February 17, 2012
I can’t believe it’s been so long since I last stoked the fire, but nonetheless we’re stokin’ it today! I always love the new ideas that come up in these posts, as well as being introduced to some insightful articles, powerful photos…whatever people feel like sharing, really.
Here’s the round-up from the last Stoke the Fire on September 9, 2011!
- Esme Comfort shared a quote by Mark Twain: “The true charm of pedestrianism does not lie in the walking, or in the scenery, but in the talking. The walking is good to time the movement of the tongue by, and to keep the blood and the brain stirred up and active; the scenery and the woodsy smells are good to bear in upon a man an unconscious and unobtrusive charm and solace to eye and soul and sense; but the supreme pleasure comes from the talk.”
- Kurtis Kristianson of Spindrift Photography raised an interesting question about climbing without a rope. “Now personally I don’t think I will ever move into that realm of free solo but even if I did, is it worth it?” Farzad piped in with his own perspective, adding: “I think what I’m saying is that people don’t free solo for an extra thrill or to make it more dangerous. I believe they see it as no different than roping up for you or me.”
What will this round hold? This is your chance to Stoke the Fire with any topics you’re discussing on your blog, anything you’ve been thinking and writing about lately, the best post you saw on the internet this week, your latest travel log, the most dramatic photo that was sent you via Facebook, or a shot you took that turned out unexpectedly well. Anything.
If it’s something worth sharing around the campfire, it’s worth sharing here. Try to keep posts relevant to The Campsite, though don’t hesitate to post something you thought was just pretty darn cool.
So, go ahead. Brag, share, link, and promote. This is your day (again) to do it. Use the Comments feature below. Please refer to the Discussion guidelines under the Three D’s.
Let’s make this the biggest fire the Internet has ever seen.
Can Adrenaline Junkies Spoil Your Outdoor Experience?
The “World’s Largest Rope Swing” video is making the rounds (>800,000 view on YouTube). Sure, it looks like a hoot, but…..
If I had hiked into Corona Arch (and it is a short, beautiful, magical hike) and run into this group of testosterone-laden adrenaline junkies, I would have been mighty pissed! No, maybe just disappointed – such an aesthetically beautiful arch….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/edgepath/3165569424/in/set-72157612077016763
That’s a beautiful photo, Martin! You raise an interesting question about adrenaline junkies. Perhaps we can get a few of them to comment here. For anyone wondering which video Martin is talking about you can check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B36Lr0Unp4
I’m also wondering – what’s with the kiss at 2:10?
I don’t think people would be disappointed if they hiked up and found some people enjoying the feature in that way. Sure it’s a big crowd but it’s no different than climbing activity and as long as they respect the environment and don’t leave behind trash then all the power to them. Also I assume this is a popular destination so I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect alone time. There’s lots of tucked away corners in our parks that offer both stunning views and solitude.
As a final thought I’ve found the general population is intrigued by this kind of stuff. I don’t know how many times I’ve been stopped and asked questions by tourists about ice climbing on Louise Falls or Johnston Canyon and nobody has ever said that I ruined their view of the falls.
Just watched the video & I had a totally different reaction. I thought what they were doing was really fun & I would have asked to join them.
I agree with a post below that the video production seems to “cheese” up the event a bit, and that’s what could make these kids more “testosterone-laden” than they really were. It just seems they were trying to have a silly good time. And what a creative thing to try!
Dr. Wayne Dyer talks about “appreciators” and “depreciators”. If we’re not careful about understanding the tricks of the mind, we can find numerous ways to be offended. But, by channeling our mind into the habit of enjoyment, letting go of what we can’t control, and being open to ALL possibilities, then the opportunity to be surprised, delighted, and engaged becomes a stronger pull.
Just a thought…
This morning I heard a really disappointing story on NPR. There’s apparently a shortage of reliable medicate to treat obesity: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/02/17/146988891/weight-loss-drugs-face-high-hurdles-at-fda
I suppose more to the point, the pharmaceutical industry is having difficulty getting their drugs approved by the FDA. What’s disappointing to me is that our economy is dumping perhaps billions of research and development dollars into creating a pill when the simple solution to excessive weight gain is diet and exercise. The lack a monetary incentive in recommending life style and behavior modifications is keeping this discussion restricted treatments that are profitable but fail to get at the root cause of the problem. Cosmetic and gastric-bypass surgeries and drugs with harmful side-effects are all that we’re prepared to invest in. But in reality all we really need is more opportunities to spend time outdoors at play or engaged in sport while enjoying low calorie meals prepared with wholesome ingredients.
I’m with ya, James. I often talk to people about how much time I spent outdoors as a kid. Video games indoors simply weren’t an option! So how do we foster more of an interest in outdoors, play and sport and make the meals you describe more accessible to families (we have issues with obesity here in Canada, too).
I agree with both of you. Except I let me kid play some video games. He also skis, snowshoes and I take him indoor climbing at 5 years old! I think it’s all about moderation and not abstinence.
You might enjoy this video.
All great comments on a point I agree with. My brother & sister-in-law don’t let their kids play outdoors unattended & freely like we grew up because of all the dangers in the neighborhood, like kid-nappings & registered sex offenders, etc. It’s just a different world now…
That being said, my personal quest to improve my diet & especially my digestion began with the Master Cleanse 4 days ago. I just posted a video update here: http://www.spokencoast.org/2012/02/master-cleanse-day-3-update-from-bozeman-montana/
From there I’m committing to the Paleo diet, for at least 30 days, maybe 60. If I can score a dehydrator, then I’ll eat Paleo in the backcountry too! Beyond just avoiding obesity, diabetes (family history) and illness, the surprise here has been an emotional/spiritual cleanse. Maybe that’s why so many Americans take a pill instead?
Looking at the trends and a new surgence in extreme sports as well as equipment innovations, I strongly believe we are moving into a renaissance of sport. And I am very excited about it. For years now guys like Miles Daisher, jimmy Chin, Will Gadd, Jeb Corliss (yes I put all those names in the same sentence) have been pushing the limits of their sports and now we are getting a lot more athletes coming up behind them and it is no longer fringe. At first it’s about breaking the boundaries but then the next level is style. There is no argument that the forerunners in this new world of awesome are really stylin it. Just look at work by Pondella, Sherpa Prod, and all these other unnamed athletes that are capturing the POV’s and bringing back insuring images. Guys like Gadd know that what they are doing is awesome but they need to remember that there also comes a responsibility with their passion. If your going to be out there being great, you are connected to your fans, they are watching and are being inspired. Hell I won’t be paragliding over any peaks tomorrow or flying a wingsuit, but I’m pretty stoked to be a human and thirsting for adventure.
Haven’t seen the video yet but will comment when I get home. Sounds fun.
Watched it!!! I love it and have been toying with the idea of doing this exact thing. I even know a great spot to try it. So do I think its cool even if it’s in a nice natural area? Hells yeah. I just think the fact it’s produced like a GAP Jeans commercial is gay. But, This is the way we are going as humans, overcoming our fears, and I love it!!!
You remind us of something important here Kurtis. We’ve all got to live a little! Let go of the rules from time to time, stop taking ourselves so seriously, have fun and be safe – all at the same time. Keep living it up!
Thanks for the reminder about stoking the fire Meghan! This week I was reminded about the importance of getting outdoors. We’ve been inside a lot this month due to the unusually warm winter (resulting in a lack of the usual skiing or winter shooting of video and photos). This week, we were staring to feel a little…”blah.” We couldn’t figure out the source of the feeling until a friend of ours mentioned how he hasn’t had enough time outside. This weekend will include time to just “be” outside. We do that so well the rest of the year, so we’re ready to get back to it! Thanks for the forum
I went through something similar a few weeks ago, Greg. I felt like I had ants in my pants and I was irritable and just plain unhappy! I went out ski touring and all the stress literally melted away instantly. Thanks for the reminder.
Farzad, thanks for posting that video. It presented the information in a really engaging way, don’t you think? I also agree it’s all about moderation… it’s not about abstinence. I was just saying that in my house growing up, we had way fewer distractions and I think that many people would say that our technology today has created a lot of stimulation and distraction for the next generations.
Something has been bothering me lately. I love Parks Canada and everything they do and stand for. In fact I’ve written to my MP in the past and told him I feel the Parks service needs more funding. Their SAR service is also second to none. I also love the mountains. I probably treat the mountain environment better than my own house. But lately I feel like Parks Canada is treating the climbing community as second class citizens or maybe a better way to put it is that I feel like the community is taken for granted. Basically we abide by all the rules, we don’t complain much and we’re stewards of the mountain environment. Yes I’m about to complain about access issues if you haven’t figured it out and I know it won’t be popular.
What promoted this was Parks Canada recently enforcing the Banff Springs Golf Course road closure in a heavy handed way. This road can be used to access ice climbs on Mt Rundle and the road is gated but some climbers take their chances if the gate is open and travel along the road to save themselves a 6km walk or bike ride. For the record I really enjoy the bike ride so I don’t drive in. The road is used all day by maintenance trucks and also traffic to the waste water treatment plant. In other words there a LOT of cars and trucks on this road all day. Parks Canada recently posted a regulatory sign stating “Authorized Vehicles Only” which means they can now enforce the restriction with fines whereas before it was basically a grey area. The stated reason was to improve wildlife movement.
So what’s the problem? Well I don’t buy the stated reason and I feel Parks Canada owes a better explanation than just throwing out the “wildlife movement” card. In fact I think it’s condescending and cheapens the environmentalist movement when real issues are used to pave the way for dubious regulation. The fact is that hundreds of cars go on that road every day and there might be 20-30 cars a WEEK for ice climbers. It just doesn’t add up that climbers necessitate the enforcement. I think the real reason is that they don’t want to maintain the road for tourists to drive up and down because it can get slippery and dangerous. In fact I think that’s a great reason to close the road but they should admit it instead of hiding behind “wildlife movement”. If that’s the case then the gate is necessary. It’s also locked with a key in a lockbox and for years some climbers have had access to the key. The climbing community is very small and I think giving them access to the key and road wouldn’t be unreasonable. Yes I’m asking for special treatment for climbers. If that’s not acceptable then at the very least give a proper explanation for the enforcement and don’t treat the community like children.
Farzad, thanks for your comment and proposing a possible solution. I’m curious to know if you or any other climbers have contacted Parks about this. Access issues are an ongoing problem for climbers throughout Canada. Perhaps this would be overkill, but perhaps if permits could be issued for climbing in these semi-restricted areas then those permits could include some terms (ie. the road will not be maintained, etc.) and would also help Parks keep their tabs on who is using the road and in the area. Drivers could leave the permit on their dashboard and Parks would be welcome to give a warning to and eventually fine vehicles that do not have a permit. What do you think?
Meghan – there’s a discussion on a local climbers message board and I think we might decide to take this up as an access issue with Parks. The idea of permits was mentioned and I think it’s a good idea. Several climbing areas in the US do this.
Also I just heard that Parks is going to be closing the Bow Valley Parkway between Banff and Castle Junction from 8pm to 8am during the spring.
Hi Farzad,
Thanks for the update. I just want to say that I think it’s important to discern which aspects of the closures are worth fighting for as climbers. The Bow Valley Parkway will be closed during the night – I don’t see this particularly hindering climbers too much, do you? I think it’s a good idea to close the Parkway – we need to be taking action to give the animals some space during important times for them (such a breeding). I agree there needs to be some discussion, though!
Yup I agree. No problem with the BVP closure. Just means no early mornings or late evenings on Guides Rock.
The only argument would be maybe they need to close it during the day as well. I wonder why it’s only overnight.
I found this article: http://amppe.org/2012/01/12/bow-valley-parkway-changes-announced/
All it really says is this though: “The mandatory seasonal evening travel restriction will reduce the impacts of human use on wildlife during critical times and seasons, thereby ensuring wildlife populations remain healthy for future generations of visitors to observe and enjoy. These changes seek to improve the home and the lives of the wild animals that visitors from around the world come to Banff National Park and to the Bow Valley Parkway to see.”
My enjoyment of any and all activities will be different from everyone else’s. I engage in activities at a level I feel comfortable with and am accepting of the risk level. My levels are mine, but I do not impose them on others who may not have the same comfort level (and I also don;t participate with others with acceptance of higher risk levels than I am comfortable with!). Risk is a choice. As Kurtis has said, one should be 1st be aware of the level of risk involved in the activity you are participating in (personal ownership) and 2nd, if you are making a living off “risk” that you also promote your apprentiship requirements to those who may not be sufficiently capable of understanding that “some lines only come into condition every 10 years” “right people, right time” “Shit Doesn’t Happen To Most Professionals!”. As with musicians, to be at the top, you gotta pay/play your dues and get to understand ALL the rules of YOUR game!
Don’t take a knife to a gun fight!
I have to say, as much as I love going out and pushing myself and coming back from a good adventure, I do love the people I get to spend time with in the mountains. The great folks I’ve met in the last few years are solid and authentic and like me (I think) for who I am just as much as I like them for who they are and impact my life.
I don’t necessarily play well with others but those I do I hold with great regard and respect. Not too mention their love for life and sense of humour (right Fat Old Brent?). A good day out gets me through another week but a good day out with good friends feeds my soul.
That’s beauty, Kurtis, in twenty words: “A good day out gets me through another week but a good day out with good friends feeds my soul.”
Thanks for your comments, gents.
Wow – so many amazing comments, issues, & stuff! Here’s another fun one– I created a Pinterest board called “Outdoor Gear Faves”. If you’d like to join as a contributor, drop me a line! Or just reply to this comment w/ links to your “must-haves” and “absolutely loves” in the gear world.
http://pinterest.com/spokencoast/outdoor-gear-faves/
Oddly enough, when I first cruised Pinterest to see about joining, there were no boards like this. Why do you think that is? Is it just Midwestern housewives don’t get out into the prairie trails much cuz of the kiddos? It was sad for me, and motivated me to join the Pinterest movement. Would love your thoughts/comments there, too.
Happy Monday!
Happy Monday to you, too! I love this Pinterest Board. I’ve been curious about starting one for The Campsite, too! Perhaps I will today.
It’s interesting to see the ways that people are using Pinterest – it seems to be different for everybody. Some use it to inspire their wedding preparations, others use it for design and others to keep track of recipes.