I took an elderly friend for a walk today. She had a stroke a few years ago, and still has one leg that drags a bit, so walking on a flat surface is her preference. We went up to the 1st turnout on Rt. 16, above the Dana Place Inn and below Dead Man's Curve.
There wasn't anyone else there, so we began walking around the parking lot. There was a big pile of beer cans and bottles that some people had dumped there. We both found this distressing. Further down was a smaller pile of fast food packaging. (Burger King) There was also initially appeared to be a big pile of dog poo. Except it wasn't dog. It was human.
After we finished walking, I grabbed a trash bag from the trunk, and picked up the bottles, cans (Bud Light) and Burger King detritus. I left the pile.
There's a picnic table at this rest stop, but no trash can. No trash can anywhere at this rest stop. Of course, if there were a trash can, someone would have to empty it, and that would mean paying someone, and we certainly don't want to do that.
It's Columbus Day Weekend, and despite all the rain that we've experienced during this foliage season, there have been tourists here from all over the country - all over the world. As I keep saying, tourism is the #2 industry in New Hampshire.
We welcome visitors to our state with closed rest areas, with banks of smelly porta-potties, and with parks in desperate need of repair.
It's no wonder that visitors to the area left their calling card: cheap beer, fast food packaging, and a pile of human waste. They were simply imitating NH's own values.
1 comment:
I'm really glad that you have written and addressed this so eloquently (as you always do Susan). My husband and sometimes I do garbage pickup along Rt.16 ending with snowfall and it's unbelievable. Doesn't Patriotism start with NOT trashing one's own nation? Why don't people keep trash bags in their cars (like the rest of us who really care, do). Trash bags for human and animal waste are also available to be used for emergency moments (I've had them and anyone who hikes knows this all too well). The drinking and driving that takes place is clearly evident in the amount of bottles and cans that are weekly brought home for the landfill by my husband from along Rt. 16. The Visitor Center at Pinkham Notch is but a few minutes from the place where you found this disgusting pile of human waste, and I'm terribly sorry you were subjected to this. People are disgusting - period. It would be nice to have trash cans and portables but in the end - doesn't this behavior start and end with each individual? We have choices and those individuals chose to exclude themselves from all culpability using the excuse of no trash cans available. Shame.
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