Leaving gear on the trail

[The Cleaner]

I work on the trail just north of Hot Springs and find all kinds of stuff at the shelters.If I can't burn it,it gets packed out.Last year I hiked into Erwin and there was junk at shelters all the way.Sad but true it seems to get worse every year.....

[rocketsocks]

I work on the trail just north of Hot Springs and find all kinds of stuff at the shelters.If I can't burn it,it gets packed out.Last year I hiked into Erwin and there was junk at shelters all the way.Sad but true it seems to get worse every year.....

Just curious,are there signs at the shelters asking not to leave discarded items on the trail or shelters?

[mcrainbow]

Just curious,are there signs at the shelters asking not to leave discarded items on the trail or shelters?

Put the other sign up that says to read this sign?
You can't stop it.

[rocketsocks]

Put the other sign up that says to read this sign?
You can't stop it.

Or a sign that says"Post no signs"as that is litter.

[bamboo bob]

Ten years ago I often found Thru-hiker trash stuffed under shelters and even under logs right on the trail. There's a metal 55 gallon drum on the trail in Virginia, I forget exactly where, but the drum is out in the forest and obviously isn't emptied but people empty their hiker trash in it. You know why? Answer: They are people and people are lazy especially when no ones looking.

[Memphis Tim]

The most discarded gear I saw was as far from Springer as you can get. Every shelter in the Hundred Mile Wilderness looked tike a thrift store after a tornado (my favorite discard was a Russian gas mask). Someone had abandoned a fully loaded pack on the side of the trail.

[Memphis Tim]

[rocketsocks]

Yeah,I always bring one of those.....What the

[Razor]

Thankk those who pick up the mess found in shelters, in campsites ,on the trail,and at trailheads. As one who is charged with taking out what is left it is an impossible task for one or two people . We all have to contribute to the solution. I hope we can influence more rookies to the correct wilderness ethics to reduce the volume you see in high use areas as Georgia. In the mean time lugging out others mistakes is part of the responsibility of those who use the wilderness and know better!

[Del Q]

OK, going to go out on a limb here, just back 2 hours ago from my Spring AT hike, Bland - Damascus, HOT one.............the Grayson Highlands are amazing, pizza deliver at the Partnerhship Shelter as advertised.

My brand new MSR Sweetwater filter was not working right, day 2, tons of water coming out of the sides of hills & mountains right now in this area..........left it in a shelter in the nice new MSR mesh bag, trail magic to another!

Right before I got into Damascus I left my Leki poles by a tree for a Northbounder (with no poles to use).......hopefully finds them and finds new friends.

From my view, some equipment trail magic here, not trash left behind. My $20 says that it put some smiles on faces.

As for my trash-trash , left at The Place with kind extra donations to help them out.

[miloandotis]

My brand new MSR Sweetwater filter was not working right, day 2, tons of water coming out of the sides of hills & mountains right now in this area..........left it in a shelter in the nice new MSR mesh bag, trail magic to another!

Maybe I'm missing something, but if it's NOT working right how is that trail magic for someone else and not your broken equipment to dispose of properly yourself?

[atmilkman]

Maybe I'm missing something, but if it's NOT working right how is that trail magic for someone else and not your broken equipment to dispose of properly yourself?

I'm wondering if those are the same Leki poles with the broken locks from the other thread.

[miloandotis]

I'm wondering if those are the same Leki poles with the broken locks from the other thread.

I was just coming back to ask the same question!!! I know "One man's trash is another man's treasure" but not left on the trail where if no one wants someone's broken s**t (that no one who likely might need it most likely doesn't have what is needed to repair it first!) someone else has to pack it out.

[QiWiz]

My brand new MSR Sweetwater filter was not working right, day 2, tons of water coming out of the sides of hills & mountains right now in this area..........left it in a shelter in the nice new MSR mesh bag, trail magic to another!

Right before I got into Damascus I left my Leki poles by a tree for a Northbounder (with no poles to use).......hopefully finds them and finds new friends.

From my view, some equipment trail magic here, not trash left behind. My $20 says that it put some smiles on faces.

If I came across any of these items, I'd be trying to find the owner who misplaced them, or leave them there thinking someone might come back for them (assuming they were nonbroken, nontrash, useful gear). Better to wait till you see a NBer and ask them if they would like your poles, or filter, than just leave them. Good intentions, but maybe not the best implementation. You really can't argue with pack it out IMO.

[rocketsocks]

OK, going to go out on a limb here, just back 2 hours ago from my Spring AT hike, Bland - Damascus, HOT one.............the Grayson Highlands are amazing, pizza deliver at the Partnership Shelter as advertised.

My brand new MSR Sweetwater filter was not working right, day 2, tons of water coming out of the sides of hills & mountains right now in this area..........left it in a shelter in the nice new MSR mesh bag, trail magic to another!

Right before I got into Damascus I left my Leki poles by a tree for a Northbounder (with no poles to use).......hopefully finds them and finds new friends.

From my view, some equipment trail magic here, not trash left behind. My $20 says that it put some smiles on faces.

As for my trash-trash , left at The Place with kind extra donations to help them out.

Honestly Qel Q,I'd think someone was of getting water (filter)or off taken care of business(poles),but that little extre somethin somethin...........in my pocket.......just kiddingI don't know man each one of us has to make that call,It's gonna take time to spread the word.

[turtle fast]

Would it not better to put things you do not want in hiker boxes...at least it "tells" someone that its up for grabs...if I found stuff on the trail I tend to think a hiker forgot it and look for them.