FRESNO (KMJ) — The big tourist season is now over, and Yosemite National Park is bearing the brunt of the many people who came to visit and left their trash there.
Every year rangers set up what’s called the ‘Annual Facelift’, which is their call to the public to help collect all the debris that’s left behind.
“So this is an event that really helps to clean up the park after a busy summer season”, says Park Ranger Ashley Mayer.
“So volunteers come in, they can either sign up in Yosemite Valley or in Tuolumne Meadows, at the campground, and they will be sent out into an area of the park and work to help us clean it up”.
She says they’re looking to cover as many of the ‘well-traveled’ parts as possible.
“Last year we collected 14,000 pounds of trash from the park. Yosemite sees over 4 million visitors a year and while you would think coming into such a pristine place no one would leave any trash behind – it unfortunately does happen”.
Tuesday will be the first full day the trash pick up volunteer crews will be heading out – and they’ll be on patrol until this Sunday.
Anyone interested can sign up at the booth in front of the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center from 8am until 4pm, or at the Tuolumne Meadows Campground office from 8am until 3pm.
Those interested in helping out will still have to pay for entry into the park, but this Saturday there will be free entry to celebrate National Public Lands Day.
