Carnage in Colorado
The pine beetle epidemic that has been sweeping the western United States and Canada for nearly the last 10 years is old news. By now most people have heard that due to warmer winters and recent drought cycles, these rice-sized pests have been infesting trees at increasing rates since the start of the decade—10 million acres of pine has fallen victim in Colorado alone, and forecasts remain grim throughout the West. Read More …
Recycle, Damn it
The concept Green is all too often just another marketing ploy—a way to lure consumers into feeling a little less guilty and to allow marketers to mark up prices. Even at Backcountry.com, where the scent of patchouli lingers in the hall and the fridge is crammed full of organic burritos, hypocrisy is rampant (I wonder what the carbon footprint of driving 16 hours to go kayaking last weekend was?). Read More …
Until some marketing genius turned ‘going green’ into the trendiest thing since the Live Strong bracelet and people started considering their massive environmental impact, technical fabrics used for outdoor clothing were strictly synthetic affairs. Chemical- and oil-based polymers comprised the bulk of waterproof outerwear, fleeces, and gear. Read More …