Updates to My Views

Okay, so I just got back from Red River Gorge. I love this place, it's merely a large system of forests along a canyon carved out by Red River out in eastern Kentucky. If you live in the area, you should definitely go out that way. The gorge is located about an hour east of Lexington in Pine Ridge. This little paradise of nature is well worth the drive for anyone.

So, why do I like this place so much? I have just built this history with it. About two years ago my grandfather passed away in the middle of July. July is full of birthdays in my family. The ninth is my brother's, the twenty-third is mine, and the sixteenth was my grandfather's. So, his passing was quite an upset for everyone, including myself. My birthday wasn't exactly the past day for me, but my brother attempted to make it somewhat happy for me by taking me on a road-trip at 2:30 in the morning. Although, I tried my hardest to stay awake on the ride down there I did not succeed. Maybe Beck wasn't the best artist to choose as our soundtrack on the drive - at least for staying awake. I believe waking up as we approached the rough incline added to the adventure - maybe.

My brother and I arrived and made the small hike just in time to catch the sun rise. I've shared pictures of my own adventures to Red River Gorge always taken at sun rise. Catching this wondrous scene is repeatedly my goal for every trip I've taken to this untouched serenity. Upon finishing my latest trip under the piloting capabilities of my friend Caleb (I didn't have to drive!), I can no longer saying that Red River Gorge is untouched.

I wouldn't label myself as an environmentalist or even much of a nature lover based upon my lifestyle at home, but I the observation of litter scattered throughout the campsite I used was unavoidable and frankly disgusting. I found bottle caps, plastic cups, and even a pillow in the limbs of a tree! Three friends and I were able to camp, start a fire, drink, make pancakes, and hike all without littering. As corny as it sounds, "We took only pictures, and left only footprints." Where did appreciation for nature go?

The question I am posing is layered. Initially, I would like to discuss littering. Remember the public service announcement for Keep America Beautiful- the one with the Native American crying at the end (it's linked here)? The image of being the society that destroyed the beauty nature just strikes me as a slap in the face to my ancestors and as we being jokes to our descendants.

I have the hardest time understanding what is so hard about picking up your trash or throwing the trash away when you are done. For nature enthusiasts who are most likely out for a hike, a walk to the dumpster is surprisingly too far. The lesson, and frankly my opinion, is PUT AWAY THE TRASH. A simple step, the same step to preserve the cleanliness of a room, could help preserve the illusion of nature we desire every once in a while.

The second layer that I believe plays a role in enacting my first grievance is that the appreciation of the simplistic beauty of nature is just lacking. I enjoyed approximately ninety percent of my trip this weekend. The ten percent was ruined between small bickering, rough sleep, and leaving early cutting out a trip to hike up the natural land bridge. One scene I can distinctly remember was when all the tents were broken down and the group was taking its second trip back to the car. Caleb was not willing to gather the rest of the supplies and the other two members of our party was in an equal rush to return home. The clock was only on eleven or twelve.

I knew no one was going to want to hike to the natural land bridge because I kept suggesting one last experience. In that one brief moment I tried to breathe in everything I was going to leave behind for several more weeks or longer (no one wants to camp in the winter and hiking is a pain with ice involved). When I found myself alone and knew that even the other campers around us were killing the experience with radios and super-sized camp sites I felt like no one was appreciating the beauty of a dieing planet.

Maybe I'm not the best advocate for appreciating nature seeing as how the life I live is fairly artificial, but maybe my words being honest and humble will make somebody take a hike. When that person does, I hope he or she takes a pause to breathe.

And pick-up his or her goddamn trash!

Chris

PS My short story is coming along nicely but my pacing has slowed down. The story is not a novel but a longer story than I've written in a while. I will post it here, but in parts. I hope everyone reads it though, the content is mature but I expect the themes to come across nicely.