I read this morning on the Access Fun website that they have launched a multi million dollar campaign aimed at providing loans to local climbing organizations as well as assistance negotiating with land managers to help preserve, maintain, and obtain climbing areas. This is a great program and I am proud to be a supporter of the Access Fund. Take time to read about it on their site: Land Conservation Campaign. Read the rest of this entry »

I learned this morning that the Bush administration’s plan to clear cut old growth forests in Oregon has now been overturned by the Obama administration. It’s great to see things happening that are promoting conservation and preservation of the wilderness that we have left and the resources that we have left. (Now for Alaska!) Here is a quote from a press release on the issue: Read the rest of this entry »

The Access Fund is the national advocacy organization that keeps U.S. climbing areas open and conserves the climbing environment. Founded in 1990, the Access Fund supports and represents over 1.6 million climbers nationwide in all forms of climbing: rock, ice, mountaineering, and bouldering.

Here is an interesting an informative video on Mount Kilimanjaro and the condition of the glaciers.

The video helps us to see the impact that global warming is having on this mountain and how it directly presents a danger to the people that depend on the springs and glacial runoff from this mountain to survive.

Read the rest of this entry »

Over the past month or so, I’ve tried to pay close attention to the practices of climbers at various climbing locations in North Carolina, to see where people are being careless and leaving trash, waste, or engaging in other destructive practices. I personally think that if all the climbers who read this, pay careful attention to their practices this summer, they will not only leave the climbing area and areas clean, but will make it that much more enjoyable for all the other people that come to the area as well. Read the rest of this entry »

I read a great article this morning at OutdoorEd.com that really challenged me in my pursuit of sustainable practices. The article also has links to worksheets to help you conduct your own sustainability calculations.

This article and the formulas will help any outdoor enthusiast to improve their Leave No Trace (LNT) practices.

Check out the article in full: Sustainability and Leave No Trace

Read the rest of this entry »

I spend a ton of time driving to and from climbing spots, and flying to and from climbing spots. There are a few simple practices that I have adopted in my travels to help my traveling become a bit greener.

1. Keep my own coffee mug in the car. That way when I stop at Starbucks to get coffee, they can use my mug, and not use their paper cups.

Read the rest of this entry »

Because the past 8 years has left public land managers and forest managers with meager funds to maintain trail management teams, search and rescue teams, and more, there has been limited access to some of the country’s most beautiful and precious outdoor recreation resources, for activities such as hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and camping.
Read the rest of this entry »

Because the past 8 years has left public land managers and forest managers with meager funds to maintain trail management teams, search and rescue teams, and more, there has been limited access to some of the country’s most beautiful and precious outdoor recreation resources, for activities such as hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and camping. Understandably so, since without the infrastructure to support this type of land use, the land managers have no choice but to restrict the activities. This is something that the Access Fund specifically targets and works on with these land managers, however the Federal Government has made it extremely difficult because ultimately they are the ones providing the lack of funding.

BUT NOW THE GOOD NEWS….

Barack Obama, along with promoting an excellent energy plan, and making the oil companies use their windfall profits to help consumers, is also planning on increasing appropriations for public land….and therefore will most likely help to give access to many, many areas.

Their administration needs our support to get this done. Please visit Outdoor Alliance and choose to Take Action, and send letters (via the website) to Barack Obama, to help open up access to these public lands.

Along with a better energy management and energy use system, the funds that are going to be provided to these land managers will help conservation of our natural resources, including “roadless areas” that will be protected. This country is taking a turn in the right direction!

Thank you and Happy Climbing

Brandon Hensinger

Ascent Adventure Consultants- Sustainable Rock Climbing in North Carolina

Have you checked out wecansolveit.org? The “We” Organization defines its existence as follows:

“Climate change is occurring now, and is already affecting our natural environment, our national security and our quality of life. But, there are effective, achievable solutions for addressing the crisis. An important step is to repower America by producing 100 percent of our country’s electricity from energy sources with zero carbon emissions — within 10 years. Making this switch will generate millions of good American jobs, cut energy costs, safeguard national security, and protect the climate. We need business and government leaders at all levels to help adopt policies and practices now that will enable America to switch to energy sources with zero carbon emissions. We need policies that encourage energy efficiency, renewable energy, and a unified national electricity grid.

We can repower America in a short time frame. We put a man on the moon in just eight years. We quickly retooled our factories to produce tanks, trucks and airplanes for World War II. We mobilized for civil rights and women’s suffrage. We’ve done this before, and we can do it again”

www.wecansolveit.org

One of the best ways to get motivated to take action and become involved in programs like this is read success stories. For example, check out the story on how the people and government of Colorado are joining together to make a difference:

How did Colorado voters become climate champions? They helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions just by going to the ballot box.

In 2004, Colorado was the first state to establish a climate-friendly RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard) through a voter-passed initiative. An RPS is a requirement that a certain amount of electricity in the state come from renewable sources like solar, wind, and geothermal energy.  In Colorado’s case, the RPS specified 10% renewable energy by 2015.

Three years later, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter went a step further and doubled the standard to 20%. Large investor-owned utilities in Colorado must now obtain 20% of their electricity from renewable sources and small utilities must provide at least 10% renewable energy by 2020.

“By doubling the RPS, Colorado is reaffirming its commitment to maintaining national leadership in renewable energy development,” said Interwest Energy Alliance Executive Director Craig Cox.

Greenhouse gas reduction has become a state-wide effort in Colorado as more people pitch in to help reduce the state’s emissions. As American Wind Energy Association Western Representative Ron Lehr said,”Renewables are now bipartisan and mainstream. The people have spoken truth about power.”

This is just one example of how individuals, organizations, businesses and governments are helping to stop climate change. There are thousands more across the country and around the world – and it’s through these efforts that we’re going to be successful. We can’t afford not to succeed in this unprecedented challenge to our planet.