The Cleanest Line

Invoking Summer with The Dirtbag Diaries

2009-07-02T15:31:37-07:00

Do you have a ritual or a tradition for welcoming in summer? Dirtbag Diaries host Fitz Cahall shares his on today's podcast. Here's Fitz:

Up in the Northwest, we say that summer doesn’t actually start until July 4th. Right now, we’re experiencing our annual June gloom. So I thought it was time to invoke blue skies and warmer temps. A season’s worth of summits, single track and lounging on the riverbank is just around the corner. It’s time for me to do my part in the changing of the seasons.

Listen to The Shorts -- Summer Invocation
(mp3 - 7:00 - right-click to download)

In between full-length episodes of The Dirtbag Diaries, listeners like you have the chance to narrate your own story on the show -- these are the Shorts. To submit your story for consideration, visit The Dirtbag Diaries and look for the Story Suggestions? link in the sidebar. You can subscribe to the show via iTunes and RSS, or connect with Fitz via Facebook and Twitter.

Happy Independence Day everyone. Hope you all have a great long weekend.

[With thanks to New Belgium Brewing for supporting the show.]

Dear & Yonder – Daring Stories of Ladies United by the Sea

2009-07-02T13:56:35-07:00

Coming off two premiere screenings in Florida and Texas, a new all-female surf film, Dear & Yonder, will make its Southern California debut tonight at the La Paloma Theater in Encinitas -- site of The Present premiere not long ago. Directed by Tiffany Campbell and Andria Lessler, the film features a dynamic cast of ladies – including Patagonia ambassadors Belinda Peterson-Baggs and Liz Clark – who are connected by a spirit of adventure and love for the ocean. The hope is that the depth and beauty of the film will inspire viewers to bring something positive back to their respective communities and lineups. Hit up the Dear & Yonder site for the full list of tour dates. If you'd like another taste of what the movie will offer, visit the Tin Shed and check out Liz Clark's Voyage. Liz will also share a slide show at the Ventura screening on July 18th.

[With thanks to Roxy, Woodshed Films and Surfing Magazine for supporting this film.]

Yoga in the Park + Fitness World = Sushi

2009-07-01T18:19:57-07:00

If you are visiting Squamish this summer and you enjoy a refreshing session of conscious-breathing and tension-releasing exercises, then go to The Yoga Studio on 2nd Ave any day of the week. But if you are here only for a Sunday, then you gotta check out “yoga in the park.” My girlfriend Lydia taught yesterday's class and there will be a different teacher there each week, as there have been different teachers in weeks prior. The fee is by donation only, so whatever you can afford. But imagine this...

…unfolding your mat onto a perfectly cut lawn of green grass and three-leaf clovers at 9am in the morning. The sun filters through the tall trees, warming your skin and illuminating the park. 25 people in a circle wrapped around the teacher, with a gentle breeze behind your ears and the occasional cyclist riding by. The ground beneath you is not a hardwood floor, but the earth itself; you can feel the subtle bumps under your toes, but it makes you smile. The class is rhythm and flow, a constant state of moving, bending and twisting, lunging and holding -- all the stuff we know we should be doing but just can’t seem to make the time for. Then, after about an hour and fifteen minutes, the heart rate comes back down slowly. You invert into a shoulder stand, headstand, whatever you like, and feel the rush of newly oxygenated blood surging through the stream. The abdomen releases, the tension disappears, you are weightless and calm and the sound of each chirping bird in the distance falls quiet. The sound of your breath is the only thing you hear. You take a deep inhale of the freshest mountain air and unwind into corpse pose, eyes closed, hovering above the ground until the electricity in your body is reduced to nothing more than light waves of energy scanning over you. Ten minutes pass -- it may as well be a lifetime. Your lids open tenderly and look up to see the bubbling white clouds taking shape. You are now ready to begin your day. Your perfect day.

[That is the best way I can describe yoga in the park to you -- that’s what it was for me. Here’s what it looks like when you look up into the leaves. Photo © Sonnie Trotter]

Later in the day, after coffee and breakfast, Lydia, Lil Ben and I went to Rogues Gallery and climbed some OUTSTANDING rock. Ben wanted to show me a classic sport climb called Fitness World. Apparently a hold broke and it hasn’t seen much traffic since, but we got the scoop and two of our friends had in fact climbed it since, without the new sequence changing the grade much -- probably hard 5.13c with a stout boulder problem in the middle. It’s a full 30-meter pitch I reckon, and pumpy as all hell. Ben had been on the climb before and we exchanged beta to unlock a good set of moves. Ben did the climb on his second try that day, BIG WHOOOP on that. I had a little less luck. On my second try, I couldn’t pull the moves I had worked out. I got flustered and invented a new sequence on the fly, just barely missing the jug. I stuck it off the dog, went to the top and lowered off. Surely I would tick it on my third try. Ha ha, not so. I climbed up into it and missed the blind throw around the corner I thought would be so easy. I hate underestimating low-percentage moves. So, I had to work out a third way of doing it. I climbed to the top again to make sure I remembered how and lowered off, ready to go home and eat sushi.

["Lil Ben" Harnden. Photo © Sonnie Trotter]

On the ground I was surprisingly tired. Only three burns and I was worked. But Ben decided he would try a nearby 5.12. He fell and had to tinker with the moves, which allowed me enough time to recover again. After a 20-minute rest, I ran back up to the highpoint, the sun on the edge of the horizon, just sparkling off the wall behind me, and I stuck the move with heavy arms, my breath carrying me to the top. I was a little bit pumped, but not nearly as much as I thought I’d be. I haven’t sport climbed like this in a long time, it felt good to redpoint on the fourth try of such a long endurance-testing route. It also felt good to crimp and pimp again, instead of squeezing slopers all the time or jamming cracks. God I love climbing. What an awesome line. Thanks to Marc Bourdon for establishing it and to Ben for showing it to me.

So, speaking of Lil Ben, or Ben Harnden as some of you may know him, here is a short clip of him sending No Troublems (Loh) hard V10. He made quick work of the line. And for those of you who don’t know him, he’s been a local hero for some time, a bit of a darkhorse, a workhorse, and a truly talented individual. Check out the clip, and gasp as he campuses the final move over the slab, you know, the really scary move that may result in a hospital trip if you blow it, yeah that one. And if you climb the problem in the near future, imagine doing that move without feet. A wee bit intimidating I might say.

[On a quiet afternoon in the Squamish Forest, Kelowna super hero Ben Harnden crushes the loh crimps on the classic No Troublems. He inspired me and we did it together. The regular version goes at V9/10, but the low start adds a few extra-strenuous moves into the crux. The hard part is setting up for the initial throw. Despite what people may say, it's damn good. Cedar and Elmo were there too to cheer him on and witness the sickness. Video: Sonnie Trotter]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Patagonia ambassador Sonnie Trotter is a climber, writer, photographer, guide, Squamish local, Lydia love slave, amateur carpenter, soccer enthusiast and surfer wannabe. This post first aired on his personal blog.

Freedom to Roam: A Rancher and an Environmentalist Search for Common Ground on Wolves (Part 1)

2009-06-30T17:21:59-07:00

The presidential election last fall gave many environmentalists new hope, but the Obama administration has since outraged many gray wolf advocates by upholding a Bush-era decision to take them off the endangered species list in over half a dozen states.

After being nearly wiped out in most of the country, recovery efforts in the last two decades have helped the wolf population in the Northern Rockies rebound to what is now an estimated 1,645 wolves or more. Federal officials – and many ranchers and politicians who have long complained about the impact of wolves on livestock and big game herds – say that's enough. But some environmentalists strongly disagree, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). They recently joined other groups in filing a lawsuit in Montana that could temporarily block the resumption of regulated wolf hunts there.

[Female Mexican gray wolf yearling born in 2007 at the California Wolf Center. Photo: Roy Toft, California Wolf Center]

Amidst what has often been cast as a bitter fight between two sides, the NRDC’s Senior Wildlife Advocate Louisa Willcox and local Montana rancher Becky Weed have been working with several ranching groups to come up with new solutions. As a special feature of our current environmental campaign, Freedom to Roam, Patagonia decided to interview these individuals to highlight their willingness to engage in constructive dialogue and search for new alternatives to old environmental problems. We also wanted to understand more about a complicated issue many of us care deeply about. Their answers, provided by email, are below:

Q: Was the Obama administration’s decision on the Northern Rockies gray wolves a surprise, given the expected change in approach of the administration on environmental issues?

Becky Weed (rancher): The administration’s decision was not shocking, although I was a little surprised that it came as quickly as it did. I do not see this decision as a sign that the Obama administration is in lockstep with the previous administration by any stretch of the imagination. The more revealing steps will come as we see how the delisting details are handled now that a delisting process is underway.

Louisa Willcox (NRDC): The Department of Interior’s decision to delist Northern Rockies gray wolves was a big disappointment. The decision was announced in March, before the administration had put key high-level officials in the Department of Interior and a new director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in place. We do not believe they adequately reviewed the Bush rule, which has significant problems - problems so severe that we are challenging the decision in court

Q: In its decision, the Interior Department cites the fact that the numbers of wolves have far exceeded the minimum numbers set for population recovery, except in Wyoming. Do you think population numbers are still too low?

Becky Weed (rancher): I have to say first that I am resistant to a primary focus on wolf numbers alone. Certainly absolute numbers are important, but cannot be considered in isolation.

I don’t think that the numbers are too low “for population recovery”; it would be implausible to make that claim considering that we got to this current population in the Northern Rockies from just a few dozen wolves that were imported a fairly short time ago. Indeed the proliferation of wolves in both numbers and geographic spread has exceeded many biologists’ predictions. The stickier discussion comes with how we do or not define the criteria for success in the larger sense, and how much of that assessment can be made on the basis of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) alone. I think it is reasonable to say that the current numbers have exceeded the minimum required for recovery, but that doesn’t mean that all the necessary work and learning is done that we will need to do to achieve sustainable, functional, and tolerable recovery.

There are genuine concerns about connectivity among populations and long-term genetic diversity that many people share, but there is disagreement about whether that can be better assured pre- or post-delisting. Holding Montana and Idaho hostage to the problematic Wyoming policies at this stage of the game, would put at risk the considerable progress that has been made in those two states, and would further damage the already-frayed credibility of wolf advocates who have a reputation for moving the target of the ESA.

Louisa Willcox (NRDC): Yes, wolf population numbers are still too low. Over 250 scientists commented that the minimum levels set for wolf recovery by the Interior Department are far too low to ensure the long-term health of Northern Rockies wolves, including maintaining interbreeding among the three subpopulations in the region. According to top experts, at least several thousand wolves are needed to sustain a healthy and resilient wolf population in the Northern Rockies.

It is also incorrect to state that the number of wolves far exceeds the federal government’s wolf recovery standards. While federal officials maintain that 300 wolves are necessary to achieve recovery, their standard includes ensuring adequate genetic exchange, which is often ignored. One of the reasons a federal judge struck down the prior wolf delisting rule in the Northern Rockies last year was because the federal government chose the part of its recovery standard that it liked and ignored the genetic exchange requirement.

As discussed above, FWS has stated that a minimum population of only 300 wolves – less than 1/5 of today’s population in the region – is all that is necessary to keep wolves off the endangered species list. While FWS officials assert that state management of Northern Rockies wolves will likely result in a population of 900-1250 wolves, rather than the 300 wolves the delisting rule allows, the agency has not cited any commitments by the states to maintain the population above the federally established minimums.

Q: Are there other ways, other than listing them under the Endangered Species Act, to protect wolves and allow humans and wolves to live together?

Becky Weed (rancher): Yes, there are, and I would go so far as to say that it is not only possible, but essential, that some of those other ways of fostering coexistence be explored, cultivated, and expanded. The ESA is a piece of legislation designed to protect endangered species; it does not purport to carry the full weight of the complex and rich task of learning to live with any particular species over the long haul.

Since our society is pretty new at this goal of protecting wolves rather than exterminating them, it stands to reason that we haven’t refined all the mechanisms for protecting them, but significant efforts are underway. Montana’s Wolf Management plan is one such effort, and I suspect that a mosaic of federal, state, and even more local mechanisms will come into play, both inside and outside government. Some of the most interesting efforts are non-governmental approaches to preventing conflict with livestock, so that there is less need for wolf ‘protection’ per se . The ESA will remain a backdrop to this learning process, but I don’t want it to become an obstacle.

Louisa Willcox (NRDC): The culture of the West is changing. We need to rethink the way we interact with wolves, and wildlife in general, in the region. People come from around the world to catch a glimpse of our world-class wildlife – that is a fantastic boon to the economy, and the thrill of a lifetime to many – but it has not translated to a change in the attitude among the powers-that-be around here. Until we work out some more equitable arrangements to take the needs of wildlife AND people, including ranchers and other stakeholders into account, I am afraid that federal legal protection will continue to be necessary.

The good news is that we are very close to recovery of wolves in the Northern Rockies. We would, without question, support the removal of endangered species protections once the numbers are viable, the subpopulations are connected, and post-delisting management programs are adequate. We are almost there, but defective state laws and plans that will lead to the killing of hundreds of wolves will push recovery further back. As such, we will continue to fight for ESA protections.

Q: Are there other ways, other than allowing the killing of wolves, to protect the interests of ranchers?

Becky Weed (rancher): There is no single solution to protect the interests of ranchers, just as there is no single solution to protect wolves. If we take that “integrated pest management” view, we can explore a variety of tools. These include, but are not limited to: Monitoring wolves movements and modifying livestock movements so as to minimize confrontation; selecting and directing livestock to encourage savvier livestock and people; supporting compensation program(s) (see below); supporting price premiums for ranchers who accommodate wolves; exploring the possibility that a hunt could be used as a management tool to minimize confrontation; considering grass banking and other cooperative range management efforts that could enable ranchers to deal with wolf/ungulate migrations collectively rather than individually … the list goes on.

Exploration of some of these approaches is already underway. I believe that the onset of delisting will improve the chances of developing more such tools.

Louisa Willcox (NRDC): Yes. There are many new, exciting and creative methods that have been proven to avoid and reduce livestock-wolf conflicts, such as electric fencing, fladry (flagging hung along fence lines to deter wolves from corrals), and “rag” boxes which set off noises that scare off wolves. There are old tried and true methods too, like night penning or the use of guard dogs and shepherding, which can help livestock operators keep their stock away from wolves. But there is not nearly enough emphasis on non-lethal methods by the government and some livestock operators.

It is possible to live more peaceably among wolves. Indeed, wolves have lived among farmers for hundreds of years in Europe, and farmers there have figured out ways to protect their stock without killing each and every wolf that wanders near. In fact, Europe is where guard dogs such as the Pyrenees were bred to protect livestock. At this juncture, it is important to share information about how best to resolve conflicts with ranchers who operate in wolf country. Farmers and ranchers have a lot they can teach each other about coexistence with wolves.

We need to remember that wolves in central Idaho and Yellowstone have only been back for 15 years, and they have only been back in the Glacier area for about 24 years. We need on-the-ground pilot projects designed to learn from experience. Wolves are smart, and there is no silver bullet to avoid problems with livestock; a combination of practices have to be explored to see what works best in areas that are different socially, geographically, and ecologically.

Q: One of the segments of residents most opposed to the Endangered Species Act listing are the ranchers who work in the area, due to the threat of wolves to sheep and cattle. Are there other groups?

Becky Weed (rancher): Some members of the hunting community favor delisting and are very anti-wolf, and I think some favor delisting but are not particularly anti-wolf. In some areas wolves have significantly altered ungulate populations and distribution, and depending on your perspective, that can be seen as positive or negative. It is important to be cautious about assuming that people who favor delisting are necessarily anti-wolf. Some of us believe that in order to develop a mindset in which wolves are part of the landscape – part of both the risk and reward of living and working in this region, we (not just ranchers, but everybody), must get more sophisticated about envisioning, and practicing, what a post-delisting world can look like. Simply clinging onto listed status doesn’t get us to viable long term coexistence.

Louisa Willcox (NRDC): Some sportsmen and sportsmen groups like the Safari Club believe that wolves compete with them for elk and other big game animals. But, with over 300,000 elk in the region, big game levels are at record highs, and there is plenty of big game to be shared among wolves and hunters. Wolves can make hunting more challenging, as they move elk around the landscape more. So, hunters may have to work harder, even though there are more elk in the region. Some hunters believe wolves actually help make them better hunters.

In addition, there are other groups and elected officials who are doctrinally opposed to wolves, because they associate wolves with the federal government and federal laws like the Endangered Species Act, which they resent. Because of the many layers of symbolic meanings of wolves, people may be hostile to wolves for reasons that have little to do with wolves or what they do to make a living on the landscape.

Q: Is it possible to recognize and bring together all of the different interests and concerns?

Becky Weed (rancher): Undoubtedly there will always be some outliers (individuals and groups) who don’t want to come together on anything. That’s okay by me. Sometimes the fringes enlighten the boring but fundamental middle. But I do think it is possible to find substantial common ground among many of the major players that will help enable coexistence. We will only achieve this if we set ourselves up to learn as we go, and adapt as we learn. We won’t “come together” simply by sitting at tables and conferring, because there are too many conflicting goals and values to make it that easy. But the conferring can be valuable nonetheless – to help us set expectations, develop empathy, design experiments, agree on monitoring and response, erect sidebars. I think I can say with some certainty that we won’t “come together” or even achieve much conservation “staying apart”, if we expend most of our energy in courtrooms and their ancillary press coverage.

Louisa Willcox (NRDC): Yes. It is possible, and right now it is critically important to try to bring together the different interests and concerns around the wolf issue in some new and constructive ways. Only by bringing together the varied interests in ways that are honest, fair, practical, and respectful can we develop a different climate and new relationships that could help resolve conflicts with wolves – and each other. This needs to happen outside conventional governmental processes at a grassroots level.

We are trying right now to explore some new possibilities with ranchers here in the region, to work together on issues of common interest around wolves; we are very excited about the prospects.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this interview, coming soon.

In related news, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service published this statement on their Web site yesterday: "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reached a settlement agreement in a lawsuit challenging its 2009 rule removing Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in the Western Great Lakes. The Service has agreed to provide an additional opportunity for public comment on the rule. Until the rule is finalized, wolves in the Western Great Lakes will again be protected by the Endangered Species Act once the court approves this agreement."
Press Release
Questions and Answers (PDF)

Patagonia Athletes Score Big Over the Weekend

2009-06-29T18:15:54-07:00

Two big contests took place over the weekend and Patagonia athletes shone brightly on both the trail and the ocean.

On Saturday, the Western States Endurance Run offered ultrarunners the challenge of 100 brutal miles stretching from Squaw Valley, California to Auburn, California. Patagonia ultrarunning team member Hal Koerner was the overall winner with a time of 16:24:55 and Patagonia ambassador Krissy Moehl took second place in the women's category (13th overall) with a time of 19:26:02. Other Patagonia ultrarunning team members in the race: Jasper Halekas (4th place overall – 16:56:26) and Andy Jones-Wilkins (11th place overall – 18:46:52). Congratulations to all the Patagonia ultrarunners on their stellar performances. Hit the jump to see a video interview with Hal Koerner after the race.

[Patagonia trail running ambassador Krissy Moehl makes a river crossing during the Western States 100. Photo: Jenny Uehisa]

Also taking place this weekend, the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) hosted their annual National Championships which is considered the highest profile youth surfing event in America. Taking first place in the Open Women's division was Patagonia ambassador Lakey Peterson (14). You can read more about Lakey's underdog victory and see "the first girl ever to pull an air at Nationals" on Surfline.com. This amazing win comes right on the heels of her first-place finish (girls 16 & under) at the WSA Prime Championships in Oceanside. Congratulations Lakey!

[Patagonia women's surf ambassador Lakey Peterson surfs well beyond her 14 years. WSA Prime Championships, Oceanside, CA. Photo courtesy of Fletcher Chouinard Designs]

[Patagonia ultrarunning team member Hal Koerner talks about his 2009 Western States 100 victory. Video courtesy of Western States Endurance Run.]

The Present – Final US Tour Show and DVD Release Party at Patagonia Cardiff

2009-06-26T15:04:04-07:00

On Saturday, June 13, Thomas Campbell's latest (and last?) surf film, The Present, came to Patagonia Cardiff, completing its journey of screenings around the U.S. and culminating with the release of the film on DVD. About 550 folks filled in to watch the free screening. The filmmaker and some surfers and shapers from the film were there – Thomas, Dan Malloy, Danny Hess, Devon Howard, Jon Wegener – along with one of the bands from the soundtrack, Ray Barbee & the Mattson 2. Jon Wegener gave away an alaia surfboard to surf trivia winner Whitney Gould. And Richard Kenvin presented a new trailer for his Hydrodynamica project, lining up all of the boards featured in the film which represents 60 years of San Diego based surfboard design all stemming from Bob Simmons.

If you weren't able to make any of the screenings, The Present DVD is now available for mail order through Patagonia Cardiff (call 760-634-9886 or email: store_cardiff@patagonia.com) and Woodshed Films. You can also purchase the DVD at select Patagonia Retail Stores: Austin, Boston, Boulder, Cardiff, Chicago, Freeport, Portland, Reno, Santa Cruz, Seattle, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Soho, Upper West Side and Ventura (picked mine up yesterday). Please call first for availability. The Present soundtrack is available on iTunes.

From hints of the alaia footage in the movie, to the first hi-res trailer, to recaps from the Encinitas and Ventura screenings, to the new trailer, we've tried to take you along for as much of this journey as possible. Thanks for coming, it's been a fun ride. For alerts on future events at Patagonia Cardiff, tune in to their Twitter feed. See you in the water.

[With thanks to Thomas Campbell, Woodshed Films, Surfing Magazine, Devon Howard, Dan Malloy and everyone involved with the film and the tour. Video by Tough Pug Pictures.]

Clean Energy Bill May Be Voted on This Week – Freedom to Roam Provisions Included

2009-06-25T12:56:21-07:00

The American Clean Energy and Security Act, HR 2454, (known as Waxman-Markey) might go to a vote in the House later this week.

At Patagonia, we have a particular interest in the provisions of the bill that support wildlife corridors and protection of migratory routes for wildlife. Specifically:

The Natural Resources Climate Change Adaptation Fund, which will provide additional money for numerous state and federal conservation programs to assist fish and wildlife adapt to the effects of climate change.
The National Wildlife Habitat and Corridors Information Program, which establishes a new program in the Department of the Interior to support states and tribes efforts to understand and map fish and wildlife habitat migration corridors, and to expand the use of computer database tools for wildlife management.
Land and Water Conservation Fund, which protects properties around the country that are important to fish and wildlife.

The United States is home to many species of wildlife that depend on wide open spaces for migration. The ability to move unimpeded across the landscape is essential to the conservation of pronghorn, salmon, elk, migratory birds, ocelot, sage grouse, and many other animals. The Western Governors' Association, state and federal agencies, conservation groups, sportsmen, ranchers, and many others recognize the importance of protecting these vital wildlife corridors, especially because of the impending problems from climate change.

Because there have been a number of comments on The Cleanest Line regarding the bill, we thought you might be interested in the Environmental Protection Agency’s new analysis of its cost to consumers.

Highlights of this analysis: Low Costs.

The overall impact on the average household, including the benefit of many of the energy efficiency provisions in the legislation, would be 22 to 30 cents per day ($80 to $111 per year). The Congressional Budget Office recently projected a cost of 48 cents per day for the average household in 2020 ($175 per year). Neither the EPA analysis nor the CBO analysis take into account the benefits of reducing global warming.
As a result of energy efficiency measures, consumer spending on utility bills would be roughly 7% lower in 2020 as a result of the legislation.

For a summary of all the economic impacts of the bill, download EPA Economic Analysis Of “The American Clean Energy And Security Act Of 2009” (PDF).

To learn more about the bill itself, check out Grist's article "Everything you always wanted to know about the Waxman-Markey energy/climate bill — in bullet points."

--Enviro Editor

Backyard Adventures: Toiyabe Trails - Part 3

2009-06-24T14:38:13-07:00

Today, we've got the final installment in Old School's Toiyabe Trails series (previous posts: Part 1, Part 2).

We personally believe any trail story is best served up with a cuppa steamy brew (or a frosty barley pop, your discretion) and the right music. Find your trail traveling theme music right here, courtesy of the Risky Biscuit Hayseed Hoot's weekly podcast.
___________________________________________________________

The morning after our unplanned layover day dawned clear and sunny, and while there was still a stiff breeze, it was nothing like the howling winds of the day before so we packed up and headed north. The TCT is split neatly in half by the Ophir Creek Road and the three of us have been backpacking long enough to never pass up the chance to lighten our load – we took advantage of the road to drop a food cache at the top of the pass before starting our hike. By lunch we were at the cache and by dinner we were enjoying cold beer and hamburgers.

[Flat spots are a rare treat along the northern stretch of the trail. Photo: OldSchool]

While the southern section is not exactly overrun with people, (we didn’t see one person in 3 days) the northern section felt like we were the first people to hike it in years. This section apparently suffers from bad PR. Even Mike White’s otherwise excellent book Backpacking Nevada gives the impression that the trail north is a hard-to-follow ridge route with virtually no water for the entire 30 miles to Kingston and he suggests that anyone attempting it should carry enough fuel to melt snow. In actuality, the trail drops off to the west numerous times and crosses quite a few streams and springs so, in early June at least, there is plenty of water. In any case, if there’s enough snow for melting, there’ll be plenty of liquid water as well.

[The Toiyabe Crest Trail stays true to its name for long stretches of its northern section. Photo: OldSchool]

The trail itself, far from being indistinct, is actually beautifully engineered and designed, and considering the lack of use, quite easy to follow as well. There were of course the occasional confusing spots: dirt roads that aren’t on the map, mazes of cattle trails and fence lines crossing the trail, but most little used trails are like that and that just adds to the fun of being in a new place.

More difficult was finding places to camp. Compared to the Sierra, where nice sites are seemingly everywhere, finding campsites in Nevada can be a bit more of a challenge and the TCT is no exception.

While the southern TCT had a smattering of horsepacker camps, for the 30 or so miles north of the Ophir Road we didn’t see one established site, just a few scattered fire rings (no self-respecting Nevadan would dare camp without having a campfire), and most of those were just a grassy ring of rocks with a pile of rotted wood sitting beside it. Finding a spot that was both flat and level was pretty much impossible so we couldn’t be too picky. The flattest places on the whole trail were the numerous saddles we traversed along the ridges, but for us it was too windy and, unless you really wanted to melt snow, too far from water as well.

[Short on water, but big on views, the TCT offers hikers a generous helping of blue for those thirsty for a deep draught of Nevada skies. Photos: OldSchool]

Further north the trail again climbs back to the crest, combining alpine vistas with stunning views of the arid valleys both east and west around every bend. Although most of the new snow had melted, there were still long ribbons of corn snow crossing the trail and dropping over a thousand feet below us, begging to be skied. My non-skiing companions quickly tired of hearing, “Man I wish I had my skis!” Although truth be told, some of the early morning snow crossings actually had me thinking, “Man, I wish I had my ice axe!” We spent the last night at Washington Creek where the mercury dipped below 20 degrees and my water bottle nearly froze solid. Desert heat indeed.

After a final climb to the 10,000’ crest, the trail dropped 3,000 feet to end in a well marked but little used trailhead just past Graves Lake near the tiny town of Kingston. After enjoying celebratory ales (still cold!) we hit the road for the hour-drive south to retrieve Chris’ truck. We took a short side trip for a well-earned (and quite necessary) soak at a nearby hot spring before making the 4-hour trip back to Reno.

[Nearing the northern end of the Toiyabe Crest Trail, near Kingston, NV. Photos: OldSchool]

Nevada has a lifetime of wild places to explore and as with anywhere in the West (or the world for that matter) many of these places are threatened by mining, development, and rampant ORV use. The Nevada Wilderness Project, who make their home right here in the Patagonia Service Center, has taken up the fight to preserve wild Nevada and protect its wildlife corridors; check out their website and see what you can do to help at: www.wildnevada.org.

This concludes Old School's tales from the Toiyabe Trails. Stay tuned for future ramblings -- Old School tries not to spend too much time behind a computer, and is rapidly racking up more Nevada trail miles than most anyone here @ Patagonia Reno. Ask him real nice, and he might tell you about some of his favorite spots tucked away in those dusty hills.

While this trip's over, remember to keep your ear right here at the Risky Biscuit Hayseed Hoot for trailside tunes and more for those sunny summer days and warm, breezy evenings.

Empty Nesters

2009-06-23T11:37:31-07:00

Kim Stroud, who manages our sample room here at Patagonia HQ in Ventura, came walking in the other morning with one of those cardboard boxes used to carry live things. In her "spare" time, Kim is executive director of the nonprofit Ojai Raptor Center, so she's always nurturing some kind of critter, not just raptors. I've seen her with possums, sea gulls, pelicans. But she says she's also cared for bobcats, fawns, even a couple of coyotes. She also deals with dead critters. Fish & Game and the Sheriff's department often call her when they find freshly car-killed deer. She dresses the carcasses and feeds the meat to her eagles.

This time Kim had baby swallows in the box. Seems the fellows at a Ventura business (which shall go unnamed) decided the bird's mud nests were a little messy. So they had their workers turn the hose on them (hey isn't there a drought in Southern Cal?), washing down about 55 birds that were just five days from being able to fly. One of the biologists who works for the business stopped the hosing when she saw all the baby swallows lying on the ground, many of them in puddles of water.

[Kim Stroud, Patagonia sample room manager and executive director of the Ojai Raptor Center, hand-feeds a baby swallow, one of 55 hosed out of their nests. All photos: Jim Little]

Kim said she had volunteers spend the weekend "driving all over the county" in search of nests in which to "re-nest" the young birds. Swallows are pretty good at building their shelters out of reach of humans, so it was challenging work. When they found some, she inserted her homemade tool (one of those little mirrors with a light on a shaft like dentists use) to see what was inside. If there weren't too many babies there, she'd plop another one in. She managed to find nests for 32.

What's even more time-consuming than inserting baby swallows in nests is feeding them, which Kim has been doing every hour or so. She said it took her and a volunteer 45 minutes to get mealworms and a squirt of gruelish formula into 53 hungry beaks. But with 32 re-nested and 15 mortalities, Kim's now down to eight swallows. Her colleagues at the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network will re-nest them.

Kim is licensed to take in all sorts of wildlife. Last year she received about 1,350 animals: 500 raptors, 650 songbirds and the rest small mammals. She says spring is a particularly busy time of year, with all the nesting. She already has hundreds of other baby birds in her care.

As for the hosers, well, they really should have known better – particularly with wildlife biologists on staff. There's a federal law that's meant to protect migratory birds from this type of tidying up during nesting season. Kim said a company in a neighboring city was fined $100,000 when it destroyed hundreds of swallow nests in violation of the Migratory Bird Act.

The hosers are bending over backwards to make amends. They're going to pay for all of the swallow rehab and make a donation to the Ojai Raptor Center. They've also agreed to purchase a lighted scope to replace the handmade job, so Kim and her volunteers have an easier time peering into nests.

"They've really tried to make it right," Kim said. "They know they made a big [and potentially costly] mistake. They've promised it'll never happen again."

FAQ of the day: What to do if you find an orphaned or injured animal in Ventura County?

Kim keeps the babies in a box with scraps of our Regulator insulation material.

Swallow sustenance in the form of mealworms and gruel.

A hungry beak.

Please visit www.ojairaptorcenter.org to see more of what Kim does and to support her vital work.

Dirtbag Diaries: The Dreamers

2009-06-19T13:47:20-07:00

It's Friday, and the Dirtbag Diaries are here to help you celebrate solstice with some sonic storytelling. Show host Fitz Cahall has the beta on today's episode:

“I had convinced myself at that point that my goal was so important it was worth dying for,” says alpine master Steve House about his 15-year-old dream of climbing the Rupal Face. Big Dreams require big commitment. We may not all dream on the same scale and commitment levels, but we all share dreams. They pull us through our lives on solid ground. Today writer and climber Sarah Garlick presents: The Dreamers – reflections from four generations of the world’s best climbers: Steve House, Henry Barber, Steve Schneider, and Colin Haley. In the process Sarah found out a little bit about herself. Do you have a life long dream? What if you completed it? What if you never realized it?

Listen to "The Dreamers"
(mp3 - 31:15 - right-click to download)

You can subscribe to the Dirtbag Diaries via iTunes and RSS, or connect with Fitz via Facebook and Twitter. For more from today's guest host, Sarah Garlick, check out her book Flakes, Jugs, and Splitters: A Rock Climber's Guide to Geology or her Patagonia field report "Open Bivy."

Visit the myspace page of The Secret Life of Sofia to purchase their album Seven Summits -- the featured music on today's episode. Says Fitz, "I really dig this album. It's very difficult to write songs that speak to the power of high places without falling into ridiculous cliché. I've listened to this album dozens of times and at each listen I find some new historical reference or emotion I recognize from my own connection to the mountains. It is in some ways as much a novel as it is a record and [lead singer Kyle] Wilson avoids the cliché by sticking to inventive images that we all know and recognize but would never think to include in a song. Seriously, check it out."