Part of my job as a Grand Canyon educator is picking up stuff a hiker drops or leaves behind next to a trail. Some of the things I\u2019ve found this summer lead me to wonder what the John Muir they were thinking.<\/p>\n
A fast-food burger, in the original wrapper.\u00a0I suppose they left it for the timid woodland creatures, except if fast food isn\u2019t good for us, why would critters want it?<\/p>\n
Someone\u2019s last remains. When a hiker pointed out a shiny object off the trail, I clambered over rocks to find a sealed urn of cremains, which is illegal to leave in a national park. Local tribes have also asked that visitors avoid doing this for religious considerations.<\/p>\n
I reported finding the urn to park rangers, and for the next month was identified as \u201cthe lady who found the body.\u201d<\/p>\n
A can of corned beef.\u00a0We found this on day three of a seven-day backpack.\u00a0Those who abandoned it surely thought, \u201cOh, whoever finds this shall fall upon it with glee!\u201d\u00a0 Except we had enough food, thanks.\u00a0Rather than carry a three-pound can of beef, though, we ate it, and yes, it was vile.<\/p>\n
Balloons. I risked life and limb one day clambering down a scree slope after what I thought was an abandoned backpack only to find deflated balloons. It is a lovely thought to release balloons to honor a friend. But creatures can get tangled in the strings or eat them to serious ill effect.<\/p>\n
Mascara wand.\u00a0I understand that many women cannot bear to be without their makeup, but on the trail? For one thing, you are all sweaty and dirty, or at least, I am. In the same vein, I have come across discarded bottles of cologne. Perhaps the owners finally realized that no perfume can cover up the smell of a long hike.<\/p>\n
Glow sticks.\u00a0Tied to the trees. Not only are they plastic, they\u2019re toxic to any animal who chews on them.<\/p>\n
Double boiler filled with rice.\u00a0 It might make sense to find this in a campsite, but four miles up the trail?<\/p>\n
Underwear.\u00a0I do know about these situations.\u00a0Someone has an unavoidable emergency and no TP so they use whatever is at, um, hand.<\/p>\n
Plastic tooth floss picks.\u00a0Oral hygiene is important. However, most people do not leave their toothbrush behind, so why leave the silly things that only weigh one-tenth of an ounce?<\/p>\n
A five-pack of beer. I assume they drank one and left the rest for later, then did not find tepid beer palatable. But stashing items along the trail is problematic.\u00a0We never know if you are really going to pick it up later, or if you just got tired of hauling it around.\u00a0So best keep it with you.<\/p>\n