Happy Earth Day!

Welcome to the first edition of 5 on Friday - my weekly newsletter containing 5 resources that will help you become a better outdoor adventurer, photographer, and steward of the environment.

In honor of Earth Day, this first edition will be entirely focused on the environment. 

Future editions will include tips and curated resources to help you build skills in the areas of camping, hiking, backpacking, landscape photography, creativity, and more.

If you haven't already, you can sign up here to have this newsletter sent directly to your inbox every week.

1. It’s National Park Week!

‍Those who know me know that the Grand Canyon is a place of significant intellectual, spiritual, and recreational importance to me and many, many other people. It is one of our planet’s greatest treasures, yet it is threatened by destructive human activities (e.g. uranium mining, commercial development, and more).

To celebrate National Park Week, the Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC) is holding their “Trailblazer” event to help fund critical projects in Grand Canyon National Park.

Consider joining me in becoming a member of GCC, or perhaps join a conservation organization associated with your favorite national park.

The Trailblazer event ends on April 24, 2022 - you can join here.‍

2. Some Recommended Earth Day Reading

I’m currently re-reading Red: Passion and Patience in the Desert by Terry Tempest Williams. 

Most people are unaware that an intense war over the use of public lands is raging in the American West. 

This war has gone on for over a century, and it only gets worse. We are in danger of losing our last few islands of pure wilderness.

Williams is one of my favorite authors on the topic of wilderness conservation. Her writing is poetic and powerfully evocative, which alone makes her work worth the read. I highly recommend reading this book (as well as her other work). 

One of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Inside this erosional landscape where all colors eventually bleed into the river, it is hard to desire anything but time and space.Time and space. In the desert there is space. Space is the twin sister of time. If we have open space then we have open time to breath, to dream, to dare, to play, to pray to move freely, so freely, in a world our minds have forgotten but our bodies remember. Time and space. This partnership is holy. In these redrock canyons, time creates space--an arch, an eye, this blue eye of sky. We remember why we love the desert; it is our tactile response to light, to silence, and to stillness." - Terry Tempest Williams, Red: Passion and Patience in the Desert

Buy it from your local book store if possible. I hope you enjoy the book and that it brings more awareness to this important issue that I care deeply about.

Also, check out my recommend book list for more of my favorite conservation literature.‍

3. Why I’m Running To Save the Red Desert In Southwest Wyoming

Speaking of losing public lands, let’s talk about the Red Desert - the largest unfenced area in the continental United States located in.

On September 24, 2022, I’ll be running 50k in an ultramarathon called Run the Red Desert - a race created by several Wyoming conservation groups to bring awareness to this threatened ecosystem and promote environmental stewardship.

This wilderness area is currently threatened by the oil and gas lobby, and is a prime example of how public lands are being lost across the American West.

Why should you care?‍

Watch this short film from Patagonia.

Will you join me in running or supporting this race? 

You can signup to run or volunteer here.‍

4. Tag Responsibly: How To Share Like An Ethical Nature Photographer

These days, everyone has a digital camera in their pocket capable of taking stunning photos.

With the surge in outdoor recreation over the last few years, more people are taking and posting landscape photos than ever.

While it’s amazing that people are getting outdoors, their digital footprints are destroying the environment.

When natural landmarks go viral, it causes a surge of people to visit sensitive ecosystems, trails, and public lands that can’t support this traffic. I have seen this become a major problem recently.‍

Here’s a great New York Times article that will help you catch up on this topic.

The solution: don’t geotag your photo when you post it to social media. 

This Earth Day, let’s keep sharing the beauty of nature while making a commitment to keep the locations of our favorite spots to ourselves. ‍

5. Act Now

What is one single use plastic item that you could replace with a reusable alternative?‍

Plastic pollution is one of our most serious environmental issues, and solutions are urgently needed.

One solution is to simply stop using plastic. It’s so simple, yet so inconvenient - I know.

We humans are hopelessly lazy. Fortunately, there are more and more companies committed to helping people eliminate plastic and go zero waste.

For example, I have just started refilling my soap and cleaning supplies at a “‘refillery” in Denver called Off the Bottle.

If you live in a city, chances are you live near a similar type of minimal waste refillery shop. They are popping up all over.

Let me know what single use plastics you have eliminated from your life. I'd love to hear from you!

Talk to you next week, friends.

Meredith