Race Me To The Pole - UPDATE...

Photo provided by Hannah Rollings

"Race Me To The Pole"  - Update

By: HANNAH ROLLINGS

Thanks to unseasonably good weather and high pressure over the Arctic, Gavin was ahead of schedule at an impressive 88km after just four days of skiing. However, there were indications that the spell of good weather would change, with low pressure moving over the Arctic. Sure enough, the bad weather came and conquered, with the team were camp-bound for 60+ hours. Let’s hope that the low pressure heading to the Arctic doesn’t cause too many disruptions on the Race to the Pole.

On the 10th of April Gavin had a 24hr stop-over at Polaris Mine. The once functioning mine produced 21 million tonnes of lead-zinc worth over $15 billion before closing in July 2002 after 20 years of production. At one time 250 people lived and worked there. Although the site is now closed and deconstructed, it still serves as a convenient checkpoint and re-supply point for adventurers and expeditions on this classic Polar route.

This was also the first opportunity Gavin has had to change his base layer of clothing after 6 days of skiing! The team were re-supplied with food and drink and also met some of the Canadian rangers who have been on patrol in the area. The Rangers warned of a female Polar Bear and cub in the area. Needless to say, the team gave a very wide berth to such a potentially dangerous animal. Luckily, they didn't come into contact. READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP

In one of Gavin’s audio updates he talks of the team making an igloo and sheltered toilet during their time stuck at Polaris Mine. The snow in the Arctic is far lighter and drier than the stuff we're used to... and sounds like polystyrene! This makes it easier to make sculptures, which is how the team spent most of their time at Polaris as they waited for supplies.

As of 1PM (GMT) on the 18th of April, Gavin set off from the east coast of Bathurst Island after waiting out a snow storm for 60+ hours. His tent had iced over solid and his sleeping bag and clothing had become wet. The team were trying to keep warm in -40 temperatures and gale-force winds by keeping a lit stove, in turn causing condensation and dampness. As of Thursday morning, the wind had died down enough for him to make tracks northwards, snaking up the coast of Bathurst Island.

The time Gavin spent static in the storm was particularly worrying as he was camped just north of ‘Polar Bear Pass’, a polar bear migratory route. The island is much more fertile than others in the area, attracting a lot of fauna, including caribou and muskoxen. This large prey attracts polar bears, usually from March to November.

So what now?

Gavin is heading towards the Berkeley Islands, a group of uninhabited islands. The Berkeley Group is part is a member of the Parry Islands subgroup. It is composed of the Hosken Islands, as well as Allard Island, Harwood Island, Ricards Island, Seymour Island, and Sherard Osborn Island. The group is named in honour of Admiral Maurice Berkeley, Royal Navy First Sea Lord.

There’s hard work ahead but the weather has gone in Gavin’s favour, hopefully for the long-term.

You can hear all of Gavin’s audio updates at the below link. He touches on topics from shin splints, to polar bears and poogloos (an igloo where you can relieve yourself).

https://vimeo.com/album/2346841

100% of the donations are going towards Moving Mountains Trust, a charity that focuses on long-term sustainable development in Kenya, Nepal and Borneo. Your donations will help thousands of people, not just now but in the long-term, individuals, each with their own story and struggles, whose lives you can help to change.

Find out a bit more about how a donation to Moving Mountains can change a life and those of everyone connected with them. On the Moving Mountains website there are just a few examples of the tens of thousands of people donations have helped Moving Mountains to support over the years.

If you donate, you will become part of the ‘Donation Team’, racing Gavin to the Pole. Every £1 donated = 25km of progress for the Donation Team. Gavin is currently over 40km ahead of the Donation Team. Please help to narrow the gap by donating, every little helps! Gavin is currently over 30km ahead of the Donation Team and he’s on the move!

Everyone can follow the daily progress made by Gavin and the Donation Team via the constantly updated race record at racemetothepole.com.  Thanks to Yellow Brick tracking we will receive Gavin’s location every four hours.

To join the donation team in the Race to the Pole, text ‘POLE13 £1’ to 70070. You can substitute the £1 with £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10. To learn about more about the expedition and to find out other ways to donate, visit the campaign website at www.racemetothepole.com

Alternatively, you can donate here: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/racemetothepole/95845

 Sarmilla Rai and the children of Buspa Primary

To the left is a photo of just one of Moving Mountains many beneficiaries. Sarmilla Rai and her class at Buspa Primary.

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"Race Me to the Pole" Says Adventurer Gavin Bate...

Adventurer Gavin Bate (Photo courtesy Hannah Rollings)

‘Race me to the Pole’ says adventurer Gavin Bate

STORY BY HANNAH ROLLINGS -

Tomorrow my boss and friend, philanthropist and adventurer Gavin Bate, aims to ski more than 550km from Resolute Bay in northern Canada to the magnetic North Pole. As part of the expedition, his aim is to raise £22,000 for the Moving Mountains Trust, an international development charity that he founded more than 10 years ago.

The ‘race’ to the pole will see donors pitted against Gavin in his journey across the thinning Arctic sea ice toward the Pole. Every pound donated by the ‘Donation Team’ is worth 25 metres of Gavin’s trek, and as he gets ever closer to the finish line the Donation Team will race to achieve their target of £22,000 worth of donations. Importantly, all of the money raised via donations associated with this expedition will go towards Moving Mountains Trust which supports sustainable development projects in Kenya, Tanzania, Nepal and Borneo. Gavin covers all overheads himself via profits from his ethical adventure company, Adventure Alternative. It’s well known that tourism is one of the most over-exploited industries, especially in the developing world. Breaking the mould, Adventure Alternative was formed on a strict ethical policy, employing locals and offering them a fair wage, with benefits.

Moving Mountains’ primary aims are to provide aid for the relief of hardship, poverty, suffering and inequality through education and vocational training, medical treatment, sport and employment. Most importantly, in my mind, all projects are developed over a number of years with the local community; the community’s voice is actually heard! After completion, they are handed over to the community to manage alongside the Moving Mountains committees in each country.

Everyone can follow the daily progress made by Gavin and the Donation Team via the constantly updated race record at racemetothepole.com and via a host of other social media streams. Thanks to Yellow Brick tracking we will receive Gavin’s location every four hours. It’s near impossible for the team to carry any other form of (functioning) electronics due to temperatures that often reach -35C. 

To join the donation team in the Race to the Pole, text ‘POLE13 £1’ to 70070. You can substitute the £1 with £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10. To learn about more about the expedition and to find out other ways to donate, visit the campaign website at www.racemetothepole.com

I’ll be back soon to update you on Gavin’s progress!



Dates: 

• Gavin left the UK on March 27, 2013 flying via Ottawa and Iqaluit to Resolute Bay. 
• Several days will be spent at Resolute Bay, packing and testing equipment. 
• Gavin is due to leave Resolute Bay on April 6, 2013 to begin the trek to the pole. The team are expected to reach the Pole on May 4, 2013. 

Social Media: 

Facebook Facebook.com/racemetothepole

Twitter @MMTrust #racemetothepole

LinkedIn Moving-Mountains-Trust

Contact: 

www.racemetothepole.com
Hannah Rollings
Moving Mountains Trust
info@movingmountainstrust.com

PO Box 14
Portstewart
Northern Ireland
BT55 7WS

+44 (0)28 708 31258

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Water... The Most Precious Resource

Photo: People Are Awesome

What is the world’s most precious resource?

Some might say oil. Others might tell you that it is energy. But the cold hard truth is that water is the world’s most precious resource… and we are in danger of losing it.

How can we be in danger of losing it when the earth is 70% water?

The truth is we are nearing a point of no return. Oceans, rivers, and lakes are contaminated every day. Many nations around the world struggle to find clean drinking water. The ocean has become a dumping ground for toxic waste, trash, and plastic.

Consider this… [READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP]

Photo: localphilosophy.com

[from How Stuff Works] “In the broad expanse of the northern Pacific Ocean, there exists the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a slowly moving, clockwise spiral of currents created by a high-pressure system of air currents. The area is an oceanic desert, filled with tiny phytoplankton but few big fish or mammals. Due to its lack of large fish and gentle breezes, fishermen, and sailors rarely travel through the gyre. But the area is filled with something besides plankton: trash, millions of pounds of it, most of it plastic. It's the largest landfill in the world, and it floats in the middle of the ocean.

The gyre has actually given birth to two large masses of ever-accumulating trash, known as the Western and Eastern Pacific Garbage Patches, sometimes collectively called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The Eastern Garbage Patch floats between Hawaii and California; scientists estimate its size as two times bigger than Texas.

The Western Garbage Patch forms east of Japan and west of Hawaii. Each swirling mass of refuse is massive and collects trash from all over the world. The patches are connected by a thin 6,000-mile long current called the Subtropical Convergence Zone. Research flights showed that significant amounts of trash also accumulate in the Convergence Zone.

The garbage patches present numerous hazards to marine life, fishing and tourism. But before we discuss those, it's important to look at the role of plastic. Plastic constitutes 90 percent of all trash floating in the world's oceans.”

Also consider…

Photo: sites.psu.edu

[from Summit on the Summit] The global clean water crisis is arguably the most important cause of our time. There are still almost ONE BILLION people who do not have access to clean drinking water. The most affected of those people are children, who suffer every day from preventable waterborne illnesses. Take a moment to read some startling facts about this issue.

• Water-related diseases are the leading cause of death in the world, taking the lives of 3.5 million people a year.
• Unsafe water and lack of sanitation account for 80 percent of illnesses in developing countries.
• Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a preventable, water-related disease.
• 2.5 BILLION people live without basic sanitation, which directly results in unnecessary deaths among children.
• Children in poor environments often carry 1,000 parasitic worms in their bodies at any time from the unsafe water they must consume to survive.
• Approximately 443 million school days are lost each year due to water-related illness.
• At any one time, half of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from waterborne disease.
• The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns.
• It has been said that as many as 22 AFRICAN COUNTRIES FAIL to provide safe drinking water for at least ½ of their population. That would be equivalent to 150,570,000 people not having access to drinkable water in the United States.
• Less than 1 percent of the world’s fresh water, or about .007 percent of all water on the Earth, is readily accessible for direct human use.
• Currently, over half the states in the USA are facing serious drought conditions. Statistics like these are even more tragic because they are unnecessary.
• Unless we act now, by 2025 the number of people without access to clean water could increase to 2.3 billion.


Droughts…

Photo: NY Times

[from About.com] Drought can have serious health, social, economic, and political impacts with far-reaching consequences.
Water is one of the most essential commodities for human survival, second only to breathable air. So when there is a drought, which by definition means having too little water to meet current demands, conditions can become difficult or dangerous very quickly.
The consequences of drought may include:
Hunger and famine—Drought conditions often provide too little water to support food crops, through either natural precipitation or irrigation using reserve water supplies. The same problem affects grass and grain used to feed livestock and poultry. When drought undermines or destroys food sources, people go hungry. When the drought is severe and continues over a long period, famine may occur.
Thirst—All living things must have water to survive. People can live for weeks without food, but only a few days without water.
Disease—Drought often creates a lack of clean water for drinking, public sanitation, and personal hygiene, which can lead to a wide range of life-threatening diseases.
Wildfires—The low moisture and precipitation that often characterize droughts can quickly create hazardous conditions in forests and across range lands, setting the stage for wildfires that may cause injuries or deaths as well as extensive damage to property and already shrinking food supplies.
Social conflict and war—When a precious commodity like water is in short supply due to drought, and the lack of water creates a corresponding lack of food, people will compete—and eventually fight and kill—to secure enough water to survive.
Migration or relocation—Faced with the other impacts of drought, many people will flee a drought-stricken area in search of a new home with a better supply of water, enough food, and without the disease and conflict that were present in the place they are leaving.



What can be done?

Several organizations out there are working diligently on the crises. Organizations such as Surfrider, Water.org, Summit on the Summit, NOAA, the EPA, and Greenpeace try to raise awareness, pass legislation, and regulate. But is it enough?
No! It will take all of us, worldwide; to do our parts in protecting, preserving, and raising awareness to protect the world’s most valuable resource.

The next time you go for a swim, a surf session, or even drink a cool glass of water, think about how lucky you are to have this resource, and realize that it may not be here forever.

Get involved!

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Burn-off Planned for Mustang Island...

A pre-planned burn is coming soon for Mustang Island State Park in Texas says the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept.

Pre-planned burns are sometimes necessary to help restore growth and prevent wildfires.

Here is the press release from the TPWD...

"Feb. 15, 2013
Prescribed burn planned for Mustang Island State Park
CORPUS CHRISTI - Park Superintendent Damon Reeves announced today that Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff plans to conduct a prescribed burn at Mustang Island State Park during February or March. The burn is expected to be conducted and completed in two to three days.
Prescribed burns are used as a management tool in state parks to improve habitat for wildlife by restoring forest and prairie habitats that were historically maintained by natural fires. They also are conducted to reduce the amount of available fuels, such as leaf litter, fallen branches, understory growth and dead trees that accumulate naturally and from storms. By reducing the amount of available fuels, prescribed burns lower the likelihood of a potentially destructive wildfire.
Park staff already has begun preparing for the upcoming burn by clearing vegetation and other fuels from the fire breaks established around the perimeter of each area (burn unit) that will be burned this year. Fuels and vegetation also are cleared away from utility poles, structures, signs and sensitive resources to protect them during the prescribed burns.
Prescribed burns on state parks are conducted by TPWD personnel who have undergone training and met national wildland firefighting certification standards. The park's prescribed fire plan defines the conditions under which a prescribed burn may be conducted, taking into account wind speeds and direction, air temperature, relative humidity, and fuel moisture levels. The plan also guides the fire crew members in managing burns to prevent them from escaping into adjacent properties and to minimize the effect of smoke in nearby residential areas.
Because specific weather conditions are required to conduct an effective and safe prescribed burn, TPWD staff cannot provide a specific date for the burn at this time. However, local emergency management officials will be notified before the prescribed fire is implemented. Reeves noted that during the burn, some areas of the park would be closed to the public. During the burn there may be smoke that reduces visibility on neighboring roads and the superintendent cautions travelers to reduce their speed and use their headlights when smoke is present.
For more information regarding the planned burn or to request notification on the days when fires are ignited, please contact the park at (361) 749-5246 or by e-mail damon.reeves@tpwd.state.tx.us"

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President Picks Adventurer Sally Jewell for Interior Secretary...

Photo Courtesy of University of Denver

We here at Human Spirit of Adventure prefer not to delve into the political arena. We believe that Adventure Sports should be for testing a persons intestinal fortitude instead of political gain. However, we cannot help but notice that President Obama has picked Sally Jewell to replace Ken Salazar as Interior Secretary.

Jewell, an avid adventurer who counts kayaking and climbing among her favorite adventure sports, is president and CEO of Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), one of the nation’s largest outdoor and recreational retailers. She’s on a handful of corporate and nonprofit boards, including the National Parks Conservation Association.

The Interior position is usually held by a politician from a Western state. Jewell is not a politician, but she is a Westerner and grew up in an outdoorsy family in Washington State.

As top-dog of an outdoor supply company that counts millions of hunters and fishermen as customers, Jewell represents a conservation agenda that could unite political parties. When it comes to protecting the environment, environmentalists and sportsmen groups often join efforts to protect America’s wilderness areas, which is something most, if not all adventurers can agree needs protecting.

So congratulations to Sally Jewell, we hope that political office will not uproot your love for the wilderness, environment, and the trail.

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Summit On The Summit... Climbing Kilimanjaro

There is a major crisis going on in the world today... we're not talking about wars, politics, or conspiracy theories. We are talking about an issue that is life-threatening and robs people of a basic human right... We are talking about a global clean water crisis.

In so many areas around the world, water is not clean enough to drink. This threatens the lives of many people across the globe.

Enter the Summit On the Summit.

"What is Summit on the Summit", you ask?

According to their website, the Summit On The Summit is "An initiative designed to drive awareness and change to the global clean water crisis while engaging a community through raising awareness, supporting education, inspiring advocacy and activating fundraising. By taking cultural influencers, educators and high profile individuals to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, SUMMIT is able to support organizations in bringing clean water to the 1 billion people living without this basic human right."

The Project: 

(From the SUMMIT Website) Our project will consist of a 7 day climb up Mount Kilimanjaro with internationally recognized influencers as well as men and women who have either made an exceptional global impression around the water crisis or proven to be a leader in youth activism. These two groups represent Influencers and Educators. They will climb Kili as a team; communicating about the issues around access to water, learning of solutions to the problem, discussing how to improve social awareness and embracing the idea that they are now the example for showing ways to take action and give back to those with little or nothing. Through our efforts, we will directly support nonprofit organizations providing safe, clean drinking water to struggling communities...giving future generations the chance to thrive.

Who is involved:

There is a long list of celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs  and activists who are participating in this climb to raise awareness. 

You can find a list of them on the SUMMIT website at http://www.summitonthesummit.com/climbers

Human Spirit of Adventure is closely following the climb. We are sharing updates and video from the climbers daily on our Facebook page. So follow along and show your support for bringing clean drinking water to the world!

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Black Bear Sightings On The Rise In Texas...

Photo courtesy of Animal Planet

Black Bear sightings are on the rise in Texas according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept.
Usually black bears are only seen around the Big Bend area but this year they seem to have migrated in from Mexico.
Hikers, backpackers, and many outdoor enthusiasts have learned to coexist with these magnificent creatures while having a heavy respect for the dangers involved.
Hill Country residents are now having to increase their awareness.

Read the press release from TPWD below...

Nov. 27, 2012
Black bear activity on the upswing in the Hill Country and South Texas
AUSTIN -- Black bear activity in the Hill Country and South Texas along the Rio Grande from Del Rio to below Laredo is increasing, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists.
Though historically it has been very rare for bears to be sighted south or east of Val Verde County, so far in 2012 there have been a dozen such sightings.
"This is likely a result of a growing number of bears in Mexico dispersing and searching for food after severe droughts and wildfires," says TPWD biologist Jonah Evans of Alpine, the department's bear coordinator. "Whether these sightings signify a permanent recolonization of Central and South Texas remains to be seen."
While black bears are native to all of Texas, in the early 1900's, heavy hunting and trapping completely eliminated them from the state. Currently, the only established breeding populations are in the Big Bend area of West Texas.
"Black bears are generally not a risk to humans," Evans says. "But they can become a nuisance if they gain a taste for human food, pet food, or trash. We've recently received several reports of bears tipping over and damaging deer feeders and a few raiding trash cans along the border."
Evans says the department's goal is for people and bears to coexist peacefully.
"By eliminating food rewards, we eliminate most of the problems," he says. "Many communities in bear country have effectively adapted to live with bears, but it takes everyone working together and doing their part."
The most effective strategy is for residents along the border to secure their trash, bird feeders, and pet food, so bears don't become habituated to easy meals, Evans notes.
"This cannot be overstated," he continues. "The saying 'A fed bear is a dead bear' is absolutely true. If a bear becomes habituated and food-conditioned, there is little we can do to save it. It will likely have to be destroyed."
TPWD is asking for people to report all bear sightings. If a bear is causing a nuisance, TPWD will work with residents to secure attractants and may attempt to haze the bear. In extreme situations, the bear may be relocated. Biologists are also available to give talks and educational programs on living with bears. Since black bears are a threatened species in Texas, they cannot be legally hunted or harmed.
If you see a bear, please report it to Jonah Evans at (432) 837-2051 x228.
Bear activity reported so far this year includes:
--Maverick County -- Jan. 26 -- Sighting
--Starr County -- July 30 -- Relocated
--Kimble County -- Aug. 6 -- Sighting
--Menard County -- Aug. 8 -- Sighting
--Schleicher County -- Aug. 8 -- Sighting
--Sutton County Aug. 12 -- Sighting
--Webb County -- Aug. 27 -- Killed on road by vehicle
--Uvalde County Aug. 31 -- Sighting
--Kinney County Sept. 25 -- Sighting
--Maverick County -- Oct. 14 -- Relocated
--Val Verde County -- Nov. 3 -- Sighting

--Edwards County -- Nov. 5 -- Sighting

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Good Start but Not Enough...

On Saturday March 26, Corpus Christi held a Glass Recycling Event at the Walmart at Everhart and SPID. The event yeilded over 10 tons of glass to recycle. According to the local news, The City of Corpus Christi discontinued glass recycling in 2005 because there was no market for it. Recently, the Corpus Christi Clean City Advisory Committee took a vote to organize a collection event. These events are to take place quarterly.


But was this event enough?


In my opinion, Texas needs to seriously consider and implement the Texas Bottle Bill. This bill would establish a refund/deposit program that would significantly reduce the amount of glass, plastic, and cans that are left on our beaches and in our water.
Imagine, with economic times as hard as they are, how clean our beaches, roadways, bays, and landscape would be if you were refunded 5 cents for every bottle...


Read about the Texas Bottle Bill HERE

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