Think Outside The Bottle

I volunteer my time picking up trash along the parks and trails that I frequent here in Phoenix, and I've got to say - I simply can't understand why so many people feel the need to trash the fragile scenery of our hiking trails? You wouldn't believe the amount of trash I find along the trails.

Can you guess what's the most-littered item of trash that I pick up? Cigarette butts!

Yep, I said cigarette butts. I didn't realize that so many smokers hiked. I've picked up thousands of butts. It's seems counterintuitive for hikers to smoke, but I've even picked up butts located at the summit of mountain trails. Who would have figured? Climbing a mountain to have a smoke. Crazy.

But what really ticks me off is finding discarded plastic bottles along the trails, the type of disposable bottled-water bottles sold at grocery stores. I mean, really, who doesn't have the energy to carry out their empty drinking water bottles? It grates on my nerves.

Disposable water bottles come in a close second to cigarette butts in terms of items littered, but they're the most unsightly (and uncalled for) type of litter. They stick out like a sore thumb in the desert scenery, and just like cigarette butts, they're NOT biodegradable.

I know that it's almost impossible to enforce, but I think disposable water bottles and other types of single-use plastic bottles should be banned from ALL parks and trails. They're ruining the landscape. Right now, only some of the National Parks have banned disposable plastic water bottles, but things could change if we would just think outside of the bottle.


Source: 10 reasons why national parks should buck the bottle

Petrified Forest National Park

When I talk about brain-frying heat, this is the time of the year that best describes it.

The Phoenix metropolitan area is projected to reach records highs by the end of this week, touching into the 120s in some parts. It's a dangerous time to be outside for any prolonged period of time and definitely not enjoyable, especially if you're not wearing your energy dome.

So, why not consider taking a long weekend trip to escape the heat and experience some of the wonders of nature that the northern Arizona high country has to offer?

Perhaps something like the Petrified Forest National Park located in Holbrook, AZ where daytime highs aren't quite as bad, and the nights are comfortably cool.


Petrified Forest National Park from Andrew Kearns on Vimeo.

It's National Park Week

I'm a little late in announcing this, but April 20-28 is National Park Week. There's still a few days left to take advantage of it. There are no entrance fees to any of the national parks until Friday, April 26th.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Mysteries of Sonoran Desert life are slowly revealed and abundantly displayed at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, located on the Mexican border, a few miles south the city of Ajo, AZ.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is the only place in the United States to see large stands of organ pipe cacti, though their range extends far south into Mexico. The monument encompasses the bulk (about 90%) of its U.S. population. Optimum growing conditions exist no more than a 40-50 mile radius north of the monument. Beyond this distance, conditions are not suitable, and the cactus will seldom occur naturally in these areas except in very isolated locations.

If you enjoy hiking, desert flower and fauna, and the serene beauty the Sonoran Desert has to offer, then this is the place to visit during the cool winter months. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument preserves over 330,000 acres of green, living desert that is yours to explore and get to know.

Here's a Robin Sewell's Arizona Highways Television show to tell you more.

Celebrate National Public Lands Day

National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation's largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands. Participating in NPLD is a great way to get the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity, while you lend a hand for public lands. NPLD is also a designated fee-free entrance day at many federal public lands including national parks.

In 2012, NPLD will be held on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012.

Eight federal agencies as well as nonprofit organizations and state, regional and local governments participate in the annual day of caring for public lands. National Public Lands Day keeps the promise of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the "tree army" that worked from 1933-1942 to preserve and protect America's natural heritage.

So, if you'd like to volunteer your time and effort to help preserve our public lands, feel the satisfaction that you've given back to your community, all while enjoying the great outdoors, here's a link to some opportunities available in the state of Arizona.