Cold Splinters

(via MOCS1986)

A NASA satellite slammed into the moon a month ago carving out a 60 – to 100-foot wide hole that kicked up at least 24 gallons of water.

“We got more than just whiff,” said Peter H. Schultz, a professor of geological sciences at Brown University and a co-investigator of the mission. “We practically tasted it with the impact.” ***

MP3: Sutherland Brothers & Quiver – Love On The Moon (thx)

On December 2, 1971, its first anniversary, the EPA inititated Project Documerica to document the successes and failures of the EPA in battling environmental degradation. “EPA has a clear mandate to arrest pollution and to help improve the American environment,” said William D. Ruckelshaus, head of the EPA, in a 1971 press release. “We are working toward a new environmental ethic in this decade which will bring profound change in how we live, and in how we provide for future generations. It is important that we document that change so future generations will understand our successes and our failures.” (via)

The pictures above are David Hiser’s contribution to Documerica, a series of photos of America’s southwest desert. See more after the jump.

(more…)

Water of the White Mountains, are you frozen yet?

Please hurry.

MP3: Best Coast – When I’m With You

Denali National Park is looking for a Park Ranger (Kennels Manager). It pays around 60K a year, you’re responsible for 20 – 25 government-owned dogs and you’ll be using those dogs to patrol the Denali wilderness and maintain winter trails. Read the full description here:

As the manager of the kennels the incumbent is responsible for the feeding, training, conditioning, breeding, and basic health care of between 25 and 35 government-owned dogs and the maintenance of associated equipment. Additionally, under the close supervision and mentoring of the district ranger and other employees the incumbent will assist with a comprehensive visitor and resource protection program by utilizing dog teams to patrol the park wilderness to break and maintain winter trails, monitor wildlife activity and assist visitors; lead other employees in patrolling by dogsled; plan and coordinate freight hauling trips by dog-sled in the park wilderness; and perform as a member of the district team to maintain year-round emergency management and response capability. The incumbent will receive additional training and mentoring in order to educate and inform the public about the significance and uniqueness of park resources and the history and relevance of the sled-dog tradition in Denali National Park and Alaska using formal and informal interpretation techniques. Will participate in and plan intensive summer visitor program schedules. The incumbent may lead the day-to-day activities of employees and volunteers.

(Via The Goat)

All public recreation land managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation will waive entrance fees for the general public on Veterans Day, November 11th. You still have to pay for camping, lodging, etc. (via LA Times)

Buy a Parks Pass for $80 and everyday of the year will seem free.

No question that a mountain goat is one of the more spectacular things you can see while hiking/camping. The only time I’ve seen one, albeit from a hefty distance, was on my first trip to ROMO in 2001. Pretty amazing creature. Despite its vernacular name, it is not a member of Capra, the genus of true goats. According to Wikipedia:

The mountain goat is an even-toed ungulate of the order Artiodactyla and the family Bovidae that includes antelopes and cattle. It belongs to the subfamily Caprinae, along with thirty-two other species including true goats, sheep, the chamois, and the musk ox. The mountain goat is the only species in the genus Oreamnos. The name Oreamnos is derived from the Greek term oros (stem ore-) “mountain” (or, alternatively, oreas “mountain nymph”) and the word amnos “lamb.”

Interesting? Maybe. (Via OhRanger)

Eric Ryback hiked the entire Appalachian Trail in 1969 when he was only 17 years old. The next summer he was the first person to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, 2500 miles from Canada to Mexico. He did it in 132 days carrying an 80 pound pack. Two years later he became the first person to complete backpacking’s “triple crown” by hiking 3,000 miles along the Continental Divide, approximating a route that now makes up the Continental Divide Trail. He wrote a book (above), had a bunch of articles written about him, tasted a little celebrity, then hung up his boots and reemerged in the 90s as a one of the nation’s most accomplished mutual fund managers. Makes sense.

A few pictures from his PCT hike can be found here.

In 1910, three million acres of forest in Idaho and Montana – an area the size of Connecticut – burned down, making it the largest forest fire in American history. Timothy Egan’s new book, The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and The Fire That Saved American, argues the fire, which claimed 70 lives, actually saved our nation’s forests by strengthening the U.S. Forest Service and rallying public opinion behind Roosevelt’s plan to protect national lands. Listen to Egan discuss the book on Fresh Air and then read a chapter here.

I spent last night getting drunk on a huge bottle of cheap red wine, slovenly walking around the living room playing 6th-grader pentatonic solos to Europe ’72. Whether it really is the band’s best album or because it’s the one that followed me around most of my young adult life, Europe ’72 is the one to have. If there’s something better than “Ramble On Rose” to blast through a shit car stereo on the way to wherever you’re going, then I’m not sure I want to know it.

MP3: Grateful Dead – Ramble On Rose

Argue with me, go ahead. What’s better?