Outside in the Environment

This semester I had took an English composition class themed around the environment. In class we looked into the issues that affect the environment and the different views that people hold towards it. Many of the essays were written in response to a variety of pieces dealing with the environment. Authors ranging from Rachel Carson and John Muir to Edward Abbey and N. Scott Momaday were discussed in depth and reflected on through the following essays.

As a result of taking this class my view towards the environment has drastically changed. This course has made me more aware of the issues that threaten the environment. Reading the essays have given me a new perspective as well as shown me how others, even from different time periods, view the environment. I have and probably always will enjoy the environment but now I have a better appreciation and awareness of the issues that threaten it.

I hope that this blog will bring awareness to people about the environment. Also , I hope it will contribute to the larger environmental conversation in a positive way. I hope that the conversation moves toward educating the people so change occurs for the better. I have learned through this semester that the environment and people are often intertwined and what is bad for the environment is probably bad for humans as well and vice versa. We need to realize that everything has a consequence and after a while the consequences build up. We can enjoy our environment today but if we continue on the path that we are currently on then in the future we may not be so lucky. I hope you enjoy this blog and think about some of the issues brought up in the essays. Nature is something to enjoy and we want it to be around so we can do so.

Video Credits:
Patagonia Video: Keith Malloy
Beyond Gravity
First Descent
Epic 300 Rock CLimbing

On Top of the World

Mountains are beautiful statutes that stand tall in nature. They provide not only a picturesque view but also a great place to enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer. One of the many mountain ranges in America is the Appalachian Mountain Range. This range stretches from the northern parts of Maine to Georgia. In New Hampshire, there is a smaller range within the AMR, called the White Mountains. The White Mountains re home to the presidential mountains as well as a few notches. The most beautiful of the notches is Carter Notch. At first glance the mountains that create Carter Notch appear small in size, however atop the mountain looking into the notch below has a whole different perspective.

Nature is all around with a plenty for an observer to see. Near the base, the trees are thick and full and numerous. Conifers and deciduous trees mix together to create a dense blanket that cloaks the mountain. There are rocks everywhere, varying in size from huge boulders to pebbles. All the rocks appear different due to the fact that they are made up of a combination of many different types of smaller rock. The boulders protrude from the face of the mountain. They are not smooth by any means, leaving perfect handholds to use for climbing. The smaller rocks are often found hidden under a brilliant green moss or Mountain moss. This soft carpet grows all over the rocks that reside in the shade. There is a river that flows from summit to base. This river is also home to many rocks. The water is very clear and crisp. A white foam forms when the crystal water tumbles over the disruptive rocks that line its bottom. The forest floor is smothered with years of pine needles and old forgotten leaves. Old brittle branches scatter on this brown and green floor. As the summit approaches, the trees change. These trees are mostly pines, but not the large pines of the base. These are smaller in every way. They are shorter, thinner, and very few and far between. Due to the higher altitude and wind factors, it is a wonder how these amazing trees survive. The summit itself appears bare and isolated, not a very welcoming site. However, looking out over the series of notches and mountains in the distance is a very different feel. These notches are like valleys but very different at the same time. From the top of a mountain it is very easy to see the difference. A valley is the space in between two mountains, where one mountain ends and the next starts in grow. A notch is a lot smaller, but still located between two mountains. A notch is a very narrow sliver of space that is a t a lower altitude that the mountains that surround it. Almost like an alleyway between two towering apartment buildings.

The feeling of being in nature is one that cannot be replicated. The trees are there, the animals are there, the rocks and sky and wind are all there but one can feel alone if they are unaware of their environment. When the trees are thick and full, it is safe and comfortable, surrounded by friendly giants protecting from the harshness of the elements. The shade provided feels cool and appears to dim the area allowing the visitor to really experience the area without relying on their optical nerves. However, the nose will pick up a slight scent, part sweet and part unrecognizable but yet definitely present. Someone uneducated in nature might sense an eerie silence, but nature is always talking. The wind starts the song with a light but strong melody complimented by the harmony of the bubbling river. The notches and valleys provide the base line for this composition. The Mountain's song is echoed back. This symphony filters into the uncivilized cities, with their obnoxious and deafening tune, to help teach the stubborn student the way. The air is crisp, clean, and sweet. With the first breath, the lungs relax and take a vacation from their round the clock filtering job. Free from man’s pollution, this air is light. It plays through the trees and along the ridgelines of the natural skyscrapers. Only when in nature’s city can one feel the hustle and bustle of the creatures, hear the song composed by the mountains, and taste of air that was not tampered with by man.

Being surrounded with nature is a great feeling. The eyes take in sights familiar only from photographs. The ears hear sounds that most miss when their ears are blown out with the loud noise of the cities. Everything is natural and free. Being atop a mountain big or small with bring a sense of understanding to anyone. The view, the sounds, the feelings in general will rush over and envelope for those moments when one is standing, on top of the world.