Desert Messenger

20 www.DesertMessenger.com December 16, 2020 Busting popular Leave No Trace myths MYTH: ORANGE PEELS (OR SEED SHELLS, BANANA PEELS, FRUIT PITS, ETC.) DECOMPOSE AND ARE NATURAL, SO I DON'T NEED TO PACK THEM OUT. Actually, depending on the environ- ment, it can take an orange peel up to six months to decompose. For a banana peel, it could take up to two years. The thing is, even though these things decompose more quickly than materials like plastic or glass, they still stick around for a while. And in a popular area that sees dozens of visitors per day, even a handful of people leaving behind food waste can add up to a big pile of decomposing garbage. MYTH: TOILET PAPER DECOM- POSES QUICKLY, SO I CAN JUST LEAVE IT UNDER A ROCK. According to this horsepacking group, it takes toilet paper any- where from two to five months to dissolve. Not quite as quick as you'd think. Besides, regardless of wheth- er toilet paper decomposes quickly or not, leaving it around is just plain gross. No one wants to turn over a rock and find used toilet paper. So, just like for everything else—pack it in, pack it out. MYTH: I DON'T NEED TO PICK UP MY DOG'S POOP—IT'S THE SAME AS OTHER WILDLIFE. This myth surprised us—that dog poop is actually different than that of other animals. Here's what the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics website has to say about that: "Dog feces contains high levels of nitrogen not found in wildlife feces because dog food is chemically-en- gineered." Depending on where you are, many plants thrive in low-ni- trogen soil, and the presence of a lot of dog feces could in fact affect the area's soil composition—and the ability of native plants to thrive. MYTH: GOING OFF-TRAIL ISN'T A BIG DEAL. Sure, it's no big deal if just one person goes off trail. Shortcuts are tempting, especially when you're tired. Or if there's a stunning wild- flower that you want to photograph. But trails are built to concentrate impact and manage erosion, among other purposes, and going off trail counteracts those goals. Plus, see- ing your footprints or trampled grass for those who follow can send the signal that it's ok to leave the trail and lead to even more people following your new path. So, be the leader we know you are, and stick to the trail, even if it's muddy! National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) www.nols.edu Medicare does not cover dental care 1 . That means if you need dental work done, it can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars out of your own pocket. Get Dental Insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. It helps cover over 350 procedures — from cleanings and fillings to crowns and dentures. • See any dentist you want, but save more with one in our network • No deductible, no annual maximum • Immediate coverage for preventive care Call to get your FREE Information Kit 1-888-652-5770 dental50plus.com/desmes 1 "Medicare & You," Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2020 Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefi ts Rider. Product not available in all states. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certifi cate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specifi c offer is not available in CO, LA, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certifi cate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN); Rider kinds B438/B439 (GA: B439B). 6255 DENTAL Insurance Quartzsite Trivia Nine years ago on Saturday, December 17, 2011, Quartzsite's Hi Jolly Mon- ument was placed on National Register of Historic places. Over a hundred people came out to the Hi Jolly Cemetery then to take part in a special ceremony. The Quartzsite Historical Society and the Hi Jolly Cemetery Board had worked really hard to have the Hi Jolly Monument designated as a Historical Place on the National Registry of Historic Places for a long time, and it just happened that Hi Jolly's birthday was that week also - December 16, 1828. Hadji Ali, better known as "Hi Jolly", was born in Izmir, Turkey to a Christian Syrian father and Greek mother in 1828. Hi Jolly, the legendary Camel Driver retired in Quartzsite, where he is hon- ored in the cemetery, off N. Kofa Ave. SKYHAWK Due to Covid and the USA/CAN- ADA border closing, SKYHAWK will not be holding our Friday night dances at the Quartzsite Senior Center this snowbird season. SEE YOU ALL AGAIN FOR OUR DANCES NOVEMBER 2021.

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