Earth Day and hiking go hand in hand, but it is easy to be overwhelmed by t he choices in activities that the many great, wonderful nature centers, environmental groups, and hiking groups all have planned this coming weekend. Finding something to do is very easy thanks to social networking. As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, the use of Meetup has made finding like minded people to do like minded activities and events such a snap that it is often a head spinning, confusing effort to decide which event or activity you wish to participate in.
For the hikers out there, you can go in many directions. Take a break from hiking and do a water or lot cleanup event or planting? Perhaps remove some invasives? Most of the activities out there can easily be integrated into any hike you undertake, guided or unguided, solo or with a group. Want to clear out invasives? Arm yourself and each member of your hiking party with a large, recyclable, plastic bag and a set of photos to show what it is you are after. Plant a tree? Take a few native seedlings out with you and a trowel for easy planting. Cleanup? Take two plastic bags with you, one for recyclables and one for non-recyclables. Of course, this only works well if taking a shorter hike.
For longer or overnight hikes, mark on a map the places on the trail where you find invasives, and turn the map in to a local nature center, environmental management office, or trail maintenance office. On these hikes, you can still take along the native seedlings for planting and a trowel, but plant them early in your journey for a more relaxed hike the remainder of your journey.
These are but a small sample of ideas that I hope helps you to get the ideas flowing for this weekend. Whatever it is that you decide to do for Mother Earth, be safe and be at peace with yourself and your surroundings.
For the hikers out there, you can go in many directions. Take a break from hiking and do a water or lot cleanup event or planting? Perhaps remove some invasives? Most of the activities out there can easily be integrated into any hike you undertake, guided or unguided, solo or with a group. Want to clear out invasives? Arm yourself and each member of your hiking party with a large, recyclable, plastic bag and a set of photos to show what it is you are after. Plant a tree? Take a few native seedlings out with you and a trowel for easy planting. Cleanup? Take two plastic bags with you, one for recyclables and one for non-recyclables. Of course, this only works well if taking a shorter hike.
For longer or overnight hikes, mark on a map the places on the trail where you find invasives, and turn the map in to a local nature center, environmental management office, or trail maintenance office. On these hikes, you can still take along the native seedlings for planting and a trowel, but plant them early in your journey for a more relaxed hike the remainder of your journey.
These are but a small sample of ideas that I hope helps you to get the ideas flowing for this weekend. Whatever it is that you decide to do for Mother Earth, be safe and be at peace with yourself and your surroundings.