Orange Peel Rocks

Turns out orange peels don't decompose in California either.
Dispose of waste properly - including orange and banana peels!

-Trails

Trash or Treasure?

Unfortunate or not? A somewhat common sight in Nevada's desert

Any seasoned outdoor ethics aficionado knows to ‘leave what you find’ when it comes to obvious historical artifacts such as Native American arrowheads or spear tips. We of course want all those who come behind us to have that same experience of discovery and these items are important clues to archeologists and other scientists who are attempting to learn more about our pre-history.

We also know that we need to pack out our trash, and that it is even encouraged to remove the trash of less enlightened recreationists who have come before us. But what about the gray areas… old rusty cans, glassware that doesn’t resemble anything you’ve seen on a store shelf in your lifetime or even dilapidated buildings. Spend enough time exploring Nevada’s backcountry and you are bound to run into these types of things.

I have personally been on several volunteer clean-up projects, removing trash from otherwise pristine public lands. Some of these sites that have been cleaned-up have been used on and off as dumping sites for the past 100 years. Along with the camaraderie of volunteering at these events always comes discussion about the historical value of what may be classified as trash or what may be an archeological treasure. If you have been to such an event or even if not, you may have heard of a rule that any item on public lands more than 50 years old is protected by law. The complaint I often hear, and have surely voiced myself, is that in 2012, is this law meant to protect tuna tins and soda cans discarded by disrespectful travelers in 1962?

Well, instead of continuing to complain, I did some research. The first law designed to protect national archeological treasures was the Antiquities Act of 1906. Instead of boring you with all the details of these laws, I am including links for anyone suffering from insomnia. The one thing most people agree on is that the Antiquities Act was exceptionally vague; despite this; it has resulted in many conservation successes through the years including the designation of many National Landmarks and Monuments. It also got battered in court in a few high profile cases where looters won the right to retain certain items. This led to the Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 or ARPA. This law more specifically defined what resources were protected and allows criminal penalties for the taking of items which are more than 100 years old from public lands without proper permits. The third major law that comes into play for this topic is the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Along with being the act that led to the National Register of Historic Places, this law adds protection for certain items which are more than 50 years old… ah, here is the culprit for the 50 year rule.

Now, there may be room for debate on the spirit of these laws, as in 1979, 100 years old excluded much of modern European history in Nevada, but we still need to be respectful of them. Consider this; many sites in Nevada, such as certain springs, have been important to the full range of human inhabitants through the years. A 50 year old glass bottle that you find today may be unsightly, but indicates at least 50 years of use at that site. If people have been visiting a site for 50 years, they may have been for 150 years, or even 5,000 years. The 5,000 year old trash that was left behind could be buried under a few feet of sediment or bat guano in the case of Lovelock Cave. The importance of these sites can only be determined by professional archeological investigation and interpretation, so if there is ever any doubt about the trash you are picking up, remember it could lead to the discovery of a real treasure and you can always check with your local land management agency for guidance. So go, discover treasure and have fun out there!

-Juice

Granite and Pointy Trees

I’m headed back to the Sierra Nevada Mountains – home of granite as far as the eye can see and pointy pine trees filled with Mountain Chickadees chirping cheese-burg-er! I got a position with the Stanislaus National Forest. While I will miss my fellow NOSers, I’m excited about this new adventure in life. Have no fear though; I’ll still be outdoor ethics blogging! We’re aiming to keep the blog Nevada-based, but I may throw in a few alpine gems from time to time.


Happy,
Trails

Pets in the Park

National Parks that is. I’m a big fan of our National Parks, but now that I have a dog my ability to explore National Parks is greatly decreased. For me, the point of having a dog is to explore the great outdoors with my four-legged friend.

I understand National Parks are here to protect natural areas and the wildlife that live there, and dogs don’t really fit into their management plan. I would think keeping Aspen on a leash would be sufficient, but she’s still not allowed on hiking trails. Since my complaining on this blog isn’t going to bring about a change in this restriction, I’ll be more productive and talk about options pet owners do have for exploring the great outdoors.

If you want to explore a National Park with Fido, look into what trails are open to dogs. At Grand Canyon NP pets are allowed on trails above the rim. At Grand Teton NP certain roads are closed to motorized traffic due to snow and open for winter and spring recreation, pets are welcome in these areas. Please remember to make a good name for dog-owners and follow the regulations such as keeping your dog on a leash and cleaning up after them. If you want to venture into areas your four-legged friend isn’t allowed there are often kenneling options in the parks or in towns close by.

Aspen was able to explore the Tetons during the winter!

Another option is visit your public lands that are dog-friendly, such as Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management areas. Often they have similar natural features and a fraction of the crowds.

A note about respecting others – not everyone loves your dog as much as you do. It’s hard to believe I know; I have to remind myself of this from time to time. A good way to put this in perspective is to put yourself in their hiking boots – maybe they had a traumatic experience and are now scared of dogs or maybe they didn’t grow up around dogs and aren’t used to them. Or even if they are dog people, maybe they don’t appreciate your dog jumping all over them – I fall into that category. Either way, if you’re traveling in areas where having your dog off-leash and under voice-control is permitted respect other visitors and call your dog back when you’re approaching people on the trail. If your dog can’t contain its excitement when being around new people, recognize that and put them on a leash until the coast is clear. Now pack some doggy treats and hit the trail with your pup!

-Trails and Aspen