***Pedaling the lonesome road
– “Every late September for the past dozen years, people such as Bennett and Boyden have gathered in South Lake Tahoe for the five-day trek across the Silver State via Highway 50 known as OATBRAN (One Awesome Tour Bike Ride Across Nevada). And though there are many other official, organized cross- state junkets around the nation, this ride differs in one huge degree: There are rarely more than 60 riders involved (compare that with the 10,000 or so who regularly cycle across Iowa in the annual RAGBRAI event), giving OATBRAN an intimacy that dovetails nicely with the ride’s solitude.” [SFGate]
Info at http://www.BikeTheWest.com:
A lone rider stares out at the horizon and the trail that lay before him. It will be a long day challenging the elements, climbing and descending summits, and facing the solitude of the wide open spaces. He takes a long drink of water as a welcomed breeze greets the beads of sweat on his brow and the fragrant smell of sage and juniper fills the air. As he mounts up, he glances back from where he has already come. As far as he can see, he is surrounded by the awesome beauty of the Great Basin … massive mountain ranges that rise from wide valley floors. It is this panorama that reminds him of what it was that brought him west in the first place. As he rides out, visions of a hearty meal, a cold drink and tales of the day’s adventure shared with other riders, is what he looks forward to at the end of the day.
***Adventure Pass is losing support
[SFGate]
In a stunning victory for hikers, bikers and anglers, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., announced Tuesday that she is opposed to requiring the current Adventure Pass for recreation on national forests.
[Alasdair] Coyne, quoting a General Accounting Office report, said that in 2001, it cost the Forest Service $15 million in collection costs to bring in $15 million in revenue with the new pass. When the program was started, the Forest Service promised a maximum overhead of 15 percent. Some in the Forest Service dispute the GAO figures, and what percentage of money actually hits the ground is also disputed.
Because some districts of the Forest Service charge recreation fees and others do not, the program is not equitable to all public users, Boxer’s spokesman said.
***States to Fight Relaxation of Power-Plant Pollution Standards.
Environmental groups and state officials are challenging a White House plan to relax pollution-control regulations. By David Kocieniewski. [New York Times: Business]
***E.P.A. Says It Lacks Power to Regulate Some Gases.
The environmental agency said that it did not have the legal authority to regulate emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases under the Clean Air Act. By Jennifer 8. Lee. [New York Times: Business]
The gist of this story is that the Environmental Protection Agency under the Bush administration has decided that it will not protect the environment from greenhouse gases. The automakers are pleased.
—–
August 29, 2003
Posted by gdanmitchell |
Commentary |
Comments Off on 2003.08.29
Dan's Outside 
2003.08.29
***Pedaling the lonesome road
– “Every late September for the past dozen years, people such as Bennett and Boyden have gathered in South Lake Tahoe for the five-day trek across the Silver State via Highway 50 known as OATBRAN (One Awesome Tour Bike Ride Across Nevada). And though there are many other official, organized cross- state junkets around the nation, this ride differs in one huge degree: There are rarely more than 60 riders involved (compare that with the 10,000 or so who regularly cycle across Iowa in the annual RAGBRAI event), giving OATBRAN an intimacy that dovetails nicely with the ride’s solitude.” [SFGate]
Info at http://www.BikeTheWest.com:
***Adventure Pass is losing support
[SFGate]
***States to Fight Relaxation of Power-Plant Pollution Standards.
Environmental groups and state officials are challenging a White House plan to relax pollution-control regulations. By David Kocieniewski. [New York Times: Business]
***E.P.A. Says It Lacks Power to Regulate Some Gases.
The environmental agency said that it did not have the legal authority to regulate emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases under the Clean Air Act. By Jennifer 8. Lee. [New York Times: Business]
The gist of this story is that the Environmental Protection Agency under the Bush administration has decided that it will not protect the environment from greenhouse gases. The automakers are pleased.
—–
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August 29, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.08.29