Chalk Dust a Flyin' in Chattanooga, TN

Tennessee Bouldering Authority (TBA) is Chattanooga’s first indoor bouldering and rock-climbing facility. On Monday evening we visited the facility that has nearly 3,000 ft2 of world-class indoor rock climbing walls and dedicated training space. For over 10 years they have offered the right equipment, instruction, and support to ensure excellent rock climbing experiences for climbers of all skill levels. During our presentation, we highlighted the importance of disposing of waste properly in climbing areas, while playing the activity "How Long Does It Last?". The group was intrigued to learn that an aluminum can can last from 200-400 years in the outdoors. Additionally, the activity was an eye-opener for one participant who admittedly just quit smoking 2 months ago, after 8 years of smoking. She realized that many of the cigarette butts that she tossed out the window without a second thought were still lingering in the environment today!

Here is an action shot from the activity "Step On It", where we focused on choosing durable surfaces. If you are in Chattanooga, be sure to check out TBA for a stellar climbing experience.

Happy Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...REFUSE

In recent years the phrase "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" has become widely known, accepted, and practiced.  At Leave No Trace, we would like to challenge you to practice a fourth "R", which stands for REFUSE.  Here are two examples of refusing that could be easily achieved in your everyday life.  First, carry your own reusable water container.  Every five minutes, 2 million plastic bottles are thrown away, using 750 million gallons of crude oil per year.  In the U.S. only 20 percent of those bottles are recycled.  Refusing plastic bottles would cut down on the amount of plastics purchased and the amount of plastic that ends up in a landfill each year.  Second, store reusable shopping bags in the trunk of your car, eliminating the need for plastic bags.   Plastic bags are made from petroleum. Every year, Americans consume an extra 12 million barrels of oil for plastic bags! Take action today.  Every little bit helps!

Safe travels...Kate and Tracy

Flagstaff gets an A+

Outreach was a plenty in Flagstaff, AZ.  We visited two local schools to work with the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.  Competition grew fierce during Leave No Trace Jeopardy, as the students of the Outdoor Leadership program learned about minimizing impacts in the outdoors.  These student leaders will be educating their fellow classmates on the Leave No Trace principles before their next outing.  

In addition to our school visits, we spent an entire day with the rangers and volunteers of the Coconino National Forest at the Peak Ranger Station.  Justin Loxley, the R3 Leave No Trace Coordinator and the Volunteer Coordinator for Coconino National Forest, is enthusiastic about reaching park visitors with Leave No Trace information.  During the training we played a variety of activities to explore the principles of Leave No Trace, including "How Long Does It Last?" which focuses on Disposing of Waste Properly.  This was the first group we have worked with to correctly organize the items of waste into chronological order of how long they take to biodegrade.  Great job! A+

We look forward to working with Justin again at the Wilderness Rendezvous in Santa Fe, NM at the beginning of June.  

Off to Phoenix to wrap up our time in Arizona!

Safe travels...Kate and Tracy