Take a look at the changing face of our state forests...

The lack of consideration given to our nation's dwindling natural resources astounds me. By natural resources I do not mean oil reserves or coal mines, but the very few acres of untouched, undomesticated land.

Yesterday's front page feature story in the Philadelphia Inquirer was about the Marcellus Shale (a natural gas field formation hanging out more than a mile underground most of PA, as well as parts of VA and NY). Once thought to be a relatively worthless venture, drilling the Shale for natural gas is now proving to be quite profitable and hundreds of contracts are cropping up to establish new rigs. What struck me was the tone of the article, focusing more on how the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is going to deal with all the incoming bids rather than what impact the influx of drilling will do to state forests occupying the land over the Shale.

Only one conservationist was cited among all the sources, urging the DCNR to hold back on granting more contracts until further research is done to establish the long-term effects of hundreds of new rigs, each of which takes up at least three to four acres. According to the article, the stance taken by the DCNR is that they have to balance the "environmental integrity of the forest" with "the Commonwealth's financial interests". Side note: PA stands to gain about 12% in royalties. Most of the studies I could find online about the Marcellus Shale were conducted in the name of potential economic benefit of the drilling, not environmental impact.

I know it is not new news, but the lack of concern for forestland still shocks me. I give Kristin, pursuing her Master's in Geography, credit for studying the consequences of this apathy every day. I only hope the day when businessmen and industrialists listen to voice of reason there will still be enough trees left to shade my picnic blanket.

Climb Every Mountain

A few weeks ago Steph and I were lucky enough to run away for a week to Denver; I to visit my sister and brother-in-law and Steph to visit an old friend. Having been working full-time for the first time in my life, I think this is the first vacation I really earned and deserved. We were able to really relax in the fresh mountain air, catching up on sleep one day in the most welcoming tree with which I've ever crossed paths.




Steph's friend, Julian, taught us all about the game of rugby and the crazy kind of guys it takes to play the rough and tumble sport. Here you can see a "scrum". Unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to get a picture of the play in which two or three guys actually lift another in the air like a cheerleader. I'm still unsure what that move is meant to accomplish.



Of course, we had to get a taste of the myriad of microbreweries Colorado boasts. I don't think we went one day of the week without tasting a new and uniquely delicious hoppy brew. My favorite is still Sunshine Wheat from New Belgium. However, Rock Bottom Brewery certainly nestled its way into my heart and stomach at the tapping for their seasonal pumpkin beer. Everytime they tap a new beer, Rock Bottom literally gives away the first couple hundred pints! If you should find yourself in Denver when Rock Bottom is having a tapping I highly recommend finding yourself to their 16th Street Mall restaurant and seeing what concoction you can get your hands on.



The biggest highlight of the trip, for me, was actually a lifetime goal for myself I can finally cross off the list. Julian took us rock climbing! Table Top mountain overlooks the Coors plant in Golden and on that magnificently sunny, summer-like day it was covered at all angles by expert and novice climbers, alike. Although I can't say it entirely by my own brute strength, I did manage to make it all the way to the top on our second route. It felt so awesome to overcome the natural fear and literally scale a mountain. I cannot wait to climb again (and again and again and again)!



The contrast of the ancient and peaceful, yet forboding Rockies when compared with the "mountains" of the East amazes me each time I've ventured West. Here are some of the breathtaking views from Rocky Mountain National Park and atop Mt. Falcon.




















*Steph also achieved a lifetime goal in Denver, beginning her transformation into a human cupcake.

How is the strike affecting you?

There's my answer. For the past two days, that's the top conversation starter for everyone in Philly. The workers' union for SEPTA, the Philadelphia area public transit system, went on strike starting in the middle of Monday night, and put the whole city in slow motion. Up until yesterday I was ready to tell everyone how great the strike is working out for me. It has gotten me to finally ride my bike to work, which I should have been doing all this time. It is a relatively short ride to my Center City job, and by slowing myself down I've already discovered several little shops and restaurants to explore. Yesterday's trip to work was not so wonderful, however. I got in a fight...with the road. In my defense, the trolley tracks started it by reaching out and grabbing on to my front tire. As you can see, I am a little worse for the wear and my poor jeans suffered in the cross-fire.
Still, I consider myself lucky. I will take a few scrapes compared with the horror stories I've heard. My one coworker, Al, lives near me and now has to walk the 6 or 7 miles every day! There being no end in sight for the strike, here are some shots to keep the memories alive.