My Messy Start to Greener Hikes
Honestly? Trying to “go green” felt like a pain at first. That reusable water bottle? Kept forgetting it at home. My old routine was grab-n-go: plastic-wrapped snacks, single-use batteries for headlamps, driving solo to trailheads. Easy but wasteful.
Last month though, my buddy Dave shamed me hardcore. We cleaned up our regular camping spot – beer cans everywhere, broken gear tossed in bushes, even an old tent abandoned. Felt like crap hauling that trash out. That’s when I decided, gotta try better. Did some reading, realized tiny changes add up.
The Baby Steps I Actually Took
First up, the car stuff. Started bugging my hiking group chat about carpooling. Took some nagging (“Seriously Tom, same trail, just get your lazy butt in my Subaru”), but now we usually cram 4 people in one vehicle. Saves gas money too. Win-win.
Gear switch-ups were next. Digging through my crap, I found:
- An old steel water bottle buried under protein powder tubs. Just needed a scrub.
- Portable solar charger my sister gave me years ago. Actually charged my phone on a sunny ridge! Mind blown.
- Cloth produce bags my wife bought. Used ’em for trail mix instead of ziplocs.
Tried some “compostable” cutlery too. Big mistake. First night camping, my spork snapped scooping cold beans. Swore loud enough to scare squirrels. Went back to trusty metal spoon.
Nature Bit Back (In a Good Way)
Sticking to marked trails felt annoying initially. “That shortcut looks fine,” I’d think. But after seeing crushed wildflowers and eroded paths off-trail? Yeah, nope. Staying put protects the plants we claim to love.
Also got quieter. Like, actually listening instead of blasting podcasts constantly. Spotted a fox kit playing 10 feet away because I wasn’t stomping around like a drunk moose. Made the whole trip worth it.
Surprises & Future Crap Shoots
Biggest shock? Saved cash. Less gas, fewer snacks bought in plastic, not buying cheap gear that breaks. My backpack feels lighter without all the garbage I used to haul out.
Still mess up sometimes. Forgot my reusable coffee cup yesterday and bought a disposable one at the trail cafe. Felt like a total hypocrite holding it next to my fancy bamboo toothbrush. Gotta keep trying though. Maybe next month I’ll finally remember the damn coffee cup. Or bike to the closer trails.
It’s not about being perfect. It’s doing something. Even if that something is yelling at a broken cornstarch spoon in the woods.
