According to a TIME magazine article published last July, one mounting reason the National Park Service closed a significant percentage of its parks in spring of 2020, coinciding with the onset of mass closures following the onset of COVID-19, was the accumulation of trash and human waste and decimation of plant life off-trail. The author reports the behavior of folks new to hiking forced the decision to close specific parks and sections of trails early. COVID-19 and its after-effects further kept many parks closed for as much as a year.
Littering and graffiti…shameful!
To many of us who enjoy exploring moderate trails and experiencing nature’s beauty first-hand, I agree with the author of the TIME article who was appalled at seeing the graffiti on the rock wall. Two summers ago, my spouse and I took a wilderness rafting trip around Horseshoe Bend in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. During one of our stops, we hiked back to see the Ancestral Puebloans (called Anasazi) petroglyphs, some 800 years old. Like all monuments, the petroglyphs were roped-off as no one was allowed near the wall. Despite that measure, we were disgusted to observe graffiti and language spray painted on the petroglyph wall. It was shameful. On our return hike back to the boat, I stopped to chat with a park ranger. She was a volunteer and stated the park may request restoration and clean-up of the wall, but it all depended upon funding.
Others who witnessed this atrocity frowned.
For those who hiked up to the petroglyphs, you could only imagine their thought processes as they frowned, some pointing to the graffiti and shaking their heads dismayed at what they just viewed. The TIME article points to new people getting out in the wilderness with little clue on etiquette, simple common-sense habits and environmental respect. It appears that littering and graffiti are to be acceptable, just as lack of social etiquette is a foregone conclusion.
Littering has a far-reaching impact on our ecosystem. It affects both plant life and animals. And it also affects our enjoyment when we witness complete lack of respect for nature.
Another horrific act of vandalism
In April, a prehistoric petroglyph was defaced in Moab with the words “White Power.” Despite the canyon being popular with off-roaders, mountain bikers and hikers, the area had managed to avoid graffiti until now. The Bureau of Land Management is offering a $10,000 reward to anyone with information on who committed this terrible act of vandalism.
Reader Poll
If you witness misguided or shameful behavior while hiking in a national park or monument, would you address it directly to the individual(s)?
Would you take a picture with your phone and report the culprits to the National Park Service?
Would you try to educate the misguided individual(s)?
Would you say or do nothing? Why?
Has COVID caused the excuse for bad behavior?
Read the edited article published June 4, 2021 here: Shameful vandalism, trash, human waste at all-time high in recreation areas – RV Travel
Kate Doherty has been writing for more than 30 years in technical and general media. In her previous business, she and her spouse dealt with special projects within the military/government sector. Recently she published “Masquerade: A Logan Scott Novel” under the pen name Bryan Alexander, a thriller now available in eBook and paperback on Amazon. It’s a page-turner!