The following article appeared in an out of state newspaper in April of 1925.
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Who Am I?
I have scattered bread crusts, tin cans, Sunday supplements and paper plates from the Caves in Southern Oregon to Mount Baker in Northern Washington.
I have hacked forest trees and left campfires burning from the California line to the Canadian border.
I have hooked pears from a Medford orchard and walnuts in the Willamette Valley, "Rome Beauties" from beautiful Hood River and "Delicious" apples from the broad Yakima Valley.
I have rolled rocks into the sapphire depths of Crater Lake and have thrown tin cans into Lake Chelan.
I have seen all, heard all, and in my weak way, have managed to destroy much.
I am the careless and thoughtless American tourist.
The lumber industry represents investments totaling $12,000,000,000, employs 800,000 persons and indirectly about 1,000,000, and its annual output has a value of more than $3,000,000,000.
Annually through destruction of forests by fires left by careless campers or smokers it and the nation are subjected to timber losses which aggregate millions of dollars.
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With hiking and camping season soon upon us, let's change our image and become "thoughtful" American tourists!
The following photos were taken on the Baby Foot Lake Ridge Trail in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. The Biscuit Fire ravaged this area in 2002, and 10 years later, this is what it looks like:
Although this fire wasn't started by careless humans, but by lightning strikes; it does give an example of the devastation that wildfires can cause.
It's still quite beautiful at Baby Foot Lake, but every time we finish this hike, we're always covered with soot.
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