With the support of the Mountain Fund there are now two clinics where once no medical services were available. Over 10,000 families have access to primary health care.
Mountain Fund has returned to Kathmandu following two weeks in the
Rasuwa District of Nepal. Located a few kilometers from the border
with Tibet the Rasuwa District is home to dozens of small Tamang
Villages. The Tamang are believed to have migrated from Mongolia via
Tibet hundreds of years ago and settled in this remote mountain area. Life
in many Tamang Villages carries on much as it has for centuries. For many
of the villages subsistence farming is their way of life and these rugged,
inventive people have learned how to survive on the steep hillsides of the
northern Rasuwa District.
Click here to read the full article in The Mountain Fund April newsletter
April 30, 2008
April 26, 2008
SmartWool Announces Spring 2008 Advocacy Recipients
Steamboat Springs, CO, April 25th, 2008 —
SmartWool Corporation, a leading outdoor performance brand offering Merino wool-based apparel, socks and accessories, today announced the recipients of the SmartWool Advocacy Fund and SmartWool Breast Cancer Fund which includes 32 organizations ranging in size and subjects from protecting the outdoors, engaging children and breast cancer support. Awarded semi-annually, this round of gifting represented over $72,000 to non-profit organizations around the country. This brings the total amount of Advocacy Fund contributions given by SmartWool since 2004 to $390,000.
"The SmartWool Advocacy Program is one part of the broader employee-driven SmartPrint® corporate social responsibility platform which brings to life Smart Wool's philosophy to affect positive change in the world within which our employees and customers live, play and do business," states Mark Bryden, president of SmartWool. "Through our support and contributions, we see these collaborations and partnerships as key to SmartWool's continued success as an industry leader and hope to inspire other companies to follow suit."
The advocacy program is comprised of two separate funds and financed by separate revenue sources. The SmartWool Advocacy Program is funded by a percentage of net sales of SmartWool® products sold on www.smartwool.com. Additionally, a percentage of net sales from SmartWool "Pink Ribbon" socks go to the SmartWool Breast Cancer Fund. Since its inception four years ago, the SmartWool Advocacy Program has donated monetary as well as products in-kind to deserving non-profit organizations, including these 2008 recipients:
City Kids Wilderness Project Adaptive Sports Center of Crested Butte, Inc.
Appalachian Mountain Club Family Means
Women's Wilderness Institute Rails to Trails
Rocky Mountain Youth Corps Colorado RangeRider Youth Cops
Outdoor Outreach Higher Ground Youth Challenge
Colorado Fouteeners SOS Outreach
City Wild Splore
Humble Ranch Net Results Junior Tennis
Trust for a Mountain Classroom Kids Plus - Cook County
KIPP: Sunshine Peak Academy Boys and Girls Club of Craig
Big City Mountaineers Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club
Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association Elizabeth Stone House
Rocky Mountain Nature Association Northern California Cancer Center
Breast Cancer Fund The Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center
Casting for Recovery Clinica Tepeyac
Living Beyond Breast Cancer Cancer Survivor Center for Health & Wellbeing
Recipients of the SmartWool Advocacy Fund and SmartWool Breast Cancer Fund are selected from approximately 60 applications by the SmartWool Advocacy Board. This board is comprised solely of SmartWool employees elected by their peers as part of the larger SmartPrint® platform.
The SmartWool Corporation is comprised of passionate and healthy-minded employees who prescribe to the belief that a balanced life is a rich life. This belief is the foundation upon which the Leave My SmartPrint™ program was built. The program allows each full-time SmartWool employee to be paid for up to 40 hours of volunteer work at a local non-profit charity of their choice. In 2007, SmartWool employees donated nearly 1,000 volunteer hours to non-profit organizations in their hometown communities.
Applications are currently being accepted for the fall grants. To learn more about the SmartWool Advocacy Fund and SmartWool Breast Cancer Fund or to apply for a grant, please visit www. Smartwool.com. Applications for the fall grants must be received by September 1, 2008.
ABOUT SMARTWOOL: SmartWool® is a leading performance brand offering wool-based apparel, socks and accessories. Nothing can compare to SmartWool® products for the ultimate in performance, comfort and easy care. SmartWool® fiber is superior at vaporizing moisture, controlling temperature and order and is guaranteed not to shrink. It's also a renewable resource that illustrates the design genius of evolution. For information on the full range of SmartWool® products or to find a dealer near you, please log onto SmartWool's award winning website: www.SmartWool.com. SmartWool Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Timberland Company.
SmartWool Corporation, a leading outdoor performance brand offering Merino wool-based apparel, socks and accessories, today announced the recipients of the SmartWool Advocacy Fund and SmartWool Breast Cancer Fund which includes 32 organizations ranging in size and subjects from protecting the outdoors, engaging children and breast cancer support. Awarded semi-annually, this round of gifting represented over $72,000 to non-profit organizations around the country. This brings the total amount of Advocacy Fund contributions given by SmartWool since 2004 to $390,000.
"The SmartWool Advocacy Program is one part of the broader employee-driven SmartPrint® corporate social responsibility platform which brings to life Smart Wool's philosophy to affect positive change in the world within which our employees and customers live, play and do business," states Mark Bryden, president of SmartWool. "Through our support and contributions, we see these collaborations and partnerships as key to SmartWool's continued success as an industry leader and hope to inspire other companies to follow suit."
The advocacy program is comprised of two separate funds and financed by separate revenue sources. The SmartWool Advocacy Program is funded by a percentage of net sales of SmartWool® products sold on www.smartwool.com. Additionally, a percentage of net sales from SmartWool "Pink Ribbon" socks go to the SmartWool Breast Cancer Fund. Since its inception four years ago, the SmartWool Advocacy Program has donated monetary as well as products in-kind to deserving non-profit organizations, including these 2008 recipients:
City Kids Wilderness Project Adaptive Sports Center of Crested Butte, Inc.
Appalachian Mountain Club Family Means
Women's Wilderness Institute Rails to Trails
Rocky Mountain Youth Corps Colorado RangeRider Youth Cops
Outdoor Outreach Higher Ground Youth Challenge
Colorado Fouteeners SOS Outreach
City Wild Splore
Humble Ranch Net Results Junior Tennis
Trust for a Mountain Classroom Kids Plus - Cook County
KIPP: Sunshine Peak Academy Boys and Girls Club of Craig
Big City Mountaineers Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club
Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association Elizabeth Stone House
Rocky Mountain Nature Association Northern California Cancer Center
Breast Cancer Fund The Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center
Casting for Recovery Clinica Tepeyac
Living Beyond Breast Cancer Cancer Survivor Center for Health & Wellbeing
Recipients of the SmartWool Advocacy Fund and SmartWool Breast Cancer Fund are selected from approximately 60 applications by the SmartWool Advocacy Board. This board is comprised solely of SmartWool employees elected by their peers as part of the larger SmartPrint® platform.
The SmartWool Corporation is comprised of passionate and healthy-minded employees who prescribe to the belief that a balanced life is a rich life. This belief is the foundation upon which the Leave My SmartPrint™ program was built. The program allows each full-time SmartWool employee to be paid for up to 40 hours of volunteer work at a local non-profit charity of their choice. In 2007, SmartWool employees donated nearly 1,000 volunteer hours to non-profit organizations in their hometown communities.
Applications are currently being accepted for the fall grants. To learn more about the SmartWool Advocacy Fund and SmartWool Breast Cancer Fund or to apply for a grant, please visit www. Smartwool.com. Applications for the fall grants must be received by September 1, 2008.
ABOUT SMARTWOOL: SmartWool® is a leading performance brand offering wool-based apparel, socks and accessories. Nothing can compare to SmartWool® products for the ultimate in performance, comfort and easy care. SmartWool® fiber is superior at vaporizing moisture, controlling temperature and order and is guaranteed not to shrink. It's also a renewable resource that illustrates the design genius of evolution. For information on the full range of SmartWool® products or to find a dealer near you, please log onto SmartWool's award winning website: www.SmartWool.com. SmartWool Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Timberland Company.
April 24, 2008
Climbers Help At-Risk Teens Reach New Heights
By WES SMALLING
Star-Tribune staff writer
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Like many visitors to Grand Teton National Park, Alex Wolf gazed up at the majestic chiseled summits of the Grand Teton Range last spring and couldn't help but wonder what it's like to climb them.
The 31-year-old New Yorker is a recovering alcoholic. He had quit drinking months earlier and that spring the outdoors became a sanctuary for him, an escape from the pressures of city life and the temptations that every alcoholic battles each day.
After his Wyoming trip he returned home to New York and began rock climbing, ice climbing and backpacking every chance he got. Those activities, his love of the outdoors and support from friends are helping him overcome his addiction and get the most out of life.
This summer he's returning to Wyoming to climb the 13,760-foot summit of Grand Teton. But the adventure isn't just for himself. It's also for someone else, someone he's never met.
Wolf is one of more than 300 mountain climbers participating in Backpacker Magazine's Summit for Someone program this year. The annual series of climbs is a fundraiser for Big City Mountaineers, a nonprofit organization that provides wilderness mentoring trips for at-risk urban youths.
"Living in Manhattan I'm in this fast-paced life every day," Wolf said. "Climbing and backpacking are a way to get out of that and to get away from all the drinking and partying and get into nature. It's had a tremendous impact on me both physically and spiritually. So when I learned about the Summit for Someone program I started thinking about these kids who had underprivileged backgrounds, who don't have a chance to do these things. The outdoors has had an amazing impact on my life and I saw how it could have an amazing impact on someone else's life."
To go on a Summit for Someone trip each climber raises $2,900 to $7,500 in pledges, depending on the type of expedition. Each climb raises enough funds to fully sponsor five teens and a youth agency leader for a summer outdoor youth mentoring program with Denver-based Big City Mountaineers.
Big City Mountaineers takes urban teens on challenging but safe guided wilderness expeditions. They are city kids who may otherwise never have the opportunity to experience the outdoors. On each trip, teens are matched with mentoring adults who teach them about nature and provide them opportunities to achieve success by drawing on resources they might never know they had.
For many of the teens, it's a life-changing event, said Big City Mountaineers spokeswoman Hillary Harding.
"Some of them fall in love with the wilderness. Some of them say, 'I never want to pee in the woods again.' But they almost all find something out about themselves, something inspiring," she said.
Summit for Someone climbs can also be life-changing, inspiring events for the climbers who raise money for the youth program.
Dennis Pinto, a retired police officer from New Jersey, is climbing in the Summit for Someone program this summer for his third year in a row. Previously he's climbed Washington's Mount Rainier and California's Mount Whitney. This year he'll be tackling the summit of the Grand Teton. He said the trips are a way for him to reach out and help kids in need, which is something he felt compelled to do during his many years as a police officer.
"I've definitely experienced more than my fair share of seeing troubled kids and wanting to help them and sometimes not being able to," he said. "I've been involved in some charities over the years -- Special Olympics, helping kids and adults with alcoholism. With the passion I have for climbing and the outdoors, naturally I read Backpacker magazine and they had a story about (Summit for Someone). I said to myself, 'What a great cause. I can actually help kids who are at-risk and do something I love.' So the combination draws me every year."
All the Wyoming climbs and one in Montana are being led by Jackson Hole Mountain Guides -- trips to the summits of Grand Teton, Middle Teton, Mount Moran and Buck Mountain in the Teton Range, Gannett Peak in the Wind River Range, and Granite Peak in Montana.
Other climbs around the West include Mount Rainier, Mount Baker and Mount Olympus in Washington, Long's Peak in Colorado, Mount Hood in Oregon, Mount Shasta in California and a five-day expedition on Alaska's Denali (Mount McKinley).
Slots are still available on many trips for climbers who want to participate in the Summit for Someone program. And many climbers, including Pinto and Wolf, are still working on raising pledges.
"To be honest, the fundraising is tougher than the climb itself," Pinto said.
Star-Tribune staff writer
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Like many visitors to Grand Teton National Park, Alex Wolf gazed up at the majestic chiseled summits of the Grand Teton Range last spring and couldn't help but wonder what it's like to climb them.
The 31-year-old New Yorker is a recovering alcoholic. He had quit drinking months earlier and that spring the outdoors became a sanctuary for him, an escape from the pressures of city life and the temptations that every alcoholic battles each day.
After his Wyoming trip he returned home to New York and began rock climbing, ice climbing and backpacking every chance he got. Those activities, his love of the outdoors and support from friends are helping him overcome his addiction and get the most out of life.
This summer he's returning to Wyoming to climb the 13,760-foot summit of Grand Teton. But the adventure isn't just for himself. It's also for someone else, someone he's never met.
Wolf is one of more than 300 mountain climbers participating in Backpacker Magazine's Summit for Someone program this year. The annual series of climbs is a fundraiser for Big City Mountaineers, a nonprofit organization that provides wilderness mentoring trips for at-risk urban youths.
"Living in Manhattan I'm in this fast-paced life every day," Wolf said. "Climbing and backpacking are a way to get out of that and to get away from all the drinking and partying and get into nature. It's had a tremendous impact on me both physically and spiritually. So when I learned about the Summit for Someone program I started thinking about these kids who had underprivileged backgrounds, who don't have a chance to do these things. The outdoors has had an amazing impact on my life and I saw how it could have an amazing impact on someone else's life."
To go on a Summit for Someone trip each climber raises $2,900 to $7,500 in pledges, depending on the type of expedition. Each climb raises enough funds to fully sponsor five teens and a youth agency leader for a summer outdoor youth mentoring program with Denver-based Big City Mountaineers.
Big City Mountaineers takes urban teens on challenging but safe guided wilderness expeditions. They are city kids who may otherwise never have the opportunity to experience the outdoors. On each trip, teens are matched with mentoring adults who teach them about nature and provide them opportunities to achieve success by drawing on resources they might never know they had.
For many of the teens, it's a life-changing event, said Big City Mountaineers spokeswoman Hillary Harding.
"Some of them fall in love with the wilderness. Some of them say, 'I never want to pee in the woods again.' But they almost all find something out about themselves, something inspiring," she said.
Summit for Someone climbs can also be life-changing, inspiring events for the climbers who raise money for the youth program.
Dennis Pinto, a retired police officer from New Jersey, is climbing in the Summit for Someone program this summer for his third year in a row. Previously he's climbed Washington's Mount Rainier and California's Mount Whitney. This year he'll be tackling the summit of the Grand Teton. He said the trips are a way for him to reach out and help kids in need, which is something he felt compelled to do during his many years as a police officer.
"I've definitely experienced more than my fair share of seeing troubled kids and wanting to help them and sometimes not being able to," he said. "I've been involved in some charities over the years -- Special Olympics, helping kids and adults with alcoholism. With the passion I have for climbing and the outdoors, naturally I read Backpacker magazine and they had a story about (Summit for Someone). I said to myself, 'What a great cause. I can actually help kids who are at-risk and do something I love.' So the combination draws me every year."
All the Wyoming climbs and one in Montana are being led by Jackson Hole Mountain Guides -- trips to the summits of Grand Teton, Middle Teton, Mount Moran and Buck Mountain in the Teton Range, Gannett Peak in the Wind River Range, and Granite Peak in Montana.
Other climbs around the West include Mount Rainier, Mount Baker and Mount Olympus in Washington, Long's Peak in Colorado, Mount Hood in Oregon, Mount Shasta in California and a five-day expedition on Alaska's Denali (Mount McKinley).
Slots are still available on many trips for climbers who want to participate in the Summit for Someone program. And many climbers, including Pinto and Wolf, are still working on raising pledges.
"To be honest, the fundraising is tougher than the climb itself," Pinto said.
April 23, 2008
Eco Everest Expedition 2008 launches from Everest Base Camp
Climate change is affecting people around the globe, and this is especially evident at the top of the world, around Mount Everest and other great peaks of the Himalayas. Glaciers are shrinking leaving behind glacial lakes with massive amounts of water threatening people and land downstream. The loss of ice and snow heralds water problems for the 1.45 billion people living in the great water basins of the Himalayan rivers. This is the message given by the 11 member climbing team of the Eco Everest Expedition 2008 when they met at Everest Base Camp on 18th April to mark the start of their climb with a traditional Buddhist religious ceremony, called puja. Dr Schild, Director General of ICIMOD, handed over the ICIMOD Silver Jubilee flag to Dawa Steven Sherpa, the leader of the climbing team, to take to the top of the world. A premier of a photo exhibition, 50 Years of Change – Glaciers, Landscapes, People and Resilience in the Mount Everest Region, Nepal is taking place at Base Camp at the same time. The exhibition includes a unique collection of repeat panoramas of mountains, valleys and glaciers taken in the 1950s, and retaken in the past few years. These photographs demonstrate the changes in the climatic, cultural and physical landscape of the Khumbu over the past half century. The exhibition will be unveiled at Everest Base Camp and will then tour several European countries.
The Eco Everest expedition is the brainchild of Dawa Steven Sherpa of Asian Trekking, shocked by his own experience of ice collapse in the Khumbu ice fall, and the realization of the impacts of climate change. Dawa Steven and Asian Trekking have joined with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development – ICIMOD – and the United Nations Environment Program – UNEP – in a plan to use the climb to draw the world's attention to the problems resulting from climate change and the need to help the people of the region, and the world. ICIMOD has been working for 25 years for the mountains and people of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas, 2008 marks its 'Silver Jubilee'. The Expedition is one of a number of events being held to celebrate this milestone. The expedition will also field test an eco-friendly approach to climbing, including a ten-point plan that could be used as a basis for international certification for environmentally friendly climbing expeditions. The expedition plans to bring down garbage left by other groups, and will encourage others to do the same. The climbing team is being supported by the renowned Japanese conservationist Ken Noguchi, who is expected to visit the Everest Base Camp. The expedition is endorsed by world renowned mountaineers including Reinhold Messner, Conrad Anker, and Peter Habelar, and is also supported by the Nepal Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Tourism Board, and Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and numerous local, regional, and international organizations.
Parallel to the climbing expedition, scientific research is being carried out to monitor glaciers and glacial lakes in the region and gather information to help communities and develop early warning systems. A six-member research team led by Basanta Shrestha of ICIMOD is already in Khumbu to start the work. A pilot early warning system will be implemented for Imja lake, one of the fastest growing lakes in the region, in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and Keio University of Japan. The scientists have already carried out investigations to assess the status of Dig Tsho glacial lake, which had a devastating impact when it burst in 1985.
advertisement
A Trust Fund has been set up to support development of early warning systems, scientific investigations to help assess risks, monitoring of the melting glaciers, and removal and disposal of waste in eco-friendly ways. Every climber on the expedition has contributed to the fund and contributions are now being solicited from interested individuals and organizations.
ICIMOD's new strategy focuses on understanding the impacts of climate change, and finding ways to strengthen people's resilience and support adaptation. Says Dr. Andreas Schild, Director General of ICIMOD: "The changes taking place currently are alarming, and the time to act is now." While climate change is mostly caused by the highly industrialized parts of the world, the effects are already taking their toll in the sensitive mountain areas. Climate change needs global measures of mitigation, regionally focused measures of adaptation, and targeted measures to strengthen the resilience of the mountain people. "We want to build up a system of early warning of risks from glacial lake outbursts. We want to discuss and prepare measures to strengthen the resilience and adaptation of people to climate change. This means livelihoods, conservation of biodiversity, and maintenance of the landscape as a global heritage. Conservation and management of water has the highest priority," concludes Dr Schild.
Best wishes,
Ang Tshering Sherpa
Join ECO EVEREST EXPEDITION at www.ecoeverest.net.np
Editors Note: Ang Tshering Sherpa is the President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, a non-governmental, non-profit and non-political organization working to promote mountain tourism, climbing sports, protection of mountain environments and preservation of the cultural heritage of Nepal and the Himalaya.
The Eco Everest expedition is the brainchild of Dawa Steven Sherpa of Asian Trekking, shocked by his own experience of ice collapse in the Khumbu ice fall, and the realization of the impacts of climate change. Dawa Steven and Asian Trekking have joined with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development – ICIMOD – and the United Nations Environment Program – UNEP – in a plan to use the climb to draw the world's attention to the problems resulting from climate change and the need to help the people of the region, and the world. ICIMOD has been working for 25 years for the mountains and people of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas, 2008 marks its 'Silver Jubilee'. The Expedition is one of a number of events being held to celebrate this milestone. The expedition will also field test an eco-friendly approach to climbing, including a ten-point plan that could be used as a basis for international certification for environmentally friendly climbing expeditions. The expedition plans to bring down garbage left by other groups, and will encourage others to do the same. The climbing team is being supported by the renowned Japanese conservationist Ken Noguchi, who is expected to visit the Everest Base Camp. The expedition is endorsed by world renowned mountaineers including Reinhold Messner, Conrad Anker, and Peter Habelar, and is also supported by the Nepal Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Tourism Board, and Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and numerous local, regional, and international organizations.
Parallel to the climbing expedition, scientific research is being carried out to monitor glaciers and glacial lakes in the region and gather information to help communities and develop early warning systems. A six-member research team led by Basanta Shrestha of ICIMOD is already in Khumbu to start the work. A pilot early warning system will be implemented for Imja lake, one of the fastest growing lakes in the region, in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and Keio University of Japan. The scientists have already carried out investigations to assess the status of Dig Tsho glacial lake, which had a devastating impact when it burst in 1985.
advertisement
A Trust Fund has been set up to support development of early warning systems, scientific investigations to help assess risks, monitoring of the melting glaciers, and removal and disposal of waste in eco-friendly ways. Every climber on the expedition has contributed to the fund and contributions are now being solicited from interested individuals and organizations.
ICIMOD's new strategy focuses on understanding the impacts of climate change, and finding ways to strengthen people's resilience and support adaptation. Says Dr. Andreas Schild, Director General of ICIMOD: "The changes taking place currently are alarming, and the time to act is now." While climate change is mostly caused by the highly industrialized parts of the world, the effects are already taking their toll in the sensitive mountain areas. Climate change needs global measures of mitigation, regionally focused measures of adaptation, and targeted measures to strengthen the resilience of the mountain people. "We want to build up a system of early warning of risks from glacial lake outbursts. We want to discuss and prepare measures to strengthen the resilience and adaptation of people to climate change. This means livelihoods, conservation of biodiversity, and maintenance of the landscape as a global heritage. Conservation and management of water has the highest priority," concludes Dr Schild.
Best wishes,
Ang Tshering Sherpa
Join ECO EVEREST EXPEDITION at www.ecoeverest.net.np
Editors Note: Ang Tshering Sherpa is the President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, a non-governmental, non-profit and non-political organization working to promote mountain tourism, climbing sports, protection of mountain environments and preservation of the cultural heritage of Nepal and the Himalaya.
April 22, 2008
Working for the Himalayan Rescue Association in Nepal
About the writer. Dr Kirstie Nichol is a G.P. with a keen interest in expeditions and the medical issues or remote locations. She has attended the Expedition and Wilderness Medicine course in Keswick and the Polar Medicine training course in Alta, Northern Norway and worked as an expedition medic for Across the Divide Expeditions in locations as diverse as Kilimanjaro and Peru.
In 2007 I left ‘normal’ working life as a GP in Haddington behind for a while to work for the Himalayan Rescue Association in a high altitude clinic in Nepal.
The HRA is a Nepalese voluntary non-profit organisation formed in 1973 with an objective to reduce casualties in the Nepal Himalayas, especially in view of the increasing number of Nepalese and foreigners who trek up into the remote wilderness. Nepal alone now receives more than one hundred thousand trekkers from around the world every year. It can be easy to under-estimate the dangers of altitude illness; deaths from these conditions are all the more tragic because they are entirely preventable. Working at the clinic involves a mix of primary health care for local people including home visits, providing an emergency medical service for trekkers and the provision of daily lectures for trekkers emphasising the prevention, recognition and treatment of altitude illnesses. Because rescue is difficult in Nepal, prevention is a key part of the role.
Thus, the HRA increases the safety of the trekkers encouraging tourism, which boosts the Nepalese economy, and also uses the donations and charges to the foreigners attending the clinic to provide much-needed free health care to the local people. The Manang clinic where I worked is in a very remote part of northern Nepal situated at 3570m in a small mountain village surrounded by the 8000m peaks of the Annapurna mountain range. It is an incredibly beautiful and peaceful place. It takes seven days of trekking to reach it from the nearest road and the clinic is the only source of western medical care for the people there. The staff consisted of myself and another volunteer doctor and two Nepali staff who helped with day to day running of the clinic and translation. The clinic is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the two main trekking seasons. Manang is a mainly Buddhist area and Tibetan Buddhist philosophy is evident all around and added a very interesting aspect to our care of the local people.
Life at the clinic is basic but rejuvenating. I slept in a tent for the best part of four months, there is no hot water and no heating and the food consists of daal bhaat every day- a Nepali staple of rice and lentils. The clinic itself has a reasonable range of medications to cover most situations and an oxygen concentrator which is the life line.
This comes with its own problems though due to difficulty maintaining it and getting it adequately serviced. Also the only power supply is by solar panels which charge a battery and therefore if the weather is bad it is necessary to conserve power for the concentrator and conduct all business by torchlight and candles! It is difficult to get re- supplies in a hurry as they require to be sent from Kathmandu and take at least eight days to reach the clinic by mountain porters. Therefore an ability to do your best with what is available and be innovative is required. It can be refreshing to get back to the basics of medicine, relying on your clinical judgement with no back up from labs etc.
The commonest presentations among the local population were respiratory tract infections, diarrhoea, joint pains and gastritis but we also dealt with emergencies such as acute abdomen, myocardial infarction, and stroke and one night I was called to my most feared situation of an obstetric emergency. Thankfully, eventually, a healthy baby was delivered, with a combination of assistance to the mum from the limited obstetric medical supplies we had available and the blessings from the lama. Nature is an incredible thing!
As mentioned the locals did not pay for their health care at the clinic but the clinic did not provide evacuation costs for them if they required hospitalisation. It therefore very much depended on their position within the community what was possible for them. For instance one local man who was the owner of the roksi (local brew) shop and therefore well known in the community, required emergency surgery and was an ‘in-patient’ with us for a few days whilst his family gathered a loan from prosperous teahouse owners and village elders, enabling him to be evacuated by helicopter to Kathmandu. However life is much more difficult for others and I treated a young fifteen year old mule herder with life threatening pneumonia whose only means of evacuation was to be carried in a basket on the back of a porter; a journey which took five days for him to reach a basic hospital.
The commonest presentations in the trekkers were diarrhoea and acute mountain sickness. We treated several cases of life threatening high altitude pulmonary oedema and arranged helicopter evacuations where needed.
The helicopter can only fly to this altitude during settled weather in daylight hours and even in an emergency often takes more than eight hours to come. Other means of evacuation are by horse or being carried by porters. Often these means are quicker and can be life saving at altitudes above Manang rather than waiting on a response from the helicopter. During our time we also ran a pilot study of a small clinic at Thorung Phedi 4500m, a teahouse stop where trekkers on the Annapurna circuit stay for the night before they attempt the Thorung La Pass 5416m. There is plenty exposure to high altitude medicine here!
It is amazing the range of people that come to trek in these mountainous areas, many with no or limited previous experience of mountain environments and of course others with a wealth of experience. Some of the life threatening cases we saw among the trekker population were related to people with pre- existing medical conditions that were compromised by being at altitude.
They either hadn’t been provided with adequate information about the risks of altitude or had failed to accept that the information they were given really did apply to them.
There is an important role in pre travel health consultations to educate travellers to high altitude areas about the risks, taking into account their past medical history. I carried out a questionnaire based study among the trekkers with the aim to establish whether advice about altitude illnesses was given at their pre-travel health consultation (i.e. when attending for vaccinations); what this advice consisted of; where they received it; whether they were advised to take or given a prescription for acetazolamide and if so at what dosage and when they were advised to start it; and whether they sought information about altitude illnesses from other sources e.g. internet, guidebooks. I am currently processing the results of this study but from the initial data survey it looks like we certainly could improve the information we give to travellers to high altitude areas to reduce their risks of these life threatening altitude illnesses. There will be more on that to follow once I have completed the data analysis.
My sincere thanks go to my partners for permitting me this period of unpaid leave and to the Alastair Short Memorial Award which provided me with financial support for this work and study project.
In 2007 I left ‘normal’ working life as a GP in Haddington behind for a while to work for the Himalayan Rescue Association in a high altitude clinic in Nepal.
The HRA is a Nepalese voluntary non-profit organisation formed in 1973 with an objective to reduce casualties in the Nepal Himalayas, especially in view of the increasing number of Nepalese and foreigners who trek up into the remote wilderness. Nepal alone now receives more than one hundred thousand trekkers from around the world every year. It can be easy to under-estimate the dangers of altitude illness; deaths from these conditions are all the more tragic because they are entirely preventable. Working at the clinic involves a mix of primary health care for local people including home visits, providing an emergency medical service for trekkers and the provision of daily lectures for trekkers emphasising the prevention, recognition and treatment of altitude illnesses. Because rescue is difficult in Nepal, prevention is a key part of the role.
Thus, the HRA increases the safety of the trekkers encouraging tourism, which boosts the Nepalese economy, and also uses the donations and charges to the foreigners attending the clinic to provide much-needed free health care to the local people. The Manang clinic where I worked is in a very remote part of northern Nepal situated at 3570m in a small mountain village surrounded by the 8000m peaks of the Annapurna mountain range. It is an incredibly beautiful and peaceful place. It takes seven days of trekking to reach it from the nearest road and the clinic is the only source of western medical care for the people there. The staff consisted of myself and another volunteer doctor and two Nepali staff who helped with day to day running of the clinic and translation. The clinic is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the two main trekking seasons. Manang is a mainly Buddhist area and Tibetan Buddhist philosophy is evident all around and added a very interesting aspect to our care of the local people.
Life at the clinic is basic but rejuvenating. I slept in a tent for the best part of four months, there is no hot water and no heating and the food consists of daal bhaat every day- a Nepali staple of rice and lentils. The clinic itself has a reasonable range of medications to cover most situations and an oxygen concentrator which is the life line.
This comes with its own problems though due to difficulty maintaining it and getting it adequately serviced. Also the only power supply is by solar panels which charge a battery and therefore if the weather is bad it is necessary to conserve power for the concentrator and conduct all business by torchlight and candles! It is difficult to get re- supplies in a hurry as they require to be sent from Kathmandu and take at least eight days to reach the clinic by mountain porters. Therefore an ability to do your best with what is available and be innovative is required. It can be refreshing to get back to the basics of medicine, relying on your clinical judgement with no back up from labs etc.
The commonest presentations among the local population were respiratory tract infections, diarrhoea, joint pains and gastritis but we also dealt with emergencies such as acute abdomen, myocardial infarction, and stroke and one night I was called to my most feared situation of an obstetric emergency. Thankfully, eventually, a healthy baby was delivered, with a combination of assistance to the mum from the limited obstetric medical supplies we had available and the blessings from the lama. Nature is an incredible thing!
As mentioned the locals did not pay for their health care at the clinic but the clinic did not provide evacuation costs for them if they required hospitalisation. It therefore very much depended on their position within the community what was possible for them. For instance one local man who was the owner of the roksi (local brew) shop and therefore well known in the community, required emergency surgery and was an ‘in-patient’ with us for a few days whilst his family gathered a loan from prosperous teahouse owners and village elders, enabling him to be evacuated by helicopter to Kathmandu. However life is much more difficult for others and I treated a young fifteen year old mule herder with life threatening pneumonia whose only means of evacuation was to be carried in a basket on the back of a porter; a journey which took five days for him to reach a basic hospital.
The commonest presentations in the trekkers were diarrhoea and acute mountain sickness. We treated several cases of life threatening high altitude pulmonary oedema and arranged helicopter evacuations where needed.
The helicopter can only fly to this altitude during settled weather in daylight hours and even in an emergency often takes more than eight hours to come. Other means of evacuation are by horse or being carried by porters. Often these means are quicker and can be life saving at altitudes above Manang rather than waiting on a response from the helicopter. During our time we also ran a pilot study of a small clinic at Thorung Phedi 4500m, a teahouse stop where trekkers on the Annapurna circuit stay for the night before they attempt the Thorung La Pass 5416m. There is plenty exposure to high altitude medicine here!
It is amazing the range of people that come to trek in these mountainous areas, many with no or limited previous experience of mountain environments and of course others with a wealth of experience. Some of the life threatening cases we saw among the trekker population were related to people with pre- existing medical conditions that were compromised by being at altitude.
They either hadn’t been provided with adequate information about the risks of altitude or had failed to accept that the information they were given really did apply to them.
There is an important role in pre travel health consultations to educate travellers to high altitude areas about the risks, taking into account their past medical history. I carried out a questionnaire based study among the trekkers with the aim to establish whether advice about altitude illnesses was given at their pre-travel health consultation (i.e. when attending for vaccinations); what this advice consisted of; where they received it; whether they were advised to take or given a prescription for acetazolamide and if so at what dosage and when they were advised to start it; and whether they sought information about altitude illnesses from other sources e.g. internet, guidebooks. I am currently processing the results of this study but from the initial data survey it looks like we certainly could improve the information we give to travellers to high altitude areas to reduce their risks of these life threatening altitude illnesses. There will be more on that to follow once I have completed the data analysis.
My sincere thanks go to my partners for permitting me this period of unpaid leave and to the Alastair Short Memorial Award which provided me with financial support for this work and study project.
April 18, 2008
Access Fund Announces 2008’s First Round Grant Recipients
April 18, 2008, Boulder, CO—The Access Fund continues its support of grassroots climbing advocacy and conservation projects by awarding four grants totaling $11,750 in 2008's first round of Climbing Preservation Grants. Presented three times annually, these grants provide financial assistance for local climber activism and protection of the climbing environment in the United States.
The Access Fund awarded grants to the Mid-Atlantic Climbers, Northern Colorado Climbers Coalition, The Mohonk Preserve, NY, and Carolina Climbers Coalition.
Mid-Atlantic Climbers (MAC) will use its grant award to help offset the cost of graffiti removal equipment needed for its Adopt-a-Crag at the Northwest Branch climbing area. While the Northwest Branch is a smaller climbing area, it provides quality climbing convenient to the DC Metro area. MAC will remove graffiti (not climber related) that covers boulders and the base of climbs at the Northwest Branch. For more information about MAC or the Northwest Branch Adopt-a-Crag, visit www.dcmetroclimbing.org.
Northern Colorado Climbers Coalition’s (NCCC) grant award will help this new Local Climbing Organization with formation and start-up costs, including its 501(C)(3) filing fee and web-hosting costs. NCCC is one of the Access Fund’s newest affiliates and is off to a great start. For more information about NCCC contact, Cameron Cross at horsetoothhang@yahoo.com.
Grant funds awarded to the Mohonk Preserve, NY will help fund a two-seat, solar-vented toilet at the Preserve’s West Trapps trailhead. The Preserve is home to the world famous “Gunks” climbing area, and the West Trapps trailhead provides access to many of the area’s finest climbs.
The Carolina Climbers Coalition (CCC) will use its grant award to pay off remaining bridge loans and interest for its Laurel Knob, NC acquisition. In 2006, the CCC purchased the 50 acre tract that included Laurel Knob, one of the tallest cliffs in the East.
June 15, 2008 is the second-round grants deadline. Please review the grants requirements at www.accessfund.org/cons/guidelines.php and send your completed application to Ellen@accessfund.org.
The Access Fund awarded grants to the Mid-Atlantic Climbers, Northern Colorado Climbers Coalition, The Mohonk Preserve, NY, and Carolina Climbers Coalition.
Mid-Atlantic Climbers (MAC) will use its grant award to help offset the cost of graffiti removal equipment needed for its Adopt-a-Crag at the Northwest Branch climbing area. While the Northwest Branch is a smaller climbing area, it provides quality climbing convenient to the DC Metro area. MAC will remove graffiti (not climber related) that covers boulders and the base of climbs at the Northwest Branch. For more information about MAC or the Northwest Branch Adopt-a-Crag, visit www.dcmetroclimbing.org.
Northern Colorado Climbers Coalition’s (NCCC) grant award will help this new Local Climbing Organization with formation and start-up costs, including its 501(C)(3) filing fee and web-hosting costs. NCCC is one of the Access Fund’s newest affiliates and is off to a great start. For more information about NCCC contact, Cameron Cross at horsetoothhang@yahoo.com.
Grant funds awarded to the Mohonk Preserve, NY will help fund a two-seat, solar-vented toilet at the Preserve’s West Trapps trailhead. The Preserve is home to the world famous “Gunks” climbing area, and the West Trapps trailhead provides access to many of the area’s finest climbs.
The Carolina Climbers Coalition (CCC) will use its grant award to pay off remaining bridge loans and interest for its Laurel Knob, NC acquisition. In 2006, the CCC purchased the 50 acre tract that included Laurel Knob, one of the tallest cliffs in the East.
June 15, 2008 is the second-round grants deadline. Please review the grants requirements at www.accessfund.org/cons/guidelines.php and send your completed application to Ellen@accessfund.org.
April 17, 2008
The Outdoor Foundation Seeks Gear Support for Teens Outside 2008/09 Program
Boulder, Colorado, April 14th, 2008 — The Outdoor Foundation Teens Outside program partners youth with mentors across the country and introduces them to close-to-home recreation and outdoor activities. Utilizing existing high-quality youth-oriented programs, Teens Outside connects hard-to-reach teens with outdoor recreation through sustained, season-long experiences in hiking, camping, climbing, biking, paddling and other activities.
Replicability and sustainability are core strengths of the Teens Outside program. The program's goal is to expand Teens Outside each year for the next three years. By 2011, the program is projected to reach approximately 50,000 youth nationwide. Success of the program will mean impacting the lives of tens of thousands of teens and their families around the country in the next five years.
In order for participants to fully experience the outdoor activities provided by Teens Outside and ensure the program's success, the kids need access to high-quality gear and equipment communities can use season after season, year after year.
The Outdoor Foundation is currently searching for industry business partners to provide that important gear for these programs. Companies will receive significant recognition for their participation, and have the opportunity to impact the future of these participants and, indeed, the industry's future for years to come.
Support for 2008 Teens Outside can be in the form of gear donations to the 20 existing programs and eight new California programs (locations TBD) or adoption of a local park and recreation department and provision of gear and/or mentors.
Existing Teens Outside programs are in the following communities: Peoria, Arizona; San Diego, California; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Littleton, Colorado; Coral Gables, Florida; Frostburg, Maryland; Waterford, Michigan; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Livingston, Montana; Lebanon, New Hampshire; Newmarket, New Hampshire; Charlotte, North Carolina; Asheville, North Carolina; Fremont, Ohio; North Clackamas, Oregon; Houston, Texas; Cedar City, Utah; Radford, Virginia; Bellevue, Washington; Tacoma, Washington and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
For 2009 expansion, Teens Outside has needs for additional equipment in the following categories:
- Hiking and camping gear, including rain gear, water bottles, and first aid kits.
- Day Use backpacks
- Sleeping bags and tents
- Camp cook sets and stoves
- Rock climbing gear, including shoes, helmets, ropes, and harnesses
- Bicycles and appropriate gear
- Paddling gear, including kayaks, canoes, paddles, and throw ropes
Introducing youth to gateway outdoor activities like camping and hiking is the best predictor of adult participation. Encourage them while they are young, give them the skills to enjoy the outdoors, and they likely will become outdoor enthusiasts for life.
Businesses interested in learning more about gear donations and the benefits of partnering with Teens Outside should contact Bryan Mahler at bmahler@outdoorindustry.org or 303.327.3512.
The Outdoor Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 established by Outdoor Industry Association to inspire and grow future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. The Foundation introduces youth to outdoor recreation through nationwide youth programming and produces high-quality, groundbreaking research that quantifies the extent and quality of participation in outdoor recreation as well as its economic impact on the U.S. For more information visit http://www.outdoorfoundation.org or call 303.444.3353.
Replicability and sustainability are core strengths of the Teens Outside program. The program's goal is to expand Teens Outside each year for the next three years. By 2011, the program is projected to reach approximately 50,000 youth nationwide. Success of the program will mean impacting the lives of tens of thousands of teens and their families around the country in the next five years.
In order for participants to fully experience the outdoor activities provided by Teens Outside and ensure the program's success, the kids need access to high-quality gear and equipment communities can use season after season, year after year.
The Outdoor Foundation is currently searching for industry business partners to provide that important gear for these programs. Companies will receive significant recognition for their participation, and have the opportunity to impact the future of these participants and, indeed, the industry's future for years to come.
Support for 2008 Teens Outside can be in the form of gear donations to the 20 existing programs and eight new California programs (locations TBD) or adoption of a local park and recreation department and provision of gear and/or mentors.
Existing Teens Outside programs are in the following communities: Peoria, Arizona; San Diego, California; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Littleton, Colorado; Coral Gables, Florida; Frostburg, Maryland; Waterford, Michigan; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Livingston, Montana; Lebanon, New Hampshire; Newmarket, New Hampshire; Charlotte, North Carolina; Asheville, North Carolina; Fremont, Ohio; North Clackamas, Oregon; Houston, Texas; Cedar City, Utah; Radford, Virginia; Bellevue, Washington; Tacoma, Washington and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
For 2009 expansion, Teens Outside has needs for additional equipment in the following categories:
- Hiking and camping gear, including rain gear, water bottles, and first aid kits.
- Day Use backpacks
- Sleeping bags and tents
- Camp cook sets and stoves
- Rock climbing gear, including shoes, helmets, ropes, and harnesses
- Bicycles and appropriate gear
- Paddling gear, including kayaks, canoes, paddles, and throw ropes
Introducing youth to gateway outdoor activities like camping and hiking is the best predictor of adult participation. Encourage them while they are young, give them the skills to enjoy the outdoors, and they likely will become outdoor enthusiasts for life.
Businesses interested in learning more about gear donations and the benefits of partnering with Teens Outside should contact Bryan Mahler at bmahler@outdoorindustry.org or 303.327.3512.
The Outdoor Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 established by Outdoor Industry Association to inspire and grow future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. The Foundation introduces youth to outdoor recreation through nationwide youth programming and produces high-quality, groundbreaking research that quantifies the extent and quality of participation in outdoor recreation as well as its economic impact on the U.S. For more information visit http://www.outdoorfoundation.org or call 303.444.3353.
Conservation Alliance Awards $450,000 in Grants to 17 Organizations
Bend, Ore., April 15th, 2008 — The Conservation Alliance sent checks totaling $450,000 to 17 organizations working to protect wild places throughout North America. The donations marked the Alliance's first disbursal of funding for 2008, and represent the largest single funding round in the organization's history. This round brings total giving to $6.5 million since the organization's founding in 1989.
By a vote of the group's 155 member companies, The Conservation Alliance made donations to 17 grassroots conservation organizations as follows, by organization, location and amount:
1. American Whitewater (Cullowhee, NC) $25,000
2. Appalachian Mountain Club (Boston, MA)/Trust for PublicLand (Montpelier, VT) $30,000
3. Audubon Alaska (Anchorage, AK) $30,000
4. Campaign to Save the Roan Plateau (Carbondale, CO) $20,000
5. Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Ottawa, ON) $30,000
6. Cascade Land Conservancy (Seattle, WA) $30,000
7. Colorado Mountain Club (Carbondale, CO) $20,000
8. Colorado Wild (Durango, CO) $20,000
9. Conservation Northwest (Bellingham, WA) $25,000
10. Greater Yellowstone Coalition (Bozeman, MT) $30,000
11. Idaho Conservation League (Boise, ID) $20,000
12. Northern Alaska Environmental Center (Fairbanks, AK) $30,000
13. Oregon Natural Desert Association (Bend, OR) $30,000
14. Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition (Asheville, NC) $30,000
15. Trout Unlimited/Alaska (Juneau, AK) $30,000
16. WaterWatch of Oregon (Portland, OR) $25,000
17. West Virginia Wilderness Coalition (Morgantown, WV) $25,000
Total $450,000
"We are proud to once again make the largest grant disbursal in our history," said John Sterling, Executive Director of The Conservation Alliance. "Our member companies continue to recognize that protected wild places are important to the outdoor industry."
This round of grant recipients reflects the geographic distribution of Conservation Alliance members. Conservation Alliance funds will support efforts to: secure new wilderness designations in West Virginia, Tennessee, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon; protect wild rivers in Colorado, Oregon, Alaska, and Washington; halt oil and gas development on public lands in Wyoming and Colorado; protect private forest lands in Maine; and expand park boundaries in Canada.
Each project was first nominated for funding by a Conservation Alliance member company.
"Our members do a terrific job identifying projects for funding," said Sterling.
This is the first grant disbursement The Conservation Alliance has made in 2008. The Alliance plans a second $450,000 funding cycle in October.
"We are on track to contribute $900,000 in 2008," said Sterling. "That's a significant investment in protecting our wild places." (See below for a description of each project.)
About the Conservation Alliance:
The Conservation Alliance is an organization of outdoor businesses whose collective contributions support grassroots environmental organizations and their efforts to protect wild places where outdoor enthusiasts recreate. Alliance funds have played a key role in protecting rivers, trails, wildlands and climbing areas. Membership in the Alliance is open to companies representing all aspects of the outdoor industry, including manufacturers, retailers, publishers, mills and sales representatives. The result is a diverse group of businesses whose livelihood depends on protecting our natural environment.
Since its inception in 1989, the Alliance has contributed more than $6.5 million to grassroots environmental groups. Alliance funding has helped save over 38 million acres of wildlands; 26 dams have either been stopped or removed; and the group helped preserve access to more than 16,000 miles of waterways and several climbing areas.
For complete information on the Conservation Alliance, see www.conservationalliance.com.
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF GRANTS
1. American Whitewater (Cullowhee, NC): Colorado Stewardship Program to protect and restore water flows in streams throughout Colorado.
2. Appalachian Mountain Club/Trust for Public Land•Vermont (Montpelier, VT): Mahoosuc Campaign to protect key natural and recreational areas in the Mahoosuc region of New Hampshire and Maine.
3. Audubon Alaska (Anchorage, AK): Alaska Conservation Program to build support to protect key Alaska wildlands including the Tongass National Forest and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
4. Campaign to Save Roan Plateau (Carbondale, CO): Oil & Gas Development Campaign to protect the public lands on Colorado's Roan Plateau.
5. Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society (Ottawa, ON): Nahanni Forever Campaign to protect the 7•million•acre South Nahanni River Watershed in Canada's Northwest Territories.
6. Cascade Land Conservancy (Seattle, WA): Boulder Falls Acquisition Campaign to protect Boulder Falls on Washington State's Boulder River, a site threatened by a proposed
hydroelectric dam.
7. Colorado Mountain Club (Carbondale, CO): ORV Management Plan Campaign to secure a network of non•motorized recreation designations on public lands throughout Colorado.
8. Colorado Wild (Durango, CO): Wolf Creek Pass Development Campaign to protect key habitat in the Southern Rockies from a proposed development on Wolf Creek Pass.
9. Conservation Northwest (Bellingham, WA): Columbia Highlands Initiative to protect 350,000 acres of wilderness, and restore 300,000 acres of forests in Eastern Washington.
10. Greater Yellowstone Coalition (Bozeman, MT): Wyoming Range Campaign to protect the 1.2- million-acre Wyoming Range from proposed oil and gas development.
11. Idaho Conservation League (Boise, ID): Boulder-White Clouds Wilderness Campaign to protect 320,000 acres of wildlands in central Idaho's Boulder-White Clouds Mountains.
12. Northern Alaska Environmental Center (Fairbanks, AK): Yukon Flats Refuge Campaign to protect three areas in Alaska's Yukon from oil development.
13. Oregon Natural Desert Association (Bend, OR): Badlands Wilderness Campaign to secure Wilderness designation for 30,000 acres of desert wildlands in central Oregon.
14. Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition (Asheville, NC): Tennessee Wilderness Campaign to permanently protect 18,000 acres of public land in Tennessee's Cherokee National Forest.
15. Trout Unlimited Alaska Program (Juneau, AK): Pebble Mine Campaign to protect the Bristol Bay watershed from a proposed open-pit gold-copper mine in the bay's headwaters.
16. WaterWatch of Oregon (Portland, OR): Free the Rogue Campaign to remove Savage Rapids Dam and other barriers to fish passage and river recreation on Oregon's Rogue River.
17. West Virginia Wilderness Coalition (Morgantown, WV): Wild Monongahela Wilderness Campaign to protect more than 70,000 acres of public land in the Monongahela National Forest.
By a vote of the group's 155 member companies, The Conservation Alliance made donations to 17 grassroots conservation organizations as follows, by organization, location and amount:
1. American Whitewater (Cullowhee, NC) $25,000
2. Appalachian Mountain Club (Boston, MA)/Trust for PublicLand (Montpelier, VT) $30,000
3. Audubon Alaska (Anchorage, AK) $30,000
4. Campaign to Save the Roan Plateau (Carbondale, CO) $20,000
5. Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (Ottawa, ON) $30,000
6. Cascade Land Conservancy (Seattle, WA) $30,000
7. Colorado Mountain Club (Carbondale, CO) $20,000
8. Colorado Wild (Durango, CO) $20,000
9. Conservation Northwest (Bellingham, WA) $25,000
10. Greater Yellowstone Coalition (Bozeman, MT) $30,000
11. Idaho Conservation League (Boise, ID) $20,000
12. Northern Alaska Environmental Center (Fairbanks, AK) $30,000
13. Oregon Natural Desert Association (Bend, OR) $30,000
14. Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition (Asheville, NC) $30,000
15. Trout Unlimited/Alaska (Juneau, AK) $30,000
16. WaterWatch of Oregon (Portland, OR) $25,000
17. West Virginia Wilderness Coalition (Morgantown, WV) $25,000
Total $450,000
"We are proud to once again make the largest grant disbursal in our history," said John Sterling, Executive Director of The Conservation Alliance. "Our member companies continue to recognize that protected wild places are important to the outdoor industry."
This round of grant recipients reflects the geographic distribution of Conservation Alliance members. Conservation Alliance funds will support efforts to: secure new wilderness designations in West Virginia, Tennessee, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon; protect wild rivers in Colorado, Oregon, Alaska, and Washington; halt oil and gas development on public lands in Wyoming and Colorado; protect private forest lands in Maine; and expand park boundaries in Canada.
Each project was first nominated for funding by a Conservation Alliance member company.
"Our members do a terrific job identifying projects for funding," said Sterling.
This is the first grant disbursement The Conservation Alliance has made in 2008. The Alliance plans a second $450,000 funding cycle in October.
"We are on track to contribute $900,000 in 2008," said Sterling. "That's a significant investment in protecting our wild places." (See below for a description of each project.)
About the Conservation Alliance:
The Conservation Alliance is an organization of outdoor businesses whose collective contributions support grassroots environmental organizations and their efforts to protect wild places where outdoor enthusiasts recreate. Alliance funds have played a key role in protecting rivers, trails, wildlands and climbing areas. Membership in the Alliance is open to companies representing all aspects of the outdoor industry, including manufacturers, retailers, publishers, mills and sales representatives. The result is a diverse group of businesses whose livelihood depends on protecting our natural environment.
Since its inception in 1989, the Alliance has contributed more than $6.5 million to grassroots environmental groups. Alliance funding has helped save over 38 million acres of wildlands; 26 dams have either been stopped or removed; and the group helped preserve access to more than 16,000 miles of waterways and several climbing areas.
For complete information on the Conservation Alliance, see www.conservationalliance.com.
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF GRANTS
1. American Whitewater (Cullowhee, NC): Colorado Stewardship Program to protect and restore water flows in streams throughout Colorado.
2. Appalachian Mountain Club/Trust for Public Land•Vermont (Montpelier, VT): Mahoosuc Campaign to protect key natural and recreational areas in the Mahoosuc region of New Hampshire and Maine.
3. Audubon Alaska (Anchorage, AK): Alaska Conservation Program to build support to protect key Alaska wildlands including the Tongass National Forest and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
4. Campaign to Save Roan Plateau (Carbondale, CO): Oil & Gas Development Campaign to protect the public lands on Colorado's Roan Plateau.
5. Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society (Ottawa, ON): Nahanni Forever Campaign to protect the 7•million•acre South Nahanni River Watershed in Canada's Northwest Territories.
6. Cascade Land Conservancy (Seattle, WA): Boulder Falls Acquisition Campaign to protect Boulder Falls on Washington State's Boulder River, a site threatened by a proposed
hydroelectric dam.
7. Colorado Mountain Club (Carbondale, CO): ORV Management Plan Campaign to secure a network of non•motorized recreation designations on public lands throughout Colorado.
8. Colorado Wild (Durango, CO): Wolf Creek Pass Development Campaign to protect key habitat in the Southern Rockies from a proposed development on Wolf Creek Pass.
9. Conservation Northwest (Bellingham, WA): Columbia Highlands Initiative to protect 350,000 acres of wilderness, and restore 300,000 acres of forests in Eastern Washington.
10. Greater Yellowstone Coalition (Bozeman, MT): Wyoming Range Campaign to protect the 1.2- million-acre Wyoming Range from proposed oil and gas development.
11. Idaho Conservation League (Boise, ID): Boulder-White Clouds Wilderness Campaign to protect 320,000 acres of wildlands in central Idaho's Boulder-White Clouds Mountains.
12. Northern Alaska Environmental Center (Fairbanks, AK): Yukon Flats Refuge Campaign to protect three areas in Alaska's Yukon from oil development.
13. Oregon Natural Desert Association (Bend, OR): Badlands Wilderness Campaign to secure Wilderness designation for 30,000 acres of desert wildlands in central Oregon.
14. Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition (Asheville, NC): Tennessee Wilderness Campaign to permanently protect 18,000 acres of public land in Tennessee's Cherokee National Forest.
15. Trout Unlimited Alaska Program (Juneau, AK): Pebble Mine Campaign to protect the Bristol Bay watershed from a proposed open-pit gold-copper mine in the bay's headwaters.
16. WaterWatch of Oregon (Portland, OR): Free the Rogue Campaign to remove Savage Rapids Dam and other barriers to fish passage and river recreation on Oregon's Rogue River.
17. West Virginia Wilderness Coalition (Morgantown, WV): Wild Monongahela Wilderness Campaign to protect more than 70,000 acres of public land in the Monongahela National Forest.
April 14, 2008
Benefit mountain climb the summit of her dreams
By Victoria Groves
Roslindale - West Roxbury native Laura Vinci, 24, never thought she’d end up being a hiking guide, taking tourists up volcanic mountains in Guatemala. After graduating from Ohio State University with a degree in dance, she took a two-month camping trip on a whim with a friend. Traveling through South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming, she realized that she loved nature as much as dancing.
“I fell in love with our national parks and with nature,” said Vinci. “I’ve spent the majority of my life in pink tights, and now my parents can’t believe I’m a volcano guide.”
While hiking in Colorado, Vinci met a fellow climber who told her about an organization called Summit for Someone.
A charity fundraiser run by Backpacker Magazine, participants raise money to benefit Colorado-based Big City Mountaineers. BCM is a nonprofit organization created to provide urban teenage youths with challenging, safe outdoor experiences designed to build self-esteem and positively affect their beliefs about themselves and their relationship with others.
Vinci thought it was a program she could get involved in, especially when she found out where the fundraiser would take her.
“This is a chance for me to climb Mt. Rainier, but for a cause,” she said of the climb she’s always wanted to make. “I’m interested in experiencing a new landscape, and I’ve never used an ice ax before, so it should be interesting.”
Working in Guatemala, Vinci sees the vast contrast between the way that the United States cares for their open spaces — something that makes her want to continue working outdoors, for the environment in the future.
“There are a lot of parts of the world where you see trash and damages to the trails because there aren’t the resources to make those improvements,” said Vinci. “I want to continue working for the outdoors.”
Before Vinci’s three-day summit trip begins in September, she must raise $3,800. That’s enough to send a group of Big City Mountaineer teens on a wilderness trip of its own. “I know the trip I went on four two months changed the course of my life,” she said. “Experiences like this are really important, and it’s great to be able to give back.”
One of the volcanic hikes Vinci takes tourists on now is 13,000 feet high, only slightly shorter than the 14,000-foot high Mt. Rainier. But add snow, ice and rain, and she knows she’s up for a challenge. The daily hiking she does will help with her training, and she hasn’t forgotten about her dancing.
“In Guatemala, there’s a lot of salsa dancing, so I’ve moved my love for dancing to that,” Vinci said. “I’d love to find a way to eventually combine the two passions.”
Roslindale - West Roxbury native Laura Vinci, 24, never thought she’d end up being a hiking guide, taking tourists up volcanic mountains in Guatemala. After graduating from Ohio State University with a degree in dance, she took a two-month camping trip on a whim with a friend. Traveling through South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming, she realized that she loved nature as much as dancing.
“I fell in love with our national parks and with nature,” said Vinci. “I’ve spent the majority of my life in pink tights, and now my parents can’t believe I’m a volcano guide.”
While hiking in Colorado, Vinci met a fellow climber who told her about an organization called Summit for Someone.
A charity fundraiser run by Backpacker Magazine, participants raise money to benefit Colorado-based Big City Mountaineers. BCM is a nonprofit organization created to provide urban teenage youths with challenging, safe outdoor experiences designed to build self-esteem and positively affect their beliefs about themselves and their relationship with others.
Vinci thought it was a program she could get involved in, especially when she found out where the fundraiser would take her.
“This is a chance for me to climb Mt. Rainier, but for a cause,” she said of the climb she’s always wanted to make. “I’m interested in experiencing a new landscape, and I’ve never used an ice ax before, so it should be interesting.”
Working in Guatemala, Vinci sees the vast contrast between the way that the United States cares for their open spaces — something that makes her want to continue working outdoors, for the environment in the future.
“There are a lot of parts of the world where you see trash and damages to the trails because there aren’t the resources to make those improvements,” said Vinci. “I want to continue working for the outdoors.”
Before Vinci’s three-day summit trip begins in September, she must raise $3,800. That’s enough to send a group of Big City Mountaineer teens on a wilderness trip of its own. “I know the trip I went on four two months changed the course of my life,” she said. “Experiences like this are really important, and it’s great to be able to give back.”
One of the volcanic hikes Vinci takes tourists on now is 13,000 feet high, only slightly shorter than the 14,000-foot high Mt. Rainier. But add snow, ice and rain, and she knows she’s up for a challenge. The daily hiking she does will help with her training, and she hasn’t forgotten about her dancing.
“In Guatemala, there’s a lot of salsa dancing, so I’ve moved my love for dancing to that,” Vinci said. “I’d love to find a way to eventually combine the two passions.”
The Outdoor Foundation Seeks Gear Support for Teens Outside 2008/09 Program
Boulder, Colorado, April 14th, 2008 — The Outdoor Foundation Teens Outside program partners youth with mentors across the country and introduces them to close-to-home recreation and outdoor activities. Utilizing existing high-quality youth-oriented programs, Teens Outside connects hard-to-reach teens with outdoor recreation through sustained, season-long experiences in hiking, camping, climbing, biking, paddling and other activities.
Replicability and sustainability are core strengths of the Teens Outside program. The program's goal is to expand Teens Outside each year for the next three years. By 2011, the program is projected to reach approximately 50,000 youth nationwide. Success of the program will mean impacting the lives of tens of thousands of teens and their families around the country in the next five years.
In order for participants to fully experience the outdoor activities provided by Teens Outside and ensure the program's success, the kids need access to high-quality gear and equipment communities can use season after season, year after year.
The Outdoor Foundation is currently searching for industry business partners to provide that important gear for these programs. Companies will receive significant recognition for their participation, and have the opportunity to impact the future of these participants and, indeed, the industry's future for years to come.
Support for 2008 Teens Outside can be in the form of gear donations to the 20 existing programs and eight new California programs (locations TBD) or adoption of a local park and recreation department and provision of gear and/or mentors.
Existing Teens Outside programs are in the following communities: Peoria, Arizona; San Diego, California; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Littleton, Colorado; Coral Gables, Florida; Frostburg, Maryland; Waterford, Michigan; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Livingston, Montana; Lebanon, New Hampshire; Newmarket, New Hampshire; Charlotte, North Carolina; Asheville, North Carolina; Fremont, Ohio; North Clackamas, Oregon; Houston, Texas; Cedar City, Utah; Radford, Virginia; Bellevue, Washington; Tacoma, Washington and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
For 2009 expansion, Teens Outside has needs for additional equipment in the following categories:
- Hiking and camping gear, including rain gear, water bottles, and first aid kits.
- Day Use backpacks
- Sleeping bags and tents
- Camp cook sets and stoves
- Rock climbing gear, including shoes, helmets, ropes, and harnesses
- Bicycles and appropriate gear
- Paddling gear, including kayaks, canoes, paddles, and throw ropes
Introducing youth to gateway outdoor activities like camping and hiking is the best predictor of adult participation. Encourage them while they are young, give them the skills to enjoy the outdoors, and they likely will become outdoor enthusiasts for life.
Businesses interested in learning more about gear donations and the benefits of partnering with Teens Outside should contact Bryan Mahler at bmahler@outdoorindustry.org or 303.327.3512.
The Outdoor Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 established by Outdoor Industry Association to inspire and grow future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. The Foundation introduces youth to outdoor recreation through nationwide youth programming and produces high-quality, groundbreaking research that quantifies the extent and quality of participation in outdoor recreation as well as its economic impact on the U.S. For more information visit http://www.outdoorfoundation.org or call 303.444.3353.
Replicability and sustainability are core strengths of the Teens Outside program. The program's goal is to expand Teens Outside each year for the next three years. By 2011, the program is projected to reach approximately 50,000 youth nationwide. Success of the program will mean impacting the lives of tens of thousands of teens and their families around the country in the next five years.
In order for participants to fully experience the outdoor activities provided by Teens Outside and ensure the program's success, the kids need access to high-quality gear and equipment communities can use season after season, year after year.
The Outdoor Foundation is currently searching for industry business partners to provide that important gear for these programs. Companies will receive significant recognition for their participation, and have the opportunity to impact the future of these participants and, indeed, the industry's future for years to come.
Support for 2008 Teens Outside can be in the form of gear donations to the 20 existing programs and eight new California programs (locations TBD) or adoption of a local park and recreation department and provision of gear and/or mentors.
Existing Teens Outside programs are in the following communities: Peoria, Arizona; San Diego, California; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Littleton, Colorado; Coral Gables, Florida; Frostburg, Maryland; Waterford, Michigan; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Livingston, Montana; Lebanon, New Hampshire; Newmarket, New Hampshire; Charlotte, North Carolina; Asheville, North Carolina; Fremont, Ohio; North Clackamas, Oregon; Houston, Texas; Cedar City, Utah; Radford, Virginia; Bellevue, Washington; Tacoma, Washington and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
For 2009 expansion, Teens Outside has needs for additional equipment in the following categories:
- Hiking and camping gear, including rain gear, water bottles, and first aid kits.
- Day Use backpacks
- Sleeping bags and tents
- Camp cook sets and stoves
- Rock climbing gear, including shoes, helmets, ropes, and harnesses
- Bicycles and appropriate gear
- Paddling gear, including kayaks, canoes, paddles, and throw ropes
Introducing youth to gateway outdoor activities like camping and hiking is the best predictor of adult participation. Encourage them while they are young, give them the skills to enjoy the outdoors, and they likely will become outdoor enthusiasts for life.
Businesses interested in learning more about gear donations and the benefits of partnering with Teens Outside should contact Bryan Mahler at bmahler@outdoorindustry.org or 303.327.3512.
The Outdoor Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 established by Outdoor Industry Association to inspire and grow future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. The Foundation introduces youth to outdoor recreation through nationwide youth programming and produces high-quality, groundbreaking research that quantifies the extent and quality of participation in outdoor recreation as well as its economic impact on the U.S. For more information visit http://www.outdoorfoundation.org or call 303.444.3353.
April 11, 2008
Osprey Packs Gives Its "Pass On The Passion" Program A Boost
Cortez, Colo., April 10th, 2008 — Osprey Packs, Inc., an independent pack company located in the high desert and mountains of Southwestern Colorado, has put some fresh highlights on their Pass on the Passion program, which has been around since 2007.
This program allows Osprey owners to recycle their old packs for a good use. Reusable packs go to various organizations through the support of the Mountain Fund, to help people around the world get a great, used pack. From the Alpine Fund in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to the Climb High Foundation in Uganda, many people from various organizations benefit from the contributions of used packs. As an added bonus, the recycler also gets a 10-percent discount on the purchase of a new Osprey pack.
"We initiated this program with the Mountain Fund to continue our business goals in community outreach and sustainability, and can accomplish both with the Pass on the Passion program," said Gareth Martins, director of Marketing for Osprey. "This program offers a wonderful avenue to essentially 'recycle' your old pack so that it may get many more years of use out of it and help the organizations and the people involved achieve their community goals and ambitions."
The Mountain Fund works for mountain communities bringing health care, human rights, responsible tourism and environmental progress. Many of these programs need your old pack, including outdoor experience education programs for kids in Bishkek and outdoor leadership programs for women in Nepal. Once the donated pack is received and determined in good condition, the customer will receive an email detailing how the old pack is getting used, and how to purchase their new pack at the discounted rate.
To download the form to recycle your old pack and read more about the Mountain Fund and the organization that benefit from this program, please visit http://www.ospreypacks.com/OspreyLifestyle/PassonthePassion/
About Osprey Packs
From its humble beginnings building custom backpacks and sleeping bags in Santa Cruz California, to its current recognition as an industry leader, Osprey has always flown its own course. Their mission is to create innovative high performance gear that reflects a love of adventure and a devotion to the outdoors and the environment. Osprey defines success when it meets the demanding expectation of its most discerning customers. Based in Cortez, Colorado, Osprey has over thirty-two years of pack-making experience.
This program allows Osprey owners to recycle their old packs for a good use. Reusable packs go to various organizations through the support of the Mountain Fund, to help people around the world get a great, used pack. From the Alpine Fund in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to the Climb High Foundation in Uganda, many people from various organizations benefit from the contributions of used packs. As an added bonus, the recycler also gets a 10-percent discount on the purchase of a new Osprey pack.
"We initiated this program with the Mountain Fund to continue our business goals in community outreach and sustainability, and can accomplish both with the Pass on the Passion program," said Gareth Martins, director of Marketing for Osprey. "This program offers a wonderful avenue to essentially 'recycle' your old pack so that it may get many more years of use out of it and help the organizations and the people involved achieve their community goals and ambitions."
The Mountain Fund works for mountain communities bringing health care, human rights, responsible tourism and environmental progress. Many of these programs need your old pack, including outdoor experience education programs for kids in Bishkek and outdoor leadership programs for women in Nepal. Once the donated pack is received and determined in good condition, the customer will receive an email detailing how the old pack is getting used, and how to purchase their new pack at the discounted rate.
To download the form to recycle your old pack and read more about the Mountain Fund and the organization that benefit from this program, please visit http://www.ospreypacks.com/OspreyLifestyle/PassonthePassion/
About Osprey Packs
From its humble beginnings building custom backpacks and sleeping bags in Santa Cruz California, to its current recognition as an industry leader, Osprey has always flown its own course. Their mission is to create innovative high performance gear that reflects a love of adventure and a devotion to the outdoors and the environment. Osprey defines success when it meets the demanding expectation of its most discerning customers. Based in Cortez, Colorado, Osprey has over thirty-two years of pack-making experience.
April 07, 2008
Goddesses on the Rocks
Women's Climbing Weekend
When: April 19-20, 2008
Where: Joshua Tree, CA
Sterling Passes the Hat for HERA!
It is time again for another exciting Sterling Rope Women’s Climbing Weekend, Goddesses on the Rocks! This will be our 2nd Annual event at Joshua Tree, CA, the backdrop for a great weekend of climbing, socializing, and fun. Based upon the tremendous interest shown by women climbers, we are looking forward to a large turnout and an exciting weekend of climbing.
Sterling will pass the hat for HERA at the event and HERA board member Marci Reardon will be on hand to talk to participants about taking control of their health.
When: April 19-20, 2008
Where: Joshua Tree, CA
Sterling Passes the Hat for HERA!
It is time again for another exciting Sterling Rope Women’s Climbing Weekend, Goddesses on the Rocks! This will be our 2nd Annual event at Joshua Tree, CA, the backdrop for a great weekend of climbing, socializing, and fun. Based upon the tremendous interest shown by women climbers, we are looking forward to a large turnout and an exciting weekend of climbing.
Sterling will pass the hat for HERA at the event and HERA board member Marci Reardon will be on hand to talk to participants about taking control of their health.
April 04, 2008
Red Rocks Rendevous 2008 Recap
On the outskirts of the sin city, climbers from 50 states and 5 countries gathered below Mt Wilson for the 5th annual Red Rock Rendezvous. What began as an informal festival to celebrate climbing and the outdoors has morphed into a massive trade-show-like event with over a thousand festa-farians and pro-climbers in attendance. The basic concept is to have pros to teach climbing clinics about everything from Ivo Ninov’s “learning to speed climb” to Mark Synott’s “fine art of bailing.”! For a small fee you get a weekend of clinics, star mingling, crazy parties (free beers from New Belgium Brewing Co.), and lots of free swag from climbing companies like The North Face and Black Diamond.
Day one was dedicated to beginners and about 150 first timers experienced climbing outdoors in red rocks. Later in the evening the crowd gathered for an eclectic blend of presenters. First Dean Potter kicked off with some impressive and beautifully composed footage from his hair-ball free solos, high-lines and base jumping including some helmet cam sequence from his controversial Delicate Arch solo. Next Micah Dash gave a hilarious recount of his FA of a remote Himalayan big-wall: raging river swims, shiver bivies and summit glory! Finally Miajka Burkhardt talked about her travel to Ethiopia in search of unclimbed towers and cultural immersion.
To read more of this article and see photos visit momentumvm.com
Day one was dedicated to beginners and about 150 first timers experienced climbing outdoors in red rocks. Later in the evening the crowd gathered for an eclectic blend of presenters. First Dean Potter kicked off with some impressive and beautifully composed footage from his hair-ball free solos, high-lines and base jumping including some helmet cam sequence from his controversial Delicate Arch solo. Next Micah Dash gave a hilarious recount of his FA of a remote Himalayan big-wall: raging river swims, shiver bivies and summit glory! Finally Miajka Burkhardt talked about her travel to Ethiopia in search of unclimbed towers and cultural immersion.
To read more of this article and see photos visit momentumvm.com
April 03, 2008
EARN GREENBACKS FOR GIVING BACK TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS
NEW YORK, NY, April 3rd, 2008 — Each year, many Americans enjoy spending their time in the great outdoors on activities such as camping, fishing and hiking. In a 2007 study, 93 percent of Americans believe companies have a responsibility to help preserve the environment. To help keep this country's backyard thriving, Redwood Creek Wines of California is inviting environmentally focused nonprofit organizations to share its commitment to preserve, protect and provide access to the great outdoors. Outdoor organizations from across the country are encouraged to have a member or representative apply for the Redwood Creek Greater Outdoors Project, which is committed to providing financial support to organizations that help maintain or improve America's wide-open spaces.
A panel of judges will review applications from individuals representing nonprofits, running the gamut from trail clubs to conservation groups and more. One organization will be awarded a $50,000 grant, and a runner-up will be awarded a $10,000 grant to fund a specific outdoor project. In addition, the winning nonprofit will also be featured in a national advertising campaign that will run in top outdoor magazines in December 2008!
What are you waiting for? Encourage your favorite nonprofit to apply today. Here's how to enter:
1. Visit www.RedwoodCreek.com March 15, 2008 through Thursday, May 15, 2008.
2. Complete the online application including statement of purpose.
3. Provide a detailed budget and timeline for the proposed project, along with photographs.
All project work must be completed by December 2009. Only one application per group will be considered and all submissions must be dedicated to a specific project that strives to preserve, protect and provide access to the great American outdoors. The grant applicant must be 21 or over and a legal U.S. citizen. Only members or representatives of registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for the Redwood Creek Wines Greater Outdoors Project grant, such as environmental groups, conservancies, mountain and trail clubs, and outdoor organizations. For complete rules and additional information, visit www.RedwoodCreek.com starting in March.
"The Sierra Nevada mountain snowmelt irrigates our vines and helps give Redwood Creek its flavorful taste of the outdoors," states Cal Dennison, Redwood Creek winemaker and outdoor enthusiast. "We are proud to reward those who take a stand for preserving the environment, and watching over America's wide-open spaces."
Redwood Creek wines embody the adventurous spirit of California. Winemaker Cal Dennison crafted a portfolio of seven food-friendly wines that consistently deliver outstanding quality at an attractive price. Redwood Creek wines are available at retailers nationwide at a suggested retail price ranging from $6.99 to $9.99.
No purchase necessary. Grants Application ends May 15, 2008. Must be a legal resident of one of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia and at least 21 years of age or older at the time of entry. See Terms and Conditions at www.RedwoodCreek.com.
A panel of judges will review applications from individuals representing nonprofits, running the gamut from trail clubs to conservation groups and more. One organization will be awarded a $50,000 grant, and a runner-up will be awarded a $10,000 grant to fund a specific outdoor project. In addition, the winning nonprofit will also be featured in a national advertising campaign that will run in top outdoor magazines in December 2008!
What are you waiting for? Encourage your favorite nonprofit to apply today. Here's how to enter:
1. Visit www.RedwoodCreek.com March 15, 2008 through Thursday, May 15, 2008.
2. Complete the online application including statement of purpose.
3. Provide a detailed budget and timeline for the proposed project, along with photographs.
All project work must be completed by December 2009. Only one application per group will be considered and all submissions must be dedicated to a specific project that strives to preserve, protect and provide access to the great American outdoors. The grant applicant must be 21 or over and a legal U.S. citizen. Only members or representatives of registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for the Redwood Creek Wines Greater Outdoors Project grant, such as environmental groups, conservancies, mountain and trail clubs, and outdoor organizations. For complete rules and additional information, visit www.RedwoodCreek.com starting in March.
"The Sierra Nevada mountain snowmelt irrigates our vines and helps give Redwood Creek its flavorful taste of the outdoors," states Cal Dennison, Redwood Creek winemaker and outdoor enthusiast. "We are proud to reward those who take a stand for preserving the environment, and watching over America's wide-open spaces."
Redwood Creek wines embody the adventurous spirit of California. Winemaker Cal Dennison crafted a portfolio of seven food-friendly wines that consistently deliver outstanding quality at an attractive price. Redwood Creek wines are available at retailers nationwide at a suggested retail price ranging from $6.99 to $9.99.
No purchase necessary. Grants Application ends May 15, 2008. Must be a legal resident of one of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia and at least 21 years of age or older at the time of entry. See Terms and Conditions at www.RedwoodCreek.com.
April 02, 2008
Professional Climbing Guides Institute
MK Ambassador Albert Nugue is the General Manager and Director of guide training for Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides. He was recently named President of the Board of Directors for the new non-profit Professional Climbing Guides Institute.
PCGI is a nationally organized, non-profit, non-membership based institute that develops and implements training curricula and standards solely for the education and assessment of professional and aspiring rock climbing guides.
In a nutshell, the mission of PCGI is to further develop and define the safety standards of guided rock climbing through enhanced standards, education and training. PCGI currently holds several different training courses, including top rope guide, single-pitch guide, multi-pitch guide and more.
This is a new and unique program that was developed based on the need for affordability, opportunity, choice, U.S.A.-specific standards and overall updated assessment methods and standards. Check out the website for more information.
PCGI is a nationally organized, non-profit, non-membership based institute that develops and implements training curricula and standards solely for the education and assessment of professional and aspiring rock climbing guides.
In a nutshell, the mission of PCGI is to further develop and define the safety standards of guided rock climbing through enhanced standards, education and training. PCGI currently holds several different training courses, including top rope guide, single-pitch guide, multi-pitch guide and more.
This is a new and unique program that was developed based on the need for affordability, opportunity, choice, U.S.A.-specific standards and overall updated assessment methods and standards. Check out the website for more information.
April 01, 2008
Mountainfilm in Telluride Announces Non-film Events
Telluride, Colo., March 31st, 2008 — As part of the 30th annual festival this Memorial Day weekend, Mountainfilm in Telluride will spotlight environmental, social and political issues, with both local and global significance. The roster of influential and inspiring speakers will make this a not-to-be-missed event.
After last year's theme of energy, this year the festival will address the troubling questions of water and sustainability with: a Symposium, compelling programs, and several relevant films. Mountainfilm will also pay tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary, gather top foreign policy experts to discuss global stability, and examine the issues of contemporary slavery.
The festival takes place May 23-26, 2008.
- Moving Mountains Symposium on Water (May 23, 2008): The looming global water crisis may be the greatest threat to the health of the planet and its inhabitants. Freshwater and saltwater sources are threatened by overuse, misuse and pollution. The Moving Mountains Symposium will highlight the enormous risks we are taking with our most precious resource, as well as offer solutions on how to best take action. Moderated by noted journalist, Wade Graham, the panel will feature: Peter Gleick, Alexandra Cousteau, Sylvia Earle, Maude Barlow, Azzam Alwash, and Dennis Dimick.
- Drilling Down: Water and the Southwest (time tbd): A special corollary to the Moving Mountains Symposium, this forum will address water issues specific to the arid Southwest United States. Special attendees will be Martin Litton and Katie Lee. Litton is a legendary environmentalist, intrepid Colorado River boatman, and one of its most outspoken advocates. Lee is a musician and longtime activist who has dedicated her life to first preserving and, now restoring, Glen Canyon. Other guests will include geologists, scientists, and activists who understand the complexities of this delicate region.
- Hot Spots Around the World: A Foreign Policy Roundtable (time tbd): This roundtable will gather some of the top names in foreign policy to look at what is happening in countries like Kenya, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and of course, Iraq. Award-winning journalist and CNN chief foreign correspondent Christiane Amanpour, former Ambassador to the
United Nations Richard Holbrooke, New York Times foreign affairs columnist Roger Cohen, and Samantha Power, senior policy advisor to Barack Obama and author of the new book, "Chasing the Flame," will attend.
- Tribute to the late Sir Edmund Hillary (time tbd): Renowned mountaineer and filmmaker, David Breashears will host a tribute to the eminent "mountaineer's mountaineer" who passed away earlier this year. Guests close to Hillary will attend. Rarely seen films chronicling his life and exploits will be presented.
- Contemporary Slavery (time tbd): Today, 28 million people are enslaved - more than any other time in history. Modern slavery comes in many forms and is not limited to developing nations. Human trafficking follows drug and weapon trafficking in terms of the world's largest criminal industries. Ben Skinner, author of the new book, "A Crime So Monstrous" will join in a forum with freed slaves and the Free the Slaves organization to address this under-reported but dire contemporary issue.
- The Village Green (time tbd): Ashton Hayes is a village of approximately one thousand people in Cheshire, England. In 2006, the town collectively decided to work toward becoming carbon neutral. Residents of Ashton Hayes will be on hand to discuss their challenges and successes and how what they have learned can be applied to Telluride. Also attending will be Laurie Garrett, a resident of Brooklyn who is leading the charge to "green" her seventy-year-old, thirty-story, residential building.
For twenty-nine years, Mountainfilm in Telluride has inspired, educated and entertained audiences with films and firsthand presentations by pioneering adventurers, artists, athletes and activists. The thirtieth season will continue to do just that. This year, Mountainfilm in Telluride continues to evolve itself as an impetus for change and action. Attendees will be part of the conversation and part of the solution this Memorial Day weekend. Early bird tickets are now on sale at http://mountainfilm.org.
About Mountainfilm in Telluride
For 30 years, Mountainfilm has been committed to bringing ever-increasing levels of artistic excellence to its mission of educating and inspiring audiences about critical issues. The festival began as a venue to showcase climbing movies. It has grown to be a major proponent of adventure, awareness and activism. Celebrating the indomitable spirit, Mountainfilm has the power to change lives. To learn more, visit: http://mountainfilm.org. To join the conversation, please visit our blog at http://blog.mountainfilm.org.
After last year's theme of energy, this year the festival will address the troubling questions of water and sustainability with: a Symposium, compelling programs, and several relevant films. Mountainfilm will also pay tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary, gather top foreign policy experts to discuss global stability, and examine the issues of contemporary slavery.
The festival takes place May 23-26, 2008.
- Moving Mountains Symposium on Water (May 23, 2008): The looming global water crisis may be the greatest threat to the health of the planet and its inhabitants. Freshwater and saltwater sources are threatened by overuse, misuse and pollution. The Moving Mountains Symposium will highlight the enormous risks we are taking with our most precious resource, as well as offer solutions on how to best take action. Moderated by noted journalist, Wade Graham, the panel will feature: Peter Gleick, Alexandra Cousteau, Sylvia Earle, Maude Barlow, Azzam Alwash, and Dennis Dimick.
- Drilling Down: Water and the Southwest (time tbd): A special corollary to the Moving Mountains Symposium, this forum will address water issues specific to the arid Southwest United States. Special attendees will be Martin Litton and Katie Lee. Litton is a legendary environmentalist, intrepid Colorado River boatman, and one of its most outspoken advocates. Lee is a musician and longtime activist who has dedicated her life to first preserving and, now restoring, Glen Canyon. Other guests will include geologists, scientists, and activists who understand the complexities of this delicate region.
- Hot Spots Around the World: A Foreign Policy Roundtable (time tbd): This roundtable will gather some of the top names in foreign policy to look at what is happening in countries like Kenya, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and of course, Iraq. Award-winning journalist and CNN chief foreign correspondent Christiane Amanpour, former Ambassador to the
United Nations Richard Holbrooke, New York Times foreign affairs columnist Roger Cohen, and Samantha Power, senior policy advisor to Barack Obama and author of the new book, "Chasing the Flame," will attend.
- Tribute to the late Sir Edmund Hillary (time tbd): Renowned mountaineer and filmmaker, David Breashears will host a tribute to the eminent "mountaineer's mountaineer" who passed away earlier this year. Guests close to Hillary will attend. Rarely seen films chronicling his life and exploits will be presented.
- Contemporary Slavery (time tbd): Today, 28 million people are enslaved - more than any other time in history. Modern slavery comes in many forms and is not limited to developing nations. Human trafficking follows drug and weapon trafficking in terms of the world's largest criminal industries. Ben Skinner, author of the new book, "A Crime So Monstrous" will join in a forum with freed slaves and the Free the Slaves organization to address this under-reported but dire contemporary issue.
- The Village Green (time tbd): Ashton Hayes is a village of approximately one thousand people in Cheshire, England. In 2006, the town collectively decided to work toward becoming carbon neutral. Residents of Ashton Hayes will be on hand to discuss their challenges and successes and how what they have learned can be applied to Telluride. Also attending will be Laurie Garrett, a resident of Brooklyn who is leading the charge to "green" her seventy-year-old, thirty-story, residential building.
For twenty-nine years, Mountainfilm in Telluride has inspired, educated and entertained audiences with films and firsthand presentations by pioneering adventurers, artists, athletes and activists. The thirtieth season will continue to do just that. This year, Mountainfilm in Telluride continues to evolve itself as an impetus for change and action. Attendees will be part of the conversation and part of the solution this Memorial Day weekend. Early bird tickets are now on sale at http://mountainfilm.org.
About Mountainfilm in Telluride
For 30 years, Mountainfilm has been committed to bringing ever-increasing levels of artistic excellence to its mission of educating and inspiring audiences about critical issues. The festival began as a venue to showcase climbing movies. It has grown to be a major proponent of adventure, awareness and activism. Celebrating the indomitable spirit, Mountainfilm has the power to change lives. To learn more, visit: http://mountainfilm.org. To join the conversation, please visit our blog at http://blog.mountainfilm.org.
66 North Hikes to Raise Awareness of Glacial Melt
Gardabae, Iceland, March 31st, 2008 — 66 North and Icelandic Mountain Guides have teamed to offer an extensive training plan for a mass ascent of the Hvannadalshnukur Glacier. Beyond the pursuit of adventure and sport, the goal of the mass ascent is to raise awareness of the marked increase in world glacial melt.
The heritage of 66 North is based on the Icelandic landscape and people. It is for this reason that the company is seeking to raise consciousness of the rapidly melting glaciers of the world. It is not a political statement, as much as it is recognition of a major threat to the stability of the ecosystem.
Dubbed "Reach the Top With 66 North," the training began in early February with an open invitation to the people of Iceland. Nearly 300 people showed up for the first meeting. The workshops continue with physical training goals and regular meetings that address the unique factors of glacier ascents. Under the leadership of the Icelandic Mountain Guides, the goal is for all participants to summit Mt. Hvannadalshnukur on June 7, 2008.
At 6920 feet (2110 meters), Mt. Hvannadalshnukur is the highest summit in Iceland, a southern spur of the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull.
The hope is that through facilitating this mass ascent, 66 North will enable more people to gain a firsthand awareness of the importance of glaciers to environmental balance. Though glacial melt is a serious topic, 66 North also celebrates the joy of activity and human achievement. Follow the progress at: http://www.66north.com/about-us/news-&-events.
About 66 North:
Established in1926, 66 North Iceland makes clothes for the toughest working conditions on the planet. In the past decade, 66 North has leveraged its expertise into a wide selection of outdoor clothing for sports and fashion. Widely recognized for its clean lines, immaculate fit and high quality, 66 North has received numerous awards for its designs and marketing campaigns. For further information, please visit our website, www.66north.com/us.
The heritage of 66 North is based on the Icelandic landscape and people. It is for this reason that the company is seeking to raise consciousness of the rapidly melting glaciers of the world. It is not a political statement, as much as it is recognition of a major threat to the stability of the ecosystem.
Dubbed "Reach the Top With 66 North," the training began in early February with an open invitation to the people of Iceland. Nearly 300 people showed up for the first meeting. The workshops continue with physical training goals and regular meetings that address the unique factors of glacier ascents. Under the leadership of the Icelandic Mountain Guides, the goal is for all participants to summit Mt. Hvannadalshnukur on June 7, 2008.
At 6920 feet (2110 meters), Mt. Hvannadalshnukur is the highest summit in Iceland, a southern spur of the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull.
The hope is that through facilitating this mass ascent, 66 North will enable more people to gain a firsthand awareness of the importance of glaciers to environmental balance. Though glacial melt is a serious topic, 66 North also celebrates the joy of activity and human achievement. Follow the progress at: http://www.66north.com/about-us/news-&-events.
About 66 North:
Established in1926, 66 North Iceland makes clothes for the toughest working conditions on the planet. In the past decade, 66 North has leveraged its expertise into a wide selection of outdoor clothing for sports and fashion. Widely recognized for its clean lines, immaculate fit and high quality, 66 North has received numerous awards for its designs and marketing campaigns. For further information, please visit our website, www.66north.com/us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
