Dan's Outside

2003.09.07

***And I’m back
from a short but beautiful trip to the Fletcher Lake area of Yosemite. More later, including photos. UPDATE: A busy day, with no time to post photos. But scroll down to my earlier picture of the same area between Lake Townsley and Ireland Lake that I took last October.
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September 7, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.09.07

2003.09.04

***Tuolumne
– here I come… :-) Watch for photos in a few days.
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September 4, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.09.04

2003.09.03

***Battle over the Parks
– A third of GGNRA’s staff could be in competition for their jobs if the Bush administration’s park privatization plan becomes a reality. [SFGate]

It’s not that Collman is sloughing off or not committed. His days start at 4 in the morning. When he speaks about preserving national parks for his daughter’s generation and beyond, he adopts the sober rectitude of a ranger who’s caught you about to toss a beer can into a wetland marsh.

Collman, along with the rest of the maintenance staff at GGNRA, is scheduled to be scrutinized next year to see if a private company could do his job for less money. It’s part of a little-known push by the Bush administration called competitive sourcing.

***A Grizzly’s-Eye View of a Refuge That Oil Drillers Covet.
A visit to the virtually untouched wilderness of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge provides a new perspective on the drilling debate. By Nicholas D. Kristof. [New York Times: Science]

One of those bears, a grizzly, approached as I was preparing lunch, then lumbered away. I’m packing bear spray, a kind of Mace used to fend off grizzlies and polar bears. Walt Audi, a legendary bush pilot here, explained how to use the spray: “If a bear attacks you, just spray yourself in the face, and you won’t see it.” So it’s hard to feel that this a place where humans are in charge. And that is precisely what makes the Arctic refuge so special.

***E.P.A. Relaxes Restrictions on Sales of Contaminated Land.
The Environmental Protection Agency has reversed a 25-year-old policy, relaxing restrictions on selling some land contaminated with PCB’s for redevelopment. By Jennifer 8. Lee. [New York Times: Science] No surprise here…

Some agency employees say the longstanding restriction on the sale of PCB-contaminated land served as an incentive for owners to notify the agency of the contamination and clean up their property. Notifying the agency before the sale of contaminated property and getting the agency’s approval of a cleanup plan helped protect sellers from liability after the sale. About 100 sites a year came up for agency approval, employees say.

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September 3, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.09.03

2003.09.01

***Yosemite and the Invention of Wilderness.
The writer and environmentalist Rebecca Solnit believes that the American idea of pristine wilderness a profoundly mistaken fantasy. By James Gorman. [New York Times: Science]

Not that the generations of Yosemite worshipers that followed venerated mainstream American culture and the exploitation of natural resources. Far from it. On a rock dome overlooking Lake Tenaya, working with Mr. Wolfe on a photograph, with Ms. Solnit observing, Mr. Klett said: “What we saw in the Adams photographs is: `This is nature. And it’s beautiful because you’re not there.’ “

This article describes an interesting and thought-provoking perspective on American wilderness. I’d like to read the books. However, I don’t agree with this flippant dismissal of Ansel Adams’ work. It is wrong on two counts at least. First, I don’t agree that Adams is telling us “this is beautiful because you are not here.” Quite the contrary: I believe that Adams invites us to imagine ourselves in these places having the same experience that he had when capturing the images.. Secondly, I do not think that one can ignore the abstract formal nature of his photographs and simply, as this writer seems to suggest, regard them as pictures of places. They are images of light and shadow and form and in this sense are even somewhat abstract in spite of their seemingly stubborn realism.

***Water Issues Erupt at Central Asia Forum.
Antagonism surrounding water issues in Central Asia erupted at a forum
on the region’s deteriorating environment. By Agence France-presse. [New York Times: Business]

Experts
warn that Central Asia is heading toward a crisis as water
mismanagement has already severely reduced the size of the Aral Sea,
straddling Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, leaving a 154,450-square-mile
toxic wasteland that threatens three million local residents.

Started the new month with
a bike ride. Although some trees are starting to turn to fall colors
and the late-summer haze has come to Santa Clara Valley, I know – after
many years of not believing it – that we have as much as two more
months of warm weather before the season really changes in central California.

Between Lake Townsley and Ireland Lake, Yosemite National Park. October 13, 2002.

September is, in some ways, the
best time for Sierra backpacking. Everything seems to slow down; nearly all of the crowds have left,
the mosquitos have diminished, and meadows are turning golden. I hope
to take two short trips to the Tuolumne area in the next few weeks, and
end the season with a traditional mid-October weekend trip.
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September 1, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.09.01

2003.08.31

***Streisand Goes Coastal Over Web Photo Effort
– [SFGate]

The more than 12,000 images they have posted on http://www.californiacoastline.org are not the first to document California’s Pacific boundary. But the digital technology, free access and user-friendly Web site design are unprecedented.

In addition to scenes of spectacular loveliness, the project also documents illegal seawalls, sewage outflows, erosion and masses of new development.

But not everyone appreciated their efforts.

Arguing that the photograph violated her privacy, [Barbara] Streisand filed a $50 million lawsuit in May demanding that the photo including her house be removed from the site, along with the caption reading “Streisand Estate, Malibu.”

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August 31, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.08.31

2003.08.30

***Steward of a Department He Once Sought to Scrap.
When Spencer Abraham was a senator from Michigan, he had one big idea for the Department of Energy. Abolish it. By Katharine Q. Seelye. [New York Times: Business] Another example of the Bush foxes guarding the henhouse…

***Now Hear This
– Bill Moyers speaks his mind on Bush-brand environmental destruction and more.

This is stealth war on the environment in the name of ideology. But you’re right — there is a very powerful political process at work here, too. It’s payback time for their rich donors. In the 2000 elections, the Republicans outspent the Democrats by $200 million. Bush and Cheney — who, needless to say, are oilmen who made their fortunes in the energy business — received over $44 million from the oil, gas, and energy industries. It spills over into Congress too: In the 2002 congressional elections, Republican candidates received almost $15 million from the energy industries, while the Democrats got around $3.7 million. In our democracy, voters can vote but donors decide.

***Oopsies! Scores of Mink Feed on Farm Animals
– “Days after 10,000 mink were released from a farm in southern Snohomish County” [in a protest action by members of the Animal Liberation Front] “, hundreds of the animals not yet captured have converged on local farms in search of food. The animals had killed at least 25 exotic birds and attacked other livestock in the area.”
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August 30, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.08.30

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:

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.
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August 29, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.08.29

2003.08.28

***A Quick Quicksilver Hike
this foggy morning. I got to Almaden Quicksilver County Park before 7:30 am after dropping my son off at school. This was one of those late August mornings when I can sense that autumn is not all that far off.

The leaves have started falling along the Mine Hill trail.

Late-season flowers and seeds.

Foggy side canyon.

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August 28, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.08.28

Green World Photographs

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Four Oaks, Yosemite Valley. Yosemite National Park, California. April 21, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell. (Sales)

Dogwood Blossoms. Yosemite National Park, California. April 21, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell. (Sales)

Autumn Leaves and Granite. Yosemite Valley, California. October 22, 2006. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell (Sales)

Dogwood Leaves, Autumn. Yosemite National Park, California. October 22, 2006. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell. (Sales)

Oak and Moon, Morning. Calero Hills, California. January 7, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell. (Sales)

Dogwood Trees, October. Yosemite National Park. October 22, 2006. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell. (Sales)

Forest Ferns. Yosemite Valley, California. June 11, 2006. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell. (Sales)

Aspen Grove. North Lake, California. October 1, 2006. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell. (Sales)

Yosemit Creek aspen. Yosemite National Park. October 10, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Three flowers and rock at Lamarck Col. August 12, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Forest floor near North Lake. August 13, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Aspen and rock near North Lake. August 13, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Alpine flowers growing at 12,880′ Lamarck Col. August 12, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Wildflowers near North Lake. August 13, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Tree trunks. Almaden Quicksilver Park. August 4, 2003. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Lone tree near Woods Creek on the JMT. July 15, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Iceplant. CSU-Monterey Bay. July 24, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Shooting Stars. John Muir Trail at Kings River Crossing. July 14, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Backlit winter trees. Almaden Quicksilver Park. January 31, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Almaden Quicksilver early autumn leaves. September 28, 2003. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Leaves on the Wood Road trail, Sierra Azul Open Space. June 13, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Castle Rock State Park. May 22, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Irisis. Castle Rock State Park. May 22, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Iris. Castle Rock State Park. May 22, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Trees in fog. Castle Rock State Park. May 22, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Madrone root. Castle Rock State Park. May 22, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Dogwood, Yosemite. May 15, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Leaves in shade. Castle Rock State Park. April 25, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Plant on Rock. Castle Rock State Park. April 25, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Pink and white flowers on the Mission Peak trail. April 24, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Fairy Lantern. Almaden Quicksilver Park. April 18, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Poison Oak. Almaden Quicksilver Park. April 18, 2004.

Flowers and seeds. Almaden Quicksilver Park. August 28, 2003. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Fog and trees. Almaden Quicksilver Park. August 28, 2003. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Another flower from Almaden Quicksilver Park. April 10, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Blue flowers. Almaden Quicksilver Park. April 10, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Flowers and trees at Almaden Quicksilver Park. April 10, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Flowers on the New Almaden Trail. March 3, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Almaden Quicksilver Park. March 27, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Castle Rock State Park. January 19, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Almaden Quicksilver Park. February 13, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Almaden Quicksilver Park. February 29, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Flowers on the Deep Gulch Trail. February 14, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Flowers at Almaden Quicksilver Park. February 13, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

January flowers. Almaden Quicksilver Park. January 31, 2004. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Three yellow leaves in my backyard. December 6, 2003. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Apple leaves in my backyard. Photo copyright Dan Mitchell

Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.

Photo copyright Dan Mitchell.
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August 27, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Green World Photographs

2003.08.27

&uot
Photo of apple leaves taken in my yard

***West Nile: What’s the Risk?
– “So far this year, health officials report more than 1,300 human cases and 19 deaths from West Nile virus. Those numbers are certain to climb in the next few weeks. Yet, as NPR’s Jon Hamilton reports, experts insist that the risk of dying or becoming seriously ill from the mosquito-borne disease is remarkably small. Find out who faces the highest risk and get prevention tips.”

***”Water in the West”
– a multipart series on NPR.

• Part 1: John Wesley Powell’s Vision
• Part 2: The Mighty Colorado

***New EPA rule draws flak, smog.
A ruling this week lets plants remodel with no new emissions limits. Whither the Clean Air Act? [Christian Science Monitor | Top Stories]
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August 27, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.08.27