All well and good, but there will still be Coke bottles, and any other beverages Coke puts out still available. What about the millions of both cans and bottles that will still be available, and that either lazy or apathetic tourists will strew? It's not a solution at all--it's just a bandaid on a throat slash.

Ever been to the Canyon? It gets hot there especially if you do some hiking. Do you want people dropping because of dehydration?

No thanks.

refillable containers.

By your option, there would not only be more litter, it would make a joke out of the entire preservation idea. By your reckoning, the GC could become a junkyard or landfill in 20 years.

If you aren't willing to keep junk out of the Canyon, you shouldn't be allowed in at all. Some things are precious and worth saving, and in my estimation, your attitude is not conducive to the fragile ecology of our national park system.

I have never seen any when I have been there. Did they just clean up the area during times I was there so I would not see it?

shit up!



i've been there too, and have friends that work there. litter is a problem, as is human shit near the trails (which is much more unhealthy than the mule shit).

They must be easy to find since litter is all over the place. Of the human shit problem will you now demand people carry port-a-podies with them?

instead of leaving a pile on the side of the trail. fucking assholes.

and it's spelled port a potty, i don't know what a podie is ....

i bet you fancy yourself quite the hiker, eh?

lol! Unfortunate.

People who want something to complain about looking for something to complain out. I have been to the Canyon several times (always during times when there were high numbers of people) and I have never seen any litter problem. I would like to have someone post pictures of all of this litter at the Canyon. I won't hold my breath on that.

I was responding only to how does one bring liquids to an area where the heat or thirst is an issue.

as mentioned in the article is a good start. Even for things like iced tea or coffee. I don't give a bleep about what people drink, as long as there is no trash in the Canyon.

And yes, I've been to the Canyon, probably ten or fifteen times--I've lost count. My mom and I began going to Zion NP when the Canyon began to have too many tourists and commerciality. It's been a couple of years since I was living in SoCal, and haven't been out to Zion for awhile. And yes, it gets hot. And it gets cold. So does Death Valley, and a large part of the most Southwestern region of the country. Been there, lived there, etc.

Still, the commerciality of the GC has pretty much ruined the experience for me. Once, you could see into the Canyon with clear, crisp detail--now, the haze keeps it from crystal clarity.

People are not necessarily stupid--if they realized the impact their presence has on the environment, there is a chance they would do the right thing, and keep a refillable contain, or a canteen. Either is a better option.

I have been there several times and I have never seen any trash. This is a fake 'issue' if there ever was one.

And they have every incentive to NOT admit to that. There is nothing whatever "fake" about that and your comments are puzzling to say the least.

I don't know what incentive the administrators have or don't have to say things. I don't know what connections they have or don't have. All I know is what I see.

Sold bottled water is used once, even if disposed of properly, it goes into a trash can, trash cans get fuller quicker, more work on strained PS budgets. Using containers that are refillable doesn't create this problem and it sets an example that we should be using reusable items...not only here but everywhere.

year round.

if you come to hike, and don't bring your own water, you did a shit job of preparation. hell, even the mule riders must drink enough water to avoid dehydration, and they are given re-usable bota bags at the start of the ride.

of course, i say, let the stupid unprepared die, as long as they haven't reproduced and passed on their stupid gene.

read "Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon"

I would never going hiking there without water. But I will choose the container it is in.

Something I hadn't thought of. Nt

I don't understand what is so hard about finishing off the water, and tossing it into the first recycle bin/trash can that is available.

People are so thoughtless and lazy sometimes.

People need to clean up their act--literally. We need to have a rule about people tossing junk into our national parks. If you litter, a fine should be charged--and nothing too low like $25 dollars--more like $250 per offence. Perhaps that will remind people that they don't have to litter, and taking out what you bring in is a much better, safer and ecologically sound policy.

Since the Coca-Cola company is a major vendor and sponsor. How about consequences attaching to the good people at Coke? Do they want to be a good corporate citizen? Perhaps they could pick up their trash from the National Parks, just like any other civic-minded person who takes a Saturday to do some volunteer park clean up? I'm pretty sure Coke is turning enough of a profit that it could stand to spend a little time and money ameliorating the effects of its product, no?

vacation-ruining fine for littering? Because not everyone will come prepared with their own water, or containers, unfortunately--and it really can be a matter of life or death there.

in terms of protecting the park, I would think a big park advertising and awareness campaign, some creative thinking and incentives (like a refund/deposit program by Coca Cola for turning in empties in the park), etc. can be done.

The local ground water is disgusting,

Roaring Springs....

http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/refilling_stations.htm

It is Arrowhead for me.