D
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Wow. This is a heartbreaking story. 400 piles of surface detritus in an area with 9 privies? Good Lord. I have one question about your post, with which I largely agree—I didn’t see the movie”Wild”. How did that contribute to this growing problem of general disrespect for the earth and its creatures?
Interesting article @davebugg along with some of the links.I ran across this news story, which focuses on wilderness trails in my neck of the woods. The bad and selfish behavior of Obliviots is International. Even 10 years ago, this disgusting behavior was seldom seen in the Cascade Mountains. The hypothesis being that changes to culture have had a heavy hand of responsibility, like:
- social media
- movies, and books, like "Wild"
- the huge number of backpacking Guide books revealing the location of pristine sites to the public at large
- the tremendous growth of the entitlement mentality, along with the growing disrespect of private and public property,
The problem is worldwide. I saw a lot of litter and human waste in the Himalayas. It was a lovely sight against the snow.I ran across this news story, which focuses on wilderness trails in my neck of the woods. The bad and selfish behavior of Obliviots is International. Even 10 years ago, this disgusting behavior was seldom seen in the Cascade Mountains. The hypothesis being that changes to culture have had a heavy hand of responsibility, like:
- social media
- movies, and books, like "Wild"
- the huge number of backpacking Guide books revealing the location of pristine sites to the public at large
- the tremendous growth of the entitlement mentality, along with the growing disrespect of private and public property,
I just finished the CF a week ago and am home now. The Camino was a wonderful experience. Dave Bugg’s comment here remind me of my dismay at the amount of graffiti, advertising stickers, and black market aphorisms and inanities applied to walls, waymarkers, lampposts, and stones and rock along the Way. None of this added value to the Camino experience and, of course, this behavior defaced the environment and in some cases obscured signage that pilgrims were depending on in making their way.I ran across this news story, which focuses on wilderness trails in my neck of the woods. The bad and selfish behavior of Obliviots is International. Even 10 years ago, this disgusting behavior was seldom seen in the Cascade Mountains. The hypothesis being that changes to culture have had a heavy hand of responsibility, like:
- social media
- movies, and books, like "Wild"
- the huge number of backpacking Guide books revealing the location of pristine sites to the public at large
- the tremendous growth of the entitlement mentality, along with the growing disrespect of private and public property,
Thanks for sharing this Dave. You definitely have a great deal of insight regarding this subject with your widespread backpacking experience. I am trying to hold my tongue as I know I will catch grief for this but I say what I think hahaha. I can't help myself. I think the biggest issue is the entitlement mentality from which all cancer grows. Social media is now one of the pillars of entitlement. As so many around the world who go to shrines of nature for the expressed purpose of taking a selfie for Instagram. My experience on the Camino is that like everywhere else there are people like this. When nature calls it calls and it isn't always convenient to find a bathroom but please, TAKEsome baggies and pick up your s**t and wipes. Is it that difficult? Trust me the baggies don't weigh so much and dump it in a garbage can even if you have to walk some distance first. I am making a big assumption based on my limited experience and talking to other pilgrims but it seems that there is a correlation, not based on numbers but on attitudes that the less traveled a caminos, the less you see this type of behavior. Many are not going on these caminos for the social/partying attraction. Some that are going for that reason are attracted to the CF much more. This is not a blanket statement nor is a criticism of those who want to be on a camino to meet more people and experience people from other lands and cultures. This is a great benefit of walking and creates memories to last a lifetime. Please have respect for the Camino, for nature and everyone else no matter which Camino and which country you are in.I ran across this news story, which focuses on wilderness trails in my neck of the woods. The bad and selfish behavior of Obliviots is International. Even 10 years ago, this disgusting behavior was seldom seen in the Cascade Mountains. The hypothesis being that changes to culture have had a heavy hand of responsibility, like:
- social media
- movies, and books, like "Wild"
- the huge number of backpacking Guide books revealing the location of pristine sites to the public at large
- the tremendous growth of the entitlement mentality, along with the growing disrespect of private and public property,
The problem is worldwide. I saw a lot of litter and human waste in the Himalayas. It was a lovely sight against the snow.
I shared this on Facebook! Maybe something useful will come out of that platform now!
This reminds me of the "It's YOUR Camino!" attitude that makes me cringe every time, not because I disagree that people have the ability to tailor their Caminos to their specific needs but because it gets tossed around far too much without clarification.“I’ve heard people say people who do these things are just ‘hiking their own hike.’
I don't want to see a portable toilet every 8km.
I did not once see solid human waste on both the CF and CP.
Resist the temptation~ DO NOT click the little photo until after breakfast!
I like the way Walton thinks...if I was a younger man I might invest in this low tech start up company.
View attachment 60462
than thismass produced extrusion carefully deposited on the edge of the CF trail in May 2018. I'll leave it in thumbnail for those about to dine.
Or lunch for that matter!
For you it's been etched, for me I just retched, when sight and smell were united.It's etched firmly in my mind
I would have said something like hey, you want to put these back where you found them please.Yesterday I was shopping, trying on shoes. A woman sat nearby with 3 pair she got from the rack. Tried them all on then...just got up leaving the shoes on the chair and floor, to continue her shopping. Shaking my head, even now. It's along the same vein as your subject. How freakin' lazy and self-centered many have become! Pick it up, pack it up, take it away...whatever "it" is!
It's not just in the Cascades...it's on Mount Everest too. I listened to a story NPR did on it and found a link for anyone who is interested. What's sad about the Everest story is that there are people who depend on the glacier melt for drinking water and they're getting sick due to the amount of fecal contamination:
The television show Adam Ruins Everything had an episode on the tragedy of Mt Everest and the tons of garbage, fecal matter, and dead bodies accumulating there and destruction of the environment. Dedicated adventurers have been mostly replaced by wealthy folks seeking selfies at the crest, with the risks and hardest effort made by the Sherpas.
On this topic, my copy of the Brierly Guidebook for Camino Francés has one brilliant tip:
"Discipline your bowels!" Every café, every albergue and every bar in every village has a toilet. USE IT BEFORE YOU LEAVE. Then, pucker up till the next one. I also carried a tiny roll of doggie poop bags. Didn't need them, but I knew they were in the bag ...
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?