Blog #6 - The Trouble With Wilderness

When I first saw that the title of this chapter and discussion was "The Trouble With Wilderness", I assumed that this was the point in the class when we get the prospective of those that oppose wilderness After reading this chapter, though, I was surprised by how much sense William Cronan's article makes sense.

In class, I talked about my favorite wilderness place as being a park in Seattle, my hometown. Event though it is not "out there", I enjoy this place because of its wild nature, wildlife, and seclusion from city life. Cronan gives a very vivid description in his article that really spoke to me regarding the wilderness that is all around us:

"Indeed, my principal objection to wilderness is that it may teach us to be dismissive or even contemptuous of such humble places and experiences. Without our quite realizing it, wilderness tends to privilege some parts of nature at the expense of others. Most of us, I suspect, still follow the conventions of the romantic sublime in finding the mountaintop more glorious than the plains, the ancient forest nobler than the grasslands, the mighty canyon more inspiring than the humble marsh"

This really opened up my mind in regards to what I think about wilderness. If you told your friends that you were going for a walk through a field, and then going for a hike up a mountain, your friends would probably want to know everything about the mountain because it is a large, monumental feature to be 'conquered'. Why don't they talk about the peacefulness that you experience while walking through the field?

Whether it be a field, beach, desert, or summit, wilderness is wilderness. If someone gets out and enjoys the natural experience, than that is what really matters. Protecting open space, whether it be your backyard or a rainforest, is protecting a place to relax, foster a connection with nature, and escape from the daily grind.

PRM 380 - Blog #5: A Land Ethic

I support these more colorful displays of "loyalty to Mother Earth", as long as there is no harm done to property or people; the example of somebody living in a tree to rescue (or delay) it from being cut down is a very sound and peaceful example of this because the only law being broken, generally, is trespassing. Earth First's monkey wrenching seems pretty harmless, but apparently the group has turned more violent in recent years.

Many of these environmental demonstration groups are seen in a very negative light, mainly due to the fact that their cause is usually picked up in the media when it causes great damage and destruction. A group of note is the Earth Liberation Front (or ELF), who are seem as domestic terrorists in the eyes of the federal government. They torch heavy machinery, SUVs, and luxury homes; anything that will cause determent to the environment in their eyes. The picture at the top is from 2008 when ELF torched an entire subdivision of "green built" homes, and left the message, "Built Green? Nope black! McMansions in RCDs r not green. ELF."

Although it is not as peaceful of a demonstration as Aldo Leopold might approve of, group like Earth First and ELF are standing up for a land ethic: they believe that nature, our natural resources, and the environment are members of the community just like any human being. I can't pinpoint a specific cause that I would stand up for to an extreme level, but I would risk arrest to stand up for something I believe in; I certainly don't want to get label a terrorist for it, though.

PRM 380 - Blog #4: Conservation & Preservation

Juniper Dunes Wilderness Area - Franklin County, WA

First off, let's review the principles of conservation and preservation:

Conservation

* Began as a reaction to the Big Raid

* Goal: protect and develop natural resources for the greater good, and greatest number of people, for the longest time

* Fundamental belief in rationality and science; lead to the US Forest Service

Preservation

* Rooted in transcendentalism & romanticism

* Goal: protect and preserve natural resources in an unaltered state

* Ultimate philosophy behind the National Parks and Wildfire Refuges

There is an issue that is taking place in Washington regarding water usage that features the conflicting interests of conversationists and preservationists. North of the Juniper Dunes Wilderness Area in eastern Washington, a livestock company has proposed to move in. It has been well documented that the company (upstream from the wilderness area) and companies like it, have been responsible for polluting the water supply, and consuming too much precious water (eastern Washington is much drier than the west side). The Cascade chapter of the Sierra Club has joined the lawsuit to protect the river and drinking water from Easterday Ranches Inc., which will pump more than one million gallons of water per day from the Columbia Plateau, home of Juniper Dunes.

This is a very good example for the differing thought processes regarding conservationists and preservationists. The Sierra Club, founded by preservationist John Muir, is entering the fight to keep the wilderness area in a pristine condition. The attorney general of Washington cleared the way for livestock producers to use unlimited amount of groundwater with no permit required. The Sierra Club will strive to get the rancher to relocate their planned facility, achieving preservation, but the result of a subsequent lawsuit will probably be more conservation-based. I believe that an agreement of the lawsuit will result in a permit for groundwater use, conserving water for use in the wilderness area.

For more information on this issue, visit http://cascade.sierraclub.org/node/2214.

PRM 380 - Blog #3: John Muir

While searching for quotes from John Muir, I stumbled upon this great one, which really spoke to me because of my major and my weekend:

Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness. All other travel is mere dust and hotels and baggage and chatter.

• Letter to his wife "Louie" (Louisa Wanda Strentzel), (July 1888); Life and Letters of John Muir (1924)

This quote demonstrates Muir's attitude toward nature because it ties the solitude of nature with Muir's idea that nature should be untouched and completely preserved. This quote is tied to transcendentalism because Muir believes (through this quote) that going into nature without any belongings or company will produce an exceptional experience with the wilderness. Also, as it relates to the differences between Muir and Pinchot in the conservation/preservation battle, Muir further emphasizes that you can enjoy nature without a great deal of "extras". I mentioned that this is related to my major (tourism) because most people that choose to participate in nature-based or 'ecotourism' usually need to be outfitted with equipment and travel with companions, which is not in line with Muir's quote above.

I just returned to the Valley after a weekend camping retreat with my fraternity in Northern Arizona near Woods Canyon Lake. I am generally a light packer, and only brought a backpack and a pillow; some brought large suitcases, plenty of technological 'necessities', and interesting wilderness gadgets. Although the true purpose of the retreat was to bond with each other, I took advantage of such a great opportunity to get out into the wilderness (by the way, it was outstandingly cold). Although I was not alone, and was not completely without baggage, I feel that I was able to have a better connection with the wilderness because of my minimalism. Last night, one of our guys went out, away from the campsite with nothing to "commune with nature" (as he put it), and I feel that this was inline with Muir's game plan for getting "into the heart of the wilderness".

PRM 380: Blog #2 - Nature and culture

As much as I view nature positively, I do have to admit that the media and pop culture does have an affect on how I view nature, especially at night time. I thuroughly enjoy getting out into the wilderness, but I am a little scared of what is out there at night, mostly due to the fact that you can not see what you are getting yourself into, or observe your surrounds. In addition, the main reason that I enjoy recreation in the woods/wilderness is that I can look at and appreciate all of the beautiful natural surroundings.

Nighttime, though, is one of my necesarry evils about enjoying the wilderness; you usually have to sleep outdoors in the woods on a camping trip, after all. The root of my fears come from horror movies, and my friends and I are constantly joking about "the killer" that is lurking in the woods, right outside of our tent waiting to strike. If it weren't for horror movies depicking the nighttime woods as a place where you run into to escape "the killer" never to return, I don't think that I would have much reason to hear the wilderness.

I do beleive that the media and culture have the ability to change our perception of nature, namely because it has changed that of me and my friends. I have to struggle to find the serenity in the nighttime (usually by gazing at stars) to distract myself from the horror that (apparently) awaits on the other side of the river from my campsite.

PRM 380: Blog #1

Reflecting on nature, eh? The most prominent thing that attracts me to nature is peace and quiet. As I mentioned in class, I really enjoy the city life. I live in downtown Phoenix, have no car, and take advantage of living in an urban environment. On the other hand, I love nature and the retreat from this lifestyle that it provides (and since I don't have a car, my natural excursions can't be spontaneous).

Along the same lines of peace and quiet, nature also makes me feel very small in this big world (see picture from previous post). Even though the Grand Canyon is just a big hole in the ground, it really put you in your place. Likewise, I hiked the Kiwanis Trail in South Mountain Park last Sunday with my parents, and the valley through which you hike, surrounded on both sides. Speaking of my parents, I think that they are the reason I am fond of nature, especially viewing nature as an escape from city life. Growing up, we had a cabin on the eastern side of Olympic National Park in the wilderness of Washington's Olympic Peninsula. We enjoyed the natural settings, playing around the river, and digging for clams in the Puget Sound. My siblings and I were taught at a young age that nature was something to be enjoyed, and that we were fortunate to have such great natural areas so close to home in the Northwest.

These views on nature have affected my life because I always enjoy going out into nature, and some do not. Also, I am a person concerned with preservation of open space and conservation of our environment because I enjoy nature. From a career standpoint, preserving wilderness areas for the sake of tourism will affect my career because people enjoy visiting the outdoors and participating in recreation. Overall, in my eyes, preserving nature and the environment has a large, positive ripple effect to all aspects of life.

PRM 380: Introduction

What's up, PRM 380?!?

My name is Randy Coté, and I am a tourism development and management major. This is my final semester at ASU, and it's been quite a ride. Here are the essential facts:

* I'm from Seattle, WA and plan to return there after graduation. I cannot picture myself living anywhere else (at this time), and growing up there has really shaped me and my world view.

* I'm pretty down with Mother Nature. I'm big on sustainability, public transit, enjoying the outdoors, and getting other people to live an environmentally responsible life too (but I'm NOT some crazy hippie).

* I am passionate about my major and working in the industry. I always have fun in everything I do, and working in the tourism field will (hopefully) allow this continue.

Here's to a great semester, and have a great holiday weekend!

How to lose an iPhone

So I have an iPhone, and it is probably the most useful thing I own (especially when traveling to cities that I have never been too). But yesterday, my world began spiraling out of control in a matter of moments when I was standing in line at the post office and REALIZED THAT MY PHONE WAS NOT IN MY POCKET! So as a public service, here are the steps to losing an iPhone on the bus:

1) Wear athletic shorts. Their loose pockets that have a steep angle of descent while seated (in lets say a bus seat) make it easy for the phone to slip out.

2) While riding the bus, realize that when you wear these shorts in the car your phone falls out. Mentally note to check for the phone when you get up.

3) Get off the bus, dismissing your previous thoughts regarding phones falling out of pockets.

In case you rock at sarcasm, this is how I did it, so it must work pretty well! I then proceeded to sprint at the speed of light to catch the bus, and the bus driver handed my phone to me when I uttered the words "I left my..." - THANK GOD! Mr. Bus Driver even called one of my friends and told him the bus number and stuff - way to go Valley Metro!

Take it from a seasoned pro: please secure your cell phone before disembarking from any public transportation vehicle (unless you are looking for a surprise dose of cardiovascular exercise).

Lost luggage

Ever wonder what happens to bags at the airport that nobody picks up? Well, I can not confirm nor deny what classification this mountain of bags falls under, but I saw it while at the bus stop at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. 

It did strike me that most of them were colored red..... interesting.

And so it begins...

Dear Internet,

My name is Randy, and I don't know if you are ready for me. I have always wanted to write a blog, but have never thought of the right way to approach it. Do I casually talk about the goings on of my day? Do I share my view of the world with the world? Do I use pseudonyms in place of my real friends' names? Well, I have settled upon a premise.

Since I am a sociable, outspoken, traveler type, I think that the premise of this whole blog thing will be the ins and outs of what occurs in my little piece of this world. I will notify you of the drama-filled cell phone conversation I overheard on the bus, I will use my iPhone and its amazing photo quality to capture the beauty of this planet when I encounter it, I will pass along news that I find of merit, and I will try to keep it as fresh and entertaining as possible.

So Internet, I think we have a deal: you will host this blog as long as it rocks. If it doesn't rock, then I think I might just have to stick with my other antics. Have a great night, and stay classy.

-Randay206