M O U N T C H O C O R U A
White Mountain National Forest
Southern New Hampshire

Since I've already started looking at the bulletin board I might as well keep going and look at all the other postings.

This place isn't a garbage dump, so don't treat it as such. I must say, by and large, on practically all the hikes I've gone on in recent memory, I don't recall seeing any garbage of any significant accumulation, and most times none at all. I figure anyone who has a hiking mentality already embraces the mindset of proper garbage management. But, it's always a good thing to post a reminder.

Yum, Giardia. I'm gonna go hiking and get me some Giardia... NOT! Put bluntly, when drinking water from a sparkling outdoor watersource, you're also drinking water from nature's toilet. Fish, birds, mammals, they all have to go to the bathroom, just like you and me. So it's imperative to treat any and all water procured whilst on the trail.

Also known as "Beaver Fever" (a particularly nasty disease resulting in abdominal pains, diarrhea and nausea), Giardia is caused by the meddlesome behavior of a one-celled animal (protozoan) that would just love to set up house in your intestines and raise a family. Eviction of your unwelcome tenants may take a while, fortunately, your body's immune system should kick it to the curb without outside medical attention.