FRANCONIA, N.H. (WMUR) – Two friends made it their mission to clean up after the weekend crowds visiting New Hampshire to catch a glimpse of the changing leaves.
“As soon as I saw the pictures, I said, ‘Oh, there’s going to be a big mess tomorrow,” Siobhan Smith said.
The mess was left behind by massive crowds in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen crowds that big,” Smith said. “It was definitely fully packed on the trail.”
Photos from over the weekend show hundreds of people trying to get a perfect view.
So, Smith and her friend, Noah, decided they needed to do something.
They went out early Tuesday morning to Artist’s Bluff to clean up the trash visitors left on the trail.
“Just seeing the photos, and us working in the Notch and seeing all the people who’ve come through the tram, we just realized that no one wants to go up there when there’s trash everywhere,” Smith added.
They picked up everything from water bottles to dirty diapers, to hats and sweatshirts, too.
“We picked up two full trash bags, like full trash bags,” Smith said.
Smith works in and grew up in the area, and while leaf-peeping season is always a great time to visit, she says it’s pretty simple.
“Carry in, carry out,” Smith said.
Visitors should leave no trace, so that what makes New Hampshire so beautiful stays that way.
“I think just having pride in our community and seeing how beautiful it can be without garbage is truly important,” Smith said.
Copyright 2024 WMUR via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.