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cohabiting with bears

A highlight of my recent stop at Whistler Ski Resort was being entertained by a local bear, right beside the Creekside lift.

Click play on the video below or watch it on YouTube.

Nobody called the police. No one got excited. This bear appears under the luxury hotel balconies almost every morning in the Spring.

I am impressed that official policy is to cohabit peacefully with bears. Well done Whistler!

Contrast that enlightened and brave approach with that of the Lake Louise village in the Canadian Rockies. Parks Canada put up an electric fence around the campground to protect the tourists from bears. Sad.

Of course there are Grizzlies at Lake Louise, not at Whistler.

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gold mining company wants to move a glacier

Canadian international mining company Barrick Gold wants to “relocate” three glaciers in the mountain range between Argentina and Chile to gain access to 17.6 million oz. of rich gold and silver deposits.

Chilean farmers and residents of the surrounding Huasco Valley are strongly opposed. Glacial water is used for irrigation.

Urban Legends Reference Pages: Politics (Pascua-Lama)

click for larger image
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Original article on CorpWatch.org

In the hiking mecca of Huaraz, Peru, Barrick Gold does everything they can to portrait themselves a good corporate citizen. The trash bins in town are donated by Barrick.

The history of mining in South America is very grim. We cannot get the fantastic Huayhuash range in Peru declared a National Park because of mining interests.

I say, hold Barrick’s feet to the fire on this one.

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Merino wool is back “in”

I heard Chris Townsend on a podcast recently championing wool over synthetics. Especially when worn under a garment. Especially on longer hikes.

On one of his reviews of hiking socks:

Smartwool Hiking is my first choice with the well-priced Fox River Trailmaster a very close second.

Townsend routinely wears a different sock on each foot in order to compare them.

SmartWool Adrenaline Light Mini Crew Socks - Men\'s

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books – Robert Young Pelton

You’ve probably heard of Pelton’s TV show or his books:

The World’s Most Dangerous Places
The Hunter, The Hammer, The Heaven
Come Back Alive
Three Worlds Gone Mad
Licensed to Kill : Hired Guns in the War on Terror

Pelton was the first Western journalist to meet with the Taliban after they set up offices in Peshawar, Pakistan. He simply walked in the front door with his cameras. When told the Taliban do not allow photographs because of the Koran …

I explain very carefully that only cowards do not show their faces and that in my culture a man who does not wish to be seen cannot be trusted. Just to make sure I get my point across I ask, “Must their leader hide as women must hide behind the veil?”

Pelton survived that time.

In fact, his most harrowing tales in the one I just finished are of an upbringing in a broken Canadian home. Good book.

A Life In Dangerous Places

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CONFIRMED – Crowsnest Mountain scramble

Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies, 3rd editionClimber Scott Whiteside who lives in the Crowsnest Pass recommends the Crowsnest Mountain scramble in the Canadian Rockies. It’s 4-7hrs return, 1100m (3609ft), non-technical. Good fun — but no mountaineering gear needed when dry.

No map needed, just Alan Kane’s book.

A group of us are planning to do it Saturday, June 17th. Email or leave a comment if you want to join us.

crows-nest.jpg

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gear – Swiss Champ knife

Amazon.com: Swiss Army Swiss Champ Pocket Knife (Red): Sports & Outdoors

I’m still lugging the 1lb ! (.45kg) biggest Swiss Army pocket knife made.

Heavy — but at least I’ve got the biggest tool in the woods!

32 stainless-steel tools with a lifetime warranty. Essential to me are the corkscrew, tweezers, nail file, pliers, and large knife (which should lock, but does not).
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What’s your favourite camping knife? Leave a comment below.