[at-l] Re: LNT

[ellen at clinic.net (Bob C.)]

>"...early on I somehow 'got' the message that LNT was about process and
>incremental change rather than  a slavish adherence to a too-high standard.
>With this fundamental understanding,  the slogan 'Leave No Trace' serves me as
>a clear expression of an ideal..."

Which is certainly true for those who go beyond the slogan, perhaps take the
courses, or at least investigate the detailed recommendations.

 But the vast majority of hikers hear only the slogan. Many, perhaps most, note
 the prints left by their lug soles. See the holes left by their Leki poles.
 Recognize the impossibility of achieving the slogan. And just tune out the
 message.

 We all have our trail specialty. Mine is trash disposer. Over the years I've
 burned, buried and carried out tons of trash. When I began every campsite had
 its can dump. I removed and buried hundreds of them.

   Gradually, the "Carry in, Carry Out" slogan, plus the thousands of obsessed
   people like me who cleaned the accumulations of generations (trash breeds
   trash) took over and the trails became cleaner.

   The trails remain cleaner than in the 60s and early 70s. But they are getting
   dirtier in my observation than they were in the mid 80s and early 90s. I can
   only speculate about the reason why. But two possibilities suggest themselves
   to me:

   1. The "Leave No Trace" message is being ignored by many.

   2. The current generation is just naturally sloppier than that which preceded
   it.

   I prefer to believe the former, but I really don't want to debate it, since
   it's an unprovable point.

   Weary