Why We Must Fight to Keep National Land Free

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Grand-canyon-national-park

Areas of land around the Grand Canyon are among the national land that may be given away

I spent a lot of my childhood outdoors; walking, scrambling, climbing trees. Some of these outdoor experiences were admittedly more enjoyable than others. (A rain-soaked ascent of the Merrick has gone down in family history as the wettest – and worst – walk ever.)

As an adult, I have mostly lived in cities with forays into the real outdoors reserved for weekends and holidays. It took ten years and a move to the UK’s largest city to make me finally realise that the outdoors wasn’t just a place to go hiking, rock climbing or mountain biking. The outdoors is part of me. It makes me happy. When I haven’t spent enough time outside I get grumpy and miserable (as many of my close friends know only too well). That connection, rooted in childhood has grown into a deeper love and respect for the outdoor environment.

Which is why the news that Republican lawmakers had laid the foundations to give away 640m acres of U.S. national land hit me like a sledgehammer. I have done my best to stay optimistic throughout the last year of political turmoil. Strived to understand the reasons behind other peoples’ views and respect them, even if I don’t agree with them. And most definitely not talked about them on this blog. (Until now obviously, but I promise normal service will resume next week.)

There have been so many negative news stories about the lack of importance that our leaders and politicians are placing on environmental issues. Climate change denial, banning of scientific facts and the removal of key environmental legislation. So why has this single line of change to a legal framework hit me so hard?

First, and perhaps most obvious is the risk of vast tracts of wild land being privatised and damaged or destroyed for economic gain. And we’re talking a lot of land. 640m acres is more than ten times the size of the UK. Wow. (And doesn’t that make all us Brits feel small?!)

I have been lucky enough to visit a number of the U.S. National Parks and they astounded me, not only with their beauty but with the breadth and variety of environments they contain. From deserts to mountains, vast forests to open plains; these parks encompass a myriad of different ecosystems. Generations of trees, plants and wildlife. Ecosystems are finally balanced things: destroy one element in the chain, and the whole system can collapse.

But it’s also about what is being taken away from the American people. (And yes, from us visitors too!) Those memories I have of my childhood – that connection I made with the outdoors – that wouldn’t have been possible without our National Parks and public land in the UK. The thought of future generations of children growing up without being able to play in trees, paddle in rivers and wander through beautiful landscapes makes me immeasurably sad.

If you take away vast areas of land, you concentrate people into what remains. And that can cause problems of its own. We are creatures of the environment. We need the outdoors to live happy lives. Do we really want out children to grow up in urban jungles? To only see bears, owls and moose in picture books?

And there’s another thing that worries me in this act. Something that goes much deeper. It’s the implication that federal land – these beautiful, life-filled landscapes – are worthless. That they have no value. Because that is what this little one-line change in the Rules for the House of Representatives means: that “state, local government or tribal entity shall not be considered as providing new budget authority, decreasing revenues, increasing mandatory spending or increasing outlays.”

And that couldn’t be further from the truth. Putting a value on natural capital has always been a hard and contentious issues. But denying it has a value? That’s another matter altogether. It means it doesn’t appear on the balance sheet. Doesn’t get accounted for when weighing up costs and benefits of different options. It implies that we would be just as well off if that piece of wild land didn’t even exist in the first place.

And that is a slippery slope. Because if we don’t recognise the value of our natural environment and therefore recognise it as something that needs our protection, we will end up doing irreversible damage. Damage that will not only threaten much of the wildlife we hold dear, but ultimately ourselves. And our children, and their children.

“Only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish been caught, and the last stream poisoned, will we realize we cannot eat money.”

Cree Indian Prophecy

The job of our elected politicans is to do what is in the best interest for our country in the long term. The Paris Agreement, agreed at COP 21 and ratified last year, gave hope that global leaders recognise the need to modify our behaviours today to protect the world for the people of tomorrow. But protecting our world is not just about counting carbon emissions.

This is a plea to all Americans – it is time to tell your leaders what it is you hold dear. To make it fundamentally clear how much you value your National Parks and open spaces. Because if you don’t take a stand now, there may not be any wild places left to protect in the future.

Almscliff: One of Britain’s Best Bouldering Destinations

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Pebble-wall-almscliff

Reaching through the crux of Pebble Wall (6c), one of Almscliff’s classic problems

Standing high above the Wharfe valley, Almscliff is one of the most renowned gritstone bouldering venues in the UK. Be prepared for sore skin, aching arms and tough problems.

The short walk in and quick-drying nature of the rock makes Almscliff a popular bouldering spot, particularly on calm, sunny winter days. It’s not a place for solitude and if you’re looking to try the classic problems, you’re likely to have a fair bit of company. Due to its exposed location, it can get VERY cold when there’s a chill wind.

Almscliff has problems ranging from Font 4 (V0) up to Font 8b (V13). Although it’s renowned for steep, thuggy problems and routes, there are slabs, delicate aretes and long traverses thrown into the mix. It’s not the friendliest place for beginners and if you’re after some easy ticks, you’ll be sorely disappointed. That said, there’s plenty of rock on which to make up your own problems if you find those in the guide too hard!

Crag highlights

Matterhorn Ridge (4+) is the classic ‘easy’ line, though you’ll want a few pads and spotters if it’s near the top of your grade. There’s also a sit-down start at 7b+.

Up at Demon Wall area, The Crucifix (5) is an excellent easier problem (though easy is all relative!). The descent is down the corner to the left – it’s straightforward but worth having a pad and spotter if you’re a bit nervous about downclimbing. The Crucifix ‘warm up’ Traverse (6a+) starts in the corner and traverses the break all the way to the wall. Traversing the lip of the roof below the break gets you 7a.

Unnamed-boulder-almscliff

Warming up on the right-hand arete of an unnamed boulder (5)

Another good warm-up is Morrell’s Wall (6a) which starts off on big holds before some fingery climbing on crimps. There are various eliminates to prolong the fun and linking in the obvious traverse to the right gives you Slopey Traverse (7b+).

The Virgin boulder has plenty of hard, worthwhile problems. One of the easiest of the bunch is the Virgin Traverse (6b+/6c) which starts on the block to the left of the overhanging face and traverses round the corner to finish at an undercut flake. Pumpy!

Continuing the pumpy traverse theme, Sloper Patrol (6c+) takes the obvious slopey lip traverse on the boulder up the hill from The Keel. It can also be done in reverse (uphill) at a slightly easier grade.

If you enjoy mantels then Egg Roll (6b) may be right up your street. Start sitting and take the line up from the start of Streaky’s Traverse (7b+) on The Egg boulder, finishing up the slab.

Pebble Wall (6c) is an excellent technical problem that’s easier for the tall. A straightforward start leads to tricky moves up the blank wall above – the clue is in the name!

Arguably the crag classic, Demon Wall Roof (7a+) takes the inviting line out of the middle of the roof and up the wall above using crimps and the obvious flake to reach the large horizontal break. To the right of it, Dolphin Belly Slap (7a) takes the line along the edge of the roof and is another great problem.

The Keel (7c) is a popular problem that lead out from the back of the roof, past a chipped hole on the lip to the obvious pocket. Once you’ve ticked it, try it again without the chipped hold (The Real Keel, 7c+). There are many more variations and link-ups including Keelhaul (8a) and Real Keelhaul (8b).

If you like hard highball challenges then Chaismata (8a) takes the obvious line on Low Man, to the right of the Matterhorn boulder.

Almscliff fact file

Location and how to get there: Almscliff lies between Otley and Harrogate. Take the North Rigton turn off the A659 and turn left (or right depending which direction you’re coming from) in the village onto Crag Lane. Park at the western end of the crag in a large lay-by (can get busy). Follow the obvious path from the stile up the side of the field to the main area of rocks.

Almscliff-top

Spectacular views from the top of Almscliff

Access: The crag is on private land. The farmer has asked that climbers avoid the boulders in the fields below the main area and don’t climb at night. For up to date access information check the BMC’s Regional Access Database.

Best time of year: Almscliffe is a good year-round bouldering venue. It’s particularly good on cool, calm days and summer evenings, though some may find it a bit warm for optimum gritstone conditions! Almscliffe gets all the wind going, so if it’s a blowy day you may want to climb elsewhere.

Family friendly?: Almscliffe is a popular location for family walks and the easy walk in makes it a good spot for families. The one downside is the mud and ‘fertliser’ left by the animals that graze the area.

Hazards: The area around the rocks is used as grazing land and can be muddy at the best of times. After heavy rain the approach path through the fields can be extremely muddy and slippy. Be prepared to clean your pads and boots after a wet visit!

Guidebook: Almscliffe is covered in the YMC Gritstone Volume 1 and the Yorkshire Gritstone Bouldering vol. 1 guides.

Local pub: The Square and Compass in North Rigton is just a few minutes drive or a 40-minute walk away.

Think your local crag’s worthy of a shout-out? I’ve climbed across most parts of the UK, so if you have a suggestion, let me know!

A Beginner’s Guide to Cycle Commuting in London

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Cycle-commute-London

You don’t need expensive or fancy kit to commute by bike

More people in London are cycling to work than ever before. If you’re in Zone 1 during the morning rush hour, more than thirty percent of vehicles you’ll see on the roads will be bicycles. The investment in cycling infrastructure such as the cycle superhighways may have been controversial, but it’s helping to turn London into the cycling capital of Britain.

But if you’re new to cycling or cycle commuting, London’s roads can still be intimidating. I understand that. When I started commuting by bike I was nervous of cycling on main roads, nervous of cycling in rush hour and most of all, nervous of buses. But once I started, I found cycling to be my favourite method of commuting and a great way to explore parts of the city you may not otherwise see.

If you’ve been thinking about commuting by bike, but are put off by the cost of kit or the state of the roads, don’t be. Here’s a beginner’s guide to cycle commuting in London.

Choose your kit

As a beginner the choice of bikes and cycling gear can be rather overwhelming. But cycling doesn’t have to cost a fortune – it’s perfectly possible to get all the essential kit you need for commuting for under £500. If you’re happy with a second-hand bike, you won’t even need to spend that. In addition to the obvious places to look such as eBay and Gumtree, try specialist websites such as BuyaCycle or Police auctions. There are also lots of bike recycling organisations around the country and your local bike shop may sell second-hand models.

Bikes

Your choice of bike will depend on the type of terrain you encounter on your route to work. For commuting in London, you’re likely to be mainly on roads or tarmac cycle paths so there’s no need for a mountain bike. Many experienced cyclists (and those with a need for speed) chose a road bike with drop handlebars. If you’re a newer rider and not planning on taking up racing anytime soon then I’d recommend a hybrid bike. These tend to be more affordable and allow you to have a more comfortable, upright riding position.

There’s a huge range of styles of hybrid bike from those that are essentially a road bike at heart, to others that are more adapted for off-road riding. If you’re commuting on roads, you’ll probably want to opt for a steed towards the road bike end of the spectrum as the bike will be lighter with thinner tyres. From personal experience, it’s worth investing in a decent pair of puncture-resistant tyres for all-season riding. Trying to change a tyre at the side of the road in the pouring rain is not fun.

If you’re confused by all the different types of bikes available, check out this useful guide to commuter bikes from from Evans Cycles.

Accessories

The topic of cycle helmets is guaranteed to lead to a lively debate if raised in a pub full of cycling commuters. For my part, I would always recommend you wear a helmet when cycling – your head is precious, let’s keep it intact. There’s a huge range of helmets in different shapes and sizes available on the market to suit every head.

Also essential in London is a good bike lock. How much you spend on this will depend on where you park your bike (e.g. if you have secure bike storage at work) and how precious your bike is to you. There’s a comprehensive guide here to help you make the right decision.

When it comes to bike lights, my view is the brighter the better, particularly when it’s dark and wet. If you don’t drive a car it’s easy to assume that drivers will be able to see you. They have big headlights right?

Well yes, but even on a lit road, it is surprisingly difficult to spot a cyclist riding in the rain at night who is wearing dark clothing and has no lights. And I’m a driver who specifically looks out for cyclists. Moral of the story: ALWAYS use lights at night.

Depending how much stuff you need to lug to and from work, you may want to invest in a bike rack or panniers to ease the load on your back. If you’re going for a backpack it’s worth choosing one that’s waterproof or has a rain cover. I use a reflective HUMP cover which keeps me visible and my bag dry – it also has a hand mesh pocket at the back which you can stash an extra light in.

Clothing

You don’t need any specific clothing for cycling. (Though long skirts and dresses are not advised. Been there. Done that. Got the bruises.) That said, if you’re commuting regularly and don’t want to turn up at the office with soggy trousers covered in chain oil, you’ll probably want a separate set of clothes for cycling.

If you have a short commute, you’ll probably be fine in a pair of leggings or fitness tights, but for longer rides, padded shorts or tights will make your ride a lot more comfortable. And in case you were wondering, you do not wear underwear under the shorts. Cycling shorts are a really personal thing – what suits one person doesn’t necessarily suit another – so do your research before shelling out a load of cash.

The other useful piece of kit is a reflective windproof or waterproof jacket. It may not look ‘cool’ but it’ll keep you warm and dry and could save your life (see point above about people cycling in the dark).

Get trained up

If you haven’t cycled for a while or you’re a bit wobbly on a bike, it’s worth booking onto a cycle training course. Even if you’re an experienced cyclist, you may learn some new tips and tricks for cycling in a city. Free cycle skills training is available at different levels in all London boroughs. Some boroughs will even loan you a bike for the training if you don’t have your own.

Choose your route

When I first started cycling to work in London, I chose the most direct route into work. It was along a main road, but it wasn’t a particularly fast road (especially not during rush hour) and there were cycle or bus lanes for part of the route. But after a couple of near misses and one incidence of being knocked off my bike by a careless driver, I started to get a bit more nervous. Although I didn’t commute every day, after a few months I realised I was subconsciously avoiding cycling into work. Making up excuses for why tomorrow wasn’t a ‘good day’ to cycle.

So I started to look for alternative routes into work. I tried following one of the marked cycle routes on designated quiet roads, which was fun but took too long to be practical. I then plugged my details into the TfL Route Planner, which was super useful. It gave me a list of route options, from quickest and most direct, to an easy route which avoided all main roads. I picked the ‘moderate route’ and amended it slightly using one of the free cycle guides Transport for London produce.

I ended up with a route that took me slightly longer to get to work, but was infinitely more enjoyable. I felt safer and more relaxed and began to look forward to my cycling days again. If you’re commuting outside of London, the CycleStreets website has a journey planner covering other parts of the country.

Learn the basics of bike maintenance

Now don’t panic, I’m talking about the BASICS of bike maintenance. Stuff that every bike owner should know. This doesn’t involve stripping down your bike or replacing components and doesn’t require fancy tools or special knowledge. It’s about making sure your bike is roadworthy. Sustrans have a useful 11-step checklist which covers basic bike checks and pumping your tyres up. It’s also worth practicing replacing an inner tube or repairing a puncture as there is a bit of a knack to it.

If you’re not sure about anything or want to try your hand at more complex maintenance, YouTube is your friend!

Above all, just get out there and enjoy a commute in the fresh air. It beats playing sardines on the tube any day.

Going Back to School: A Wild Day out in the Woods

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Bushcraft-day-forest-school

Mmmm, leeks roasted in the fire’s embers

This weekend I went back to school. Not to the bricks-and-mortar schools of my childhood, but to a new, different type of school. It has no walls, no ceiling and the floor is pretty muddy. This is Forest School.

The Forest School movement in the UK has steadily grown since it was brought over to the UK from Scandinavia in 1993. It offers an alternative model of education: one based on play and experiential learning that teaches self-esteem, cooperation and respect for each other and nature. There’s also evidence that a long-term Forest School programme improves children’s resilience, confidence and wellbeing.

So much for children, but what about adults? Although many Forest Schools focus primarily on the education of younger children, older children and adults can benefit from the same experience.

Keen to learn some new skills to equip us for some more microadventures this year, I booked myself and my fiance on to an Adult Bushcraft session at The CommuniTree Initiative, a social enterprise based in Ramsbottom.

We meet Danny (founder of CommuniTree and our leader for the day) and the other participants at the entrance to a small, public woodland. The CommuniTree use this space for workshops and events, but there are no barriers and members of the public (and their dogs) are free to wander through the woodlands and campfire area.

Bushcraft vs Survival

Straight up Danny tells us, “this is not a survival course”. I breathe a sigh of relief at not having to forage for – or kill – my lunch. Bushcraft, he explains, focus on developing skills which you can use to get closer to nature. That could be spending the night in a hammock in the woods, or foraging for mushrooms. Think Ray Mears rather than Bear Grylls.

After an introductory session, our first task is to build a shelter. As it’s January, Danny has a handy pile of donated Christmas Trees for this very purpose. We grab an axe each and start dragging trees over to our self-selected ‘camping’ spot.

Ten minutes later I have taken off three layers of clothing and the branches of one Christmas Tree. My hand and arm muscles are feeling the effects already. I switch to a lighter axe and keep going. After a quick lesson on lashing and knot tying, we get to work creating a shelter for two.

It’s a simple exercise, but surprisingly satisfying and absorbing. We learn from experience how best to overlap the branches to create the shell of the shelter. Sam collects armfuls of moss to plug the gaps, while I lay out a carpet of branches inside. We almost wish we’d brought our sleeping bags for the night!

Cooking on an open fire

Satisfied with our morning’s work, we return to the campfire for lunch. There’s some weird magic about eating outdoors. Whatever food you have – however meagre and basic – always tastes delicious. We make a basic bread, roll it out and place it on the campfire to cook. It’s the perfect accompaniment to mop up the tasty chilli Danny’s provided.

Stuffed full of chilli and fruit crumble (cooked in a Dutch Oven over the fire) we get back to work in the afternoon. We’re handed tarps and hammocks and shown various methods of rigging them to create an alternative quick and easy shelter for the night.

Building a fire from scratch

I always find it amazing how we are drawn to fires. I could spend hours gazing into the flickering flames, basking in their warmth and listening to its crackling and spitting. But in this class, we have to earn our fire time.

Danny gives us each a block of dried silver birch wood and shows us have to cut it into different sized pieces of wood using an axe, knife and mallet. I admit to being slightly nervous about this part of the day; my axe skills (or to be more precise, my aiming skills) being pretty much non-existent. But even I managed to split the large block on my first try and end up with a selection of thin sticks to use for my fire.

I haven’t built a fire from scratch for years, but it’s surprisingly satisfying to set a grid out and build it up using smaller and smaller sticks topped off with some natural tinder. We use a firesteel to start the fire and it takes immediately. I’d like to explore different methods of fire lighting at some point, but that’s for another day. For now, I’m happy toasting brioche and marshmallows over the flames I’ve created.

Reconnecting with nature

Throughout the day, Danny shows us parts of the wood and different trees and fungus. We learn that the Birch Polypore or Razorstrop fungus has antiseptic properties and you could cut a thin strip to use an emergency plaster. The Jelly Ear fungus, on the other hand, is surprisingly tasteless and has (as its name suggests) a jelly-like texture. Nature’s Haribo!

We’re also encouraged to explore the wood ourselves. One of the first activities is to go off, individually, and find a place to just sit for five minutes. For me, this is pretty new. Though I love and appreciate nature, and spend a lot of time outdoors, I’m always doing something. Even if it is just walking. If I do sit, it’s usually when I’m admiring a beautiful view, or resting on a long hike. Not generally in the middle of a muddy, damp winter woodland.

But when you sit and close your eyes you realise how alive the wood is. You notice the birds chattering in the trees, hear the babble of the nearby river and smell the damp, fallen leaves. You appreciate this little patch of woodland – this bit of nature, however small – for what it is.

How often in our busy lives do we actually just sit and do nothing in nature? Nothing other than appreciating the sounds, smells and sights it produces. Perhaps reconnecting with nature is not about doing anything; it’s actually about doing nothing at all.

The CommuniTree Initiative run events and workshops for children, adults, families and schools in the Bury area. In the interests of full disclosure, I traded my place on the course in exchange for doing some writing work for CommuniTree (got to love the the sharing economy!). This post was not part of the agreement; it’s based purely on my own views and awesome experience with Danny and the team – I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.

Setting New Year’s Resolutions You’ll Actually Keep

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real-new-year-resolutions

Happiness is a beautiful, frosty, sunny morning

New Year’s resolutions can be great. If you’re a goal-orientated person (like me!) then you’ve probably already set out your aims and ambitions for 2017. If you’re a follower of the Tough Girl podcast, you may already have committed to your 7 or 17 challenges for 2017. My Twitter and Facebook feeds are full of people setting out their resolutions for the coming year.

And I applaud you all! But perhaps take a moment to stop and think why you’re making these resolutions. Many people set themselves resolutions to get fitter, lose weight or get a promotion because they feel this will make them happier or help them be a better person. If they don’t achieve their goals by the end of the year, they feel like they’ve failed.

Or perhaps you do achieve your goals, but wonder why you’re still not feeling as happy about it as you ‘should’ be. That despite all the effort and work you’ve put in, life is still not perfect.

But is happiness something that can be pursued? Sometimes I think we try and define ‘happiness’ too much, and set too much store in trying to achieve it. Earlier this year, I came across this comic strip from The Oatmeal which I think sums the pursuit of happiness up perfectly. If you sometimes feel that you should be feeling happier or more contented, I suggest you have a read of it.

Setting real resolutions

Last year I was guilty of setting a ton of goals without actually thinking through whether I’d realistically be able to achieve them. I’m all for setting ambitious targets, but when you don’t even achieve half of them, you know you’ve done something wrong. In my case, the challenges I’d set were way too ambitious given what else I had during the year. Several of them also conflicted with each other: climbing 7c requires very different training to that needed to tackle the Cuillin Ridge!

So what did I learn from this about New Year’s resolutions? Number one: be realistic. Break down what you’ll need to do to achieve your resolution and work out what you can fit into your life. Number two: commit to it. Set aside time to do whatever it is you want to do, whether that’s reading more books or getting out running.

And perhaps most importantly, number three: do things because you find them meaningful and because you get satisfaction out of doing them. Do things you enjoy whilst doing them and not just for the outcome. And definitely not because you think achieving it will automatically make you a happier, more awesome person.

For example, if you hate dieting but want to lose weight, look at setting a resolution for the process rather than the end point. So rather than your resolution being to lose eight pounds by June, set a resolution to test out a new healthy recipe every week. Yes, it sometimes works to have a goal and endpoint in mind, but making the journey easier is a sure-fire way of actually achieving your target.

What happiness means to me

A few days ago I was running down through the forest I grew up near, on a cold, frosty but sunny morning. I had family (and a hot shower) waiting at home, I wasn’t gasping for air (unusually) and everything was just beautiful. And suddenly a thought popped into my head: this is what happiness means to me.

I do have goals written down for 2017, both for work and personal life. But for once, I have no goals relating to sport, adventure or being outdoors. I’d like to spend more time climbing, but I’m not aiming to climb 7c (as I tried – and failed – to do last year). I’ll go walking and running and orienteering, but I have entered no races or competitions. We’re planning more microadventures, but without any specific agenda.

What I’ve realised this year is that I’m happy just being outdoors and taking part in these activities. There is a satisfaction from achieving goals and ambitions, but the enjoyment is in taking part. And sometimes those moments of contentment are more significant than getting to the top of the climb, or completing the run.

Happiness is the chirruping of a robin, bouncing across a frosty forest floor. The shaft of sunlight lighting up the heather-coated hill. The breathing in of fresh, unpolluted air. The sound of silence.

So for me, being outdoors will be the place I can escape from the pressure of goals and targets, and just be. A place I can recharge my batteries to help me achieve everything I want to in 2017.

Whether you make resolutions for 2017 or prefer to just take life as it comes, I hope you can all find some kind of happiness outdoors this year. Or if not happiness, then moments of contentment and satisfaction.