Trash strewn about. The barriers with signage prohibiting entrance by vehicles broken and pulled out. Deep truck tracks dug into the meadow.

As I walked along, instead of bucolic scenery were the remains of a drunken frenzy. Beer bottles and cans, vodka spritzers, cranberry juice, and more thrown about in a large (how far can you throw?) area. Broken glass all over the rocks and dozens of cans and bottles floating in the lake.

Two yellow blowers and electric cords and inflatable white 50' tent? over a black plastic ground cloth were below.

I cursed as I toiled. How many clean ups have I done in my life? Leave no trace, pack it out. Usually, it's a beer can or bottle here and there, a tire, a plastic lid and straw, a diaper, used condoms and wrappers, fast-food wrappings, etc. Seldom such a full-out trashing of a somewhat secluded public space.

An hour and a half later I had gathered, sorted, and compacted the booty into the boxes they had also left behind. I hauled it back to the road. Among the debris were two Photo Booth pictures.

After I finished loading the haul into my truck two local fellows appeared and said they had been called to clean up the area. I was surprised to hear that someone had called them and that there were local people "to call" about such matters.

They gathered up the inflatable, ground plastic, cords and blower. They offered to take all the trash and recycling I had collected for proper disposal.

Later in the day I saw Park Ranger Langley at the scene. He said he was on routine patrol and had not gotten the message I had left in the early morning. He said he picked up a large garbage bag full of cans and bottles. I told him my tale and he appreciated my help.

I was despondent and lamenting about what the future might hold for these young graduates who planned and participated in this event. Just having fun? Letting off steam? Sowing wild oats? Who will clean up their next mess? The undeveloped teenage brains not responsible for their actions? Or has my generation so trashed this earth that they are just joining in.

For this one corner of the world, this one patch of earth where I walk and play, this sacred ground, I am deeply grateful. As I reach for the next cigarette butt, used mask, fast-food bag, bottle cap, I know I am grasping for order in a chaotic world. Maybe one day those eager lads who partied at West Lake will do the same or find their way to do so much better.

Sir Ernest Shackleton said, and he would have known, "Optimism is true moral courage."