I am writing this in regards to all of the garbage that is left at Sigurd Island and Crooked Falls Hiking trail area in the upper Squamish Valley.
This is an issue that not many people know about.
I feel that it is a big deal because this is a beautiful, natural environment that has not yet been modernized. There are no designated camping lots, no bathrooms, and there are no bear bins in the area, which in my opinion is the main problem.
People who camp in this area are expected to use the “leave no trace” rule, which means that whatever you take with you leaves with you.
For many people, this is not the case.
In July, I went on a camp out on the island with my group from Camp Summit.
On one of the days, we went out on a hike and came across many torn up garbage bags — it was a very frustrating thing to see.
I could not believe that people would leave their garbage there. It is harmful to the environment and all of its wild inhabitants.
A few days after we left the island, our leader took us back to do a clean up.
It was such a satisfying feeling to see the site returned to its natural beauty.
Cleaning the island was a large task that we took on, but it was worth it.
What I think should be done about this issue is there should be more awareness raised about our impact on the environment, and the precautions that we can take to prevent this kind of thing from happening.
My thoughts are that there should be some sort of garbage disposal system in the area so when people see it, they are more inclined to throw their waste away rather than hiding it somewhere in the woods.
Even if there are no bear bins posted in the area, I would be willing to get together with some community members to clean the area, so then maybe we would set a positive example for others in the community to take after.
Otherwise, the pace we are going with littering and global warming our beautiful lush environment may not be around for much longer.
Editor’s note: Jada King-Drake is a Grade 12 Howe Sound student.
