Practice English Speaking&Listening with: Passing Through Lightly : Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Have you passed through a place where each step is eons in the making?
where you blend in with a kind of grace and wonder
a place where silence can be heard and felt
where nature is the top attraction
a place where getting into a tight jam is a good thing!
The last thing you want to see are signs of civilization
In some locations you cannot walk 10 feet without running into toilet paper
or trash
and some acts damage priceless and fragile resources forever
These canyons we love are suffering a real threat of lasting damage from careless visitors
Backcountry rangers can only be in one place at a time and clean up after so many people
they depend on us to make good decisions
so they educate visitors to keep these special places unsoiled
Most people do not want to harm this environment; it's simply a lack of information or skills
but this story can change if we come together and do some simple things
We can help safeguard these canyons for future generations
First, plan ahead and be prepared for traveling in the backcountry
get all the information you can about the special places you're visiting and pack accordingly
Travel and camp on durable surfaces so you do not damage plants or biological soil crusts
a living soil that holds the desert in place
dispose of waste properly at least 300 feet away from any water sources
dig and bury your waste under six inches of dirt. Steadfast visitors are packing out their used toilet paper in Ziploc bags
For the Escalante River Gorge, Death Hollow and canyons where you cannot get
more than 300 feet from water, human waste removal bags are recommended
Within Glen Canyon Recreation Area, human waste removal bags are required within
1/4 mile of the Escalante River and in Coyote Gulch
While exploring these canyons, leave what you find. Take pictures instead.
We can also minimize our campfire impacts by not having them; enjoy the finest night skies in the West.
Remember, campfires are not allowed in the canyons
Please respect local wildlife and their water sources in this difficult environment
Lastly, be considerate of other visitors; voices and sounds carry in these canyons
and could impact neighboring visitors
Join countless people and practice these simple things
Together we can help these canyons to mend
so others can pass through and explore these beautiful places for themselves
