Just a few winter logistical notes for this week’s blog entry:
This time of year, where the proportion of rain-to-sun gets to SAD levels, we also find the trails in the Canyon getting a little muddy at times. Some people will take it on themselves to insert large sticks into the trails to give their feet a bit more purchase when they have to get through wet patches:
However, this is also a bit dangerous, as the sticks get slippery in the mud which make them easy to turn an ankle on. Given how many people like to jog through the Canyon, especially in the bleary early morning light, this is a real hazard that we’d really rather not have. So, if you see a particularly bad patch of trail, please contact Canyon Crew instead of feeling obliged to take care of the issue yourself. Having to remove all the csticks first makes our eventual patch job take even longer. That being said, if you’re interested in taking a more hands on approach to taking care of the Canyon, feel free to contact us to volunteer! It doesn’t have to be Canyon Day to pitch in.
Everyone has a different use for the Canyon. For some, the conveniently placed benches with their views of the scenery make for the perfect smoking break. While smoking in the Canyon is fine – what do you with your body is your own choice as long as you don’t harm other people -some people will choose to contribute some carcinogens to the ecosystem by tossing their cigarette butts on the ground. This makes for a tedious trash clean up every morning, to seek out and remove every single dirt-covered filter we can find. So, please pack out your cigarettes with a reusable Altoids tin or something similar along with the rest of your trash. We’d rather not have to start up a trash service in the Canyon, which could be a magnet for wildlife that will suddenly not be quite as wild if they start picking through dedicated trash receptacles and also be a serious time sap on the part of Canyon Crew. If you see someone littering in the Canyon – speak up!
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Reed College is kind of a weird place, so it makes sense that our trash reflects this. Last week, our round up of weird things we found in the Canyon included, amongst other things, a fine leather adventuring hat in the middle of the stream, a prosthetic ear and… a key and a keyhole in the hollow of a tree.
While entertaining, we’d like to encourage you not to intentionally leave such items in the Canyon, as the materials can be hazardous to the wildlife and also detract from the ‘wildness’ of the place for others.
Questions, comments, concerns? Want to see something in particular up on the Canyon blog? Contact us via our Facebook group or Zac Perry at perryz AT reed DOT edu.
