One day, after a hike up Mt. Lafayette, David Baril posted a photograph to a Facebook hiking group. It seemed pretty benign: just a photograph of an engraved stone he’d found on the summit. But to his surprise, it sparked an internet flame war and raised questions about environmental ethics, aesthetics, and the wilderness of principles of Leave No Trace.
Editor's Note: This episode first debuted in February of 2019.
Outdoorsy types are the among the biggest ambassadors of Leave No Trace, a set of principles and best practices for sharing and conserving wilderness areas. But while most people agree on the broad strokes - essentially, DON'T SCREW UP NATURE! - sorting out the details can be an emotional and argumentative affair... especially when it comes to painted rocks.
Featuring David Baril, Jeff Marion, Zachary Berger, Sue Mills, Greg Rehm, Mary Welch, Gregory Simon, Mark Courteney, Doug Brown, Kelsey Barklund, Patrice Barklund, and Megan Murphy.
Read more about Leave No Trace here.
