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Pack it in and pack it out!

Local disturbed by garbage left by campers at favourite North island spot.
Just some of the garbage left behind at Grant Bay.
Just some of the garbage the author found at Grant Bay.

Last Sunday my family and I decided to go to Grant Bay for the day.

We found the directions easy and the roads in great condition. The trail down to the beach took less than ten minutes.

Heading down to the beach we had passed about 10 or 15 campers on the way out. They were mostly young and I recognized some as local.

The beach was incredibly beautiful and the weather lovely. We headed toward a fire pit still smoldering.

As pretty as the spot was, it was only spoiled by a bag of garbage burning in the fire. Cans, propane bottles and broken glass littered the area. We were shocked as empty cans are so light and easy to pack out.

We attempted to dig a hole big enough to bury the garbage above the high tide line but couldn't dig deep enough and the winter storms would surely uncover it.

We went beachcombing as our kids were over-the-top excited to find Japanese debris washed ashore from the last big earthquake. Sadly, we only found more and more garbage from our own people. We easily found yet another garbage bag to gather the others trash and just as easily packed it up the trail to dispose of properly.

I thought how truly blessed we are living so close to this breathtaking place. There are no crowds and we can access it so easily. We had the perfect day on a perfect beach.

Lets work together keeping it that way. Shame on the campers who left garbage at our little piece of Paradise.

Mary Tobey and family,

Port Hardy