By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A social media trend is leaving one of the Valley’s most scenic spots in a sticky situation.
Read more Woman accused in Phoenix-area bank robberies in 2024 now federally charged
At first glance, it might seem harmless: people chew gum, pull it out and press it onto the rock. But the result is a growing mess — and it could damage a landmark that’s millions of years old.
It’s the kind of experience many people know too well: you place your hand on a bench or grab a rail and feel old gum. Now, visitors say it’s happening in plain sight at “Hole in the Rock,” a popular hiking destination at Papago Park just north of Tempe.
The short climb draws locals and tourists for sweeping desert views — a perfect place for photos or a picnic with friends and family. But some visitors say the bright colors on the rocks aren’t natural.
“That’s disgusting,” visitor Jennifer said.
“I don’t think that’s cool, no,” James Nance said.
Visitors point to a TikTok trend that has gone viral, showing groups chewing gum and sticking it onto the rocks for social media posts. Hundreds of pieces of gum have been left behind, glued in place by saliva, on a landmark estimated to be more than 6 million years old.
“I don’t think you should be doing it for your pleasure or for internet clout,” Nance said.
Read more Victim identified in Tucson shooting near Pima, Columbus
The City of Phoenix says crews have worked to scrape gum off the rocks. Some visitors say it’s not hard to do the right thing.
“We were actually chewing gum when we came up here, but we put it in the trash can,” Dennis Moody, visiting from Pennsylvania, said.
Even after cleanup efforts, gum remains caked onto parts of the rock.
The site has cultural significance and has been described as a place used by Indigenous people to mark solstices. Visitors say the landmark deserves more respect.
“People shouldn’t be doing that. It’s natural beauty,” Nance said.
For some, however, the rock is being treated like a glorified gum wrapper.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Read more Jury deadlocked in Ian Mitcham sentencing; deliberations to continue