Category: Environment

Don’t just recycle, TerraCycle!

Posted by Brittany – December 22, 2011

As outdoor enthusiasts, most of us realize the importance of trying to do our part in living sustainably in effort to minimize the resources we use and protect the outdoor environment that we love and enjoy. Many of us put forth the effort to recycle, separating containers into piles for the recycling companies to pick up on “garbage day”. We at 14erskiers.com typically recycle more than we throw away, and we make the extra effort to haul recyclable materials that are not collected by our local recycling company (such as office pack and newspaper) down to the recycling center in Gunnison.

Still, there is more that each of us can do. For example, check out TerraCycle. This program allows outdoor enthusiast such as ourselves to upcycle things that we’d typically throw away, like our wrappers from granola bars, gels, and energy blocks. So, now, the things that we “pack out” to keep the slopes clean can be diverted from landfills and upcycled. Better yet, this process can earn money for charity. Check out the press release below and the TerraCycle website for more information.

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Instead of throwing out their garbage, hikers, park-goers and outdoor enthusiasts have another option for their non-recyclable trash after they pack it out: sending it free of charge to pioneering company TerraCycle® to be recycled. TerraCycle collects people’s trash and recycles the non-recyclable into eco-friendly, affordable, and practical products.

The “leave no trace” policy, which has evolved into the “pack it in, pack it out” policy of taking all your trash out of the park with you, is furthered by TerraCycle’s Brigade® program, through which people can send in difficult-to-recycle food wrappers for recycling and upcycling and earn cash for charity. Usually, wrappers from products including Kashi, Bear Naked, CLIF BAR, and Revolution Foods, among others, are non-recyclable.

TerraCycle upcycles some wrappers into tote bags, coolers, notebooks, laptop cases and mini-speakers. Wrappers that aren’t upcycled are melted down and turned into plastics such as trash cans, flower pots, and clipboards. The snacks that hikers use while enjoying the outdoors can become eco-friendly, long-life products that support the environment that hikers are enjoying. Instead of just leaving no trace on the parks, hikers and outdoorsmen can also leave no trace on the Earth.

Anyone can sign up for TerraCycle’s Brigade programs and send in their wrappers for free. For every wrapper TerraCycle receives, two points are awarded that can be put toward buying a specific charity gift, or converted to money and donated to a charity of the participant’s choice. Most importantly, the Brigade will be keeping these wrappers out of the local landfills and off the ground.

So far, TerraCycle has kept over two billion pieces of trash from leaving their mark on the Earth, and with its partners, dispersed over $2 million to charity through the Brigade program.

For more information on how to sign up, send in trash and earn extra cash for your favorite school or charity, visit www.terracycle.net.

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Photo courtesy of TerraCycle

So, please, and an outdoor enthusiast, do your part to keep our outdoors a beautiful playground. If you don’t recycle, consider making a recycling plan for yourself as part of a New Year’s resolution. If you recycle already, begin TerraCycling! We all make a difference in the world in which we live! Live it and treat it well :)

Beware the Bears!

Posted by Brittany – September 19, 2009

Crested Butte has had it’s share of bear problems this year. Bears are everywhere. Not only are they getting into people’s trash, but they are making their way into people’s cars, houses, and even our police station. The problem has been building all summer, and is now culminating as bears are scrounging for every bit of food before settling down for a nice torpor. Accounts of several bear encounters can be read in these three articles by the Crested Butte News.

Marshals concerned with new wave of pesky bear problems – Aug. 19, 2009

Local vehicles feel brunt of bear problem – July 22, 2009

Bears gone wild? Local bruins cause night chaos across town – July 15, 2009



Photo from Travel Alaska

But, perhaps the funniest encounter I’ve heard comes from my friend Alison. Posted on her Facebook earlier this week she said:

We have a big momma with two cubs who comes by our house all the time. Three weeks ago, the mamma broke into our house, while we were away on a bike tour, and ate 200 Clif Bars. She wrapped up her excursion by heading into our bedroom for a drink of water in the toilet, complete with an investigation into our bathtub, it was full of hair. Each bar was opened carefully and nothing broken in the house. Wrappers filled four rooms. How she got back out remains a mystery, as our door swings shut after you open it.

This past friday night, asleep and home alone while Jason was working in Vail, I heard our door open, and a moan, which puzzled me, as I had locked both doors. Then I heard moaning and a crash. I grabbed my newly purchased paintball gun, ready on the bedside table, and came around the corner all rambo-styled, as I had just freshly graduated from Hunter Education and rifle training the day before. With two hands on the gun, I cop-styled around each corner of the mudroom, with the last turn leaving me face to face with the 500-pound mamma bear. She roared repeatedly, not happy with me being home. I yelled “GET OUT”, and it went on for a bit, like a bad soap opera, until she started stepping backwards. She was so big that her rear foot was still keeping the door open, but she was through the gear room and her nose was in the next room, our greenhouse/mudroom, just inches from my barrel. After many roaring protests on her part and yelling and gun waving on my part, she backed out the door and I shot her with a paintball, which caused her jump and turn. She ran while I got two more shots. She came back an hour later, and tried to open the locked patio levered door again. I watched in fascination with her dexterity on the levered knob, moving it around carefully while she leaned her full weight into the door in pulses. Frustrated, she went for the second door, where we had removed the knob to keep her out. On this one she just tried to break it in with her weight, but was clearly pissed. When she looked away to listen to our neighbors dog bark, I quickly opened the door and was able to get in three good shots.

All of this chaos makes me feel sad for the bears. Bears are getting killed because of our invasion on their home. Negligent people who left their trash out without bear-proof latches caused these bears to learn to rely on human garbage. Now that they can’t find the garbage, the are forced to look elsewhere in our cars and houses.

All this said, I find it completely ironic that I have never even seen a bear in Colorado!

Movie of the Month: An Inconvenient Truth

Posted by Brittany – April 12, 2009

Movie of the Month: An Inconvenient Truth

Director: Davis Guggenheim

Year: 2006

Where can I find it? Netflix, Amazon.com, climatecrisis.net

The Book:

An Inconvenient Truth is inspired by Al Gore’s global warming campaign. Since an accident almost claimed the life of his six-year old son, Gore has vowed to try to make this world a better place. Since college, Gore has shown interest in the research and science behind global warming. As Vice President, Gore continued his interest and was a political leader in global warming policies. But nothing has been stronger than Gore’s current campaigns.

An Inconvenient Truth documents Gore’s recent campaigns where he educates people about global warming. His goal is to campaign as hard as he can about a subject that he believes is one of the most important global issues. In this campaign, he educates regular people about global warming. Afterall, he states, the only way he knows how to tell the story is to impact one person at a time. This is Gore’s campaign.

In An Inconvenient Truth, Gore breaks down the science of global warming, making it understandable to the average person. He avoids scientific jargon and makes the points plain and simple. The throws myths out the window. For instance, Gore addresses the myth that some scientists believe global warming is not happening. That simply is not true. He also highlights scientific research in CO2 and climate change. Paleoclimatologists have long recognized the correlation between rising CO2 and rising temperatures. Many people think that the earth can handle today’s skyrocketing CO2 levels, as it is just the same as a cycle in the past. But, what most people don’t know is that climate records have never shown the CO2 levels being much higher than 300 ppm (parts per million). What are today’s levels? 387 ppm according to 2008 Mauna Loa studies. As far as we know, CO2 levels have never been this high. How is the earth going to handle it?

Gore goes into details about what will happen as a result of temperatures rising. Many of our biggest cities will be under water. The global ocean circulation will shift, causing weather patterns to shift drastically. Rising ocean temperatures will allow storms to absorb more moisture causing more drastic disasters like hurricane Katrina. We’ve all heard these stories before, but Gore brings these to reality.

Gore speaks about the Kyoto Protocol, mentioning how it was a shame that the US couldn’t join in international global warming efforts because of political pressures coming from the oil/energy industries. However, he recognizes that many states have individually recognized the Kyoto Protocol and have passed measures showing support of these global warming efforts.

Gore addresses the issue that US citizens are energy whores. Per capita, we use the most energy compared to any other country in the world. European countries use about half the energy we use per person. With countries like China and India on the industrial rise, we need to set a good example of our energy use.

Most people believe in global warming, as Gore recognizes. However, most people are in denial of it. Many don’t want to change their lifestyles. Or others get so overwhelmed with the issue that they push it aside. Politically speaking, global warming is often considered one of the least important issues by our Congressmen today due to pressures from the oil industry. Yet, most don’t deny that global warming is happening. Most people just don’t want it to be happening. Simply stated, global warming is an inconvenient truth.

With these things in mind, Gore states that we already have all the measures we need in place to reduce CO2 levels back more normal levels. He makes it clear that we all need to do our part and that we all need to spread the word about global warming. How can you make a difference? Find out on climatecrisis.net.

View the trailer for Inconvenient Truth here:

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Why should we care?

Global warming is no doubt happening. Here in Crested Butte, we had some of the warmest temperatures in January and February this year than has ever been recorded. If this rise in temperatures continues, we will no longer be able to enjoy our favorite sport of skiing. Even worse, future generations will not be able to enjoy it either. On top of this, global warming is a major factor in the spread of beatles which are killing our forests. Soon, we may not even have forests due to this devastation. Global warming will impact each and every person on this planet. Please do your part to prevent it!

Can’t help but think….

Posted by Brittany – November 22, 2007

Previously posted on my Thrillhead Blog

It is November 22 and I have never seen such a lack of snow here in Colorado. We skied at Winter Park yesterday and they had 2 runs open on the lower part of the mountain. What was even more scary was that they had very little potential of opening any other terrain soon unless significant snow hits. Meteorologists blame it on the fact that this is a “La Nina” year. But, no one can deny the fact that our winters are starting later and ending earlier. Sometimes, in the middle of winter, it doesn’t even seem like winter.

Personally, I think there is a whole lot that we don’t understand about global warming. But, at the same time, I think our increasing CO2 levels in our atmosphere on a gigantic level is cause for concern. There is no doubt in my mind that we humans are huge players in impacting our global climate.

More and more skiers are taking notice of this phenomenon that we call global warming and are trying to do their part in contributing for a change in our lifestyle. Alison Gannet is one of the most prominent skiers out there who is deeply involved in global warming issues. I had a discussion with her about it this summer while on a bike ride and she mentioned that she had a bunch of videos out on YouTube. I finally got around to checking them out. Here’s what I found!

Weather We Change Ski Video

Greenfit TV episode

Save our Snow Road Trip

Global Cooling Ski Tour- Squaw Valley

More Global Cooling Ski Tour

Rest of her Global Cooling Ski Tour
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uN42tifZ-E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6RV0n_TVdk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yGrcKpdn_o

What is happening to Colorado’s Forests???

Posted by Brittany – November 17, 2007

If you drive up to the mountains and take a look around, you’ll see what’s happening- Colorado’s forests are dying. Beautiful forested landscapes once full of life now look browned and dead- almost as bad as a forest fire that has swept nearly the whole northern part of the state

The first reports I heard of it were about 5 years ago. The pine beetle was attacking trees near Grand Lake. It didn’t take long for this to become an epidemic, with reports of pine beetle attacks in Steamboat and Summit County.

I started really pondering the pine beetle kill just this fall, when I was driving by the devastated forest in Summit County. The beautiful blue Dillon Lake is surrounded by a forest of dead trees. What few trees are alive there will probably be dead by next summer. It really hit me then -The devastation of the pine beetle was really impacting this state, and the pine beetle wasn’t going to stop. I started noticing new dead patches of trees showing up in mountains everywhere.

But when it really hit me was when I drove over Berthoud Pass to Winter Park in early November. I had not made that drive since last April. In April, there were patches of dead trees in the forest, but the forest was still beautiful. I was devastated when this fall I saw that the forest was more brown than green. Thousands of trees had been attacked by beetles over the summer. Even worse, the beetle kill had spread from the west side of the pass over to the east side, spreading quickly down to lower elevations.


(Beetle kill seen on east side of Berthoud Pass)


(Looking down at the east side of Berthoud Pass from Jones Pass)

I started wondering more about the pine beetle. Why are we having such an epidemic? Will it ever stop? What can we expect? What’s going to happen to our forests? Will everything just burn?

With that in mind, I decided to do some research on my own. Here’s what I found out overall:

The pine beetle has always been around. The pine beetle attacks primarily lodgepole and ponderosa pines in Colorado. The beetle “attacks” the tree by laying eggs in the bark. When the larvae hatch out of the egg, they kill the tree. The beetles must attack each tree in huge swarms or else the tree will defend itself with the natural resin. But, when swarmed, the tree is helpless. There have been outbreaks in the past, but this is one of Colorado’s worst epidemics in the high country. My coworker who has lived in Boulder most of his long life remembers that there was an epidemic in lower ponderosa pines on the Front Range, which led to most of those pines dying. Eventually, so many of the ponderosas died that it stopped being such an outbreak.

Why is the high country having such an outbreak now? Part of the outbreak is a bit of a natural cycle. Pine beetles seem to attack older trees. Colorado’s forests are full of older trees due to years and years of natural fire suppression. In some respects, this is nature’s way of getting back at us for trying to control the forests. The pine trees are also weakened by drought, and Colorado has had drought conditions more years than not since I’ve lived here. The culprit that I didn’t expect to hear much about was global warming. It seems global warming is making it easier for the beetle to live as well. “The cold temperatures made it impossible for them to complete their life cycle in one year, forcing them to confront a second winter at a vulnerable point in their development. The adult beetles also couldn’t synchronize their emergence and flight from their birthplaces. With so few beetles attacking new trees at any one time, healthy trees could defend themselves by drowning the tiny beetles in resin. Under these conditions, beetles could only kill diseased and otherwise weakened trees.” (http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=14853) But, rising global temperatures have made it easier for the beetles to complete their life cycle in one year, as well as making it possible for them to survive at higher elevations. Warmer temperatures have also allowed the beetle to synchronize “their emergence, allowing them to join forces and overwhelm tree defenses.”


(Courtesy of Denver Post)

So, what is needed to kill the beetles? “For freezing temperatures to affect a large number of larvae during the middle of winter, temperatures of at least 30 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit) must be sustained for at least five days” (http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05528.html). Winter Park seemed to have a lot of cold temperatures last winter, but none were apparently cold enough for long enough. Temperatures are unlikely to be this cold, especially since we are in a trend of rising temperatures.

What does this mean for our forest? I don’t know. It seems like the pines in our forests will mostly die from this beetle kill epidemic. There is worry about massive forest fires. But, I found this fact interesting: “Lodgepole trees do increase in fire danger significantly during the short span when the trees are full of dead, red needles. However, once the needles fall off leaving the gray snags, fire danger actually goes down below that of a live green tree. Fire danger then increases as the tree falls and becomes part of the understory” (http://news.snowhome.com/public/item/153430). It does seem that our forests will be hugely impacted by this tiny little beetle. The optimist in me hopes that the dying pine trees will be replaced by another tree that is more resistant to pine beetles. There is no doubt in my mind that the ecosystems in our forests will have to undergo a great change.

Can beetle kill be stopped? As far as I can tell, no. Some people try spraying trees, but can you really spray hundreds of thousands of acres of forest effectively? No. The Canadians say that logging and clear-cutting are not good solutions either (http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Forests/Canada/BC/Beetle/
). It seems that this is an issue Mother Nature will have to take care of herself, once she’s done taking care of all the other problems out there.

No one knows what future lies ahead for Colorado’s forests. But, I can tell you we are not alone. Beetle kill epidemics are widespread across the entire western portions of the United States and Canada, with Idaho, Alaska, and British Columbia having seen the worst devastation.

Hopefully Mother Nature will help us out soon!

Resources

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_4287134

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05528.html

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Forests/Canada/BC/Beetle/

http://denver.yourhub.com/AuroraSouth/Stories/News/Politics/Story~319142.aspx

http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=14853

http://news.snowhome.com/public/item/153430