As wildflower season approaches quickly here in RMNP; for-get-me-nots, columbine, and Indian paintbrush will all be blooming like quiet fireworks in the alpine. And every year, I see it: people picking them. Just one, they say. Oh they're just kids, they say.  But the truth is, when something wild becomes something taken, it stops being wild and most importantly, its probably going to die. 

I’ve also seen hearts carved into aspen trunks. “J+K 2021,” or initials with arrows, like a badge of love. But those trees don’t heal easily. The scars stay. Aspens are susceptible to fungus that form over the wounds and wreak havoc on the trees. And the more people see them, the more they copy. Monkey see, monkey do. 

Leave No Trace isn’t only about packing out trash or staying on trail. It’s also about leaving beauty where it belongs. That flower you pick won’t seed. That tree you carve won’t grow the same. Every small act has an impact, good or bad.

As a guide, I try to remind folks gently: nature gives us everything. peace, silence, awe. The least we can do is leave it better than we found it for the next person who needs it.