Pack it in, pack it out

EDITOR:

To my fellow members of this wonderful community.

Unfortunately this letter will not be the most upbeat but, if it is heard can be very positive for all. This last Monday afternoon my husband, 3.5-year-old son and I decided to get out of the heat and enjoy one of our many beautiful higher elevation Sierra locations for a day family outing.

Being avid campers and outdoorsman, this is what we do and love. One of the places of great fondness and serenity that we had not been to in many years is Caples Lake. We had not been there since the re-filling and were very pleased and excited to see the lake so full and beautiful. Following the nice trail hike down to the lake from the Woods Creek fishing access parking lot, we were overjoyed by the huge rocks, pine trees, twisting aspen and the huge lake views.

When we finally got down to a lake access spot, I was sickened at the sight of so much human debris and garbage.

"This is not the lake I remember a few years ago" I thought.

Just as quickly as a thought, my realization turned to anger and sadness. How can we as a human race destroy the things that we are so fond of? The next 30 minutes were spent cleaning up snack packages, soda and water bottles, flip flops, towels and tons of fishing paraphernalia.

I have nothing against fishing and have the fondest memories of fishing growing up. Why is it that while taking some wonderful food from the earth that people must leave their disgusting mark of pollution back on the great earth that we live. How quickly will nature replace that fish? One hundred times quicker than it will dissolve of our waste.

Please to all fisherman, boaters, campers, day trippers and sightseers, do not take this as a mark against you but a chance to improve ourselves and others. No one is perfect (god knows including myself) but if we could all live by the motto that you "Leave a place in better condition than it was found" our great-great-great-grandchildren will look back and thank us for taking our part.

Thank you for listening and just remember that we are our future. Please don't leave you trash. If nothing else care enough to clean up after yourself. It's really not that hard, you brought it in, bring it out.

Bless our beautiful landscape of a country.

Summer Woodcock

Gardnerville