Park-ing Safely

The headline this morning is that an “apartment building”size piece of granite cleaved from the side of El Capitan in the middle of the afternoon yesterday, immediately killing one visitor and severely injuring another.  Reports from visitors indicate that others, who were hiking at the base of the popular mountain face, may be buried under tons of rubble. 

Most terrifying is that, I’ve been on that path at the mountain's base.  In February of 2010, I specifically sought out that trail as it has a magnificent view at 6:30am toward Eagle Peak…and due to global warming, there was enough snowmelt that it created...wait, rather than waste 1,000 words...

In this shot, El Capitan is just to the left of us.  So, it's alarming to hear that people, no more or less experienced than me, suffered at the completely random rock-fall in a place that I visited.

And I'd go back in a heartbeat. 

If you have been following this story from yesterday's news, or you merely Googled it now, you'll know that almost every media agency is covering what happened in one of the most visited National Parks in the United States.  But let me tell you what they're not: you have a far greater chance of being struck by lightning than dying in this fashion.  

In a recent article in Outside Magazine, Yosemite isn't even the most deadly of our National Parks.  That title goes to Lake Mead.  The added attraction of a navigable lake adds drownings to the total of people who bit the big one there.  Also, for some reason, Lake Mead has the highest number of homicides in the National Park system, and that's just creepy.  But, drownings are the number one killer in National Parks according to the WashPo, followed by our own idiot piloting of vehicles.  The Post credits our rubber-necking at the scenic views as the cause for 27% of fatal auto accidents in the parks. 

The long and the short of it is that deaths in National Parks is largely due to our own stupidity, whether it's because we're ignoring signs to stay on the path, or because we need to get the perfect shot and slip.  To combat this, here's some advice:

• Practice safe boating and only swim in designated areas by the Parks.  There's a reason why you shouldn't just go off and do your own thing without life jackets.  If they recommend safety devices, take a hint.
• If it's a truly scenic view, the Park knows this, and usually provides decent pull-offs convenient for getting out and stretching your legs and taking a quick shot or glance.  If the first one is full, drive to the next one, or be patient and wait.  Don't worry, the scenery isn't going anywhere.
• Know your Park and read up on paths/trails that may be dangerous or outside of your comfort zone.  Sure the Precipice Trail in Acadia seems like a good idea, but don't expect guard rails and stairs built into the rock-face.  The wilderness is not necessarily ADA accessible, and shouldn't be.  
• Hike, travel, boat at your own pace.  As the NY Times puts it, we are reaching near capacity of visitors at some of our parks, but don't let them push you up the hill or down.  Do your own thing, and stay safe. 
• And, maybe the best advice of all, go off season.  Our park system is beautiful year-round.  However, if you decide to visit, avoid months of high travel.  That usually means August in the U.S., but can also bleed into seasons that boast fall foliage.  Since the parks never close, there will be basic amenities 365 days a year like restaurants and lodging.  Take advantage of that.  And, if you do wind up at a park during peak season, be the first person in that park in the AM.  If you can get in before the crowds, you'll avoid the pushing and shoving at the more common points-of-interest.

Most of all, don't let headlines like the recent ones in Yosemite cause you to change your plans.  If anything, due to global warming, these resources are in the midst of change, and not for the better.  The best time to visit the National Parks is whenever you have the ability to get there.  I dread the day when I may have to tell my children that they used to have glaciers in Glacier National Park.  So, go now, and be safe!

Unnatural Disasters

So, I've been confused for a long time.  It started with reports that school districts in the U.S. were considering and even teaching creationism in the classroom, as opposed to evolution.  That was upsetting on multiple fronts.  First, I'm a huge believer in separation of church and state.  I know that the crossover happens much more often than should be allowed, but, in the most Republican way, I believe that the government should stay out of people's lives, i.e. my religious beliefs.  While tolerance is often preached as being an integral part of the Declaration of Independence and religious freedoms being part of the 1st Amendment of the Constitution, it would make the most sense to include all or none.  Creationism, while popular, is certainly taught from a singular perspective.

Fast forward to the last ten or twenty years when scientists who measure climate statistics started noticing an uneasy trend.  Things are getting warmer.  In fact, on maybe the only U.S. Government page left, NASA reports that approximately 97% of scientists agree: climate warming trends are almost certainly due to human activities.  And, while most Americans agree that Climate Change is a thing...most don't think it will affect them in any way.

Wait, what?

That's like saying, yeah, I know I'm spending more every day, but it's really not going to hit me in the bank account.  It just doesn't make sense.

Well, I've got good news and bad news.  The good news is that there's some definitive proof that climate change can and will impact you and your families.  The bad news is that...hey, how about all of them hurricanes?

That's right, global warming is linked to the recent devastating hurricanes to hit Caribbean, Mexican and American shores.  A 2007 article in Scientific American explains it best: atmospheric disturbances off of the west coast of central Africa set up by temperature differences between inland desert and forested coastal regions combined with warm (i.e. late summer in the Northern Hemisphere) sea surface temperatures determine the size and intensity of hurricanes as those systems cross the Atlantic.  As previously stated, humans have been releasing additional CO2 from fossil fuels and water vapor which elevates the potential for deadlier storms.  The warmer it is, the more potentially dangerous the hurricane.

And we've been on an upward trajectory with global temperatures for the last 200 years, or since the industrial revolution.

What bothers me are the people who discount the science.  I mean, climate science is so easy to research.  Things like rainfall and daily temperatures have been recorded for well over 150 years.  The number of intense hurricanes has been tracked since the 1970s, and all have been reported on in local and regional papers.  Climate change isn't a conspiracy, because, by definition, conspiracies are secretive acts, and in the case for Global Warming, we've been living the data for years and years.

The same people who deny climate change are the same ones who take Advil for a headache, a medication based on clinical scientific tests and an understanding of physiology, drive cars that use heat-resistant materials for internal combustion engines, and cell phones that send and receive radio signals, invisible to the naked eye that can transmit photos to and from anywhere in the world!

Here are the indisputable facts: humans are making things warmer which in turn results in not only stronger hurricanes, but proclivity for wild fires and droughts (see: California).  But, what can you do?  It turns out, you can do quite a bit.  Here's some suggestions:

• Eat less meat...or no meat at all.  Beef production alone is responsible for 2.2% of greenhouse gas production in the US (read: cow farts)
• Change your lightbulbs to energy efficient LEDs.  They're finally affordable and recyclable.
• Invest in renewable energy production.  You have a choice.  Here in PSE&G you can choose to pay for the CleanPower Choice program.  Yes, slightly higher bill, but you're reducing your footprint.
• Drive a more fuel efficient vehicle, or take mass transit.  Duh.
• Wash clothes in cold water and do not use the heat setting on your dishwasher.  Hot = energy.
• And, recycle.  Stop throwing away any containers with a number on it.  In my town, they take recycle numbers 1-6 which covers 99% of all plastic refuse.  And just stop taking plastic bags when you go shopping.  Bring your own.  

Collectively, if we all are cognizant of our own unsustainable habits, we may be able to significantly curtail our contributions to greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn may be able to help stabilize the global temperatures and, possibly reduce the possibility of these destructive natural disasters, which, are clearly, no longer "natural."

Sportsing with the Pats

(Note: the following is 100% football. If that's not your thing you should probably tune out in 3...2...1...)

It's really difficult to focus on Don Jr.'s weak reasoning for lying about why he met the Russians last Summer when there's football on TV.  Say what you want about a sport where each team plays a measly 16 regular season games over 4 months and then (most of them) are done until next September, I'm hooked.  But, maybe that's why American Football is so damn alluring and popular as a sport: every meeting matters.

Which is why last night's game was so satisfying.  It's easy to dislike the Patriots when you're from the New York metropolitan area.  Frankly, any team that's been to the "big game" as often should draw ire and consternation from those (read: Philadelphia, et. al.) who have never been and won.  So, unless you're from New England, it makes sense that last night, during the regular season's first game between the Patriots and the Chiefs, that most people would be rooting for the Chiefs...but picking the Patriots to win due to history.

Except for me.  I picked the Chiefs.  I was right, and oh, and how sweet it was.

I didn't really care what the score was as long as the Pats lost.  Why?  Every year, a player who was a fantastic performer last season gets featured on the Madden videogame cover.  This year Madden was adorned with an image of Tom Brady...the G.O.A.T. edition: Greatest Of All Time.  That's a pretty bold statement.  I understand that only one other player has been on five Super Bowl winning teams...and he's the only one to do that on the same team.  He's been named MVP of the Super Bowl four times...more than anyone else, ever.  And, in the post-season, he's 25 wins, 9 losses for the best record ever.

The team has never lost their first game back after a Super Bowl win...until last night.

So, why am I so happy with last night's result?  First, Tom's been to 2 more Bowl games than he won...both times defeated by the NY Giants, so he's a natural enemy to both New York teams as the JETS are in the same AFC East division with the Pats.  Second, they made such a huge deal before the game started last night, having Mark Wahlberg narrate scenes from last February's game where they came back from the largest deficit to win, ever.  They wheeled out 5 massive replicas of the Super Bowl trophies, and they unveiled a fifth banner to hang in the stadium representing the unlikely win.  The crowd was foaming at the mouth, waiting for their Football God to take the field and rip the Chiefs a new one.

Early in the game, it looked as if that was going to happen.  Chiefs fumbled on their first possession setting the Pats up for another quick score (which didn't happen, thanks to Kansas City's stalwart defense).  But the Patriots were driving and moving the ball well in the first half.  They went to the locker room with a 3 point lead at 17-14.  However, when they came back, Tom was largely impotent with nary a touchdown pass thrown.  The final score of the game was 42-27, Chiefs.  Alex Smith, rookie Kareem Hunt and his wide receiver, Tyreek Hill were able to maul the Patriots defense late in the third quarter and early in the fourth.  The Patriots defense was porous at best. And thanks to sub-standard play by the Super Bowl champions, the Chiefs won.  "Where is your messiah now?"

I believe each player going into that game last night, Pats and Chiefs, were not exclusively thinking of their last year's performance.  No coach would encourage their players to coast on previous successes, and each player should have been living in the moment.  But, with the fanfare before the game, and the public expectation of greatness, I'm sure the Patriots embodied some lingering expectation of greatness, it was fantastic that they crashed and burned.  Oh, I'm sure that they'll recover.  Coach Belichick will fix what's broken, that's what he does.  However, the team will have to start week two preparations with one more record for the record books, thanks to the Chiefs: most points scored against the Patriots in a regular season game under Coach Belichick's purview.

G.O.A.T. indeed.