No Sense of Distance

I recently overheard a 30-something couple talking as they exited their vehicle to attend a sporting event. The wife asked, “How far away is this place?” The husband replied, “’Bout half a mile.” The wife made a sour face and grumbled, “Couldn’t you have dropped me off at the doors and then parked the car?” This incident may not have seemed eavesdrop-worthy, but I found it interesting for one reason and one reason alone. Most people have no real sense of distance. A half of a mile will take the average person about ten minutes to walk, which really isn’t all that time-consuming. But in light of our fast-paced world, ten minutes could have been six Hot Pockets “cooked” in a microwave, or total research on the effects of radiation on the human body (thanks to Wikipedia), or 20 miles closer to Las Vegas, if you’re my dad in his Saturn Sky.

I’d like to challenge you this week to physically find out how long it would take you to walk (or run) a half of a mile, or a mile, or two miles. Or ten miles for all you over-achievers. (No calculators!) Map out what is easily within walking distance from your home and try walking places that really don’t require the use of a car. Some of you will make it as far as the next rancher’s fence, while others will pass a gas station, grocery store and restaurant before you reach a half of a mile.

It is often surprising to discover how fast a human can walk places that seem far away. What amazes me more is that humans have only used planes, trains and automobiles for the last century or so. Before that a person walked, rode a bicycle, or employed an animal to carry them. (Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about boats, but since this is a piece on walking, I figured I’d stick to transportation across land, not water.) Our world has been traversed by billions of feet, walking from one place to another. Despite our machines that transport us quickly, we still have to use our own power to reach our end destination, whether it’s the grocery store or the Eiffel Tower.

I’ve seen people with those pedometer things that track how many steps a person walks and I always thought those people were simply neurotic. But tracking your steps can help you realize just how much you rely on your own two feet (or hands if you’re in a wheelchair) and how relatively easy it is for anyone to travel ten miles in one day without the use of any motorized vehicles.

If you begin walking instead of driving short distances, your sense of distance becomes more refined and you may feel less dependent on your car. Another less “grueling” method of honing your sense of distance is riding a bicycle. Bicycles often require less effort than walking, yet still give you the opportunity to observe your surroundings and pay attention to how long it takes you to travel from Point A to Point B. Who knows? You may even come across a bakery that you never knew existed, and after you find it you can create a daily ritual to walk the half-mile, pick up a fresh, warm loaf, and enjoy it for the rest of the day.

Birdwatchers Unite!

There are some fascinating species of birds that call Utah their home. March and April are good times of the year to catch some of these birds out and about. The winter snows are melting and the spring sun is coaxing vegetation from the ground, which not only provides many of the birds with a direct source of food, but also attracts small animals for the predatory birds. Spring is a great time for birdwatchers (most birds are out mating, which means dances and colors you typically wouldn’t see otherwise), and though I’m not a true birdwatcher, I still find it highly interesting to observe any type of bird.

One species that is truly a treat to observe is the bald eagle. When I was a child, I thought it was extremely good luck to catch sight of a bald eagle. I reasoned that it would make me more of an American, that the bird revealed itself only to special people to act as champions of patriotism. After seeing one in a zoo, though, I realized that anyone could buy a ticket and become exposed to the magical patriotic qualities of the bald eagle. So much for the bird having “chosen ones.”

Despite the fact that the bald eagle doesn’t actually possess any special powers, it is still a magnificent animal to behold. They have a few nesting areas in Utah, one of which is located in the Westwater area near Moab. They typically nest in the cottonwood trees near the Colorado River. Last year there were two eagles that were visible from where I was camping for a rafting trip. All day long they came and they went, flying up into the beautiful blue sky, diving down for some new treasure. The park ranger mentioned that there were probably baby eagles in the nest, because one eagle always stood guard as the other went out foraging. Now would be a good time to watch as the bald eagles are active finding a mate.

Another cool bird is the sage grouse, which sounds boring, but you should google it and check out the images. It’s a crazy looking bird. I would be surprised if it doesn’t have some magical powers. I bet it could shake its tail and start a whirlwind. The sage grouse is like the punk rocker of birds: no frilly peacock tail feathers, just a sideways spiked Mohawk. The balloon thingies on its chest kind of freak me out, but they just add to the punkness of the bird.

I honestly wouldn’t want to meet a sage grouse alone in some deserted field. I’m not an up-close-and-personal type of guy when it comes to birds in general. Some of you, though, might welcome a close encounter of the bird kind, and if so, there are plenty of places to catch sage grouse in action. Sage grouse are plentiful near Monticello, Price, and the East Canyon Reservoir areas, as well as other locations around the state.

For more information on bird watching and great locations to do so, contact the state division of wildlife resources at DWRcomment@utah.gov or call 801-538-4700. (Oh, and before you go bird watching, don’t watch Hitchcock’s The Birds.)

Stayin' Alive

In light of tumultuous events occurring around the world, I’ve often wondered how I would fare if I were caught up in the middle of a mega-destructive earthquake or a regime overthrow or a torrential flood that obliterates homes within seconds. Survival skills are all but forgotten in our modern world, and only a handful of people actually hone them just in case of disaster. What would I do if suddenly plunged into a scenario where electricity, instant heat and plumbing are nonexistent?

Recently a couple of snowmobilers ran out of gas, miles away from any civilization in Wasatch County. They built a makeshift shelter and waited a storm out until rescuers found them. They certainly weren’t prepared for spending a night out in the freezing mountain temperatures, but they somehow survived. Without their meager shelter, the cold could have easily claimed them within hours. A simple bit of cover saved their lives.

Human ingenuity is sometimes all a person needs in order to make it through a harrowing ordeal. Other times sheer willpower and determination can save a person’s life. Aron Ralston was exploring Blue John Canyon when a boulder fell and pinned his arm against another rock. He then proceeded to amputate his arm with a dull pocketknife after he realized that he could die there if he didn’t free himself. No one knew where he was and the boulder was not showing any signs of letting him go.

It’s amazing what some people do to survive. Despite the human body’s frailty, there are numerous stories of people beating the odds and living to tell a remarkable tale. Right now in Japan there are hundreds of thousands of people without homes who never thought they’d be in this situation. More than likely those people will survive long enough to find a new home, but in the meantime they are forced to find their own shelter, food and warmth. Some are fortunate and still have family and friends that have their backs; others are alone and despair threatens their chances of survival. Every person in Japan, though, will have a unique story to tell of how they overcame the disaster all around them.

You can never know whether you’ll survive every situation you are in until you have survived it. And the only way to better your chances is to be prepared, whether materially, mentally or informationally (I think I just made that word up). Simply knowing how to tie a certain knot, or having a rope, or staying calm enough to think clearly can be extremely helpful in a dire situation. You can practice your survival skills by doing simple things like camping or trying to build a fire in your backyard with a couple of sticks. There are also survivalists who can teach you the ropes: what berries to avoid, how to endure extreme temperatures, where to find water.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and the majority of humans want to stay alive. We never know when the “Big One” will hit here in Utah. Flash floods are common in the southern part of the state. Dangerous animals can make a simple hike a fight for your life. There are no guarantees in life, which means all we can do is be as prepared as possible for the unknown. Whatever doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger – and postpones the inevitable (sorry, had to throw in a third cliché for good measure).

Recipe for Disaster

Recipe for Disaster:

1 Mountainous Snowpack Base

1 Unexpected Winter Storm

A Handful of Humans

Various Sports Equipment and Machinery

Instructions:

Bake mountainous snowpack base with a sun for two to three weeks. Allow snowpack to begin melting and flowing into nearby streams and rivers.

Call weatherman and request that he or she withhold any information about possible upcoming winter storms. Allow winter storm to hit and cover up the already melting snowpack.

Sprinkle a handful of humans on the white, fluffy stuff that the winter storm leaves behind and make sure they have plenty of sports gear (i.e. snowshoes, snowmobiles, skis, snowboards, etc.).

Sit back and wait a few hours. You will know that the recipe is a success if avalanches occur every so often. Feel free to dig the humans out of the snow whenever necessary and place them back on the new snow for more fun.

This recipe is extremely hard to complete without god-like powers. Luckily for me, a friend of mine refers to me as “the god of snow,” because I relish in crazy winter storms like the one we experienced on Monday. I find it interesting to observe how different people react in harsh weather, and weather doesn’t get much harsher in Utah than blizzards. Most people almost completely ignore the obvious signs that driving conditions are not safe by continuing to drive freeway speeds, or faster, on the freeways. There are even a few extremely delusional people who refuse to believe that it is cold outside and so they wear shorts everywhere. Several people have heard stories of the mythical creatures, Avalanches, and think they are simply bedtime stories meant to scare children.

Well, let me inform you: Avalanches are real, and there are only a few people who have encountered them and lived to tell the tale. And trust me, you don’t want to be one of those people. An Avalanche can literally swallow you up in a matter of seconds, and once you’re within its belly you’ve got a very short time before it freezes you in preparation for digestion.

As I’ve provided you with a recipe for disaster at the beginning, I’ll give you another recipe here at the end. One which can easily be performed by a human.

Recipe for Avoiding Death and Playing It Safe:

1 Healthy Dose of Common Sense

1 Buddy

1 Supply Pack

1 Hot-Air Blow Dryer

1 Really, Really, Really, Really Long Extension Cord

Instructions:

Apply common sense as needed.

Take buddy with you wherever you go. Two sets of eyes are always better than one.

Supply pack should be filled to the brim with life-saving equipment: first aid items; compass; one of those weird, shiny silver blankets; flares; pocket knife; rope; other items you feel could be helpful in a bad situation.

If there is room in your pack, go ahead and throw in the blow dryer and extension cord (the cord could double as your rope if it’s sturdy enough). In the event that an Avalanche decides to attack, plug in the hot-air blow dryer and hope that you can melt the enveloping snow before it completely engulfs you.

You will know this recipe is successful if you avoid death while enjoying winter activities.

Rockhounding

I was once an avid rock collector, or a rockhound if you will. I owned a book that detailed the various rocks and semiprecious gems that could be found around Utah and I made it a goal to own a specimen of every rock in that book. Needless to say, I eventually outgrew my fascination with rocks when I discovered girls. If only I knew then what I know now, I’d have stuck with the rocks. Rocks are simple; girls not so much. Anyway, I never really stopped liking rocks, and still today when I visit a natural history museum I enjoy ogling the pretty stones and crystals on display.

Rocks are funny. Actually, people who become excited over rocks are funny. I remember showing my brother a stone with a cool pattern as I exclaimed, “Hey! Cool! Look at this rock! It looks like it has a ribbon of caramel through the center!” He took it out of my hand, said, “Yeah, and it’s pretty flat, too,” and promptly skipped it across the placid lake we were standing near. I was distraught over the whole incident, but now I look back and think it was the right thing for him to do. I had enough rocks sitting around at home, many of which were more interesting than that caramel-ribbon stone.

Rock collecting can be a fun hobby, if you have the space for the collection in your home. Otherwise, you end up putting rocks in boxes and they get in the way and then you throw them out and then you wish you hadn’t so you find another box to start putting rocks in…and you wind up in a vicious cycle. Some people display their rocks in their front yard in a rock garden. Rock gardens are simple to take care of and as you collect more and more rocks, your garden becomes more and more beautiful and interesting. As a teenager I had my own little rock garden in my room (mostly because when I was growing up we lived on a mountain and our whole yard was already rocks, and if I had placed any of my collection outside, I would have had a hard time ever finding that rock again) and it gradually swallowed up my 6’x3’ desk so I couldn’t do homework anymore.

The coolest thing about rocks is that they’re everywhere! And free! Well, that depends on where you’re collecting your rocks. There are many locations around Utah that require person to procure a permit or special permission to remove rocks from that area. A rockhound can collect rocks on most federal lands without a permit, except for a few key areas, such as National Parks and wildlife refuges. State lands typically require a permit and there are limits as to how much a person can haul away per day and year. Private lands, of course, require special permission from whoever owns the land. For more information on rules and regulations, I’ve provided a helpful website: http://www.rocks4u.com/Utahrockhoundingrules.htm.

Utah is a wonderful state for rockhounding. Our diverse landscape offers numerous types of rock to discover. Should you desire to try your hand at rockhounding, there are a few popular locations that are sure to whet your appetite: the Dugway Geode Beds; Gold Hill; Topaz Mountain; and Antelope Springs. Each area offers different specimens to collect and enjoy. Just remember to have a good grip on a rock that you plan to keep when you say something stupid like, “Hey! Cool! Look how this rock sparkles when the sun hits it just right!”