I fell in love with Yosemite National Park the first time I saw it, when I was 13. My parents took us there for camping. On the way out, I asked them to wait while I ran up to E1 Capitan, a 1 rock of 3,300 feet straight up. I touched that giant rock and knew 2 I wanted to climb it. That has been my life's passion (钟爱) ever since— 3 the rocks and mountains of Yosemite. I've long made Yosemite my 4 .

    About 15 years ago I started seeing a lot of 5 , like toilet paper, beer cans, and empty boxes, around the area. It's 6 me why visitors started respecting the place 7 and treated such a beautiful home-like place this way.

    I tried 8 trash(垃圾)myself, but the job was too big. I would 9 an hour or two on the job, only to find the area trashed all over again weeks later. Finally, I got so 10 it that I decided something had to change.

As a rock-climbing guide, I knew 11 about organizing any big event. But in 2004, together with some climbers, I set a date for a 12 . On that day, more than 300 people 13 . Over three days we collected about 6,000 pounds of trash. It was amazing how much we were able to 14 . I couldn't believe the 15 we made —the park looked clean!

    Each year volunteers come for the cleanup from everywhere. In 2007 alone, 2,945 people picked up 42,330 pounds of trash and 16 132 miles of roadway.

    I often hear people 17 about their surroundings. If you are one of them, I would say the only way to change things is by 18 rather than complaining. We need to teach by 19 . You can't blame others 20 you start with yourself.