Ben Wiehl - Experience of a Natural Setting #1

Earlier on this year, I went down to Appalachian State in Boone, North Carolina to visit a good friend of mine before he took off on his year-long trip in Patagonia through NOLS. While we were down there exploring the area my friend took us on a long tour through campus and the surrounding area. I thought it as amazing how they incorporated the landscape directly into the town. It didn't remind me of anything you would see around here on campus like giant patches of sod. After we explored the town a little we got to go for a hike out from the cabin that he was staying in about fifteen minutes from the school. We walked down a long path that lead down in altitude from the cabin. Along the right side of the path it dropped down significantly, probably about 150-200 feet, while on our left side there was a wall of rock. There were places where you could see water slowly running through and eroding small areas. Over the edge, there were hints of civilization - empty beer cans or bottles, a long forgotten frisbee, and even a half buried antique car. It was pretty disturbing to look down and see all of this trash just left behind, and it was on such a huge incline that it would be hard for anyone to bother to clean it up until maybe it came down to the bottom. This somewhat altered my experience of this natural setting. The garbage was very intrusive in this setting, although we did get a free frisbee out of it. I think that it is unfortunate for people wishing for an authentic nature experience to have to come across similiar situations while exploring the wilderness.