2021-12-25, 08:20 AM
The metal gear has value, but used gear, and to a climber community only... meh. The rope and other non-metal gear is worthless, too much UV exposure, would not trust the material. Certainly very bad form by those who left all that gear in the various places. It's booty - anything you want, it's yours, and thanks for carrying it out.
In southern AZ, where I just was, there's a different sort of back country trash. Migrants come up from Mexico, pass over the mountains, and then have gear they shed before they get picked up to drive into the city; they don't want to look like migrants. You are in the middle of nowhere and you come across a pile of old clothing, water bottles in Spanish, and low quality backpacks. I carry out what I can, but it is always a bit surprising to come across, and reminds of the tough journey people are making and where they are sleeping out in that rough country.
In southern AZ, where I just was, there's a different sort of back country trash. Migrants come up from Mexico, pass over the mountains, and then have gear they shed before they get picked up to drive into the city; they don't want to look like migrants. You are in the middle of nowhere and you come across a pile of old clothing, water bottles in Spanish, and low quality backpacks. I carry out what I can, but it is always a bit surprising to come across, and reminds of the tough journey people are making and where they are sleeping out in that rough country.