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EAGLE COUNTY — Seems people relish drinking beer down by the river.
The trash found during the 11th Eagle River Cleanup on Sunday is clearly an indication that boozing and the roiling waters of the Eagle River go together.
“You come across a whole party,” said Maggie Meek, who along with three other members of the “Trash Busters” bagged four orange bags of beer bottles and cans in one spot.
Diana Rush, whose motto is “If it doesn’t move, it’s in my bag,” cleaned the same stretch of the river in Avon last year. This time the river seemed even nastier, as she and the other Trash Busters filled their 20 allotted bags before completing their designated stretch of river.
“We did double what we got last year and we’re halfway done,” Rush said, adding that she suspects beer drinking is the cause. “When people come down by the river, they need to take their trash with them.”
Each of the approximately 300 participants in the river cleanup from Vail to Gypsum and back to Red Cliff also vied for the Golden Toilet Seat Award, which is given to the person who finds the most exotic piece of trash.
The Trash Busters managed to unearth a pull-tab Pepsi can, probably not seen for 20 years. Another group on the same stretch of river found a ski bike and put it beside West Beaver Creek Boulevard with several other trash bags.
“I thought it wouldn’t last long along the road,” volunteer Roger Cardoza said.
Around 2 p.m., the ski bike remained.
Most people cited helping the environment and community as reasons for participating in the cleanup. Cecilia Garcia had these means in mind, but for a different end.
“It’s good for my college resume,” Garcia said. “It’s a good experience for you — you get to help your community and it looks cleaner.”
Garcia’s fellow volunteer, Sally Beckley, in her fifth year doing the cleanup, found several places where homeless people left clothes, pillows and, oddly, a neatly folded shirt.
“It was really bizarre to see,” Beckley said.
Beckley’s group also went through the allotted 20 orange garbage bags.
“People just don’t get it — where they should put their trash,” she said.
Upriver at the confluence of the Gore Creek and Eagle River, Erika Garcia found little garbage.
“It’s nice to see that it’s fairly clean,” Garcia said.
Dressed in Broncos gear from hat to socks, Garcia gave up Denver’s season opener to wade through the Gore Creek.
“This is a big sacrifice for me,” Garcia said.
She didn’t miss much — the Broncos lost 18-10 on three Jake Plummer interceptions. Still, she got a chance to help the environment in her own way.
“I’m not really in a position to donate money, so this is a way I can help out,” she said.
Staff Writer J.K. Perry can be reached at 748-2928 or jkperry@vaildaily.com.
Vail, Colorado
The trash found during the 11th Eagle River Cleanup on Sunday is clearly an indication that boozing and the roiling waters of the Eagle River go together.
“You come across a whole party,” said Maggie Meek, who along with three other members of the “Trash Busters” bagged four orange bags of beer bottles and cans in one spot.
Diana Rush, whose motto is “If it doesn’t move, it’s in my bag,” cleaned the same stretch of the river in Avon last year. This time the river seemed even nastier, as she and the other Trash Busters filled their 20 allotted bags before completing their designated stretch of river.
“We did double what we got last year and we’re halfway done,” Rush said, adding that she suspects beer drinking is the cause. “When people come down by the river, they need to take their trash with them.”
Each of the approximately 300 participants in the river cleanup from Vail to Gypsum and back to Red Cliff also vied for the Golden Toilet Seat Award, which is given to the person who finds the most exotic piece of trash.
The Trash Busters managed to unearth a pull-tab Pepsi can, probably not seen for 20 years. Another group on the same stretch of river found a ski bike and put it beside West Beaver Creek Boulevard with several other trash bags.
“I thought it wouldn’t last long along the road,” volunteer Roger Cardoza said.
Around 2 p.m., the ski bike remained.
Most people cited helping the environment and community as reasons for participating in the cleanup. Cecilia Garcia had these means in mind, but for a different end.
“It’s good for my college resume,” Garcia said. “It’s a good experience for you — you get to help your community and it looks cleaner.”
Garcia’s fellow volunteer, Sally Beckley, in her fifth year doing the cleanup, found several places where homeless people left clothes, pillows and, oddly, a neatly folded shirt.
“It was really bizarre to see,” Beckley said.
Beckley’s group also went through the allotted 20 orange garbage bags.
“People just don’t get it — where they should put their trash,” she said.
Upriver at the confluence of the Gore Creek and Eagle River, Erika Garcia found little garbage.
“It’s nice to see that it’s fairly clean,” Garcia said.
Dressed in Broncos gear from hat to socks, Garcia gave up Denver’s season opener to wade through the Gore Creek.
“This is a big sacrifice for me,” Garcia said.
She didn’t miss much — the Broncos lost 18-10 on three Jake Plummer interceptions. Still, she got a chance to help the environment in her own way.
“I’m not really in a position to donate money, so this is a way I can help out,” she said.
Staff Writer J.K. Perry can be reached at 748-2928 or jkperry@vaildaily.com.
Vail, Colorado
