With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Dear Hikers: Do Not Bring Your Couch And Leave It Behind. Seriously
Park Rangers don't know how this couch got there but they do know it took them two days to haul it back out.
(
Courtesy Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
)
It's a nice weekend for a hike. But if you go, don't leave a couch there.
Rangers in the mountains just got rid of one this week.
It took five Park Service workers two days to haul the light brown five-piece sectional — with an excellent view of the Pacific Ocean — out of Deer Creek.
3/ Please consider your actions & don’t litter! This was a waste of resources and time.
— Santa Monica Mtns (@SantaMonicaMtns) July 16, 2021
Signed, the park rangers @SantaMonicaMtns National Recreation Area who spent their day hauling away litter. #santamonicamountains pic.twitter.com/U1SLnYUtAI
Sponsor
"It took us away from everything," said Mike Alongi, Chief Ranger for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
Alongi said he has no idea how this particular seating area got there, but he finds plenty of thrown-out furniture. The issue, he said, is not just that it mars the beauty of the trails, it's also bad for the environment.
"You know it's no secret that there's synthetic fibers in waterways." he said.
So dumping furniture and other items in nature just adds more flammable material to our ecosystem. And keep this in mind: Dumping is a misdemeanor.
You also have to wonder about the wasted effort to lug a massive piece of furniture somewhere it will just be removed,
Alongi's advice? "You can go buy a beach chair. It's easy to hike in, easy to hike out. You can set it up, enjoy the great view."
Our advice? Just the leave the couch at home.
Sponsor
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
