I always find it ironic when I see someone on the trail wearing earbuds. It seems that while this person is taking the time to travel through the natural world, they are simultaneously filtering part of it out. We humans have had a lot of help tuning out mother nature, especially with the advent of portable electronic devices. It has become challenging to hear the natural world among the noise synonymous with modern life. On a busy road filled with traffic, notice how difficult it is to talk to a […]
Environment
22 posts
White gas, kerosene, isobutane, and denatured alcohols are common fuels for backpacking stoves. Fuel savings greatly depend on the efficiency of the cooking process, as well as the stove and type of cooking pot. One of the best ways to conserve fuel is to avoid energy loss during cooking. You don’t want to run out of fuel mid-hike and be left eating cold freeze-dried entrées. Here are a few strategies to conserve stove fuel. No flame in vain Only allow the fuel to burn when it is at work, or […]
Autumn is a spectacular time of color in many areas of the Earth, and the U.S. Appalachian Mountains are no exception. From radiant reds to mustard yellow, the vibrant display of color is short-lived, earning leaf-peeping a peak priority. What causes such brilliant displays of leaf color this time of the season, anyway? Think you already know? We thought so, too. Here are a few things we learned after some quick research. Here is what we found – Leaf Foliage Fall foliage is a byproduct of chemical changes when deciduous […]
Sound is a signature of our environment, a narration of the scenery around us. The familiar clamor of vehicles, sirens, leaf blowers, and dinging phones is characteristic of living in populated areas. While the city soundscape can become mundane and unnoticeable, it can be a deafening annoyance to others. Part of the wilderness experience is to escape this cacophony of man-made sound and serenaded by wind and wildlife. The streetscape noise fades away once in the wilderness, but the skies overhead have become less quiet. The echo of aircraft propellers […]
We harvest trees for various practical purposes – lumber, furniture, paper, writing utensils, boats, signs, musical instruments, crates, boxes, cellophane, adhesive, and more. Most trees are harvested for valuable and long-lasting purposes, while the Christmas Tree has no purpose other than to act as a fleeting ornament. This time of year, millions of Balsam, Douglas, and Fraser Fir trees are chopped from the earth, exchanged for pulp dollar bills, and hauled home. The cut tree is carefully positioned indoors and embellished with lights, ornaments, and ribbon, marking the once-living tree […]