Video: The Sad Truth Behind Tennessee’s Recent Coal-Ash Spill

Seriously, how many of us are sick now?  Unfortunately, I am betting that it will be quite some time before this mess gets cleaned up.  Even clean coal technology can have bad side-effects..

Climbing Rope and Recycling

I have been following a series of articles on the Vice/Virtue and Splitterchoss Blogs for about two months now. Both of them have been offering up some good ideas on how to reuse some of that worn out equipment in some pretty creative fashions. Rather than tossing it out and filling up the landfills, the idea of what can be used, fixed, or recycled–rather than buying new equipment-is a pretty novel concept. Especially when you consider that each year hundreds of new outdoors equipment manufacturers are trying to get you to spend money on items that you may not even need.

Summer, over at the Vice/Virtue blog has put up another very good article. Her first piece, “Reduce, Reuse, Resole,” expanded on the merits that climbing shoes could be fixed cheaper than buying a new pair of shoes. Her second installment, “Rope Recycling, Rugs, and Cheapies“, looks at the climber’s lifeline-the almighty rope.

Ropes tend to tatter. Even the best of climbing ropes will only last so long going through the rigors and weight of holding a climber in place on a rough surface. Rock continuously grinds and shreds at ropes. Many of them are thrown out and replaced after only a few climbs. So what can we do to try to reuse or recycle climbing rope?

Summer suggests a few companies that actually offer up discounts for returning rope when you make a purchase. That would be rather easy, plus you get a nice discount. She also suggests sending it off to places like Mountain Equipment Co-op, who will tear the rope apart and use it as stuffing for other equipment. They offer that as a free service. You donate the rope, they recycle it.

Rope is actually one of those items that can come in handy around the house. You might not trust it to protect your life on a climb, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be good for something else..Summer mentions making a rope rug or practicing knot-tying. You could also use it, especially if you have a truck, as a tie-down, keeping everything in your truck nice and secure. Summer mentions clotheslines, dog leashes, and even pillow stuffing, if you want to take the time to separate the strands.

Along with the Vice/Virtue’s blog of ideas to reuse and recycle, we also get a list of companies that offer cheap rope for your future purchase and replacement needs. Pretty cool she has taken the trouble to come up with this nice article on rope. These ideas should save us time, money, and help with the environment.

While I am on the subject of Vice/Virtue, she is one of two bloggers that have recently joined up with the Skinny Moose Media team. Her blog address has changed so you might want to take note. The other blog to join the team, Discovering British Columbia, offers up some travels, insight, and adventure from the northern reaches of our continent. I approached both of these blogs about joining our team. They offer up some great content and adventure and I look forward to working with each of them in the future. Go check them out and welcome them aboard!

WARNING: North Pole To be Ice Free in 2008?

The North Pole could be ice free by the end of 2008. This is some startling news coming from The Independent, a news publication out of the U.K., today.

They mention that for the first time in human history that the North Pole could lose all of it’s ice by the end of 2008.

The disappearance of the Arctic sea ice, making it possible to reach the Pole sailing in a boat through open water, would be one of the most dramatic – and worrying – examples of the impact of global warming on the planet. Scientists say the ice at 90 degrees north may well have melted away by the summer.

Polar scientists, who incidentally they do mention by name, think that the chance of the North Pole being ice free in 2008 is 50-50.

The sea ice at the North Pole and the Arctic Ocean melts away during the summer. Last year’s melt-off was more extensive than previously believed, which left this years ice only a single year to build.

Ron Lindsay, a polar scientist at the University of Washington in Seattle, agreed that much now depends on what happens to the Arctic weather in terms of wind patterns and hours of sunshine. “There’s a good chance that it will all melt away at the North Pole, it’s certainly feasible, but it’s not guaranteed,” Dr Lindsay said.

I think this news has caught everyone a bit off guard. Drudge Report already has it for a headline, but those that question the effects of even a slight temperature rise, may get their answer from the North, sooner, rather than later. Santa Claus rowing a boat just doesn’t have the same effect…

Influence, Influenced, and Influencing

I think I just posted the weirdest title in my two years of blogging. It is rather vague, but you will understand it a bit more in just a moment. I promise.

Last week I put up an editorial titled “The ‘Other’ Side of Green.” Basically it took a look at some of the more eco-friendly companies, with their intentions put in perspective. Are they as ‘Green’ or ‘Eco-friendly’ as they claim? Or is this just another strange attempt to lure dollars away from a caring public?

This ‘rant’, as it has now been called, was influenced by a single paragraph I had read over at the Splitterchoss Blog, a great blog for everything to do with rock climbing.

The Influence

Here’s the paragraph that got it all started.

So much of the outdoor industry pretends to be green while at the same time their very existence is founded upon the notion that you need to buy more new stuff. Now granted, there are times when you do need new gear, and I think that is ok. But the big joke about this whole “green” movement is that people think you can save the world by buying more stuff.

Influenced

This single paragraph got me to thinking that how outdoor gear is currently marketed to our eco-friendly, green, carbon neutral mindset, yet really persuades us to take actions that are exactly opposite from this standpoint. Every time we buy something new, we throw something away. Sure, our new gear may be eco-friendly, but our old gear will just sit in a landfill for thousands of years. It really isn’t a revolutionary thought, and I am sure others have felt the same way, but it did spark some interest.

Influencing

A couple of days after my Editorial was posted on this site, I ran across this on the Vice/Virtue climbing blog:

Last week, Jason Hendricks from The Adventurist went on a rant about the so-called “greening” of outdoor gear. And how we shouldn’t rely on manufacturer’s eco-hype alternatives - like recycled polyester base-layers and such - to do it for us. I’m sure this discussion is going on everywhere at once, but for my part, I committed to writing about environmental action you can do, not just pay for. Reducing waste and reusing equipment you already have.

This happens to be from an article entitled “Reduce, Reuse, Resole,”  hence the idea for this post’s title.

Summer, who runs the Vice/Virtues climbing blog has taken this idea a step further.  She is actually influencing her readers to take a second look at their gear and decide if they really need something new, or if that old gear can be fixed or recycled so that it becomes useful once again.  She is promising a whole series of ideas that could keep a butt-load of old gear out of the trash heap.  This first article focuses on climbing shoes.  She offers up some great tips on repairs, as well as where to obtain the materials to do-it-yourself, which saves even more cash.

The way prices are moving skyward on many of our everyday items, this idea is quite exciting and intriguing in relation to outdoors gear.  I personally can’t wait to see her next article.  I know I am looking forward to learning a thing or two about saving some of my gear, as well as my cash.

I will be posting more about Summer and her ideas in the weeks ahead, as I think this could be a huge influence on how many of us think.  She is giving us a needed alternative to how things are marketed to us and what we can do to get the most out of our current gear.  Very nice, Summer.

The ‘Other’ Side of Green

So much of the outdoor industry pretends to be green while at the same time their very existence is founded upon the notion that you need to buy more new stuff. Now granted, there are times when you do need new gear, and I think that is ok. But the big joke about this whole “green” movement is that people think you can save the world by buying more stuff.

This commentary speaks a lot of truth about what is taking place in the world of outdoor gear. Flip open an “Outside” magazine and check out all the latest ‘green’ gear. From sleeping bags made of recycled plastic bottles to laptop computers with solar panels–the benefits look good, the products sound great, yet if you buy all the new equipment provided by manufacturers each year, honestly, how much is being done for the environment?

On one hand, new equipment means you have to ditch the old. Getting rid of that old ripped and torn Northface Fleece may actually be more harmful to the environment than what you imagined. Before the ‘green’ movement took off, we were fine and dandy with just continuing on with our old stuff. Sure, I would love the latest am/fm/ weatherband radio with a built in flashlight and cell-phone charger to lug around to the campground, but in all honesty, isn’t the point of getting outside to get AWAY from all of the stress of life? If you know you have that instant hand-crankable cellphone charger radio, would you not be more apt to carry the cellphone?

I also don’t understand how being “green” can actually be more expensive. If you look at any product on the market currently, the ‘green’ version of that same product costs quite a bit more. Could this be little more than a marketing campaign to make more money, or do these ‘eco-friendly’ companies have our best interest in mind?

Case in point, Hybrid cars. The ads blast you from the television informing you of how much money you will save by using E-85 fuel rather than regular petroleum. They throw in a nice backdrop of some woods, perhaps a cliff or two, a winding road through the desert, all in an effort to gain your interest and relate to all of our concerns for saving the planet.

You run out and slap down an extra $5000 or more for a vehicle that will save you roughly twenty cents a gallon (if you can find an E-85 station). Rather than the oil companies making the extra money on the gasoline, the auto manufacturers have discovered that they can profit and fight the oil companies all at our expense. In the meantime, food prices have skyrocketed–oil prices have skyrocketed, and any way you put it, we are all still paying a hell of a lot more for things than we were two years ago.

Do we care about the environment? Sure we do. If we didn’t, these eco-friendly companies would not be turning record breaking profits every year. In order for a company to be truly ‘green’ or ‘carbon-neutral’ or whatever term they are using today, we must see them first in that perspective. Many of these companies that are offering up the newest (and more expensive) eco-friendly gear, are also still making their old tried and true products for those of us that have become fans. They put out an image and expect you to buy from your inner sensibilities.

I have a tent I have used for ten years or more. Is it ‘eco-friendly’? Who gives a crap! I have used it for ten years, through good weather and bad. If a new hole appears in the lining? So what, I throw on some tape and continue to enjoy my space. If I were to buy a new tent, as I have been pondering, then my old one would undoubtedly end up in a landfill while the new one would cost me twice as much.

I am starting to wonder what my point is with all of this banter. I guess I am happy with the simpler things. I do care about the environment, but I am not going to run out and buy a $400 tent to show off my eco-friendliness to the world. Nope, I will just sit back in my old taped up version at the campgrounds and watch the sun set and the $250,000 diesel RV’s roll in—who’s the idiot?

Editor’s note: The quote above my banter was taken from an article on “Splitterchoss“, one of the great rock climbing blogs out there-thanks for the inspiration.

Environmentalism vs. Conservationism

Doing my usual browsing across the information superhighway, I happened upon an article that brought up some good points, and even explained a few more.  The article is titled “The Church of Green,” and was penned by Jonah Goldberg, Editor-at-large of the National Review Online.  I should also mention that this article is posted over on the KTKZ AM1380 site, conservative AM radio at it’s best.

I am going to pull a couple of bits, then ask for your thoughts on this issue.

At its core, environmentalism is a kind of nature worship. It’s a holistic ideology, shot through with religious sentiment. “If you look carefully,” author Michael Crichton observed, “you see that environmentalism is in fact a perfect 21st century remapping of traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs and myths.”

I can kind of see a point here.  While environmentalists are out lobbying and raising money for their latest anti-hunting campaign, how much fuel are they spending getting to their destination?  It seems a bit contradictory.  On one hand you want to save the planet’s animals and help the environment, but on the other, you want to lobby for other people to save the planet for you.  I ask, “What are YOU doing to save the planet?”

The Church of Green is alluding to the basis that environmentalists like to preach the word without ever really taking any action.  I can honestly say that I have been to a few churches where money was the goal.  Three out of every four sermons were asking for donations for this and that cause.  I soon felt pressured to hand over money or support their causes, until I wisened up.  Obviously, I no longer go to church there.  Sometimes preaching the word can actually hurt your own cause.

John Muir, who laid the philosophical foundations of modern environmentalism, described humans as “selfish, conceited creatures.” Salvation comes from shedding our sins, rejecting our addictions (to oil, consumerism, etc.) and demonstrating an all-encompassing love of Mother Earth. Quoth Al Gore: “The climate crisis is not a political issue; it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity.

I think many of us will agree that we are over fear.  We don’t buy in to that cause as a major issue, or some of us don’t anyways, because there lacks a scientific background on the issue.  Oh, sure–there are many studies out there laying claim to this fact and that, but just the same, there are as many taking the oposite road. 

Whether or not it’s adopted the trappings of religion, my biggest beef with environmentalism is how comfortably irrational it is. It touts ritual over reality, symbolism over substance, while claiming to be so much more rational and scientific than those silly sky-God worshipers and deranged oil addicts.

Regarding Conservation:

Conservation, which shares roots and meaning with conservatism, stands athwart this mass hysteria. Yes, conservationism can have a religious element as well, but that stems from the biblical injunction to be a good steward of the Earth, rather than a worshiper of it. But stewardship involves economics, not mysticism.

I am just guessing that the “economics” mention is found in conservationism’s dedication to raising funds to save the land, then using that land to rejuvenate the area, empowering their cause, and drawing more people in.  They DO, rather than Preach.  In many areas, work by conservationists have resulted in a new outlet for funds enabling them to survive without all of the preachy hype that gets so tiring.  Perhaps that is a lot of people’s problems with the whole idea of “Global Warming”.  We hear an awful lot about it being our demise, yet, what is actually being done that is going to make us any better in the future?

In the broadest sense, the environmental movement has won. Americans are “green” in that they are willing to spend a lot to keep their country ecologically healthy, which it is. But now it’s time to save the environment from the environmentalists.

Not sure about that last statement.  Can anyone offer up an explaination?  Go read The Church of Green, then come back and let me hear your thoughts.  For–Against?    Comment Below.

Adventurist Issues: ATV and Off-Road Vehicles in Our Parks: Part II, The Environmentalists Speak Out

I have recently jumped on an issue that has sparked a bit of controversy in the press: the use of ATV and Off-Road Vehicles in our parks. This issue has been an ongoing debate amongst those who ride, environmentalists, lawmakers, and the public. Many are for, many are against.

A couple of days ago, I put up my thoughts on what could be done to perhaps satisfy both sides a bit–I am not going to take a stand on this issue, but rather try to put up both sides and let you, my readers, decide for yourselves where you stand. My job is to inform.

Today I am taking a look at a recent article published over on the ENN–The Environmental News Network–concerning this issue. Their article, “Apache-Sitgreaves Off-Road Vehicle Plan Will Put Arizona’s Crown Jewel White Mountains at Risk,” takes a look at a recent proposal by the Arizona Forest Service to put in Off-Road Vehicle trails in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. Read more

Climate Witness: Ang Tshering Sherpa, Nepal

17 Sep 2007
I am Ang Tshering Sherpa and I was born on 15 November 1953 in a picturesque place called Khumjung village in Solu Khumbu district. It is close to Namche Bazaar, where the tourists visiting the area acclimatize themselves to the altitude before going further. I spent most of my childhood in my birth place and also stayed in Tengboche monastery for 6 years.

It has been more than 35 years that I have been working in mountain tourism sector. Around 25 years back, in 1982, I established Asian Trekking Pvt. Ltd. The company organizes trekking package, mountain expedition to Everest and other activities related with mountain tourism. Over the years, Asian Trekking has grown into one of the biggest operators in Nepal and Tibet in mountain tourism sector We are also general agent of mountain association of China and Tibet and I am Chairman of the company. I am also president of Nepal Mountaineering Association and am honorary Consul of Belgium.

Glacial lakes growing

I have witnessed vast changes in mountain areas, especially in the Everest region. Glaciers are retreating fast and new glacial lakes have formed. When I was a kid, we could easily cross Gokyo Lake with our herd of Yak. We used to cross Lho La pass situated in 6026 meters and took our herd as far as Rumbuk in Tibet. Now, Gokyo Lake has become so huge that it is not possible to cross it with our animals. Besides, the snow has melted which has made it difficult for Yaks to walk on steep rocky mountains and therefore, people had to find an alternative pass. Thus, instead of Lho La Pass (6026), nowadays people use alternative pass called Nangpa Pass (5790).

Over the years, I have seen new glacier lakes form and their size has also increased dangerously. Before 1960, Imja Lake did not even exist and it first appeared in 1962 as a small pond. Now, the lake has become so huge that it could burst anytime. A Similar trend is seen in Nokjumba glacier. Small ponds have started to appear in Nokjumba glacier and it might follow Imja Lake’s trend and grow into dangerously big lake.

I dread thinking about the calamities and possible human loss if these lakes were to burst. About 15 years back, Dikcho Lake burst resulting in huge property loss. Imja Lake is much bigger than Dikcho Lake (about 20 times bigger) and if this lake burst, there will be huge calamity. The lives of people living in the area, their property and cattle are in danger as well as the damage to infrastructure.

Impact on livelihoods

Besides, potential glacier lake outburst, our mountaineering profession is facing problems due to unpredictable weather conditions. About 12-13 years ago, the appropriate season for mountaineering used to be September, October and November. Nowadays, it has shifted to late May because the weather has become unreliable. It snows when it is time to rain and rains when it should snow. This has resulted in an increase in the rate of accidents in mountain expedition.

The snow is melting so fast that it makes it difficult for our profession. A few years back, it used to take around 2 months to melt 5-6 cm of snow whereas nowadays within 6-7 days, about 2 feet of snow melts. This phenomenon is very obvious when we set up our camps. Within few days, we could see the snow around our tent melt and we need to adjust accordingly. The melting of snow also destroys our camping sites and trekking routes.

It is not only our profession that has been highly affected by this phenomenon but glacier melting and rapidly increasing number and size of glacier lakes has put us in a very vulnerable situation. Thinking about potential damage and calamities that might occur in case of glacial lake outburst makes me feel very uncomfortable.

I don’t think local pollution and tourism is the cause for this trend. We hardly receive 600-800 tourism in a year and the number is too small to have such huge impact in our mountain environment. I think it is because of global warming.

According to me, it is time for all of us to act.

The leaders and international people should come up with appropriate policy to deal with this. However, we all should act from our part to address the issue, especially of Imja Lake. It is very essential for us to take immediate measures to reduce the water pressure of the lake and take similar measures like in Tsho-Rolpa. It is very important that water in the lake is drained out so that potential danger is reduced. We also have to keep cautious eyes on new glacier lakes that are forming.

Besides, we need to protect plants and animals of this region. This is our biggest asset and if the environment is destroyed, our tourism business will be highly affected which ultimately affects the livelihood of the people.

Editors Note:  This is a special news release coming from the World Wildlife Federation.  The article has been reprinted in it’s entirety by way of a Creative Commons Liscense.  All photos contained in this article are copyrighted by the World Wildlife Federation, and as such, are not depicted in this article.  To view the accompanying photos, please refer to the original article found HERE.

A Black Diamond in Red China? Equipment Maker Moves Production Overseas

For years, Black Diamond has been a leader in the manufacturing of climbing equipment, and good equipment at that.  Black Diamond has recently announced that some of it’s product line will now be made in China. 

Among American climbers, this has started an uproar.  First, there is the quality issue of the equipment–being made in China, will quality issues be forthcoming?  Secondly, this has opened up a whole can of worms for the US vs. China made products.  China has been in the headlines recently for a few “noteworthy” quality issues..ie..lead paint on toys..  Thirdly, is it right for a company that has prided itself on it’s environmental focus to pick the most unenvironmental friendly atmosphere in the world to produce it’s products, and last but not least, who is exactly producing these items–slave labor..ect..

As you can see, this is a very touchy subject.  Many people that have been fans of Black Diamond for years are spouting their dissapproval for this move.  I actually ran across this conversation taking place at the forums on MountainProject.

The very cool thing about this discussion is that Black Diamond and a couple of other personnel that work for various other equipment makers have chimed into the discussion.  People want answers to these questions, and Black Diamond has taken a note to do something about it.  I think this is great!  Finally someone that will listen and at least address these very concerning issues.

I have never seen a company step forward and publicly address these kinds of questions, on such an open medium.  Even if I don’t believe in the practice of shipping our jobs overseas, at least they are answering..Got to give Kudos to Black Diamond for these efforts. 

I am going to be keeping an eye on this one for awhile and see how it comes out…The Good:  Black Diamond is talking about the issues. The Bad:  Part of production has moved overseas.  The Ugly?  China has the worst Environmental laws in the world.  Will be interesting to watch.

What are your thoughts?  How do companies moving overseas effect your views of the product?  Do you actually look into the issues when thinking about new gear..ie..where it is made, who is making it, and the future effects of where it is made on the environment..Chime in and tell me your views by posting a comment…

The Adventurist: Global Warming or Global Crazies?

I am pretty much in the balance right now.  Everyday we turn on the news and have Global Warming this or that on the television.  People have not only gotten woried, but they have down right freaked out in some instances…

I think at this time there are way more questions than answers.  Until a definate scientific study can prove that this is just not a ‘normal’ cycle that the Earth moves through, then I am not going to worry so much.

The fact of the matter is, I do worry a little bit about the way we are treating the earth and it’s eventual effects.  There is nothing worse than climbing in a little known region, looking around–absorbing the views–then catching a glance of a mangled Mountain Dew can lying on the ground next to your foot.  By the way, Mountain Dew is what I drink, that is why I used it. (And no, the can wasn’t mine.  I don’t drink pop when I am out.)

Interestingly, today there was a headline that caught my eye over on America’s favorite news source, The Drudge Report.  The headline stated that on November 2, 1922 The Washington Post ran an article entitled “Arctic Ocean Getting Warmer, Seals Vanish and Icebergs Melt”.

The article in question was recently discovered in the Library of Congress by a fellow who is doing research on Global Warming.  He ran across a little known fact that 4 of the hottest 10 years ever recorded happened to take place in the 20’s and 30’s.  His mission was to find out what was being said at these times.  It is just kind of interesting how 80 years later–some of these same ideals are being discussed.

great masses of ice have now been replaced by moraines of earth and stones,” and “at many points well-known glaciers have entirely disappeared.

Sound familiar?  Yeah, same here.  This was the twenties. 

I believe that we personally have a duty to clean-up our act.  There is no doubt that we are affecting our planet, our playground–for the generations to come.

How many of us have already switched out our lightbulbs?  I have.  Yet, I still wonder if I done this because of actual belief in global warming or because of the media blitz that continues to put it in our faces.  Just a curious note though regarding the better lightbulbs…on the packaging they never really say what happens to all that poisonous mercury that the bulbs are built with…billions of people saving energy could essentially be billions of people poluting the earth in a new form.

I think for the time being I am going to stick with my Leave No Trace philosphy..not because of global warming or because someone told me to, but because I respect the people that will be following me out in the wilds.

Who wants to look at an old crusty pair of flip-flops lying on the ground next to where you are going to pitch your tent?  I mentioned that just because that is exactly what I found last time I went out camping.  My wife got upset, but for the next two hours…before I pitched the tent…I cleaned the place up a little.  Not only will the people that camp there after me enjoy themselves a bit more in the wild, but obviously, now I didn’t have to look at a pair of crusty looking flip-flops someone left behind.

By the way, if you are wondering what the flip-flops and the cans and the trash has to do with global warming…I really can’t tell you.  Perhaps this isn’t even about global warming.  Perhaps it is just about cleaning up after yourselves you crazy crusted flip-flop flingin junkies.  Those of us who go out into nature to enjoy it, shouldn’t have to play the part of your damn mothers!

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