Photo was taken by Mike Wurman legally and was not in any violation or rules or protocols.

A reminder that we all play a role in protecting the outdoors

By now many of you have probably seen the photo that’s making its rounds on social media of Max Patch—the coveted grassy bald mountain accessed via the Appalachian Trail near the North Carolina/Tennessee border—over the weekend. If you haven’t, picture the copious amount of litter that’s typically scattered across the grounds of a multi-day music festival on the morning after the event’s final day. Now take away the countless volunteers, green teams, and staff members who clean up those sites to leave them in tip-top shape after the party has moved on. 

I find it hard to believe that a place of such beauty, a place where one can feel the unbridled energy of the surrounding landscapes, could be turned into