Happy Earth Day Everyone

I'll use any excuse to fire up the Egg and have a drink. :ohmy: I think tonight I will turn all the lights on in my house in obsevance of Earf Day. That way everyone will know "I care".

Gordon

I promise to do my part for global warming by keeping my eggs at 300 or below for tonights cooks but pizza's are on for the weekend :ohmy:

Those who are my friends on Facebook may have already seen this, but I was tasked by my CEO group to articulate a core belief in 300-500 words. I enjoyed the exercise and thought that on Earth Day it would be appropriate to share (I'm speaking it to my peers tomorrow).

THIS I BELIEVE

I believe in the renewal that I experience from time I have spent in nature. To many, nature is a place of uncomfortable temperature extremes, encounters with arthropods and carnivores, and an unnecessary departure from creature comforts. In reality nature can be that way - I have slept on the ground in -3 degree temperatures, stood between an angry bear with a wounded paw and a food-filled backpack, and spent four days hiking in constant rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow. I believe that in fact it is those very experiences that renew me and provide a sense of both respect and appreciation of nature.

It’s no mystery where my love of nature had its beginnings. My family began camping vacation trips when I was about five years old. We drove approximately the circumference of the Earth to such far flung destinations as Maine, Northern Michigan, North Carolina, and various National Parks and Forests in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. At the age of 19 I took my first backpack trip in Colorado by hiking 30 miles over four mountain passes of over 12,000 feet elevation. This developed into what has been a lifetime of backpacking and close encounters with nature. These encounters have been a balance of physical exertion and discomfort with joy and a sense of purpose. I recently stumbled across a diary that I kept during a 1983 trip into the Snowmass Maroon Bells Wilderness. What stood out was how uncomfortable I was during much of the trip – a wet sleeping bag from excessive rainfall, cold temperatures at night, and blisters on my feet from hiking in wet boots. At first glance the words in my journal indicated that I was unhappy. In reality I clearly remember returning home with fabulous memories and a strong sense of accomplishment. Time that I’ve spent in nature, whether it be hiking or camping has instilled in me the following beliefs:

#1) A shower can be a religious experience after days of backpacking with little to no personal grooming.

#2) Time loses a great deal of importance in nature. One’s daily activity is driven by need: you eat when you’re hungry; you sleep when you’re tired. On one backpack excursion I was into the third or fourth day of a seven day trip which took me dangerously close to civilization. I encountered several day hikers, one of whom asked me if I knew what time it was. My response was: “Hell I don’t know what day it is”. I wasn’t carrying a watch and had honestly lost track of time.

#3) My time spent in nature affords me time to reflect, particularly under star-filled skies. There is great mystery of the vastness of the universe. I believe we as a “civilized” nation have lost much from being unable to see and reflect upon the millions of stars in the sky due to air and light pollution. I remember being enthralled as a child to see the Milky Way, numerous constellations, and satellites crossing the night sky. My suburban existence as an adult has robbed me of that joy and wonder.

I believe that nature helps ground me in my place on earth. My role is not to conquer or be isolated from it. Rather, I see myself as a caretaker, a participant, a defender of those last great places on Earth.

Outstanding Roudy, always nice to find someone who thinks very similarly to ones self. I have been a student of the Great Outdoors all my life also and share in many similar experiences.

Gator

Happy Earth Day to you also Fidel and everyone else here. I think everyday should be an Earth Day but realize that might be a little extreme for some. As they say, "It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness."

Gator

i don't know you are joking, but it actually is far better to use lump charcoal than to use, say, coal or LP gas. or electricity from coal powered plants.

lump is renewable. the carbon in your lump was in the air as CO2 maybe fifty years ago.

but the other stuff all comes from carbon that's been locked away for a few million years, and is basically a net add to the system.