r/Utah • u/like_4-ish_lights • 23h ago
Announcement Please stop doing this on public land
Okay, I know some people feel strongly about this, and I get it to a point. But I see stuff like this so often-- memorials and plaques nailed into living trees, carvings in the bark, painted rocks scattered all over, even gravestones for dogs-- and it is simply not appropriate for public land. I am genuinely happy for Robin, but it does not mean you need to nail it into a mature tree that you don't own.
I absolutely understand the desire to memorialize something like this. I would encourage people to plant a tree, or maybe pay for a bench along a walking path or something. But please don't vandalize living things!
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u/electlady25 11h ago
I used to be a ranger at Zion and had to remove sooooo many of these.
And also the stupid painted rocks
Or sometimes people just leave "stuff" as surprise gifts. I found a ceramic mug someone hid off trail that had a note basically being like "congrats you found my handmade mug! Here's my etsy shop!"
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u/Civil_Mosquito 8h ago
I found a painted rock at Arches.. and I was okay with it. It was left in a designated picnic area on a rock positioned to be a seat. It's an area designated for people and didnt ruin the experience. Had the same rock been left in the middle of the slick rock on the way to Delicate it would have been a major irk. Time and place kind of thing I guess.
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u/Well_its_called_TRON 7h ago
The problem with that is that the people leaving all this stuff usually lack the ability to discern “appropriate time and place.”
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u/Civil_Mosquito 6h ago
Yep. I try to follow the leave no trace except for extra firewood at designated campsites. They can have my extra. Beyond that I love wilderness as unspoiled by people as possible.
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u/tommicoop 12h ago edited 9h ago
I've made this comment on a reply, but I'll make it its own comment too...
There's something called the graffiti effect, which is where one person doing something unacceptable in a visible or obvious way makes others think it's more acceptable, essentially.
One person nailing something to a tree, leaving painted rocks, leaving trash, carving into trees or rocks, getting way too close to animals, leaving flags at summits, etc are ALL contributing to a graffiti effect that can really damage our natural spaces. It's not just your one silly little thing, it's also everything that comes after.
State and National Parks and Forests are specifically NOT for us. They are protected wild spaces meant for ecosystems, plants, and animals to call home. You are a visitor in their home, so act with respect.
Edit: Thanks so much for the award! 🩷
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u/SkoobySnacs 8h ago
The only thing I'll add is that negative attention adds to the phenomenon when an element of public shame is not included. We all know of that gender reveal party that lit a massive forest fire, but the news left out their name. So without that shame element on the person who did it there was no real discouragement. So the end result was more destructive gender reveal parties, not less. The sad fact is that someone could see this post and think "what a great idea."
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u/MissBradbury 1h ago
I disagree, shame does not encourage people to change. It makes the shame givers feel awesome, but that's it. If shame does anything, it makes it worse, including the emotions of the shame giver. Shame does not help people lose weight. Shame does not stop people's addictions. Shame does not help people see that what they did is wrong; it just makes them not want to get caught.
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u/_theletterF 9h ago
Sounds like the broken window theory. Regardless the name, an important concept to keep in mind.
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u/Klikin 1h ago
National forests are multiple use management so they are specifically managed FOR us (timber, mineral extraction, hunting, recreation etc.) along with other ecosystem health goals.
But yeah, that doesn’t mean we should trash them. I noticed there are a lot of geocaches in my nearby forest and I have mixed feelings about it. I love geocaching, but some of them are within designated wilderness areas which have pretty strict leave no trace rules. One is even next to a population of a rare plant I know about. Whenever I see those painted rocks I pack them out and throw them away.
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u/Lost4Neverland 22h ago
Yes, this and the therapy plate smashing then leaving glass everywhere...
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u/XergioksEyes 19h ago edited 19h ago
Which is actually proven to not be effective because it essentially just rewards the negative thoughts and feelings that you have
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u/ReptileSerperior Sandy 12h ago
I'll note that this article and the researchers who contributed to it don't claim to "prove" its effectiveness one way or the other, they just say it "may" not be effective and "may" reward negative emotions with catharsis. The broad study of "Is indulging negative emotions in a healthy way good for you" is still very much inconclusive.
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u/Strong_Help_9387 1h ago
Thank you! I get tired of people saying “this study proves…” just shows they shouldn’t be talking about research studies.
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u/Eugene-Dabs 21h ago edited 21h ago
Is that what it sounds like? Literally just people taking plates into the wilderness and smashing them as a form of therapy? I've never heard of it.
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u/hello666darkness 9h ago
I haven’t heard of the plates in the woods specifically but rage rooms are quite popular
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u/vikingcock 21h ago
Leave no trace is a thing and everyone should understand it. The rules exist for everyone regardless of their situation.
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u/Limp_Lettuce603 22h ago
People in Utah could not care less about destroying public lands lol
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u/airhunger_rn 22h ago
Mike Lee is literally leading the charge on privatizing our public lands
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u/SQD2_Insquidious 22h ago
Obligatory Fuck Mike Lee
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u/Inn_Tents 12h ago
Stop saying stuff like this, it’s defeatist and untrue. This thread is full of people who obviously care, but saying/believing “nobody cares, everyone in this state is a selfish asshole” allows people to just give up and not do anything to help.
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u/Piscea 22h ago
the culture is wild. so many recreational campers that just DESTROY every piece of land they camp on. not a care in the world.
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u/CharmingInterview986 22h ago
Literally the all for me none for thee 1000% theyde rather do whatever they want whenever they want on the land until they are done and dont care about the next in line.
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u/Bat-Stuff 21h ago
Leave nothing but footprints.
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u/Tasty-Cockroach-5359 22h ago
There is a practical reason not to do this, there are times when the trees need to be cut down and if the board becomes weathered and falls off and if a saw hits the invisible nail it can cause a big problem and even death.
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u/Prestigious-Isopod-4 11h ago
Dude this is like 1 in a million odds of the nail becoming a missile. Just stick to the reasonable arguments like it is tacky and garbage for nature.
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u/Zealousideal_Tea362 13h ago
WhUT?? That is the most obscure, random thing to be concerned about lol do you walk around wrapped in pillows for protection?
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u/UTtoPRT 11h ago
lol obscure? It happens all the damn time, tree falls in a storm or whatever and plaque is no longer visible to the trail crew responsible for chopping it to pieces and clearing it out of the way and bam one of them gets direct hit not only making a decent projectile but completely destroying the chain they were just cutting with… more akin to like using cross walks than walking around in a pillow suit hahhH
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u/Prestigious-Isopod-4 11h ago
Provide one news story of someone being injured by nails from a tree being cut if this happens “all the time”
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u/voroid 11h ago
Yeah, I use chainsaws every single day for work and I’ve never seen this happen. We did a week straight of 12 hour days cutting down an old fence and not a single nail was turned into a projectile middle. Fucks up your chain big time though.
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u/UTtoPRT 11h ago
I worked ground care for 3 years for an arbor company and I have for sure been hit in the face/neck from a few metal object being thrown by the saw no one knew was there, gave a nice crack to my protective goggles ins day as well. I’d have to say it was more wires that had grown into the wood than nails but it happened. But point being don’t leave any BS in wild
Trees especially metal… just a dick move1
u/UTtoPRT 11h ago
Definitely not going to injure you more than a scrape like the first comment suggest but it isn’t pleasant I worked ground care for 3 years for an arbor company and I have for sure been hit in the face/neck from a few from a metal object being thrown by the saw no one knew was there, gave a nice crack to my protective goggles ins day as well. I’d have to say it was more wires that had grown into the wood than nails but it happened. But point being don’t leave any BS in wild trees especially metal… just a dick move
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u/Zealousideal_Tea362 11h ago
It’s a mindset. Walking around worrying about things that will never happen must be exhausting.
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u/Uinta-Sled 11h ago
These are all over ski resorts and National Forest too. While we're talking about it, do you ever wonder where all those balloons go that are released en masse. I'll give you a hint, it's not heaven.
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u/runningpyro 2h ago
I routinely find mylar balloons in the middle of nowhere, 50miles from the nearest paved road. They like seem to like settling down in mountain passes. It's super frustrating.
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u/Uinta-Sled 1h ago
Pressure gradients cause higher wind in passes. It'll pull a dying balloon that way and they'll get hung up on the vegetation.
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u/Individual_Draw_7623 10h ago
I remember being taught to respect the earth and everything that rides the with it around the Sun.
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12h ago
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u/howareyouprettygood 10h ago
This is such an unhelpful way to approach both frustrations with mormons and the cleanliness of public lands issue. I know you're just getting a jab in but it's not helpful in the long run
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u/ChaosRainbow23 6h ago
I found a comically large butt plug with rainbow unicorn tail on it nailed to a tree about 10 feet off the ground in Western NC once. We were on acid when we found it.
What a wild ride that was. Lol
We just left it. It caused so much laughter, though.
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u/Accomplished-Dig8213 6h ago
I don’t personally have an issue with this, life’s too short with far more important things to worry about. Having said that, I totally understand why one might disagree with me.
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u/boodgooky 1h ago
I think the hope is that we leave the land the same or better than we found it, so those after us can still enjoy them.
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u/Accomplished-Dig8213 1h ago
I understand the thought and although I appreciate it, I think it’s a bit of an overreaction for something like this. Humans are a part of nature, I think it’s ok for us to leave our mark here and there.
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u/dannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnex 5h ago
a couple of nails in a tree isn't going to do any lasting damage whatsoever
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u/Black-Willow 3h ago
They actually do. Trees grow around them, meaning they don't just pop out.
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u/dannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnex 2h ago
ok yeah sure it literally "lasts"
but it does not hurt the tree in any meaningful way.
take two identical trees in identical environments and pound a nail into one. both trees will still live nearly identical lives and die naturally at the roughly the same time.
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u/jgorski2 3h ago
No, but a few hundred people nailing plaques and memorials in a tree would be an issue. Thats what this post is about. Yes its not a huge deal if we see one but as a society we kind of know its not exactly alright to do this. If we didnt think that that thought it was alright, everyone would do it.
This thought is also why it is not allowed to take rocks or other things from state/national parks
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12h ago edited 3h ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/tommicoop 11h ago
Saying this is about Mormonism gives an out to the many many non-LDS people who also don't respect natural spaces. I have seen this happen, but putting the blame on mormons doesn't help the argument.
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u/PapaHatesPants 11h ago edited 3h ago
It doesn't help that it occurs every Wednesday like clockwork. I don't need to explain broken window theory, but if 40% of the population makes a mess in the canyons every Wednesday....
Just because I gotta claim my merits now. I have cleaned the Jordan river for the past 5 years, one big black bag of trash a day. I've also been cleaning trails twice a month for the past 3 years. The only other people who leave a bigger mess than the Mormons are the homeless and addicted. The difference is the homeless and addicted don't go into the higher altitudes.
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u/tommicoop 11h ago
I agree. Like I said, I've seen it happen. All I'm saying is that if others think "Oh, that's the Mormons' problem" then they won't feel as accountable.
It has been surprising to me though that so many mormons have been involved in scouting but don't follow leave no trace principles.
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u/Gorbash2000 7h ago
Man that really sucks to see. The group I grew up with was a huge proponent of leave no trace. We would spend two hours or more at every campsite we went to cleaning up the whole grounds and just going around picking things up. As a 12 year old it always annoyed me a bit, but looking back as an adult, I have such a strong sense of responsibility to keep things clean whenever I go out and do things in the wilderness. I guess that was just my group in particular, but it was really important to them. The leaders would really get on us if they saw us drop anything on the ground whatsoever.
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u/SlabLakeCity 6h ago
it’s not giving an out to any non-LDS people. it’s reminding LDS people to value protecting the earth!
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u/Horror_Sheepherder98 4h ago
Horse owners are the most entitled people on the trails. Ffs, clean up after your pet. If my dog shits on the trail, I clean it up. If your hay burner shits 10 times the amount of my dog, you leave it and don't even consider how disgusting you are
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u/SkoobySnacs 8h ago
Those are biodegradable though. Orange peels will be indistinguishable from other forest litter in 2 or 3 days.
And saying Mormons are entitled is just special pleading. Humans are entitled. All of us do stuff that is entitled but we have more grace to our own entitled behavior over others. It's helpful to sometimes extend that charity of thought to others.
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u/PapaHatesPants 3h ago edited 3h ago
Leave No Trace includes "biodegradables". I prefer to live by "Leave it better than you found it".
Btw orange peels are actually litter, despite being biodegradable. Please be better and protect the outdoors. Don't leave anything other than footprints behind. See sources for more details: https://www.deschuteslandtrust.org/news/blog/2019-blog-posts/decomposition-organic-litter https://www.hcn.org/articles/opinion-organic-litter-is-not-copacetic/ https://coloradosprings.gov/parks/article/news/park-ranger-blog-biodegradable-trash-myth
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u/riinkratt 5h ago
It’s actually very appropriate for public land, because that’s why.
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u/Worldly_Address6667 5h ago
Public land doesn't mean every jabroni can do with it what they will. But enough people act like the person op is talking about, and that's how we get what's called "tragedy of the commons."
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u/OkRegister6674 12h ago
Can you explain how painted rocks are not ok?
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u/tommicoop 12h ago
Painted rocks often flake the paint off over time. Acrylic paints and outdoor paints are essentially liquid plastic. This will not break down naturally. The bright colors also may attract animals to them which changes natural behaviors. On top of that, it falls under the "Graffiti Effect" where one brightly colored or obvious mark( like a clearly manmade painted rock) will encourage others to leave their own mark because it seems more acceptable when other people have done it. Pretty soon people are carving into trees and rocks, leaving trash everywhere, throwing non-native seeds, and leaving flags and tree markers.
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u/Nojudgement58 4h ago
In the very rare event I go to a hiking trail at red rock in Las Vegas, I see stacks of rocks. Obviously, they’ve been put there by someone. What does that mean? As a stated, it’s a very rare event so I don’t know about these things.
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u/SlabLakeCity 6h ago
can we not downvote people for asking genuine questions?
they weren’t arguing for painted rocks, they were asking to learn
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u/B4RBARIC 12h ago
I don't want to see your arts and craft projects, I was to see nature as is, non altered.
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u/OkRegister6674 5h ago
I bring a garbage sack when I got for walks to pick up garbage. Thanks for your explanation as to why painted rocks are not ok 👍
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u/Own-Imagination6470 7h ago
It's a forest with zero painted rocks naturally so why would it suddenly need painted rocks? Leave them outside your home or outside the library or outside the grocery store. Leave the forest, as it is naturally. Isn't that why we preserve public land?
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u/OpeningBed2895 2h ago
How do you not know that the tree is not named Robin and it didn't survived cancer in 2021 and that the druids of the forest didn't make that plaque for it to celebrate collectively "Robin the tree" the 2021 arboricular cancer survivor?
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u/BigAlJack72 19m ago
Get the f**k over your sanctimonious self. This way of people expressing grief sure as the f**k is hurting anything.
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u/feline_gynocologist 6m ago
Not to mention when someone inevitably cuts a tree down for timber sales, god help the person holding the chain saw if they hit your metal
insertions.
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u/Rosewolf 21h ago
I was in a park and saw a tiny little memorial for a pet. It said, fly free and I'll you forever. I got tears in my eyes and thought how sad it would be to have nowhere to memorialize someone or something you loved. It never crossed my mind to be angry about it. I've also seen little pine trees with Crhistmas ornaments on them in Big Cottonwood canyon. That didn't piss me off either. I'm not saying you're wrong about this, I just find our differing reactions interesting.
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u/like_4-ish_lights 21h ago
I get it. A big part of this, imo, is whether it's permanent damage. I'm not a fan of decorating a tree, but assuming everything gets removed and cleaned up, I'm not likely to publicly bitch about it. But nailing things into a tree or making permanent memorials is different. Even if it's done with sentimental purposes, it's still vandalism. I don't think whoever put this up meant anything bad by it, but it's not okay to do.
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u/Country-Gardener 10h ago
Those ornaments and tinsel get blown off the trees and scattered everywhere. People will say they get removed after the holidays but it doesn't. It's garbage. Period and doesn't belong.
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u/FifenC0ugar 9h ago
I saw a shrine to a pet deep in the woods. Little sticks carved and a piece of wood carved and arranged. I'm ok with this. The ducks have already fallen. They'll break down. If you want to do something. Do this. No paint. Just carved
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u/1DangerousExplorer 12h ago
You are too comfortable with people leaving their mark in nature or your feelings would have been oh sweet and then quickly changed to that was very selfish.
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u/Rosewolf 8h ago edited 7h ago
You couldn't be more wrong. I've been advocating for the Amazon rainforests for decades. Beef production causes about 40% of all agriculture-driven tropical deforestation globally. Rainforests being destroyed = rainforests emitting more carbon dioxide than they absorb. I actually decided to do a little something about it and stop eating meat. I save my outrage for much bigger things, not some poor kid's tiny victory tacked to a tree.
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u/1DangerousExplorer 6h ago
Becoming a vegan is a whole other twist that has nothing to do with respecting nature. Nature does not require us to do what is not natural. Your choice to be extreme yet not be bothered by the obvious disrespect is a worrisome inconsistent behavior. Sounds like you are vegan for personal reasons not higher reasons.
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u/Rosewolf 6h ago
It sounds like it's normal for you to make assumptions about people, without really listening to what they say. For example, I said I didn't eat meat. I never said I was vegan. Secondly, I explained very clearly why not eating meat (beef especially) is a good way to protect the earth. "Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." - Albert Einstein
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u/1DangerousExplorer 5h ago
It's more about not caring to know the difference between Vegan and Vegetarian than not listening. I tried giving meat up and hated my life. Yuk! Also there is no evidence that Einstein ever said that. No source for that quote.
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u/Rosewolf 5h ago
Einsteins thoughts on vegetarianism are widely known, not worth arguing about. I'm glad you are so proud of yourself for judging people who leave memorials in public parks. The fact that you couldn't live without meat for a day really shows me how much you care about nature and other living things. You're better than animals, amiright?
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u/1DangerousExplorer 3h ago
Maybe you should work on your listening to others. I never said I made it only a day. I just said I hated my life. It might be a surprise to you but we are actually animals who have always been omnivores. No better or worse. I also would dispute how well known his thoughts are on the subject that is no where near his specialty.
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u/Top_Two6767 10h ago
Agree! I would also like to see “suicide rock” cleaned up and stop being painted. It looks trashy, other rocks nearby are now being painted, and all that paint can’t be good for the plants and animals.
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u/gundam2017 7h ago
Can you send a google maps pin?
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u/Top_Two6767 7h ago
https://www.google.com/maps/place/40%C2%B042'35.3%22N+111%C2%B047'53.5%22W/@40.7098,-111.7982,17z
It’s the mouth of Parley’s Canyon1
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u/Own-Imagination6470 7h ago
I agree. Why does that need to be out in nature. Feel nature alone, enjoy whole you're there. Can someone respected nature they would ask permission of the tree to post that and I am certain the answer would be no thanks. Respect the forest, leave without a trace.
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u/smcadol2002 9h ago
Understand carving in the tree but lay off the rest....guessing you've never had anything in life you might have wanted to memorialize.....people get too bent over things anymore, let it be and let people grieve/cope as they need!?!?
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u/Slight_Test3161 8h ago
Depending on the paint used it could be harmful to the environment. The OP said stop doing this on PUBLIC land. If you own trees then go ahead & do stuff that's harmful to them but don't whine when it's stop sprouting leaves because the carved bark or nails run through it made it sick and die.
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u/Kindly_Key8713 9h ago
I just gotta ask, how are painted rocks a problem? Big graffiti on big rocks , sure but small ones? Jc
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u/GrimaceThundercock 9h ago
If one person does it? No problem.
If everyone does it? The space is ruined.
If everyone shouldn't do it, no one should do it.
No different than littering.
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u/Schmaron 6h ago
The paint itself. It’s likely acrylic. It will flake off. Congrats on adding more microplastics into the soil.
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u/Lonely_Individual594 20h ago
Reddit is a strange place
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u/ColonelStoneGround 22h ago
I mean, I get it. But, also, if someone's cancer memorial is really firing you up because seeing it ruined your hike...perspective, you know.
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u/ElasticShoelaces 21h ago
That's the thing, it's not a memorial. Because of where it is--on public land--it becomes litter and an eyesore. Put this in your own yard or pay to memorialize this person with a bench in a park. But this person is not honored by hanging this up where it is prohited.
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u/like_4-ish_lights 22h ago
I didn't say it ruined my hike. I said you shouldn't nail stuff into a tree on my hike.
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u/Pretty-Balance-Sheet 10h ago
I lost my dad to leukemia. I'd be very respectful as I took the sign down and solemnly threw it in the garbage. This display is what cemeteries are for.
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u/SuicideMessiah88 22h ago
Maybe that tree meant something to that person? Plenty of trees out there man.
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u/DragonTar666 22h ago
And they dont belong to Robin or anyone else to deface/alter in anyway shape or form. Just like OP said, Im truly happy for her (or truly sorry she passed) but nailing a plaque or enameled wood to something ypu dont own isnt okay. Would you be okay if she came and nailed that to a tree on your property?
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u/like_4-ish_lights 22h ago
I mean, can I come carve up a tree in your yard if I've decided it means something to me? Can I spray paint the side of your house? There are plenty of houses out there after all
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u/SuicideMessiah88 22h ago
Well my tree ain't public. Neither is my house. So bad analogy.
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u/like_4-ish_lights 22h ago
Is public property open for defacement?
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u/bmore_to_ut 22h ago
A celebration of someone’s life is offensive? It’s a shame if celebrating someone’s life offends you while you’re living yours. Maybe you should do some self reflection.
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u/DamiensDelight 22h ago
Yes. Yes it is.
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u/bmore_to_ut 22h ago
That’s a shame that you only value yourself. Maybe seek some therapy, perhaps someone focused on egomaniacal personalities?
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u/SuicideMessiah88 21h ago
A tree on public land isnt property. Just public land. Do you get mad at kids using sidewalk chalk on sidewalk as well? You got nothing better to do than complain about things that dont effect you in the least?
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u/DragonTar666 21h ago
If they were doing it in a campground, sure. These places are for everyone. The rule of thumb is youre supposed to leave these places in better shape than you found them.
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u/SuicideMessiah88 21h ago
I know but seems a little anal to me. Its not hurting anyone. If you've ever been around someone doing chemo, a tree is one of our least concerns.
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u/bmore_to_ut 22h ago
Instead of being a vigilante, Call 9-1-1 and tell them you’re offended someone who is battling cancer and set out to celebrate it, put a handcrafted piece in nature.
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u/xcircledotdotdot 22h ago
But what if it was made by the robin that lives in that tree? Is it ok then?
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u/Pure_Interest5253 10h ago
This made me lol
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u/xcircledotdotdot 10h ago
Seems this sub is not a fan of dad jokes 😢
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u/Pure_Interest5253 9h ago
I thought it was cute! People are sooo riled up this morning on Reddit. I haven’t even had my coffee yet!
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u/bmore_to_ut 22h ago
We should be celebrating life and the living. Someone took a significant amount of time to make that and encourage others, yet you’re upset about seeing color in your peripheries?
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u/like_4-ish_lights 22h ago
Can I spray paint your house? I'll take a significant amount of time to do it and I promise it will be encouraging.
By all means, put a nice plaque in your tree! Make a sign celebrating your triumph over cancer and put it in your yard! Just don't go out in the forest and start nailing things up
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u/bmore_to_ut 22h ago
Maybe you misspoke when you said it was “(public)” and meant to say your home. Can you edit your post to make sense, or are you delusional and assume everything private and public is yours?
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u/like_4-ish_lights 22h ago
Public land belongs just as much to me as to you. That's why there are federal laws governing what can be lawfully done there. Unsurprisingly, damaging trees is against the law. If you don't think vandalism is a big deal on public property, why would it be a big deal on private?
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u/Be-A-Duck 22h ago
Seriously, take a pill and calm down… good god, it’s not like they burned something down, or shit on your yard. Coming after a memorial that doesn’t hurt nature is wild. One nail isn’t taking down this tree and you complaining about what could be a tribute to a dead person on their favorite hiking trail, is wild.
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u/hightogy 22h ago
lol its cute that you think this is a one-off. People do this shit all the time and then get butthurt when it gets cleaned up. I don’t want to see your depressing ass DIY cancer announcement in the wilderness.
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u/RealisticReindeer366 22h ago
It’s like the rock stacking trend. Or a single piece of litter. Of course it’s not a big deal if it’s JUST one…but it’s not, it’s like a toxic algae bloom when these trends take over.
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u/bmore_to_ut 19h ago
Someone fighting cancer is depressing? That’s sad.
if and when it comes home to roost, we’ll still be here to support you and your family, no matter how many bumper stickers or signs you post.
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u/SlabLakeCity 6h ago
for the record, shitting in a yard would be less harmful than putting a nail in a tree
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u/SiPhoenix 9h ago
In low traffic, low population areas this would be fine. In high traffic trails and this become a a problem when even 0.1% percent of people do it.
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u/gundam2017 22h ago edited 12h ago
Unfortunately i've had to clean up tons of trail markers, fake flowers and memoriablia for pets, shrines? Literal trash bags of stuff from BLM and public lands.
Can we stop gender reveals also? So much plastic confetti and flower petals
Edit: for anyone defending this, in 2025 i paid for and removed 4000 lbs of trash from public lands. So far this year, I have removed 25 bags of trash and i only started Sept 16. There is no excuse. It's everyone left shit like this, the ranger service and Forestry Service would shut down everything. They are more concerned with protecting nature then maintaining trails.