I Moved to the Blue Mountains for the Nature, Not the Litter

It’s one of the most visited national parks in the country and we’re leaving every trace of us there instead of just footprints. Explorer Brooke was left a bit blue after moving to the World Heritage-listed area.

‘There was a massive shit, right in the middle of the trail’, a friend of mine said over lunch, instantly putting me off my hot chips. They were talking about Leura Cascades, a very short walk close to town. A few days later, a video popped up on Facebook from a guy ranting (rightfully so) about a human shit in the middle of the trail to a not-so-paradise-anymore swim spot in Linden.

Read more: Best Products for Burying or Packing Out Poo in the Outdoors

Look how nice it is without human logs nearby | @domforty

I knew the Blue Mountains were getting bad, but human-shit-on-the-middle-of-the-trails bad? Really? This is where we’ve got to? Luckily, I haven’t seen a walnut whip myself (and please, universe, don’t let writing this jinx me), but one thing I have noticed since I moved to the Blueies three years ago, is an increasing level of litter and vandalism on trails.

Myself and one of my fav people in the world, Jess, decided enough was enough.

I know others up here are doing the same.

We’re aiming for monthly trips, and so far have done a litter-pick through a certain Insta-famous canyon off Bells Line of Road, another walk-in canyon in Blackheath, and a ‘secret’ infinity pool I won’t be naming. But, as the kids say, IYKYK.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

The ‘secret’ infinity pool was by far the worst, with at least 100 people there on the day we visited and people dropping litter faster than we could say ‘Oi, you’. Across the clean ups we’ve done, we’ve picked up vapes, plastic bottles, food wrappers, and a questionable amount of socks and boxer shorts. If that was you, by the way, I hope your balls chaffed on the way out.

Next on our list for a clean up is another infinity pool that certain influencers refer to as ‘The best place to be on a 40-degree day’. Despite it being an hours-long, scrambly, exposed walk in, all to get to a few teeny pools barely big enough to cover the egos of the people who promoted them.

Although I’m glad we’re doing something, we know that — in the sea of discarded underpants and feces-covered toilet paper — it’s just a drop in the ocean.

I moved here because I believe the Blue Mountains are one of the most beautiful places in the world. We have species of plants that grow nowhere else on Earth, a World Heritage-listed landscape, pristine rivers and waterfalls, rare birdlife, the list goes on. And it breaks my heart that people would disrespect that.

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Yuck, yuck, yuck | Photo by Jess Askew

So, what can be done? Gatekeeping all the best spots is one answer thrown around by many locals who argue that social media is bringing ‘the wrong types of people’ into fragile areas. And while part of me gets it and agrees, the idea of locking nature away from people just because they might be assholes doesn’t sit right with me.

So, while we can keep debating whether certain places should stay secret, the fact is we can’t turn back time on the ones where the cat’s already out of the bag. Instead of dwelling on it, we need to get practical.

Education is a solution, but what exactly does this mean? More signs about the impacts of litter? More diagrams showing not to pop a squat? Does this really make a difference?

Or whatever word means cool today. I’m too old for this shit.

What I do know is that there’s so much more they can do beyond just sharing pretty pictures with a disclaimer at the end of a post saying ‘Remember fam, leave no trace!’.

But the sad truth I’ve come to accept living here, is that while some people genuinely don’t realise the impact of their actions, others simply don’t care. And no amount of educational signage, gentle persuasion, or well-meaning reminders will ever get through to them.

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I’ve seen this firsthand so many times. Perhaps the standout was on the Grand Canyon Track when we saw a guy smoking. My friend nicely explained that national parks are a no-smoking zone and that it was also a fire ban.

Vapes leach heavy metals and battery acid into the environment when carelessly left outdoors | @giveintoadventure

Not only did he flick his lit cigarette into the dry bush, he lit up another without a second thought while walking off. He was determined to be right, and nothing else – not the risk, not the rules, not basic common sense – was going to change his mind.

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It doesn’t mean we should give up though.

Should it be? Hell no.

But if it means helping to protect the places we love and keeping access open for all of us – including the inevitable assholes – then I guess it’s a small price to pay. But, I definitely draw the line at picking up shit. And you should too.

Even these ideas barely skim the surface…what else can we be doing? Let me know in the comments below!

Feature image by Rachel Dimond

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