For those in the Seattle area, here are a few upcoming events worth checking out.
Monthly Archives: October 2009
Review: Patagonia Boaris
Patagonia Boaris lowtop and hightop.Patagonia has had the Boaris since they started making footwear a couple years ago. Now the company is adding the high top model for a bit more ankle support. We managed to get our hands on both versions to give them a try.
Plan Your Visit to ‘America’s Best Idea’
Will you be planning a visit to a National Park this Fall or Winter? With the recent release of Ken Burn’s documentary on PBS, America’s Best Idea, the National Park Service has set up a site to help people to plan their visits to the many national parks and monuments. While most people think to only plan visits to a national park during the summer months, many are still open during the Fall, Winter, and Spring months as well.
Review: Merrell Perimeter Gore-Tex
Going hiking long distances in potentially wet climates? Looking for a lightweight hiking boot that won’t kill your feet as the miles add up? If so, you might want to check out the Merrell Perimeter boots. Read our review for more.
Noise Pollution in Great Sand Dunes National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park, the quietest national park (confirmed by the NPS’s Natural Sounds Program Office), is fighting to keep it that way. Just 2 miles from the park’s western border, an energy company has proposed to drill exploratory wells for oil and gas. Given the fact that park Superintendent Art Hutchinson has heard the bells from a monastery 8 miles away from the park, hydraulics and machinery from the exploratory well drilling would surely be heard within the park.
Review: Merrell Spindrift
Merrell’s Spindrift jacket is a heavyweight softshell that’s equally at home on the streets and on the slopes. Read more for our review.
Drilling Near National Parks in Utah
In more National Parks news this week, the Interior Department is reviewing leases made at the end of the Bush administration for land adjacent to and near a few National Parks and Monuments in Utah. The proximity to Canyonlands, Arches National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area drew criticism because of development the leases allowed so close to these parks and monuments. Just weeks after being confirmed, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar put a hold on the leases.
Controversy over Lead Bullets in the National Parks
The most recent controversy in our National Parks is one concerning banning the use of lead bullets and sinkers for hunting and fishing in the parks. Supporters argue that the lead is picked up by scavengers and studies on ravens have shown elevated levels of lead in the bloodstream during hunting seasons. However, the possible ban has been widely opposed by sportsmen. After the initial proposal, the Park Service has rephrased the ban to only affect Park personnel, and also calling for hunters and anglers to voluntarily switch to lead-free alternatives.
Recent study links BPA to behavior problems
In another blow to manufacturers of products that contain BPA (or contained in the past), a recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives has linked prenatal exposure to BPA to behavior problems such as aggression and hyperactivity in toddlers, specifically girls.
Review: New Balance WT910
New Balance is best known for their history of manufacturing shoes to fit a variety of sizes and widths. The ability to find exactly the size that fits you has helped them become a popular choice among the running crowd. The WT910 for women from New Balance is a rugged and technical trail runner with a Gore-Tex XCR lining and quite a few trail-running specific features.