. I absolutely hate littering and can honestly say I've picked up much more than I've ever accidently littered. My bestfriend is the same way.

Truth is though most people that smoke could give two shits.

Here's to quitting in 2010

mconnell wrote:

Day Hiker wrote:I hate cigarette litter also. Good for you for trying to make a difference, but you're probably wasting your time. Anyone who doesn't give a rat's ass about his or her own lungs and health likely lacks the ability to care about much of anything, litter for example.

Not true of everyone.

Agreed.

Sierra Ledge Rat wrote:"The river is a WONDERFUL place to dump your garbage!"

A friend was telling me about their experience of replacing an old barbed-wire fence. When all the old fencing had been removed and the new fence was in place, it was time for cleanup. A debate about what to do with the old fencing had started. One of the members of the group suggested, "Hook on to one end of it with the tractor and drive around in circles until it's all wrapped up in a big ball, then head 'er to the river."

Sierra Ledge Rat wrote:The Indians never did understand why we were so concerned about packing out the garbage.