Some Hikers Leave Plenty of Traces

Part of my job as a Grand Canyon educator is picking up items that hikers drop or leave behind along the trail. Some of the things I’ve found this summer lead me to wonder, "What in the John Muir?" they were thinking.

A fast-food burger, in the original wrapper. I suppose they left it for the timid woodland creatures, except if fast food isn’t good for us, why would critters want it?

Someone’s last remains. When a hiker pointed out a shiny object off the trail, I clambered over rocks to find a sealed urn of cremains, which is illegal to leave in a national park. Local tribes have also requeste...