Right, so I’ve been getting outdoors for years. Decades, really. And for a long time, I just… went. Packed the car, drove somewhere pretty, walked around, maybe camped, then drove back. Didn’t think too hard about what I left behind, honestly. Out of sight, out of mind, you know?
Then a few things started bugging me. Little things at first. Seeing the same plastic bottle stuck in a bush week after week on my local trail. Finding bits of old tents tangled up in trees way out in the backcountry. It just started feeling… messy. Like we were all treating these amazing places like giant garbage cans. It wasn’t one big revelation, more like a slow burn annoyance.
So, I decided to try doing things differently.
Wasn’t about becoming some eco-warrior overnight. Just wanted to see if I could still have my adventures, but maybe, you know, be less of a slob about it. Seemed simple enough. Started paying attention to packaging when I bought gear and food. Could I get stuff with less plastic? Sometimes. Could I ditch the single-use coffee cups on the drive there? Yeah, easy fix, just bring a flask.
My first few trips trying this felt a bit clumsy. I remember:
- Forgetting my reusable water bottle and having to buy one. Felt stupid.
- Packing snacks in reusable containers. Actually worked great, less crushed food.
- Trying to stick to marked trails more religiously, even when a shortcut looked tempting. This was harder than I thought, needed more patience.
- Picking up some trash left by others. Felt good, but also annoying that I had to.
It definitely made me plan a bit more. Couldn’t just grab whatever was convenient at the last minute. Had to think about water sources, waste disposal (packing it out, ugh, but necessary), even where I was stepping. It wasn’t about huge sacrifices, mostly just being a bit more mindful. Thinking ahead.
And you know what? The adventures didn’t get worse. If anything, slowing down, paying more attention to the little things… it kind of enhanced it. Felt more connected to the place, maybe? Less like I was just blasting through. I started noticing smaller plants, animal tracks, the way the light changed. Stuff I’d missed when I was just focused on getting from A to B.
It’s not perfect, mind you. Sometimes I forget stuff. Sometimes convenience wins. But I’m trying. The goal isn’t to be some saint, just to be a bit better. Leave places as good as, or maybe even a tiny bit better than, I found them. Feels like the least I can do for spots that give me so much peace and quiet. It’s just common sense, really, when you stop and think about it. Took me long enough to get there.
