Comments on: The last journey

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 23:07:24 +0000

In reply to Scott. Lots of my old stomping ground (The Rawahs come to mine) are now charred. Certainly sobering.

By: Ellie Thomas

Ellie Thomas — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 15:36:28 +0000

Good post. These questions float through my thoughts almost daily now.

I paused on the BMT due to brutal Spring storms and tornadoes, finally finishing up in July.

The Northville-Placid will be my Fall hike and I’m watching the weather more closely than I have on prior hikes.

Next year may be some more western hikes but fire seasons are making windows smaller than ever before.

PS – thanks for the references

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 03:05:35 +0000

I can sympathize with you Paul, I live in northern Colorado not far from your old home and have watched the flames glowing on our horizon, I have seen the canyons to both the north and south of our home ravaged by flooding that washed homes and roads away twice in the last 9 years. I have seen 75 days straight of smoke filled days and one day that the street lights stayed on all day from the darkness. Checking the air quality before planning an outing is now the new norm. I fear that the escalation of these events is no longer looming on the horizon but is now firmly upon us.

By: Stephan

Stephan — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 05:46:24 +0000

I agree. People that find out I love the mountains always ask how many fourteeners I’ve climbed. (only three in the U.S.) I’d rather climb a no name thirteener with no crowds. No need to check a box, just enjoy being out there.

By: Travis Briles

Travis Briles — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 23:52:22 +0000

Thanks Paul. This resonates. A month ago, I started packing a KN95 mask in a ziploc at the bottom of my cook pot. My thought was it would be used just in case I encountered wildfire smoke.

I’ve used it on 2/4 weekend trips so far when I sleep. It still leaves a weird taste on my teeth.

Welcome to the anthropocene everyone!