If you're one of the people that love the outdoors and especially the BWCAW you should take note of this. Currently 32 permits have been requested for sulfide mine exploration in the area adjoining the the southern section of the BWCAW. The area includes the South Kawishiwi River. The potential environmental fallout from this could be catastrophic.


Read more at the Friends of the BWCA website.

There will be naysayers in this for the $1.7 million spent on the project but I believe this is actually going to work and turn a profit at some point.


There will be bicycle kiosks placed in Uptown, Downtown and at the U of M Campus where people can rent bikes for $5 for short trips.


Obviously if you just need to go across downtown Minneapolis it would be much faster and cheaper to grab a bike for $5 instead of taking a cab back and forth or driving. The round trip cab fare is likely going to be over $10 and if you drive it's going to cost anywhere from $10 - $20 for round trip parking.


From the Strib:


Link to article.

From Alpinist:


Will Gadd climb for 24 hours straight at Ouray to raise money for the dZi Foundation.


Full Article


The dZi Foundation helps build schools and get clean water to remote Himalayan communities of India and Nepal.


Link to dZi Foundation Website

Eric Gates, who was a MythBusters regular for everything rockets, died in a fall at work on Dec 20th. Why is this here? Gates was a base jumper who had over 600 jumps and also an avid skydiver. He was an electrical contractor and even though he had jumped out of planes and such he died from a 30 ft. fall at work.


I'm often up on ladders, in lift baskets and on roofs. I've been more concerned about the dangerous situtations I have to put myself in everyday at work than I have ever been when I'm out ice climbing. A few days before Erik gates fell my good friend and coworker fell off a ladder about the same distance and landed head first in a pile of boulders. He fared much better than Erik did but it was a big eye opener for all of us on the site. Thoughts go out to his friends and family.


Follow the link for more information.


http://www.vcstar.com/news/2009/dec/21/worker-who-died-in-fall-in-newbury-park/

I've said it a thousand times. GPS is not a valid form of navigation and never a back-up plan for the lost. They run on batteries which die. Especially fast in the cold. They can be dropped and broken. They also count on getting a signal from towers and satellites. With a map, compass and some basic navigation skills you're much better off.


These people got lucky.


http://www.startribune.com/nation/80213347.html

All I can say is "what?" This is completely absurd. I guess I can see the CPR training requirement to some degree but why would a guide taking people fishing on Gull Lake need to have a background check and provide finger prints like they're working for the CIA? If they are terrorists or something does anyone really think they're going to go and get their fingerprints taken? No, they'll just act like they're a private party out fishing.


This is absolutely absurd. Follow the link to the despicable plan.


http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_14034689?nclick_check=1

Video from the Today Show about the missing climbers on Mt. Hood. One climber has been found two are still missing.

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