Documentary
Leave It Better
TL;DR
REI's 2017 film follows Seth Orme and Abby Taylor as they ride bikes 4,700 miles across the United States, picking up trash as they go. They packed out more than 2,130 pounds of it between Georgia and Seattle.
Quick Facts
- Directed by
- Luke Kantola and Colin Arisman
- Made by
- Wild Confluence, in partnership with REI and GearJunkie
- Year
- 2017
- Length
- 21 minutes 40 seconds
- Route
- Cumberland Island, Georgia, to Seattle
- Where to watch
- YouTube
Leave It Better runs 21 minutes and 40 seconds.
The film follows Seth Orme and Abby Taylor on a bike tour of five months, beginning on Cumberland Island, Georgia, and ending in Seattle. They zigzagged 4,700 miles, with stops at national forests, scenic areas and campgrounds to host trash cleanups. It was the third Packing It Out project. The 2015 and 2016 projects cleaned up the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail.
Why OGSP Recommends It
One Good Story Project recommends Leave It Better because it turns environmental stewardship into an action anyone can do. Seth Orme and Abby Taylor rode 4,700 miles from Georgia to Washington State, hosting trash cleanups and conservation clinics along the way. In five months, they removed 2,130 pounds of litter.
The film’s message is inspirational in the respect that it is focused on creating a habit that no matter who you are, can do to make our environment a better place.. Seth wants picking up trash outdoors to become a normal part of loving a place, and Abby wants viewers to recognize that they’re capable of helping. Watching two people collect more than a ton of trash by bicycle makes taking care of the place in front of you feel possible.
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Related Resources
Key Takeaways
- Seth Orme and Abby Taylor rode Co-op Cycles ADV 2.1 bikes the entire trip.
- Their route was based on public land access and the 11 REI stores where they presented.
- At a Forest Service area outside Nederland, Colorado, they and a Sierra Designs crew packed out five truckloads of trash.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Leave It Better about?
Leave It Better is a 2017 REI film about Seth Orme and Abby Taylor riding bicycles 4,700 miles across the United States while picking up trash. They set out from Cumberland Island, Georgia, on April 26 and rode for five months, ending in Seattle.
Who directed Leave It Better?
Luke Kantola and Colin Arisman. Arisman founded Wild Confluence, a production company based in Alaska.
How much trash did they pick up on the Leave It Better ride?
More than 2,130 pounds over 4,700 miles. That included two ceramic toilets, one from a roadside in Colorado and one from below a cliff at a swimming area in Washington state.
Where can I watch Leave It Better?
The full film is on REI's YouTube channel, under the title REI Presents Leave It Better, Packing it Out.