The Great Redwoods!

This was a video I watched regarding the Redwood trees.

http://science.kqed.org/quest/video/redwoods-and-climate-change/

They are basically researching them to figure out how climate change will affect them.  They set up a weather station on the top of the trees and it monitors the changes in weather.  They put it at the very top of the tree because in a dry season, water for the tree may not be able to make its way up and they're measuring how climate will affect the trees in the future. They also don't use any kind of spikes to climb the trees because they do not want to harm them.  They go more into depth in the video attached but I thought it was fascinating.  It was very interesting and I didn't have much to do on a Saturday night!  :)

There are only about 5% of the Redwood trees left and I for one would love for them to be around so I can go visit them again!  I hope this research helps them figure out how the trees will respond to climate change.  

Hiking!

Wednesday in class, we discussed barriers to participation in outdoor recreation. The top three were not enough time, money, and health. One activity that I think is a fun and easy fix for these barriers is hiking. Hiking is an activity that any age can enjoy and can be very easy (almost like a walk) or very strenuous and challenging. It also doesn’t matter where you are to enjoy a fun hike. The attached website lists 7 hiking trails in Nebraska and their location.

http://www.tripleblaze.com/best/?c=31

See, we still have some nifty stuff to do in Nebraska! But if you’d like to travel and find some hikes outside of Nebraska, I would recommend Colorado. I enjoy finding trails in Rocky Mountain National Park or finding a mountain and just going. Two summers ago, my sister and I climbed Twins Sister Peak in Colorado. It’s a 7 mile hike with no cost. Here is a website with more information.

http://www.protrails.com/trail.php?trailID=64

If you’d like some more fun trails and hikes in Colorado, close to the Estes area, just let me know! I would love to give you some awesome trails and hear your own experience! J

Picture from the top of Twins Sister Peak, CO

~Kathryn Moore

Mastering the Wall!

Upon knowing that this challenge is before me I have been trying to mentally prepare myself for this date; february 20th, 2012. This is the day we will be climbing the rock wall. I have never as far as looked at one let alone attempt to beat it (make it to the top.) Since i have let my pride get the best of me, by already telling myself and other people i.e. classmates, that the wall was going down, I figure i have to go a few steps beyond just mental preparation.

Steps for myself to conquer the wall... so far
1. mental preparedness - check
2. research - check
3.physical preparedness - in progress

Some of the tips i have learned from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/indoor-rock-climbing-tips.html are as follows..

• stretch
• map out your route
• take breaks
• watch other people climb
• use your legs

 For the last step it looks like I'll have to start lifting some weights to physically prepare myself for this climb.
Have Fun out there!


Picture is of The Rock Club in New Rochelle, New York

An American Prairie Preserve!

"It is often said that the NPS is America's best idea, well now it's pretty clear that the American Prairie Foundation has come up with an idea that rivals it  in the American Prarie Reserrve" biologist E.O Wilson.

A vast preserve of praire ecosystem was first envisioned by artist George Caitlin (1796-1872). Caitlin first traveled among the plains Indians with General William Clark in 1830 when he accompanied a diplomatic mission up the Mississippi River into Native American territory. Caitlin's paintings characterize the Native Americans. He advocated that the Great Plains be set aside as a "nation's park," a great expanse of prairie where buffalo, pronghorn and Native Americans could live, roam and preserve their lifestyle and culture. http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/online/catlinclassroom/cl.html

Now the American Prarie Foundation is advocating the creation of a 3.5 million acre preserve of prairie in Montana. See what Dr. E.O. Wilson, author of "Biophilia," "The Diversity of Life" and many other books, has to say about the preserve. http://www.americanprairie.org/

I love this!

Trail Running

Here is something I have recently started to become more interested in: trail running. I like running both for the health benefits and I find it relaxing. Wood trails beat concrete, I say, because the scenery is more interesting and the ground is easier on your joints. It's neat when you can see wildlife, though they probably get scared off quickly.

This is a link for an upcoming race of various lengths in Wilderness Park. It is planned for March 17. Sponsors like Cycle Works are featured.

I've gone running at Wilderness Park before, just on my own, and though you have to be more careful about roots and ditches (I totally tripped and found myself sprawled in the dirt) I had a good run.

http://www.lincolnrun.org/images/run%20for%20the%20bridges.jpg

Skiing in Nebraska

It's been quite the balmy winter here in Nebraska and I've been fortune enough to cherish a couple days running in shorts and a t-shirt in January. But, I will admit to being snow lover. I look forward to the day (hopefully, a nice snow day) when we get many inches of that lovely white powder. When that day comes around I will be renting cross country skis. Around the Lincoln area, you can check out rentals at Outdoor Adventures at the Campus Rec Center.

Who says you need mountains to go skiing? Here are my top 3 places to ski around Lincoln:

1. Wilderness Park
2. Pioneers Park
3. Mahoney Park

For more information about the park trails in the area please check out The Great Plains Trails Network.

Cheers to Ullr and snow days!

--posted by Venny Alub