Everglades Back On UN Endangered List?

Needless to say, when the Bush Administration took the Everglades off the United Nations list of endangered sites, it was a controversial decision. Most critics chalked it up to Bush's complete disregard of all things environment while supporters argued that by originally being put on the list back in 1993, the Everglades achieved a restoration project and the UN's money should now be spent in other much poorer countries. Unfortunately the restoration hadn't been completed yet.Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and The Obama Administration announced today that they will move to put the Everglades back on the UN list of endangered sites. Salazar claims that Bush's decision was "without adequate consultations with the National Park Service, the state of Florida and other stakeholders."My only experience in the Everglades was two years ago when a friend (Tim, pictured above and the mastermind behind this site) and I paddled for three days around Cape Sable, but as most people that know me are well are of, that trip was one of the most extraordinary three days I ever spent on this Earth and easily one of the best life/camping experiences I've ever had. Go there. It's un-fucking-believably beautiful, scary, hot, and vast. And f-ed.(Via The Goat)MP3: Macon Ed and Tampa Joe - Mean Florida Blues

Crazy Creek HexaLite Original

hexalite-originalThere is rarely a situation that wouldn't be made better by a Crazy Creek. If God went camping, he'd for sure choose a Crazy Creek over the sawed off stump that he created with his own two hands a few years back. They're just that comfortable. I was obsessed with my Crazy Creek after I went to summer camp for the first time. I kept one in the trunk of my car until I was 22 when I lost the need for an automobile. But in the backcountry, the chair's awkward shape and size just don't work too well. It was always sad to have to leave it behind.Good news. Last year, Crazy Creek came out with the HexaLite Original, HexaLite LongBack, and the HexaLite PowerLounger, which weigh in at 14.8, 18.5, and 21.6 ounces respectively. They're the lightest chairs the company has ever made, using comfortable 1/2" Hexagonal-cored foam and a polyester mesh seating surface. Most importantly, they roll up so you can easily strap them to the outside of your pack when you get on the trail. Crazy Creek was nice enough to send Cold Splinters a HexaLite Original to test out and we highly recommend getting one. The chair is a little narrow and it's not as comfortable as "The Original," but sitting around the campfire in one of these after unrolling it from the straps of your bag is pure bliss. Sure, they're not necessary. You could save the weight. But it's summer now which means you're packing less and might not need a tent, so spend the $33 and make your ass and back happy.And if you don't trust me, The Gear Junkie put it on his 2008 Top 10 Gear Picks Under $30.MP3: Little Feat - Roll Um Easy

The Maine Woods

My two old friends, Sean and Adrienne, both of whom have been my Maine tour guides for a majority of the time that I have spent in that wonderful place over the past several years, spent the night in my Brooklyn apartment last night. They've painted my face in Portland while I pounded on an electric organ, blasted Ali Farka Touré on a hot summer day while driving down the coast in Harpswell, and introduced me to the world's best smell, Sweet Annie, at the Common Ground Country Fair in Unity. Sean stomped into my apartment around 6:00 pm yesterday, carrying a bass guitar he picked up for me on Long Island and wearing his Quoddys, excited as hell to tell me all about the summer that he and Adrienne will be spending in Portland. Since my folks moved up to the Portsmouth, NH, I've spent a good deal of time around the southern parts of the state, but my version of Maine is all them. For better of worse. The way life should be.From The Maine Woods by Henry David Thoreau:

You commonly make your camp just at sundown, and are collecting wood, getting your supper, or pitching your tent while the shades of night are gathering around and adding to the already dense gloom of the forest. You have no time to explore or look around you before it is dark. You may penetrate half a dozen rods farther into that twilight wilderness, after some dry bark to kindle your fire with, and wonder what mysteries lie hidden still deeper in it, say at the end of a long day's walk; or you may run down to the shore for a dipper of water, and get a clearer view for a short distance up or down the stream, and while you stand there, see a fish leap, or a duck alight in the river, or hear a wood-thrush or robin sing in the woods. That is as if you had been to town or civilized parts. But there is no sauntering off to see the country, and ten or fifteen rods seems a great way from your companions, and you come back with the air of a much traveled man, as from a long journey, with adventures to relate, though you may have heard the crackling of the fire all the while, - and at a hundred rods you might be lost past recovery, and have to camp out. It is all mossy and moosey. In some of those dense fir and spruce woods there is hardly room for the smoke to go up. The trees are a standing night, and every fir and spruce which you fell is a plume plucked from the night's raven wing. Then at night the general stillness is more impressive than any sound, but occasionally you hear the note of an owl farther or nearer in the woods, and if near a lake, the semi-human cry of the loons at their unearthly levels.

MP3: Ali Farka Touré - Timbarma

Smokey Bear

screenshot_023A few Smokey Bear facts:1) The living symbol of Smokey Bear, the United States Forest Service mascot, was a black bear that was caught in the Capitan Gap fire, a wildfire that burned 17, 000 acres in the Capitan Mountains of New Mexico in 1950. The bear climbed a tree to escape the fire, but his paws and legs were burned when he was found and rescued.2) "Smokey The Bear" or "Smokey Bear?" Smokey Bear. The "the" was added in 1952 by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins while writing the bear's anthem. In order to maintain the correct rhythm, they needed to add the extra syllable.3) The Smokey Bear campaign is the longest running public service campaign in history.4) In April 2001, Smokey's message was updated to "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires."And now you know.Read: Smokey's WikipediaLook: Smokey's Poster Archive MP3: Smokey The Bear A few Smokey Bear PSAs after the jump...

Barbara Dane and the chambers brothers

screenshot_0115Y'all hear this record before? I know there's a ton of records that make you feel like you're laying down in the room with the band while they practice the songs for the first time, but this one rubs me real good. Right as rain. Good way to ring in the 500th post up in here. Thanks for reading/commenting/hating/not giving a shit/listening/making fun of me 500 times.MP3: Barbara Dane and The Chambers Brothers - Go Tell It On The MountainMP3: Barbara Dane and The Chambers Brother - I Am Weary and a Lonesome Traveler

Beer In A bag?

If you've ever used a river or lake to chill your beers (which you for sure have) while camping or backpacking, you know how heavy a six pack of Coors Light can be. A few companies make plastic camping flasks to put your whiskey in, but we all know that a cold beer after a hike is way better than a pull of warm Old Grand-Dad. The Beverage Pouch Company has found a solution to this weight dilemma by creating Beer In A Bag, which will make it easier for you to bring your favorite micro-brewery beers into the backcountry. Sounds like a cool idea, but I already know there is no chance I will ever use one of these. Nice try though!

Lightning Bugs

I received this email yesterday from Cold Splinters reader, Jeff. Had to share it...This isn't blog-worthy but I thought you'd just appreciate it as an extracurricular activity.  I always love the first early weeks of summer when the lightning bugs first hatch.  I was sitting outside yesterday around dusk just enjoying the weather with a few friends when they started lighting up my backyard.  I grabbed a mason jar and collected about 15 of them.  I hadn't done that since I was about ten and it's still fun.  We had plans to go to see Star Trek later on that evening so we brought the jar with us.  I released the bugs in the theater and was thoroughly entertained watching them flash about and people confusedly point to them.  The people in front of me got up and moved when I opened the jar.  I was worried they were going to narc me out but all turned out well.I did have twinges of remorse this morning when I realized they probably all perished in the heavily air-conditioned theater, but part of me thinks it was a pretty fortunate way for them to go.

Arc'Teryx Factory Tour

arcteryx_factory_17A Continuous Lean went on up to British Columbia and took a tour of the Arc'teryx factory. Go take a look at his photos:

It was remarkable to see the amount of research and development that goes into the manufacture of the Arc’teryx goods. Not only does the company develop many of its own materials and components, it also engineers the tools and machines that physically make the gear. It was also interesting to see how highly involved GORE-TEX is in every step of the way. In addition to the main line merchandise, Arc’teryx has a few other interesting projects going on. More to come on that later.

MP3: Arthur Alexander - Everyday I Have To Cry Some

Big Agnes

pitchpine-zmsavery-zm1Steamboat, Colorado's Big Agnes was nice enough to send Cold Splinters one of their great sleeping bags to test out. More to come on these, but for now, read about their integrated bag and pad system:

Spend a night with Big Agnes and you'll look forward to sleeping in the backcountry. The Big Agnes System is different than the traditional sleeping bag on top of a sleeping pad. Instead, we unite the two.With Big Agnes, the pad slides into an integrated sleeve on the bottom of the bag, and the top two-thirds of the bag is insulated in the traditional style. When insulation material is compressed under your body, it loses most of its ability to insulate. We eliminate the unnecessary bottom insulation and replace it with a sleeve to accommodate the pad which provides the insulation. This design provides a secure foundation and keeps you on the pad all night.

Benefits of the system include: weight savings, reduced packed size, increased girth and comfort and the ability to roll and twist without rolling off your pad or waking to the feel of a zipper across your face. We make sleeping bags and matching pads in a variety of shapes and lengths, constructed from an assortment of fabrics and fills. Whether your plans call for lightweight backpacking, bike or motorcycle touring, car camping, mountaineering, hunting or just couch surfing, we have a bag for you. Sleeping in our system is similar to sleeping in your bed at home with a mattress under you for comfort and the covers on top for insulation. With our sleeping system you won't long for your own bed next time you sleep outside. We employ the Big Agnes System, the integrated pad sleeve, throughout our line of sleeping bags.

Environmental Sounds

Below are the liner notes from Environmental Sounds, an LP of two side-long recordings of "nature's music..recorded live on this planet." Download the two very long tracks at Closet of Curiosities. A Mid-Summer's ThunderstormThis was recorded in mid-July, near Saratoga, New York. It was one of those hot, heavy summer days when the air pressure increases until your veins are about to burst.In the blackness forming to the Southwest came the first rumblings. We ran to the studio and set up our microphones. The storm continued to build, the rumblings increased and lightning ignited the horizon. Though it was early afternoon, it appeared to be nearly nighttime. The wind began to blow, the leaves of the maple trees outside began to rustle, and the first drops began to fall. It was incredibly exciting.The rumblings continued to build slowly, the rain fell quietly. Then suddenly it came, from across the field you could see a wall of rain coming. And it engulfed everything. But the rumblings continued. Then as the rumblings were beginning to die out - lightning struck a tree only a few hundred yards away. There was so much power behind it, it was enough to make your hair stand on end. This was followed by several other sharp cracks, but far less threatening.Eventually the storm subsided, the sky became light, the rain lessened to a pleasant shower, and the first bird began to tweet. A dog could be heard and the sun came out. Other birds joined in and finally in the Northeast an amazing rainbow appeared against the dark sky.The record finally ends with a single bird that perched near our microphones warbling through the most amazing repertoire of songs, paying homage to the fresh new world."The Wind in the Autumn Woods" liner notes after the jump...The Wind In The Autumn WoodsThis was also recorded in upstate New York near Saratoga, but in late October. We were fortunate enough to record this on one of those quiet sunny afternoons, the last few days of Indian summer. The leaves, all red and orange and golden were beginning to fall, and the wind, in the tree tops above was shaking them loose (you may be able to hear some landing near our microphones). As we recorded this, lying on our backs on a bed of leaves and looking up through the lacework of branches above, we found ourselves amazed at how little we'd heard before; the wind coming in such unpredictable gusts, rising and falling with no perceptible pattern; the groups of geese from Canada headed south; the loud squawks of bluejays arriving to spend the winter; birds gathering in flocks preparing to move South (these were a little late, most had left by then); a dog barking and a cow mooing on a farm a half a mile off; a single engine airplane passing over; later a train far off in the distance; and the lonesome cry of crows in an open field about a quarter mile away. The wind subsided and we switched for a close-up to a set of microphones set very close to the leaves - dry and rustling quite loudly. With this close-up you can also hear flies buzzing, playing in the warm sun chasing each other, doing loop-de-loops, and one even landing on the microphone, sitting for a spell then zinging off again.The wind whistled and whispered, and did all those beautiful things poets celebrate as nature's most intimate music.Perhaps what fascinates us most about this recording is the purifying effect the wind has. There are times when I listen to this that I can feel that all negative stuff in me that's been collected during the day is being blown away. Whatever it is, it leaves me with a good cleansed feeling and makes a nice background environment, bringing the autumn woods into my room.