Glacier National Park is neither a landfill nor a driving range. And yet, not all visitors to the park in northern Montana seem capable of putting their garbage in trash bins, and some view Logan Pass as a perfect place to see how far they can drive a golf ball.
With hopes of reaching a few of their visitors about proper behavior in a national park, the staff at Glacier took to Facebook to provide some pointers, and they used a visual aid.
Don’t mix these two up! Anything you bring into a national park, you must pack out or dispose of in a proper trash receptacle. Do not hit golf balls into canyons and valleys, do not leave used diapers on the sides of trails, do not toss your apple core because you think it’s natural. National parks have been called America’s best idea. Don’t treat them like a garbage can.
What trash have you picked up and carried out of a national park lately?
The golf ball reference arose after two guys driving golf balls from the Going-to-the-Sun Road were captured in the act on someone's cellphone earlier this month.
And on the topic of poor behavior, Yellowstone National Park staff are seeking information for who started a fire near the north entrance last week. The fire was spotted Friday evening about 6 p.m. Quick response kept the fire to about 4 acres.
"The fire was human caused and is under investigation," park staff said in a release. "Anyone who was in the area on Friday evening and has information about people using the picnic area near the entrance station is encouraged to call the park’s 24-hour Tip Line at 307-344-2132. Callers can remain anonymous."
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Comments
What blows my mind is that no one watching stopped the guys with the gulf balls. Also, These tourists think the national parks are now zoos.
I grew up in NYC and I consider it privilege to go to any state or national park. I know many other people from cities who behave perfectly safely and respectfully at these locations. I have enjoyed trips to at least ten of the parks so far and hope to visit all of them. Stop blaming everything on city people. I now live in a small town and many here act like idiots. Stop the urban hate
I'd have been very tempted to respond- "I don't know. Why don't you try it and we'll find out."
I don't know that this blatant disrespect is new or just more publicized. When my family was at Mt. Lassen in 65 or 66 I vividly remember my father chastising a group of kids for running though undergrowth along the trails rather than sticking to the trails. I was only a kindergartener then but I knew the importance of respecting nature.
i grew up in the city. Disrespecting nature is not an exclusive behavior to urban dwellers. We took our kids camping a lot when they were kids and they love the National Parks. Stewardship begins in the home. Respecting nature and others begins in the home. Thanks to Jo Ann Payne for pointing out idiotic behavior is pervasive regardless of where you live.
why is it disrespectful for teens to recover hats that flew off their heads?
very well said.
This isn't just a naturall area issue. When I was at the Lincoln Memorial a few years ago a group of Montana kids were extraordinarily rude when they went into the Lincoln Memorial Chamber. They were loud taking selfies and intruding on other visitors.
Hey rural America - when you come into the city show some class. Especially at the Lincoln memorial