Dean Potter Turns Dying Into Flying

World-renowned big-waller, free-climber and base jumper Dean Potter, has been named Adventurer of the Year by National Geographic. Anointing Potter with this honor is well deserved. Here are just a few of his climbing accomplishments:

• 2002 Supercanaleta, Cerro Fitz Roy, Patagonia. First solo of route^.


• 2003 Concepcion 5.13+ (67m), Day Canyon, Moab, Utah. First Ascent.


• 2006 Heaven (5.12d/13a) Glacier Point, Yosemite Valley. First solo ascent.


• 2006 Southern Belle (V 5.12d), Half Dome, Yosemite Valley. Second ascent with Leo Houlding.

But the real reason for National Geographic to award Potter with Adventurer of the Year is, as he calls it, "turning dying to flying". Potter is renowned for combining climbing with base jumping. Considering that many of his climbs lacked a rope, it makes sense. Potter typically climbs "free", or without a rope, and at the top, or in the middle, jumps off. A specially designed parachute pack allows him to deploy and safely float to the base of his climb. His latest base jump includes flight from the tallest possible point of the Eiger in Switzerland. The video below has it all...

Chris Sharma On Lucifer Red River Gorge 5.14c

The ROI Of Social Media

I've even asked that question before... And I've also heard it come out in other ways too: "Twitter is for kids!" and "Facebook, I just don't get it". Well, check these videos out. They answer those questions:



What's more, the blog SocialNomics.net really makes some great points on their blog about other examples of the ROI of social media.

Green Business Roundtable - GO VERDE!!!

On Dec. 9th, Kristin Carpenter-Ogden, the principal of VerdePR in Durango, CO will talk about green public relations and more on transparent communications. VerdePR, known for successfully integrating authentic Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability messaging, has a wealth of experience helping green brands "engage the green". The model the company employs starts with their brands: MyChelle Dermaceuticals, Tilley Endurables, The Conservation Allicance, The Green Living Project, and 15 other national brands.

According to the San Juan Citizens website, the sponsor of the project the Green Business Roundtable is are simple –NETWORK, INSPIRE, EDUCATE, IMPROVE: Enjoy lunch and network with advocates of sustainability; Improve our voice in the community; Improve our individual and company contributions to sustaining the environment. GBR is non-partisan. For more information, please call Tracy Daniels at 970-259-3583.

To learn more, please start here...

I Want To Go To Telluride!!!

With the early base snowfall already here and an excellent season being forecasted for Telluride this year, who isn't thinking: HOW CAN I GET TO TELLURIDE, CO!!!

Probably time to start thinking about a stage presence on the Price Is Right, or you could go to OspreyPacks.com and actually earn your turns... Over the past few weeks, Osprey been promoting a contests with expressed goal of getting you out of your office chair and on to the ski lift in Telluride, CO. And talk about a response! People from all over are entering to win... So, what does it take? Answering a few fun questions...

• What 14ers are visible from top of Telluride?


• What year did the first chairlift start running in Telluride?


• Which lift is powered via green energy credits purchased by Osprey?

Imagine how much smarter you'll be when you research these? After elevating your IQ by tens of points, perhaps you might be wondering where you'll put all this additional brain power? That's an easy one to answer... Inside of your new Flap, Sojourn or Kode packs. Osprey doesn't want you to just get to Telluride, they want to make sure you get there with all of your stuff!

Great for a day on the lifts and hiking Palmyra Peak at Telluride this low profile but spacious pack allows panel access to an avy gear and dry gear pocket.

The Osprey StraightJacket™ compression system has always been well-suited to the rigors of travel. Add the High Road™ Chassis to the mix and you've got the Sojourn. For those who want to reduce the hoist component of their haul time it can't be beat. When you do need to carry the Sojourn our superb zip-away suspension is on the ready. You'll also find foam sidewalls for keeping the load secure, while handy mesh pockets, clothing straps and front panel daisy chains maintain your organization.

These active everyday packs offer gender specific sizing and styling along with comfortable Osprey carry and smart functionality. All styles carry laptops safely and securely - along with everything needed for a busy day around town.

So where can you get all this, plus a trip to Telluride? Go here and enter to win...

I Thought Sarah Palin Was GOING AWAY!!! WHY IS SHE SPREADING MORE STUPIDITY?

Oh, because the people that follow her are, well, NOT COMING TO MY THANKSGIVING FEAST... Can you imagine actually speaking to someone who supports her? Try listening to Meet the Press and you WON'T hear a single Republican actually give her the thumbs up! What's more check out this ridiculousness outlined by www.treehugger.com. Thankfully we have watch dogs out there...

1. The poor will be hit hardest by clean energy legislation.

In her book, Palin falsely charges once again that people in low income groups will suffer at the hands of the climate bill. From Media Matters:

Palin: Obama "admitted" cap and trade will cause "electricity bills to 'skyrocket' " and "those hit hardest will be those who are already struggling to make ends meet." Palin falsely suggests that "those hit hardest [by cap and trade] will be those who are already struggling to make ends meet" and that " She added: "So much for the campaign promise not to raise taxes on anyone making less than $250,000 a year. This is a tax on everyone." [Going Rogue, Pages 390-391]

Not. Much of the revenue from a cap and trade will go towards providing a buffer for the poor in the form of tax rebates. The CBO has found that by as soon as 2020, low income families will actually be saving $125 a month on electricity bills.

2. Obama has "admitted that the policy he seeks will cause our electricity bills to 'skyrocket.'"

Wrong again--Obama has never "admitted" any such thing. As noted by MM, "Obama was talking about a different plan causing energy costs to "skyrocket." As the Associated Press noted in fact-checking Palin's book, Obama was not talking about the cap-and-trade legislation that has since passed in the House when he referred to energy costs "necessarily skyrocket[ting]." He was actually talking about a hypothetical version of any cap and trade system that would auction off 100% of the emissions permits (the version that passed the house gives nearly all of them away for free), and was discussing no particular piece of legislation.

3. She vetoed Alaska stimulus funds for energy efficiency because they mandated building codes.

This one has already been proven false, yet she repeats the debunked logic in her book. Once again, MM:

Palin claims that she vetoed a $25 million "earmark for energy conservation" available through the stimulus because Alaska would have needed to adopt "universal energy building codes" to be eligible for the funds. "Universal building codes -- in Alaska! A practical, libertarian haven full of independent Americans who did not desire 'help' from government busybodies. A state full of hardy pioneers who did not like taking orders from the feds telling us to change our laws. A state so geographically diverse that one-size-fits-all codes simply wouldn't work." [Going Rogue, Pages 361-362]

Of course it wouldn't work--made-up rules tend not to. The rebuttal, via PoliFact: "municipalities are not forced to accept the specific standards and, given that local governments set their own codes, the feds would be satisfied if Alaska merely promoted such building codes." Woops. And PolitiFact also notes that a Department of Energy official "wrote that the provision 'provides flexibility with regard to building codes' and 'expressly includes standards other than those cited so long as the standards achieve equivalent energy savings.' " Sigh.

4. She never supported aerial wolf hunting

This is another one that's just patently false. On page 327 of her book, Palin says that aerial wolf hunting is something that "Alaskan's don't do." And yet, she actually signed a bill validating aerial hunting. MM says: "In 2007, Palin introduced a bill to "simplify and clarify Alaska's intensive management law for big game and the state's 'same day airborne hunting' law." Enough said.

For more in depth analysis of Palin's energy fibs, see Climate Progress.

Watch this... Beautiful ski movie shot in Japan!

Ocean Minded Cleans Up Beaches

Going for a walk on the beach? What do you usually pick up? Sea shells, washed up kelp and maybe some small treasure - yeah right! Some of today's beaches are a few steps away from being a city dump! Thanks to Ocean Minded, a leading brand in high quality footwear, apparel and accessories for active outdoor enthusiasts, over 20,000 pounds of trash won't impact your stroll.

Over 35 members of the community helped pitch the trash during a clean up day at the Santa Marias beach (aka Santa Moes). Organized by the local O’Neill Surf Shop and supported by Sector 9, Aloha Island Grille, Core and Surftech. The hard work put into the clean-up efforts resulted in the removal of approximately 150 pounds of trash from beach. And who likes a dirty beach?

So far, in 2009, Ocean Minded has collected and properly disposed of approximately 20,912 pounds of trash, thanks to the help of over 1,717 participants in 47 clean-ups worldwide, including 13 clean-ups outside of the USA. Recent clean-up locations include: Reef and beach clean-up of East Coast Park, Singapore, clean-up of Indialantic beach, Florida, as well as locations such as Jeffery’s Bay and Maasbay, South Africa.

The Clean Up Facts:

• So far, in 2009, Ocean Minded has collected and properly disposed of approximately 20,912 pounds of trash.


• Ocean Minded has held 47 clean-ups thus far in 2009 with participation from over 1,717 members of the community.


• Over 35 members of the community helped Ocean Minded in cleaning up Santa Marias, resulting in the removal of 150 pounds of trash from the beach.