Author Archives: Pliking

The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, the same day as Arbor Day and a convenient day – in between spring break and final exams – for the thousands of college students who demonstrated in the streets. It is estimated that 20 million people participated that first year. The 2021 theme forContinue reading “Restore our Earth”

Plika hasn’t been out much this winter, so I took them along when I went pliking at the Mill B Trailhead in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Fortunately, the trash was concentrated near the road, so after picking it up, we were able to enjoy a peaceful hike while listening to the stream with its tiny waterfalls.Continue reading “Plika at Mill B Trailhead”

Since September 2018, our pliking members have picked up thousands of pounds of trash – more than 550 large trash bags, in addition to many larger items that wouldn’t fit in a bag. Most of the trash collected is rather boring, and sometimes disgusting – fast food wrappers, cans, diapers and lately, masks.  However, sometimesContinue reading “Unusual Litter”

Last summer the Pliking Club hosted playaking events at Bear River and Mantua Reservoir.  Playaking is actually a bit precarious, particularly in an inflatable kayak.  In addition to balancing a paddle, grabber and trash bags, you have to be careful to avoid puncturing your kayak, which would leave you and the carefully collected trash floatingContinue reading “Playaking on Bear River”

Hiking in the Wasatch mountains, Patti and I stumbled upon a trash-covered campsite in the pristine wilderness.  With a frustrated sigh, I pulled a couple of large garbage bags from my pocket and we filled them with discarded cans, plastic wrappers and other debris.  We then began a joyless trudge down the steep hillside, carryingContinue reading “Litter on a Stick”