Most would say that a large part of West Coast life is embracing and exploring the outdoors B次元官网网址� after all, B.C. offers some of the most beautiful places in the world.
But how do you strike a balance between exploration and preservation?
That was the main debate that Brandi McCallum faced on her popular online hiking community, Take A Hike Vancouver Island (TAHVI) on Facebook, which recently shut down.
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B次元官网网址淲e started the group because we wanted to find hiking buddies,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪ix years ago there were no all inclusive groupsB次元官网网址� we wanted to be advocates for the outdoors.B次元官网网址�
McCallum said a large message they pushed was the B次元官网网址淟eave No TraceB次元官网网址� ideology, which aims to leave nature pristine by not straying off of paths, littering, or disturbing areas. But by 2018 the community ballooned to over 42,000 members, causing messages to quickly be buried and making it impossible to account for everyoneB次元官网网址檚 actions.
This resulted in a chaotic schedule of moderating posts and private messages, many which became volatile and personal.
B次元官网网址淲e kept having to put more rules in; itB次元官网网址檚 not a rant and rave page, itB次元官网网址檚 a hiking page and we want to keep it positive,B次元官网网址� McCallum said. B次元官网网址淧eople kept saying social media is ruining the outdoors and we respect that, but who are we to judge who joins hiking site?B次元官网网址�
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While McCallum dealt with the situation for years, a recent group called Fake A Hike Vancouver Island was the last straw after she said they tagged her and her partner in hurtful memes, public posts, and cruel private messages.
Fake A Hike described itself as a satirical version of the hiking page which aimed to really emphasize the importance of Leave No Trace.
B次元官网网址淭ake A Hike has always been about sharing locations with everyone, we were starting to see a problem in that in places like Keyhole Springs getting shut down,B次元官网网址� said Liam Higgins, an admin member of Fake a Hike.
Higgins was a member of TAHVI, and said when he tried to voice his concerns he received backlash.
B次元官网网址淚 tried to raise issues within the group and I got death threats, mocked by my appearance, and insults on my family.B次元官网网址�
Higgins said he only meant posts as jokes, and never sent mean messages to McCallum himself, though he is aware other members did. Much like TAHVI, he said Fake a Hike grew and lost control.
B次元官网网址淚t turned into a bloody gong show,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e sorry for anyone whose feelings were hurt, it was never our intentionB次元官网网址� I donB次元官网网址檛 condone cyberbullying.B次元官网网址�
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For Higgins, the project was always about passing the torch to future generations.
B次元官网网址淚 was just concerned about stewardship,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about not geotagging posts or photos, and leaving Instagram location tags alone.B次元官网网址�
McCallum didnB次元官网网址檛 disagree with HigginsB次元官网网址� stance.
B次元官网网址淭here is validity to that, but my point was we can take TAHVI down and then 10 more groups will pop up because social media is going nowhere,B次元官网网址� McCallum said. B次元官网网址淣ow you have no idea if theyB次元官网网址檙e going to promote Leave No Trace or safetyB次元官网网址�
Eventually the two groups came to a truce: McCallum would shut down her group if Fake A Hike would, too. Both groups have since been closed to new members and archived. Several other hiking groups have since emerged.
As for McCallum, sheB次元官网网址檒l hold off on more groups, at least until her child is a bit older.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e made so many friends from this group, I have no shortage of hiking buddies,B次元官网网址� McCallum said.
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