The Yosemite Facelift, hosted by the Yosemite Climbing Association, is the largest organized volunteer cleanup of any US national park. Every September for the past 15 years, volunteers from around the globe pick up trash from the summer months before the rains begin to fall. This volunteer effort saves trash from leaching into soil, clogging streams and rivers, and harming native wildlife.
MT Sobek’s Yosemite Facelift staff volunteers collected 40 pounds of micro trash from Yosemite Valley and the Tuolumne River. Among the trash they found lots of cigarette butts (made of non-biodegradable synthetic polymers), a large splintered cable, even an Invisalign brace!
Aimee Graham, MT Sobek’s National Sales Manager, who took part in the event says, “The great outdoors is where we all meet, and where we all share our passion for adventure. If we do not give back to the land that we have borrowed, there will be nothing left for the land to lend.”
Overall over 8745 pounds of micro trash was collected and sorted by the Yosemite Facelift volunteers during the event. Check out more photos online here and follow Yosemite Facelift on Facebook to learn more about the next event!