Fire pit trash

As we wheel and do volunteer work for the Forest Service, we come across a common find: Trash. In the picture, these items were picked up from around a fire pit at an organized FS camp area. Interestingly enough, these are items found at many different campsites along our California landscape.

The cigarette butts were a shock to me. Not because there was one outside of the fire ring, but because there were 4 separate piles of 8+, in each pile, outside the ring. Whoever camped at this spot must have had an intense weekend!

The white flowers are almost like a rotary dialed phone. So out of date! The sad fact is, we still see them on many trails. Last year, before Sierra Trek, the campsite between water crossing 2 and 3 was littered with white flowers. Most people blame women for these ugly leftovers, but if you looked at the percentage of women on that trail, you would have to come to the conclusion that men were responsible for many of these blossoms. All of us need to do better.

I think the item that surprised me the most was the combo dental floss- pick. I see these little green things everywhere. Seriously, throw them in your trash bags, not on the ground!

Glass, caps form various containers and aluminum foil and cans round out the list. People who throw aluminum products, as well as tin, into the fire the night before leaving camp and expect it to melt in 2 hours of flame are fools who make us look bad.

Folks, we need to do a better job. I know campers and hunters contribute to these problems, but when the campsites frequented by wheelers have this evidence left behind, it doesn’t help our cause.