Beauty In Our Backyard

The photo above was taken by my friend Joshua Frank on a dirt road near Wrightwood California. It could be miles away in the middle of nowhere or high in the Rockies. But it isn't, that misty area in the center right of the picture is the Inland Empire of Southern California and civilization was just a short distance away. We are lucky to have such beauty located just minutes from our homes. I have been hiking around parts of the Angeles Forest and have been dismayed at the amounts of trash and graffiti in what should be pristine mountain settings. What can we do to stress the importance of caring for our natural environment? The simple act of taking the trash from your family picnic with you instead of leaving it behind can leave that stream in good condition, clean and ready for you or your neighbor to enjoy. Leaving it for future generations to enjoy.

Next time when you are out enjoying nature remember, pack it in, pack it out, leave no trace!

Check out the Power Point presentation above about Leave No Trace and thier efforts to spread the word on caring for our natural resources for all to enjoy.

Eco-Friendly Art

Went on a hike this morning to the Eaton Canyon Waterfalls in Altadena California. On the way back we came across this young man covering a rock with leaves ala Andy Goldsworthy. This is the first time I have ever come across anyone doing something like this and I wish I had taken more time to speak to the man. Whoever you are, I applaud you and your effort! To be out in nature, so close to civilization, literally a little more than a mile from rows of houses to find a young man doing this rather than graffiti gives you hope! He was taking leaves from the water, crumbling them in his hand so that they were more pliable then applying them to the boulder, using only water to make them stick. The picture could be better, it was taken with my phone.

This is something that anyone can do. Find out about Andy Goldsworhty's work then try something for yourself. Take some time, enjoy the day, commune with nature. Use natural elements to alter the landscape. The best part is it's natural, when done it can be enjoyed but ultimately is temporary, eventually returning to what it was without a trace.