The Dirt ROAR “We had our share of difficult times on Everest, but that is the nature of the expedition. Sometimes it is the unending storm that gets to you, or the wind howling, or the crevasses shifting, or the deaths due to avalanche on a neighboring peak. The quiet mind seemed to me the only way to get through it all with a smile. Each step or ski turn counts. It felt as if it wasn’t up to us whether we would make it or not but was in the hands of the goddess Chomolungma, who inhabits the mountain. So the two most important jobs that I focused on were staying healthy and keeping my mind from running wild with “what if’s.” I found myself sitting quietly and meditating, which was very helpful. “The scariest thing that happened on the trip was after we summited and were into our ski descent and came upon the Hillary Step, a 40-foot vertical rock face. We decided to try to ski this line in an effort to make it a complete descent. My husband, Rob, went first; and as he went around the corner on a belay, his oxygen ran out. No one knew what was going on. He was trying to communicate with us via radio but was having a difficult time managing the situation. When I moved around the corner and I saw my husband and climbing partner dangling from the fixed ropes and out of oxygen, it was a real turning point for me. I turned down my own oxygen flow to preserve it, and I changed from my skis to my crampons while allowing the Sherpas to climb over me on their way to retrieve the stashed fresh oxygen bottles on the South Summit. I began to climb down and was there to see the Sherpas revive Rob, who was barely conscious but in good hands. This was the moment when I decided that the red flags, which started with the highly avalanche-prone slope below the South Summit, had piled up high enough to shelve the complete ski descent in favor of us all getting down alive. “Without a doubt this was the scariest thing I have experienced, yet there was a complete clarity to the moment and we continued to make the right decisions. We applied true wisdom at altitude, worked as a team, saw lots of red flags, reversed the trend, and we all made it down safely. “After our second night at 26,000 feet, we successfully skied the most difficult descent of our lives: the 5,000 vertical feet of the icy Lhotse Face. When we initially summited the day before, I was psyched to be at the top but was well aware of how much effort still lay ahead. The most exciting moment of the expedition, though, was definitely our return to base camp! Once we were back safe and sound, I felt incredibly peaceful. “The fact that I am the first person to ski all seven summits is completely fulfilling because as committed as I was, I made peace with the fact that it may not happen like that. . . . In yoga we learn to practice detachment from the outcome. It was a journey that evolved into something extraordinary since I am a woman and we often count women’s accomplishments differently from men’s. It is very special for me to be an example to other women and to men about our similarities. “Of all of the seven summits, each was so different it is impossible for me to compare. Everest is the tallest and the trip of the longest duration and the mountain with the most notoriously difficult weather, so I would say Everest was definitely the most challenging. Plus it was the final of the seven for me. It wouldn’t be my first choice to do any of those seven again. I have other mountains on my mind and would rather continue to explore those blank spots on the map in my mind. “I do have future ski expeditions in the works, and I don’t imagine that changing as long as it continues to make my heart sing. I really just hope for the grace to be able to convey my message, which is to follow your heart, regardless of social paradigms, and to realize that our perceptions of our limitations are mostly mental. In the end the act of skiing is always enjoyable to me, but it is nothing about accomplishing or conquering; it is about experiencing. This experience was one really long journey on which I learned a lot about myself and about the world.” HEATH NEWS Aside from its newly discovered link to multiple sclerosis, the lack of vitamin D has been linked to osteoporosis for years. More recently, it’s also been linked to type I diabetes. The absorption of vitamin D is proven to help lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart attack, and help prevent the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. According to Dr. Michael Holick, director of the Vitamin D, Skin, and Bone Research Laboratory at Boston University School of Medicine, vitamin D can also stimulate the pancreas to make insulin as well as regulate the body’s immune system. The biggest problem? The government’s recommendation for adequate vitamin D consumption is far below what our bodies may actually need. According to Dr. Holick, the optimum daily amount to help fight off chronic diseases is 1,000 units. Drinking fortified milk and taking vitamin supplements are both good ways to get your daily D. Other foods contain vitamin D, but it can be hard to meet the 1,000-unit recommended requirement with food alone. Still the fastest and easiest way to get your daily dose of D—to the chagrin of dermatologists everywhere—is good old-fashioned sunshine. Just five to 10 minutes two or three times a week will give you all you need. If you plan to be out longer, don’t forget the sunscreen—at least SPF 15. Although researchers say it is too soon to conclude that taking vitamin D will lower your risk of multiple sclerosis, it certainly can’t hurt. With their far-reaching effects, those happy rays of sunshine can help much more than just your tan. —B. F. OUT THERE Best Regions to Spot the Blooms Georgia and South Carolina peak in June. At southeast Georgia’s Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, wildflowers bloom as early as March, and the prairies fill with golden club and bladderwort. You can also spot orchids in late spring. For a complete list of the wildflowers of the Southeast, visit http://2bnthewild.com/index2.shtml. Southern Deserts. When we think of deserts, we think dry, dry, dry, but they can actually be great habitats for a variety of wildflowers. In southern Arizona in March and early April, desert marigold, fairy duster, and prickly pear cactus show their faces. At Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, it’s possible to see a particularly spectacular array of wildflowers, but you have to time it right: they bloom only every five or six years. In southern Utah flowers such as columbine, shooting star, and larkspur (delphinium) can be seen from late February through March. In Zion National Park, they pop up along the wetter areas of the valley. Later in the spring, the prickly pear cactus is in its full glory. To get up to speed on this year’s flower spectacular, visit www.desertusa.com. California. Although you can see wildflowers all over the state, the Sierra Nevada and northern California display some of the best. The California poppy—the state flower—as well as blue lupine, Douglas iris, and a variety of lilies all flourish here. In April and May, check out the Sierra Nevada foothills. And from March to June, flowers are in bloom in Yosemite Valley, with the foothills covered with goldfields and baby blue eyes. Head to the Point Reyes National Seashore for a spectacular coastal display, where more than 850 different species of wildflowers thrive each spring. For a complete guide to where and when to see California wildflowers off the beaten path, go to http://totalescape.com/active/leisure/wildflwr.html. Texas. March, April, and May are the best months for Texas wildflowers. In Big Bend National Park and Texas Hill Country around Austin, the bluebonnets and yellow mustard peak in mid-April for a breathtaking display. In Dallas/Fort Worth, wildflowers pop up just off the main roads. Go for a drive along Highway 114 between Solana and Grapevine and you’re guaranteed to see a colorful array of bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, and deep crimson clover. If you want a seat for the show, the stadium at the University of Dallas is perfect for a bird’s-eye view of entire fields of bluebonnets. In Texas there’s no need to stray far from the roads—these bright blue beauties are in bloom everywhere you go. Go to www.interplaza.com/wildflowers for a great itinerary of a wildflower photo tour in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Oregon. Because of the abundance of rain in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon is prime wildflower country. In May you’ll see morning glory, monkey flowers, and many others in bloom along the Oregon coast. Visit the Columbia River Gorge in May for forget-me-nots, shooting stars, larkspur, and wild ginger. For a complete guide with photos of all the wildflowers in the Pacific Northwest, go to www.intangibility.com/inw/Wildflowers/WildflowersMain.htm l. —B.F. Favorite Wildflowers Columbine produces billowy solid- or multicolor blooms with lots of foliage and can be found in any combination of white, pink, blue, purple, and yellow. Shooting Star. Another perennial herb, shooting star is common in Utah and other dry, sunny prairie environments. A green or red stalk grows from foliage to form about six nodding flowers, each with five reflexed petals. The blooms are white, light pink, or rosy pink. California Poppies. Common in California, this state flower has finely divided leaves with single blooms. Poppies close up at night and reopen in the morning to display their bold colors, varying from pale yellow to deep orange to bronze. Bluebonnets. This Texas state flower can be found nowhere else on earth. Bluebonnets grow in densely knit clusters of blue flowers with white pointed tips at the top of each cluster and grow 12 to 24 inches tall. Larkspur. Common in Oregon, this member of the delphinium family comes in many varieties that range in height from 1 to 7 feet. Blooms are light or dark pink, blue, lavender, or white. ACTION The grand adventure, the Oil + Water Project, was the brainchild of the two professional kayakers, whose endeavor is an impressive demonstration of the accessibility and the feasibility of biofuels. Throughout the entire trip, they have not used a single drop of petroleum to fuel their 15,000-pound rig. Seth and Tyler converted a 1987 Toyota diesel fire truck into a biofuel-burning vehicle equipped with a pop-out tent and a compressor. They started the journey in Alaska and, over more than a year of continuous travel, made their way south through Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America—surfing and kayaking the coastline of the Pan-American Highway along the way. To maximize the impact of the tour, the men learned Spanish and have focused on education as their primary objective. An onboard compressor and filters allow them to demonstrate how easy it is to convert local crops and resources into fuel. “We focused really hard on technical high schools,” explains Tyler. “That is where we had the biggest impact. It’s really cool to stand in front of the next generation learning diesel mechanics and teach them how to use vegetable oil instead.” Seth and Tyler aren’t stopping now. After finishing up in Argentina in April, they plan to launch five more educational journeys, starting with a U.S. tour. Want to build a vehicle powered with biofuels like the Oil + Water rig? “It just takes a little motivation and some reading to get you on the road with biofuel in no time,” says Seth. “Google works wonders.” For more information on the tour and to donate to the project, visit www.oilandwaterproject.org. —Mariko LeBaron FRESH FROM THE FIELD Enter mix1. From the great minds that gave us fruity Izze soda, mix1 is an all-natural, lactose-free drink that actually tastes good and won’t take you for a ride on the sugar roller coaster. mix1, which comes in mixed-berry, lime, blueberry vanilla, and mango flavors, has a 2:1 carb-to-protein ratio designed to keep your energy sustained and supported to ward off that nasty sugar low. The drink’s vitamins and minerals are formulated for optimal absorption; that is, it won’t be touting a 2,000 percent daily value of vitamin C (the body can really use only a fraction of that). And mix1 is brimming with those great polyphenol antioxidants found in green tea and hailed as disease fighters. Dr. James Rouse, a naturopathic doctor, a triathlete, and the brains behind the product, wanted to create a drinkable, healthy fast food—and mix1 fits the bill perfectly. If you work hard and play hard and yet find it difficult to keep a healthy balance in your body, mix1 is worth a try. At the very least, it’s a smooth and refreshing drink that’s great for your health—not to mention your taste buds! $1.50 per can, although availability is limited at this time. www.mix1life.com - Christy Mercer EARTH TALK According to ACEEE’s Green Book: The Environmental Guide to Cars and Trucks, published by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Honda and Toyota models led the pack as the world’s “greenest” automobiles for 2006. Not surprisingly, top honors went to a hybrid vehicle, Honda’s Insight, which pairs an efficient electric motor with a gasoline engine to save gas and minimize emissions. Unfortunately, the Insight, launched in 1999, will soon be discontinued due to declining sales. In determining a vehicle’s ranking, in addition to fuel efficiency ACEEE factors in the pollution generated, based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions ratings. Although the Insight does not have as clean an exhaust rating as Toyota’s hybrid Prius, it has slightly better highway mileage (56 versus 51 miles per gallon), making it the overall winner. Other top green models on ACEEE’s list include various versions of Honda’s Civic (particularly its natural-gas model) and Toyota’s Corolla and Matrix. The Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Mazda 3, Chevrolet Cobalt, and Saturn Ion also placed well. Hybrid advocates insist that the nickel-metal hydride batteries found in the Toyota Prius, the Honda Insight, and other hybrids contain far fewer pollutants than the lead-acid types present in traditional gas-powered cars. Furthermore, car makers are keen to keep such batteries out of landfills, with Toyota even offering to buy back spent hybrid batteries for $200 so it can recycle them. According to Toyota: “Every part of the battery, from the precious metals to the plastic, plates, steel case, and wiring, is recycled.” Meanwhile, Bradley Berman of www.hybridcars.com says that “Honda collects the battery and transfers it to a preferred recycler to follow their prescribed process: disassembling and sorting the materials, shredding the plastics, recovering and processing the metal, and neutralizing the alkaline material before sending it to a landfill.” Automakers are scrambling to create smaller, more efficient, and less toxic batteries for hybrids and other vehicles, Berman reports. Another option for green consumers is a diesel car that runs on biodiesel, a fuel derived from renewable crops (and which works seamlessly in most diesel engines). AutoWeek reports that a biodiesel-powered Volkswagen Jetta TDI has the best overall fuel economy of any new car on the road today under “real-world driving conditions” (which include, among other things, traffic congestion, high speeds, and the use of air-conditioning). In AutoWeek’s test-drive comparison, the Jetta TDI achieved nearly 50 miles per gallon using B20 biodiesel (two parts vegetable oil, eight parts regular diesel), edging out even the Prius, which scored only 42 miles per gallon using gasoline. The EPA is revising its own testing procedures for the 2007 model year to try to get more in line with real-world driving conditions. As a result, fuel economies displayed on window stickers will change. Some cars, especially smaller vehicles and hybrids, will lose as much as 12 percent in their ratings. Got an environmental question? BOOK REVIEW
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