News

Food Industry To Congress: We Need You To Act On Climate Change

Posted by on Oct 5, 2015 @ 6:55 am in Conservation | 0 comments

Leaders from some of the world’s biggest food companies urged Congress to support a strong global agreement on climate action, in advance of the U.N. climate talks happening in Paris this December. In a letter published in both the Washington Post and Financial Times, the chief executives from Mars, General Mills, Unilever, Kellogg, Nestle, New Belgium Brewing, Ben & Jerry’s, Clif Bar, Stonyfield Farm, and Dannon asked U.S. and global leaders to “meaningfully address the reality of climate change.” “The challenge presented by climate...

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Aspen stands in Southwest suffering from fungal disease

Posted by on Oct 4, 2015 @ 9:27 am in Conservation | 0 comments

Visitors marveling at the fall foliage in national forests might find that some of the aspen leaves are brown and blotchy or gone already. Spores released from leaves and twigs that were infected by a fungus last summer were carried to new leaves by splashing rain and wind this year. The result is that instead of presenting golden yellow colors, leaves in some aspen stands across the Southwest have brown spots and blotches. U.S. Forest Service officials say visitors shouldn’t fret because the discoloring isn’t widespread enough to ruin...

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Hiking in Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine

Posted by on Oct 4, 2015 @ 9:04 am in Hiking News | 0 comments

Hiking in Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine

Wisconsinites might grimace at how rough winters can get these days, but 20,000 years ago much of the state was under a sheet of ice thicker than a mile in some places. This Laurentide Ice Sheet extended south of Chicago. One of the most fascinating marks it left as the ice melted was the Kettle Moraine. A “kettle” forms when debris from a grinding glacier gathers in a deposit as the ice melts away. In this case, a chunk of ice at the center lasts a bit longer under the pile and when it finally does shrink, it creates a sunken bowl-shaped...

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4 Yoga Poses for Hikers

Posted by on Oct 3, 2015 @ 8:58 am in Hiking News | 0 comments

Practice these four poses pre-hike to improve strength and stability for a safer journey and post-hike to ease any tight spots. Mountain vistas, fall foliage, glistening lakes—the sights along a good trail are worth the inevitable sweat stains and muddy boots. But beyond the aesthetic reward, hiking can also complement your yoga practice: It requires both focus and stamina, making it 
a powerful moving meditation. And doing some key poses before you hit the trail will help prep you for sthira (steadiness) to maintain balance on uneven...

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Shell’s giving up drilling in the Arctic Ocean. Now what?

Posted by on Oct 3, 2015 @ 7:50 am in Conservation | 0 comments

On Sept. 28, 2015, Shell captured national attention when it announced that the exploratory well it drilled in hopes of extracting the first barrels of oil from Alaska’s Chukchi Sea was a bust. The company didn’t strike enough oil to make further exploration economically viable. Effective immediately, it’s backing out of the Arctic Ocean “for the foreseeable future.” Environmentalists who spent the summer dangling off bridges and forming kayak blockades to protest Shell’s activities were overjoyed. “Here’s hoping Shell leaves the Arctic...

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Solar Company Announces Huge Step Forward In Efficiency

Posted by on Oct 3, 2015 @ 3:32 am in Conservation | 0 comments

Solar Company Announces Huge Step Forward In Efficiency

They are calling it the “most efficient rooftop solar module in the world.” Residential solar company SolarCity announced that its Buffalo, New York “gigafactory” will be producing solar panels that are more efficient — and 30 percent more powerful — than its previous version. This is good news for customers. Using more efficient, more powerful modules means homeowners will get more bang for their buck, so to speak. Installation costs go down. Hardware costs go down. SolarCity wins, too, of course. Keith Emery, a scientist at the National...

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Free day for seniors at national parks

Posted by on Oct 2, 2015 @ 8:31 am in Hiking News | 0 comments

The National Park service is encouraging senior citizens to enjoy the outdoors. On Oct. 8, 2015 all national parks will grant complimentary access to seniors 62 and older. “Spending time in parks has demonstrated benefits for physical and mental health, and the National Park Service is helping Americans make this connection,” says National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis. It’s part of a partnership with Humana Inc., a Louisville-based health and well-being company that is serving as the official sponsor of the National...

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Duke energy’s coal ash problems quietly spread

Posted by on Oct 2, 2015 @ 2:56 am in Conservation | 0 comments

It’s no surprise that Duke Energy’s legendary coal ash problems don’t stop at the North Carolina border. As you may remember, Duke pleaded guilty to nine criminal violations of the federal Clean Water Act as a result of a massive coal ash spill in 2014 and mismanagement of dozens of ash ponds in North Carolina. Duke’s crimes landed the company a $102 million fine and five years of probation. During the probation, Duke must complete environmental audits of all its coal plants—including those in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, South Carolina and...

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Crossing New Bridges

Posted by on Oct 1, 2015 @ 10:47 am in Hiking News | 0 comments

Piedmont Hiking & Outing Club steps up to support new span at Doughton Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Just in time for a fall hike or backpacking trip, there’s a new bridge on Doughton Park’s Grassy Gap Trail. In the past, the crossing at Basin Creek was often difficult, with only a long, precarious log spanning the waterway for hikers. Thanks to generous donations to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation by members of the Piedmont Hiking and Outing Club, the 30-foot bridge now makes the trek safer and more accessible....

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America’s wildfire crisis is getting worse. Here’s what Congress can do.

Posted by on Oct 1, 2015 @ 3:51 am in Conservation | 0 comments

We have reached a new fire normal, a clear signal that a changing climate will inevitably require an adjustment to how we manage our forests if we wish to maintain the benefits they offer, such as providing half of our nation’s water supply. In response to this unprecedented wildfire risk, for the first time in its history, the U.S. Forest Service will spend more than half of its budget fighting fires this year – three times what they were spending just 20 years ago. By 2025, if nothing changes, nearly two-thirds of the Service’s budget will...

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Pull on your boots and hit the trail to celebrate the Pennine Way’s 50th anniversary

Posted by on Sep 30, 2015 @ 7:17 am in Hiking News | 0 comments

Pull on your boots and hit the trail to celebrate the Pennine Way’s 50th anniversary

The UK’s oldest national trail hit its 50th birthday earlier this year, and tourism bosses are urging walkers to celebrate the anniversary by pulling on their boots and visiting the route. The path, which runs from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders, was officially opened at a ceremony on Malham Moor in the Yorkshire Dales in 1965. The trail passes through three national parks, the North Pennines area of outstanding natural beauty, two national nature reserves and 20 sites of special scientific interest. Highlights...

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Anatomy of a flash flood

Posted by on Sep 30, 2015 @ 3:05 am in Hiking News | 1 comment

Last week 20 people died in a wave of flash floods in southern Utah, eerily similar to a summer in Arizona 18 years ago. Of those who died, seven were in a narrow canyon in Zion National Park and another 13 were lost when their cars were swept away from around the town of Hilldale. The seven in Zion were geared up with helmets and ropes, not the most trained group, but certainly capable. The 13 from around Hilldale were drivers and passengers who found themselves unexpectedly swallowed by a flood that dammed itself with debris and then burst...

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Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Oregon

Posted by on Sep 29, 2015 @ 7:30 am in Hiking News | 0 comments

The Rogue River National Recreation Trail runs 40 miles along the Rogue National Wild and Scenic River in southwestern Oregon. The route offers a variety of amazing landscapes and rewarding hiking experiences. In addition, the western 16 miles cross the Wild Rogue Wilderness. These national designations recognize and help protect the Rogue’s outstanding scenery, fisheries, and recreational resources for present and future generations. The trail and the river are co-managed by the Bureau of Land Management’s Medford District and the US Forest...

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Arizona Trail Association receives State’s top Environmental Excellence Award

Posted by on Sep 29, 2015 @ 4:23 am in Conservation | 0 comments

Arizona Trail Association receives State’s top Environmental Excellence Award

The Arizona Trail Association (ATA) was given top honors at Arizona Forward’s 35th Annual Environmental Excellence Awards ceremony in Phoenix. The ATA was awarded The Crescordia, the highest award given by Arizona Forward, for “their unique approach to fostering long-term environmental sustainability throughout the state” in addition to their Seeds of Stewardship program, encouraging youth engagement, environmental education and stewardship; their Gateway Community program, increasing tourism, business development and...

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Water Source for Alberta Tar Sands Drilling Could Run Dry

Posted by on Sep 28, 2015 @ 8:43 am in Conservation | 0 comments

The source of water used for drilling in the Alberta tar sands could dry up in the coming decades, according to new research. The questionable future of the Athabasca River threatens the longevity of fossil fuel extraction in the world’s third-largest crude oil reserve. Scientists at the University of Regina and University of Western Ontario in Canada looked at 900 years of tree ring data and found water levels have dwindled along the 765-mile river at various points throughout its history. The analysis, published in the peer-reviewed...

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China Will Pony Up $3.1 Billion to Help Poor Countries Fight Climate Change

Posted by on Sep 28, 2015 @ 5:31 am in Conservation | 0 comments

China followed up its promise to create the world’s largest cap-and-trade program with yet another significant climate policy announcement: It will commit to spending $3.1 billion to help developing countries slash their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. China’s financial commitment, along with its new carbon market, are part of a comprehensive package of climate measures that were announced at a joint press conference featuring US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington, DC. The...

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Unique characters abound on Continental Divide Trail

Posted by on Sep 27, 2015 @ 9:28 am in Hiking News | 0 comments

Unique characters abound on Continental Divide Trail

Through hikers, those hiking from the Mexican border to the Canadian border or vice versa, on the Continental Divide Trail are a loosely organized, yet tight knit group. Sometime around the second week of April, around 150 hikers depart from Silver City, N.M., bound for the Canadian border in Glacier National Park. Another 50 or so depart on the reverse journey. Of the roughly 30 percent who finished, many wrapped up their hikes in the past couple of weeks. To celebrate, CDT Montana, a branch of the Montana Wilderness Association that works...

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WVU Students To Conduct Vistor Surveys on National Forests

Posted by on Sep 27, 2015 @ 8:53 am in Hiking News | 0 comments

Through a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, West Virginia University will conduct voluntary surveys of visitors recreating on the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests. Beginning Oct. 1, 2015 WVU students, and employees will host survey stations at developed recreation areas, trailheads, and along Forest Service roads. People who agree to participate in the survey will not be asked their names, and all responses are confidential. The basic interview lasts about eight minutes, and every other visitor is asked additional...

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Some cool hikes across the USA for fall foliage

Posted by on Sep 25, 2015 @ 9:11 am in Hiking News | 1 comment

If you think summer is the only season for hiking, it’s time you experience the pleasant temperatures, sparse crowds and incredible beauty that comes with fall. Thanks to more reasonable temperatures, heat related issues are typically less of a threat and you probably won’t have to call it a day due to mid-afternoon heat. Trails are usually less crowded in the fall when the kids are back in school and people are back at work from their summer vacations. And let’s not forget those stunning yellows, oranges and reds that dot the tips of trees....

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Cradle of Forestry Hosts Forest Festival Day and Woodsmen’s Meet

Posted by on Sep 25, 2015 @ 8:37 am in Conservation | 0 comments

Cradle of Forestry Hosts Forest Festival Day  and Woodsmen’s Meet

The Cradle of Forestry invites people of all ages to celebrate the heritage of western North Carolina during the annual Forest Festival Day on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. This is the Cradle’s largest event of the year. This activity-filled, family event commemorates the traditions of mountain living and craft in a unique and beautiful setting. More than 100 forestry students, traditional craftsmen and exhibitors will be on site during the celebration. During the event, eight colleges will compete for a trophy in the...

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Anish Breaks the Appalachian Trail Unsupported Speed Record

Posted by on Sep 24, 2015 @ 7:54 pm in Hiking News | 0 comments

Today, at 5:25pm on top of Springer Mountain, history was made. Heather ‘Anish’ Anderson just set the record for the fastest unsupported hike of the 2,285-mile Appalachian Trail, finishing in 54 days, 7 hours, and 48 minutes. She averaged about 42 miles a day over the course of the trail. History repeats itself, and so does Anish. In 2013, Anish set the record for the fastest unsupported thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, hiking the entire 2,663 miles in only 60 days, 17 hours, and 12 minutes. Which means… Anish is now the first person to...

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So what happens when America’s seniors find out what climate change means for their grandkids?

Posted by on Sep 24, 2015 @ 8:43 am in Conservation | 0 comments

Few things strike fear into the hearts of politicians like a disgruntled grandparent entering a voting booth. Seniors wield immense political power in the United States, a fact made plain by their voting record. In the 2014 midterm elections, a year of historically low voter turnout, nearly 59 percent of adults aged 65 and older pulled the lever on Election Day. Just 23 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds bothered to do the same. It’s numbers like these that have made Social Security and Medicare the third rail of American politics. Recently,...

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Emerald Ash Borer and its Enemy Wasps

Posted by on Sep 24, 2015 @ 5:34 am in Conservation | 0 comments

Since emerald ash borer was first detected in Michigan in 2002, the non-native invasive beetle has killed tens of millions of ash trees across the U.S., and continues to infest new regions, including Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Within its native range in Asia, emerald ash borer is attacked by a variety of predators including several species of parasitoid wasps that specialize on the beetle’s eggs or larvae. Because these wasps are expected to play a role in maintaining low emerald ash borer populations in Asia, three species have...

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Nature hikes and trail runs just off Japan’s bullet train

Posted by on Sep 23, 2015 @ 7:47 am in Hiking News | 0 comments

Japan’s major cities offer just about everything, but did you know that includes great nature trails? From forests and waterfalls to ancient temples and shrines, many of Japan’s best hiking trails are literally just a step off the bullet train. If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you’ll find it even harder to resist these hikes near Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima and Fukuoka. Only have a day–or even just a half-day–to spare? You can still get your hike in. These hiking routes make it convenient to explore Japan’s natural surroundings. No...

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National Public Lands Day 2015 on the BRP

Posted by on Sep 23, 2015 @ 3:13 am in Conservation | 0 comments

National Public Lands Day 2015 on the BRP

For lovers of the Blue Ridge Parkway, every day is public lands day. But on September 26, 2015 why not make it official with a volunteer project? National Public Lands Day is billed as the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. Last year, more than 175,000 volunteers and park visitors celebrated at more than 2,100 public land sites in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Along the Parkway, the Roanoke chapter of FRIENDS of the BRP plans a work day at Chestnut Ridge Overlook starting at 9 a.m....

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Keep Jumbo Wild

Posted by on Sep 22, 2015 @ 4:33 am in Conservation | 0 comments

Deep in the wilds of British Columbia lies a rugged valley – cherished alpine backcountry that deserves permanent protection. At the headwaters of the Columbia River, Jumbo Creek cascades out of deep snowpack, past crumbling glacial ice, wildflowers, and grizzly tracks. The Jumbo Valley has long been revered for its beauty, and to the Ktunaxa Nation, it is known as Qat’muk, home of the grizzly bear spirit. Part of an important international wildlife corridor, the Jumbo Valley is one of only two areas in North America where bears can freely...

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More than half of Senate urges reauthorizing Land and Water Conservation Fund

Posted by on Sep 22, 2015 @ 1:11 am in Conservation | 0 comments

More than half of Senate urges reauthorizing Land and Water Conservation Fund

More than half the members of the U.S. Senate are urging chamber leadership to pass a bill reauthorizing a federal conservation program before it expires at the end of the month. Fifty-two senators, including 12 Republicans, signed a letter from Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) calling on Senate leadership to push a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) bill this month. The lawmakers said the Senate should consider passing even a temporary authorization for the program if a deal can’t immediately be reached on extending the program long-term. “We...

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A hiker’s journey over the Koolau Mountain trails

Posted by on Sep 21, 2015 @ 9:10 am in Hiking News | 0 comments

The Koolau mountain range, as majestic as it appears today, ascending skyward like a verdant curtain of green on Oahu’s Windward Coast, looked very different just 500,000 years ago. Then the western half of a million-years-extinct massive caldera—which extended eight miles between modern-day Kaneohe and Waimanalo, and four miles east to Kailua’s Mokulua islets—the range was part of a large, Oahu-dominating volcano, Koolau (Hawaiian for “windward”). A cataclysmic landslide event a half-million years ago changed the landscape of the island and...

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New Smokies Chief Ranger Announced

Posted by on Sep 21, 2015 @ 3:15 am in Conservation | 0 comments

New Smokies Chief Ranger Announced

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Cassius Cash announced that Steve Kloster has been selected as the new Chief Ranger. Prior to this position, Kloster was the Tennessee District Ranger, as well as serving as interim Chief Ranger during several temporary assignments totaling 27 months. Kloster succeeds Clayton Jordan who was recently selected as Smokies Deputy Superintendent in April. As Chief Ranger, Kloster will oversee up to 75 people in the Resource and Visitor Protection Division who perform law enforcement duties,...

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With 765 wilderness areas, some are bound to have odd names

Posted by on Sep 20, 2015 @ 5:52 am in Conservation | 0 comments

America’s hundreds of protected Wilderness areas have names as varied as their landscapes, with wide-ranging origin stories to boot. Names matter. The word “wilderness” still wrongly carries connotations of danger, desolation, even abandonment (consider the way we use it in popular idioms). This was all the more true in 15th- through early-20th-century America. The Wilderness Act, 50 years old in 2014, was a monumental piece of legislation, but also a broadside against that misguided understanding; suddenly, the mightiest nation on earth was...

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California’s Historic Drought Is Now Officially Even More Historic

Posted by on Sep 19, 2015 @ 3:33 pm in Conservation | 0 comments

It’s been at least half a millennium since California has been this dry. The snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains — which provides nearly a third of the state’s water supply — is the lowest it has been in 500 years, according to a new study published in Nature Climate Change. The researchers compared blue oak tree rings during known time periods of precipitation, snowpack, and temperatures — beginning in 1930 — and found that the data accurately reflected snowpack levels. They then looked at rings going back 500 years to chart California’s...

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