When I used to think of volunteers, a pretty narrow definition would come to mind.
I usually thought of a person collecting money for the homeless, selling Girl Guide cookies, or visiting care homes and hospitals.
Those causes are admirable, but volunteerism stretches far beyond that. It’s the very foundation of what makes 麻豆社国产an outdoor mecca for the world. This means all of us have benefited from volunteerism here, even if we’re not an object of charity.
I spent a few weeks on a project, scrubbing dirt, mud, moss and loose rock from a crag.
It was for a story exploring what it takes to develop a sport climbing route.
And it took a lot of volunteer hours.
The amount of work was immense.
You spend hours at a time with a little wire brush polishing one rock at a time, bit by bit. You get completely caked in mud, sweat and dirt. It can be mind-numbing after a little while. You’re not getting paid a dime. But you do it because you know the end product is worth it.
And when it comes to bolting and putting lowering chains or rappel rings, you’re paying for all of this out of pocket.
This is not a small feat.
One of the most common comments I hear from people who first come to 麻豆社国产is admiration for how paths seem to somehow carve themselves out naturally.
“Wow, a lot of people must’ve walked or cycled this exact same path for a trail to start forming!”
Well, actually, no.
Contrary to popular belief, these things don’t just happen over time.
Trees and shrubs do not magically step aside for people who walk into them. Nor is it possible to find perfectly polished rock with no moss or dirt in the middle of a rainforest like Squamish.
Deliberate effort must be made in order to create the networks of trails and climbs that all of us can enjoy for free. And this work is often done freely on the backs of volunteers.
It’s something worth remembering next time you find yourself enjoying a hike, bike or climb in the area — all of this was made possible because someone else gave their time to make it happen.
So what can you do to say thanks?
Short of picking up a shovel or brush yourself, you can always donate a few bucks to any of the many volunteer groups in town — , , the , or , whose members rescue those who recreate here.
Some of the best things in life are free. So thank a volunteer!
