Attack of the Impact Monster

Scene opens with background music and a shadow creeping over a hill at sunset.

Fades to a nice meadow lying between a wooded forest area and a river. Sounds of a river flowing and birds chirping. Yellow flowers are growing in the meadow, and a trail nearby has a sign that says "Please stay on trail."

Everything was fine in the meadow until one day....

Animals in the meadow hear and see a dark shadow advancing their way. Fearful, the animals run away. The dark shadow turns into a person with a backpack who says: "Two days of peace and quiet." Suddenly there is so much activity, a dust cloud forms. When the dust settles, a camper has settled into a campsite, and has changed things in the meadow. He has put his campsite very close to the water, picked the flowers and put them in a water bottle, dug a trench around his tent, cut down a tree for firewood, cut some branches to hang a clothes line, built a campfire pit, and has loud music playing from a portable radio.

Two days later....

The animals come back to the meadow and are sad. The deer has a tear running down his cheek. The meadow has been trampled, tree stumps are left in place of the trees, a campfire pit is still smoldering, and litter has been left behind.

What should you do?

Be a responsible visitor to public lands. Leave No Trace.

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What you Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

For more information visit:

http://www.ca.blm.gov/pa/wilderness/leavenotrace.html

http://www.lnt.org/

Not the End.

Animated "Flash" version of this page.

Funny.bytes are bought to you by the News.bytes Team, Bureau of Land Management California