For the week of June 12 - 18, 2002

Can the trash

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Forest lands near the Wood River Valley may see record numbers of visitors this summer. If nothing changes, they will leave behind record amounts of trash.

This spring U.S. Forest Service officials noticed a major increase in trash on public lands near the Wood River Valley. Officials are asking residents and visitors to clean up after themselves.

We should heed the request.

The Forest Service shouldn’t have to provide housekeeping services for careless campers. Public lands are not garbage dumps, shooting ranges or rent-free open-air apartments.

The areas around the Wood River Valley only look wild and pristine. It’s an illusion. In fact, they are used by thousands of visitors every year.

They deserve better treatment.

That means packing out trash or camping in developed sites designed to handle human waste, fire rings and trash.

There’s nothing like scattered beer cans, baby diapers and toilet paper to wreck a perfectly good day in the outdoors. Every day in the mountains can be a good day, if we make it so.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.