Signal Hill hikers tire of seeing trash on the trail, start picking it up themselves

On a windy April evening, Jennifer and Nick Cherniwchan found themselves bent over more often than upright on an evening walk up to Cabot Tower picking up garbage along the way.

"[It's]alittle bit disappointing because it's such a beautiful spot and we're so lucky to live here," Nick said.

"[The trash]does take away from that."

The couple moved to Newfoundland and Labradorfrom Calgary three years ago when Nick took a job in St. John's. With scenic Signal Hill so close their home, they spenda lot of time in and around the trails.

Almost immediately, the two noticed that litter was tarnishing their walks near the historic site.

Rather than sit idly by, they began bringing bags with them and would stop to pick up trash along the way. They say the most common items are fast food coffee cups, dog poop bags, discarded Kleenex and beer cans.

Another problem the pair pointed out is that when the garbage bins fill up, some people seem content to just leave their trash next to it almost always resulting in it blowing down the hill.

"We could do more," Jennifer said. "We just don't always want to be carrying a bag of trash when we're hiking."

"When we think of bringing family here, we want Signal Hillto be something that we're proud of and something we can show off," said Nick.

Parks Canada isn't too pleased with the trash it's seeing on its Newfoundland and Labrador sites either. In March, Park Warden Janelle MacLeod posted pictures on Facebook of coffee cups she found on the ground in Terra Nova National Park.

A caption for the photo reads, "Not only is littering dangerous to wildlife, it's also against the National Park Act and can result in fines."

A spokesperson for the agency said in an email that hikers and walkers should "leave no trace" and either dispose of their garbage in the bins provided or pack out everything they pack in.

The agency says most people respect the its outdoor areas including trails, and dispose of garbage in the bins provided. But there are times when litter can be found in those areas, which hurtsthe natural landscape and the experience for other visitors.

Parks Canada says the bins are regularly checked and emptied.

With winter over, additional cleanup and maintenance is underway at Signal Hill as staff gears up for its season opening.

But it's not just on Signal Hill, according to theCherniwchans. The couple has seen rubbish along the East Coast Trail as well.

While it'sdisappointing to see the trash, they said, they've been inspired by others who are cleaning up the garbage as they go.

They wanted to draw attention to an issue that is often as overlooked as a Tim Hortons cup left behind on the trail, and hope people will do their part to help keep natural areas clean.

"Picking up the odd can, picking up the odd Mary Browns container, Tim Hortons cup,that makes all the difference."

Jennifer would like to see the park do more to educate the public and even consider levying fines against the offenders.

"I know at the very top, at the start of the North Head trail,there are no signs about [doing] your part," Jennifer said.

Parks Canada said the signs are something the site is considering.

Read morefrom CBC Newfoundland and Labrador