Climbers’ stewardship

The Boulder Climbing Community, a local group of, you guessed it, climbers, wants to clean up its own mess in Boulder Canyon.

The BCC’s proposal suggests a cooperative effort to restore damage already done and to prevent harmful impacts in the future. Briggs lists five to 10 approach and descent routes that are in critical need of attention, but he hopes to eventually establish marked trails to the nearly 100 climbing rocks in the canyon.

“We’re trying to get permission to be our own stewards and to solve our own problem,” said Roger Briggs, who founded the BCC last January and is known as a local climbing legend for his 104 ascents of the Diamond, Longs Peak’s treacherous east face.

Check out the rest of the story at the Daily Camera, “Group wants formal trails to climbing areas in Boulder Canyon,” and then weigh in with YOUR thoughts.

Beetle woes to continue

Boulder residents are wondering if something good could come from this bitterly cold weather,  namely a decrease in the pine beetles attacking lodgepole and ponderosa pine trees.Unfortunately, the answer is no. Despite highs of 12, 3 and 10 degrees for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, the beetles will return this summer.

“It’s very unlikely that these temperatures will be cold enough to significantly affect the pine beetles,” said Tom Veblen, professor of geography at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Data collected by D.A. Leatherman, I. Aguayo, and T.M. Mehall in their report, “Mountain Pine Beetle,” determined that temperatures of at least 30 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit) must last for five days at the least in order for freezing temperatures to make an impact on the pine beetle population.

Yes, we hate you Mr. Beetle. Photo by Jeff Mitton.

Veblen explains that the cold’s duration is necessary because the beetles are in an extreme state of dormancy during the winter, offering them great protection. Also, the recorded temperatures are vastly different from what the beetles experience.

“The temperature at the weather station is likely to be quite a bit colder (than where the beetle is,) beneath the snow and beneath the bark,” he said.

To the dismay of many, the beetles will be back.

For more information about the recent cold spell, see “Temperatures in Boulder climb back towards normal.”

Go green(er), get funding

Here in Boulder, we’ve got people who care about animals, who protect plants, and who worry about rocks. We’ve got groups watching out for mammals, birds and rodents. We love our outdoor sports and work to take care of the environment in which we play.

In short, Boulder rocks at being green.

Yep. There are groups out there protecting little rat things like this. Photo by Jeff Mitton.

And so I have a proposal for all of you environmentally savvy individuals: Enter yourself or tell someone you admire to enter him/herself to be a winner in the Green Awards before March 6.

Mr. or Ms. first place winner gets $25,000 and a trip to Los Angeles for the Green Awards celebration (although why they’re hosting the bash in such a smog-filled city is beyond me).

So here’s the place to sign up: https://www.thegreenawards.com.

And please, get in touch with Courtney, Laura or Dave at the Daily Camera when you win. It’ll make a sweet story.

How do you take your coffee?

Cream? Sugar? Reusable coffee cup?

I’ve been miffed more than once by the thoughtless way a barista (or baristo … is that the term for a male cafe worker?) hands over a double non-fat triple shot no whip mocha latte.

Not so much by her technique, but by her lack of questioning. Whatever happened to “Is this for here or to go?”

Because if it’s for here, why not take your brew in big cozy mug? You’ll be saving a cup and one of those cardboard hand-scalding protector thingys from the landfill. AND, often times the person behind the counter will warm up the mug with hot water and THEN put coffee in the cup.

But maybe that leisurely lifestyle doesn’t apply to you. There’s no time to sit and read in a coffee shop; your boss expects you at work pronto! Why not consider investing in a reusable mug? There are bazillions of sweet designs and you’ll be helping to save the world. PLUS, your mug will make you more distinctive, likely upping your coffee-drinker prestige to one of those special individuals addressed by the barista by name.

Intrigued? Here’s more info from a rockin’ website Sustainability is Sexy about “The Basic Problem with Coffee Cups.”

Climate Change NOT mentioned in State of the Union Address: Why?

Boulder is a hotbed of environmentalists. How do we feel about Obama’s omission of the topic in his State of the Union address?

Do YOU agree with David Roberts, who writes the following:

“In his 2009 State of the Union-esque speech, Obama spoke of “saving our planet from the ravages of climate change.” In his 2010 SOTU, he affirmed the “overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change.” In 2011, fresh off the hottest year on record, Obama said … nothing about climate change. It didn’t come up. “

Read more of “Obama was wrong not to mention climate change in his State of the Union” at Grist.org.

If you have a minute, we’d love to hear what you have to say. Just drop us a message.

Human cheese: gag or brag?

Cheese procured from people, not goats, cows or some other hairy momma animal?

Does the thought pique your interest or stimulate your gag reflex?

“After the shock of imagining what it would be like to consume cheese made from human milk, the real question becomes: Why does it make us so uncomfortable?”

Read more of Danielle Gould’s fascinating interview at Grist.org: Care for some human cheese?

Bigger mountains worth the drive?

Photo Credit: Breckenridge Ski Resort/Liam Doran

Are you one of the weekend warriors who ritually escapes to the mountains for steep runs and deep powder? Have you ever wondered about your commuting statistics?

I found these numbers for a one-way trip rather interesting. Hope you do too.

So let’s say you’re starting on the corner of 10th and Pearl and heading up to the mountains …

Eldora Mountain Resort

Driving time: 30 minutes

Distance: 17 miles

Gas used: 0.68 gallons

Money spent on gas: $1.90

A Basin Ski Area

Driving time: 1 hour, 41 minutes

Distance: 75 miles

Gas used: 3 gallons

Money spent on gas: $8.38

Winter Park Resort

Driving time: 1 hour, 43 minutes

Distance: 77.5 miles

Gas used: 3.1 gallons

Money spent on gas: $8.65

Copper Mountain

Driving time: 1 hour, 56 minutes

Distance: 89 miles

Gas used: 3.56 gallons

Money spent on gas: $9.94

Breckenridge Ski Resort

Driving time: 2 hours, 3 minutes

Distance: 92 miles

Gas used: 3.69 gallons

Money spent on gas: $10.29

Vail  Ski Resort

Driving time: 2 hours, 16 minutes

Distance: 109 miles

Gas used: 4.36 gallons

Money spent on gas: $12.16

Winter Bike to Work Day 2011 photos: before the snowstorm

OK, so the photos the official photo guys took are far better. Er, not that those people are better looking … just that … well …

I’m just going to stop while I’m ahead.

Here are a few more shots (obviously taken before yesterday’s snowstorm). Want more info on the event? Read more

Winter Bike to Work Day: Great Success

Did you read that title in your best Borat impersonation? Because that’s how I wrote it. If not, here’s the man himself.

So Winter Bike to Work Day was in fact, a great success. You see, people like to bike. They also like free food.

Michael White, 15, bikes to school each day with his dad, Mark. But the free food offered throughout Boulder on the city’s third annual Winter Bike to Work Day today added an extra incentive to commute on two wheels.

“Why can’t you guys do this every day?” Michael, a New Vista High School student, said as he ate a tamale from a food stall outside the Pedal to Properties real estate firm on Boulder’s Pearl Street. “Then I can stop having cold cereal in the morning.”

Check out “the rest of the story,” (that was supposed to be your attempt at Paul Harvey) at Hundreds participate in Boulder’s third Winter Bike to Work Day.

Bike wearing mittens to get free muffins

Or something like that.

Tomorrow is Boulder’s Third Annual Winter Bike to Work Day. So add an extra layer, wear something windproof and make sure your pant leg won’t get caught in your bike spokes ( because even if you’re doing something rad for the environment like commuting by bike, you’ll look dumb if you endo–like THIS poor sap–for such a lame reason).

So what exactly is going on with this event? From 7 to 9 a.m., local businesses will be providing warm drinks and breakfast vittles. Find out which businesses are participating after the jump. Read more