TUCSON, AZ — People who live in Summerhaven say trash has always been a problem especially during holiday weekends.
General manger of the Sawmill Run restaurant in Summerhaven, Nickolas Avram, says it's sad seeing his second home trashed by people who visit.
"Yeah I mean it kind of makes me feel a little sick, it's just kind of you know, disappointing because it's treat to be able to come up here and experience the snow and all this and we go drive down the mountain and it's just littered with trash, it's so simple to take your trash and bring it back down the mountain instead of just leaving it here."
The road up to Mount Lemmon remains open during the government shutdown.
Volunteers can be seen working the Palisades Visitor Center and some bathrooms are open. Yet, trash is scattered throughout the mountain and besides law enforcement many employees with the National Forest Service are not working.
"Last winter I remember there was a good amount of trash but now it's like ridiculous. It seems like more people have been coming, it's been way busier than it was last winter so that just equates to way more trash too."
For now, the pristine landscape many people live and work on is tarnished until the government can once again provide a helping hand.
