You know when you are hiking and you see garbage, and empties, and dog bags, and cigarette butts? Do you ever stop to pick them up?
This is something we strive to do. We try to always have garbage bags in the car and often pick things up when we are out. It helps that we have Jovie's dog bags with us as well.
*Pro tip: these are small and compact, very easy to stick in your coat pocket so you have something available to use when you come across trash.*
Well, recently we participated in the G2G: Lake Huron Route's first ever Trail Spring Clean Up. I have to admit I was surprised how much garbage we found, and there was still more. Once we were actively looking for it, it was everywhere. Just no you can never get it all. But you can get some. And that is worth it.
We volunteered to clean up the section from Brussels Line to MacDonald Line. You can read our review of this section here.
We started with the left hand side of the trail for the walk out and did the opposite side when we headed back to the car. By the time we got to MacDonald Line we had filled 1 garbage bag. That was only half way. I had I extra bag in my pocket and Jeff took off to get a tired Audrey back to the car. I filled that second bag just before the trail head back at Brussels Line. Thankfully Jeff met me at the trail head with a third garbage bag that I proceeded to fill from the trail head alone.
The trail heads, Brussels Line and MacDonald Line were the worst offenders. However anywhere the brush was thicker, and entraces to farmers fields were a close second. We mostly found farm garbage; large plastic packaging, seed/feed bags, old wires, etc. Other than that it was a lot of empties. I mean I enjoy a cold bevvie on the trail as much as the next person, but just pack it out. I was pleasantly surprised that we only saw 1 cigarrete butt.
I really enjoyed this activity and am looking forward to next years event. However, I will not be waiting until next year to do another garbage pick up on the trail. It was nice to see less trash. Yes because it physically looks better, but it also protects the wildlife, those who call this trail home, where we are just visiting.
April is Earth month. Maybe this post will inspire you to consider something you can do to help the environment. Pick up trash. Reduce your food waste. Walk instead of driving. Eliminate single use plastics. Shop mindfully and ethically. Eat more plants. Whatever it is you decide to do DB Adventures, and Mother Earth thanks you.
To help you be accountable leave us a comment here or on our Instagram to let us know what you are going to do to support Earth month (and hopefully beyond).
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