Granite Gear Grounds Keepers Keeping Your Trails Clean

If you follow me you will know that I love to share stories about outdoor brands that do their part to keep public lands public and to keep our recreation lands clean for current and future generations for outdoor enthusiast.  While reading Inside Outdoor Magazine updates on LinkedIn I read about how Granite Gear was going to  unveil a line of Minnesota Made bags. When I went to their website I found their page about their "Grounds Keepers" program.  Now I wanted to learn more so back to Inside Outdoor Magazine I went to find their article on the "Grounds Keepers" Click HERE to read this article.  I think that this is a great program.

 I have always been a considerate hiker.  I pack out all the trash I created while hiking.  Back in 1974, during America's BiCentennial year, I attempted to hike the AT with a group of boy scouts from Florida.  We made raised the money and made a heroic effort but crashed and burned the first week in Maine when the bad winter had caused most of the lakes and streams to overflowed washing out most of the AT trail from Mt Katahdin south.  Even though we never got really far, it was important for all of us to keep the trail clean. We tried to keep our camp site cleaner when we left than when we arrived.

The idea to have a team of dedicated hikers whose purpose it is to clean up the trail as they hike is amazing.  When reading about the "Grounds Keepers" I did not see the Florida Trail mentioned.  The Florida Trail is 1,300 miles long and starts at the Oasis Visitors Center at the Big Cyprus National Preserve and ends at the Gulf Islands National Seashore in the Florida Panhandle.  It would be a great idea to have  Florida Trail "Grounds Keepers".  So if you are interested just click HERE to contact Granite Gear to show your interest.  Being a "Grounds Keepers"would be a great accomplishment for any avid Florida hiker and a great way to keep the Florida Trail clean for others.

June 27, 2017 Update from Granite Gear. Shelly Smith, Granite Gear PR & Marketing informed me that DirtyBeezy 27 out of Spokane, Washington, hiked the entire Florida Trail and packed out 30 pounds of trash. Click HERE for her website. I wounder what is her next challenge being that she has conquered the FT, AT and Pacific Crest Trail?

Until next time, be safe in the sun and have a great day in the great outdoors.