In more Pacific Northwest news this week, a Bush administration attempt at increasing logging of old-growth forests in Oregon has been reversed by the current administration. The logging plans, formally known as the Western Oregon Plan Revision was five years in the making, but only finalized during Bush’s last days in office. By reducing protection…
Monthly Archives: July 2009
Wildfire Danger in the Pacific Northwest
Though many associate the Pacific Northwest with long bouts of rain and a general dampness all year round, this year we have seen a very hot, dry summer (even in Seattle). The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is working hard to inform people of the burn danger associated with long stretches without rain. This…
Interesting Concept: YouBar
While prepping for my latest backpacking trip, I ran across a company that sells a product with an interesting concept behind it. YouBars are customized energy bars-you choose the ingredients (from a set list). Like peanuts or dried fruit, but not too many? You can specify to have less in your bar. Categories of ingredients…
Obama Nominates New NPS Director
On Friday, President Obama announced his nomination for the latest National Park Service Director. He chose Jon Jarvis, who over the last three decades has worked in a variety of roles: as a seasonal and interpretive ranger, protection ranger, resource management specialist, park biologist, and currently heads the Pacific West section of our parks system….
Dehydrating Your Own Food
Dehydrated backpacking meals and snacks seem to be the convenient choice for meals on the trail these days. But for all the ease of preparation, you often pay in flavor. (Read our review of backpacking meals here.) But this doesn’t have to be the case. With a little pre-trip prep, you can have great tasting…
Sierra Club Trails Network
Yesterday the Sierra Club debuted their new online community, Sierra Club Trails. The website is set up like a searchable library, where users can post trails and photos, join groups, and meet other hikers. You don’t have to be a member to access the information about the trails, but joining gives you the privilege of…
Rock Thieves in Acadia National Park
Next time you are in Acadia National Park, make sure you don’t take home any beautiful rocks as a souvenir-you could get busted! Rangers at Acadia National Park have seen their fair share of tourists with loaded down backpacks and heavy stuffed pockets, bringing home sea-polished stones, cobblestones, and even in some cases, slabs of…
Yosemite National Park developing new plan for Yosemite Valley
All the national parks have their hot-button issue; for Yosemite, it’s Yosemite Valley and the wild and scenic Merced River. Here’s the backstory. Heavy snowmelt in 1997 caused massive floods, turning the slow river into a torrent that surged through the low campgrounds of Yosemite Valley, uprooting trees, destroying bear lockers, sweeping away picnic tables,…
National Park Service threatens to take over 6 CA state parks
After the recent news of Governor Schwarzenegger’s plan to close 220 of California’s state parks due to the massive budget deficit, the National Park Service is threatening to take over six of those parks if they do in fact close. The six parks in discussion (Angel Island, Mount Diablo Summit, lighthouse and land at Point…
Cool Resource: Family Vacation Planner
The folks over at National Geographic Traveler have put together a very comprehensive list of places and activities for all of your family vacation needs this summer. All fifty states are featured, as well as the Distric of Columbia. Attractions are broken down into seven categories: adventure, animals, culture, entertainment, history, nature, and science. While…