Leave No Stone

Outdoorsy types are the among the biggest ambassadors of Leave No Trace, a set of principles and best practices for sharing and conserving wilderness areas. But while most people agree on the broad strokes - DON'T SCREW UP NATURE! - sorting out the details can be an emotional and argumentative affair... especially when it comes to rocks.

Episode photo courtesy of Paul St. Cyr.

 
Photo courtesy of David Baril: Kelsey’s second memorial stone. This is the photograph that sparked a Facebook flame war on the The 4,000 Footer Club’s group page.

Photo courtesy of David Baril: Kelsey’s second memorial stone. This is the photograph that sparked a Facebook flame war on the The 4,000 Footer Club’s group page.

Kelsey Barklund on Mount Lafayette in New Hampshire, posing with the first memorial stone she made for her grandfather John.

Kelsey Barklund on Mount Lafayette in New Hampshire, posing with the first memorial stone she made for her grandfather John.

A small taste of the facebook flame war that erupted after the memorial stone photo was posted on facebook.

A small taste of the facebook flame war that erupted after the memorial stone photo was posted on facebook.

"Bonesy,” the fake skeleton of Mount Lafayette.

"Bonesy,” the fake skeleton of Mount Lafayette.

Photo courtesy of D. Santucci. Painted rocks collected from trails and mountain tops line this hiker’s porch.

Photo courtesy of D. Santucci. Painted rocks collected from trails and mountain tops line this hiker’s porch.

Photo courtesy of Doug Brown. On a sunrise hike up New Hampshire’s Mt. Cardigan in August, Doug discovers a kindness boulder and posts it on Facebook.

Photo courtesy of Doug Brown. On a sunrise hike up New Hampshire’s Mt. Cardigan in August, Doug discovers a kindness boulder and posts it on Facebook.

Photo courtesy of Taylor Quimby. The same rock in January, months after being scrubbed with a wire brush and paint remover by another member of the 4,000 Footer Club Facebook group.

Photo courtesy of Taylor Quimby. The same rock in January, months after being scrubbed with a wire brush and paint remover by another member of the 4,000 Footer Club Facebook group.

Selfie courtesy of Taylor Quimby. Directly behind the “Kind is Cool” boulder is the Mt. Cardigan fire tower, complete with graffiti.

Selfie courtesy of Taylor Quimby. Directly behind the “Kind is Cool” boulder is the Mt. Cardigan fire tower, complete with graffiti.

Outside/In was produced this week by:

Outside/In was produced this week by Taylor Quimby and Sam Evans-Brown with help from: Erika Janik, Justine Paradis, and Nick Capodice.

Music from this week’s episode came from Blue Dot Sessions and The Itchy Creeps.

Our theme music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

If you’ve got a question for our Ask Sam hotline, give us a call! We’re always looking for rabbit holes to dive down into. Leave us a voicemail at: 1-844-GO-OTTER (844-466-8837). Don’t forget to leave a number so we can call you back.