As a young man I often wished I could make a difference in the world. I wondered what it would be like to be an advocate for preserving great outdoor places and to spend my days outside in nature’s beauty making change happen. Today’s youth need not wonder; the 2012 Outdoor Nation Summits provide a fantastic opportunity to get outside and be a part of something big.

Sponsored by Merrell, the Outdoor Nation movement has a serious backer willing to chip in and make its projects a reality. “Outdoor Nation is a unique, game changing program that we are proud and excited to support,” said Stephanie Ofili, marketing manager at Merrell. “Together we can inspire a new generation to unplug and re-connect with friends and families in the best and biggest playground – the outdoors. We hope our continued support and work with delegates will inspire more people to get outside with the long term goal of increased outdoor participation.”

The 2012 Summits will be held in Boston, New York, Washington DC, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Austin, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Each two-day Summit will bring together the next generation of outdoor activists, ages 16 to 28, to identify pressing outdoor issues, discuss and develop strategies to address these barriers and commit to taking action together. In addition to tackling the issues that are keeping their generation indoors, participants will receive training from top experts, covering such topics as community organizing, media relations and fundraising.

This year, Merrell will sponsor up to 35 delegates who will not only attend the Summits but will serve as outreach ambassadors. If you know someone who might be interested in applying please share this registration link with them.

www.outdoornation.org/2012merrellregistration

10 Ways to Save Water in the Home:

1. Instead of running the tap for cold drinks, keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator. This way, less water goes to hydrate you and doesn’t go down the drain.

2. Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.

3. Use the same glass for drinking water all day, or a refillable bottle, effectively cutting down on the number of glasses to wash.

4. Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.

5. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 25 gallons a month.

6. Turn off the water while you shave and save up to 300 gallons a month.

7. There’s always a couple of ice cubes that fall on the ground, or a cup full of ice left over from a to-go drink. Don’t throw those cubes in the sink to melt, drop them in a house plant instead.

8. The toilet is not an ashtray or wastebasket. Don’t use it as a dumping ground for tissues, cigarette butts (if you must smoke), or other small pieces of trash. Every time you flush, five to seven gallons of water is wasted.

9. Put plastic bottles filled with sand or pebbles and water in your toilet tank to cut down on water waste. This may save ten or more gallons of water per day, but be sure at least 3 gallons of water remain in the tank so it will flush properly.

10. Newer dishwashers are very efficient, no need to rinse those dishes, just load them straight in to the dishwasher!

Thanks to the folks over at Vere Sandals for sending us this list.

Here are our Top 10 Tips for making small, REALISTIC changes to your daily life that can help reduce your carbon footprint over the remainder of this year:

1. Change your light bulbs. As your current incandescent bulbs burn out, consider replacing with compact fluorescent bulbs.

2. Turn the water off while brushing your teeth. As a multi-tasker myself…I always apply the toothpaste, then moisten the toothbrush and go around the house doing other things while brushing. Therefore, I eliminate multiple gallons of water flowing down the drain.

3. Consider recycling. A lot of us already do this and curbside recycling has made this even easier. If you do not currently participate, consider picking one or two items this year to recycle.

4. Subscribe to a digital publication. A lot of publications are now producing digital counterparts to their print versions. Only 1 in 4 print copies at the newsstand actually make it into the hands of a consumer. Guess where the rest go?

5. I operate under the premise when making a purchase to purchase better and less often. It may cost a little more up front…but in the long run, you will get better products and have to purchase those products less often. And, when you are ready to upgrade again, consider passing that product onto someone else to increase its lifespan and reduce its potential to end up in a landfill prematurely.
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During the month of April, Chaco will partner with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant up to 60,000 trees, one for each pair of Chacos sold online and at Chaco retailers, in the Pike National Forest (CO) and the Moss Island Wildlife Area (TN). The program, called “Buy One Get One Tree,” celebrates the anxiously awaited beginning of flip and sandal season, Arbor Day and Earth Day.

The program includes an integrated advertising, public relations and social media campaign as well as in-store program training during all Chaco clinics until the end of April. Chaco has already supplied retailers with point of purchase materials including signage, native seedlings, posters, and information on the Arbor Day Foundation, along with customizable ad templates that can be sent out to local media.

Chaco will encourage retailers to match Chaco’s donation to the Arbor Day Foundation if they would like to take that additional step. Plantings at both locations will occur in mid-April and will involve members from the Arbor Day Foundation, Chaco staff, local retailers, Chaco fans and volunteers.

“Buy One Get One Tree is an amazing way for us to support the Arbor Day Foundation as well as drive sales to our retailers,” said Whitney Conner, marketing manager at Chaco. “We are confident that our Chaco fans both new and old will be drawn to participate. Purchasing Chaco products during the month of April allows everyone involved to contribute to the protection of our natural areas.”

Chaco is a brand within the Outdoor Group, a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. that also includes Merrell® and Patagonia Footwear. Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is headquartered in Rockford, Michigan. Chaco, 9341 Courtland Drive, Rockford, MI. 49351. Phone: (888) 211-1908; Fax: (616) 863-4155. www.chacousa.com, Facebook: www.facebook.com/chacousa, Twitter: www.twitter.com/chacousa, YouTube: Chaco Footwear

The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at arborday.org

By: Elly Blue, Via: Grist

Imagine getting a $3,000 to $12,000 tax rebate this year. Now imagine it coming again and again. Every year it grows by around a thousand dollars.

Imagine how this would change your daily life.

Sounds like a teabagger’swet dream, but it’s actually a conservative estimate of how much you’d save by ditching your car, or even just one of your cars — and getting on a bicycle instead.

Car-centric conditions don’t always make it easy to choose the bicycle. Communities designed exclusively for motor vehicles impose a major financial penalty on those who are compelled to take on the expense of driving. But if you’re one of those who lives in a bike-friendlier place, you’ll be doing your local business community a good turn and padding Uncle Sam’s pockets as well as your own if you trade four wheels for two.

In the many North American cities where two-wheeled transportation is taking off, a new bicycle economy is emerging. It’s amazing how much money can stay in your community when it isn’t being pumped into the gas tank, big insurance, and the auto market.

What will this new bicycle economy look like?

We don’t have to guess. It’s already emerging along urban, low-traffic bikeway networks nationwide. One thing is guaranteed: it includes a lot of new bike shops like this one on a bikeway in Baltimore — one of five new bike shops to have opened in the last two years in that city. A 2008 study in Portland clocked bicycle-related industry alone as contributing $90 million to the local economy every year. Bicycle tourism is another huge boon to regions that can attract it — in 2010, Wisconsin bragged of a yearly $1.5 billion bike economy

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Bea Johnson wears makeup. She lives in one of the wealthiest counties in the country. And while raising two children, she’s determined to live a zero-waste lifestyle.

Four years ago, Johnson’s family downsized their home and decided to simplify their life, reducing the amount of stuff they owned. According to this video from NBC News, Bea’s now down to one pair of shorts and two skirts. The family refills cloth sacks with grains and produce, have created a major composting system, and make their own cleaning products. Bea even offers reduction tips on her blog, The Zero Waste Home, encouraging readers to buy in bulk and start a junk mail war. The family’s cumulative waste for this year all fits into a small metal box. This is a far cry from the over four pounds of waste every American produces per day.

But this family has found a balance, a way to maintain the lifestyle they enjoy, while drastically cutting down on waste. Bea’s husband, Scott Johnson, was initially skeptical of the project, confessing, “I was just afraid that I’d be eating a bunch of granola or something all the time.” Instead, the family has focused on reducing the number of items in their home, without cutting out the things that truly make them happy.

For Bea, this means the makeup stays – although she uses homemade substitutes. When asked why she doesn’t nix the makeup, Bea replies, “If I did, then I’d be miserable, and is life really worth living when you’re miserable?”
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In February, 2010, I reported on the grassroot effort to derail Titan America’s plan to build the 4th largest cement plant in the nation in Castle Hayne on Cape Fear River near Wilmington, NC. (For reasons for opposing the plant, click here.) The area, located in the Southeastern coastal region of the state, is home to unique and fragile ecosystems and their inhabitants, from the creeks and marshes that empty into the Atlantic to curiosities that grow naturally in the wild, such as Venus fly traps and other carnivorous plants.

The many loose groups opposing the plant, including citizens’ groups such as Friends of the Lower Cape Fear and Citizens Against Titan, and environmental groups such as the N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Fear River Watch, Penderwatch & Conservancy, the Cape Fear Group of the N.C. Sierra Club, Southern Environmental Law Center and Duke University Environmental Law & Policy Clinic, have now coalesced into a single coalition calling itself the “Stop Titan Action Network” (STAN).
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Via Light and Motion Lightlife Blog

What was your inspiration for “23 Feet”?

I was living in Durango, CO at the time and knew I wanted to move to Portland, OR in the summer. Realizing that it didn’t make sense for me to rent while I was traveling so much for work, I decided to buy an Airstream. I also decided that I wanted to buy a veggie diesel to pull it. Being a bit too spontaneous, I bought an old 1993 F350 veggie diesel with my savings and hit the road that same day to Boulder, CO where I had found a gutted 1970, 23-foot Airstream on ebay. I spent 5 dollars on gas and drove on veggie oil the rest of the way for a 7-hour drive to Boulder. The truck, (who I named Elvira) had “Wild Beast” written on the side and a “Got Balls” bumper sticker on the back… Needless to say – I got some stares.

23 Feet Trailer from Allie Bombach on Vimeo.

A film about people who make the conscious choice to live simply in order to pursue their outdoor passions.

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Cocaine is destroying lives and tearing homes apart—and not simply because of drug use. Farming coca, the plant used to make cocaine, has been linked to rising deforestation rates in Colombian rain forests, a new study says.

What’s more, ecologist Liliana M. Dávalos and colleagues have for the first time quantified indirect deforestation tied to coca farming, such as clearing land for growing food crops near coca plantations.

“In southern Colombia we found geographically that there is just more probability of losing the forest close to [coca cultivation],” said Dávalos, of the State University of New York in Stony Brook.

“And the more coca around you, the more forest you’re likely to lose—the sheer amount of coca in the vicinity has an effect.”

(Related: “Cocaine, Spices, Hormones Found in Drinking Water.“)

That means coca cultivation is taking a heavy toll on plant and animal species in one of the world’s richest biodiversity hot spots. Colombia’s forests are home to many animals—including harpy eagles, tapirs, golden poison frogs, and spectacled bears—that are at risk of extinction. (See pictures: “Ten Most Threatened Forest Hot Spots Named.“)

The findings spotlight a need for increased legal protections for Colombia’s forests, from the Andes to the Amazon, the authors say. While national parks and other protected designations don’t entirely eliminate illegal drug activity, Dávalos and colleagues found that such measures do reduce it substantially.
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Since we are a digital only publication and understand the importance of reducing our impact on our environment, I wanted to share a press release that I received today about Kokatat and its recent installation of a solar electric system!

Manufacturing water sports apparel and gear in Arcata, Calif. for 40 years, Kokatat has always set a benchmark for green business practices in the northern California region. Kokatat continues to raise the standards with their investment in a 26-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system. The project is expected to provide approximately 35,000kW hours of electricity per year, equal to 16 percent of the company’s total electric demand.

The rack system was designed, manufactured and installed by local companies and contractors. The solar installation is one of the largest in Humboldt County.

“To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest solar photovoltaic system installed by a private business in the county,” said Kit Mann, project manager for Kokatat. “There are two schools and a health clinic with larger systems.”

Mann explained that the amount of electricity generated by the system will be enough to run the more than 40 sewing machines on Kokatat’s production floor. “We can honestly say that our sewing machines run on the sun,” said Mann.
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The Rallye Aicha des Gazelles Returns and is Looking for More U.S. Participation

Welcome to Morocco!  Adventurers and athletes, have you ever wanted to travel through Morocco but do it competitively?  Well here is your chance… the most exciting and rewarding off-road motorsport event is celebrating its 21^st year.  The Rallye Aicha des Gazelles invites you to compete in a nine-day off-road rally race with 200 women from around the globe. From March 19^th through April 2^nd drivers and navigators together will have the chance to experience this quest.

Tradition navigational tools are removed from this event, making it more challenging then some of the most difficult off-road races in the world.  If you are looking for an adventure combined with the most amazing scenery and people, take a look at becoming a Gazelle.  Learn more by going to the website at www.rallyeaichadesgazelles.com.

You’re adventure awaits you…

RALLYE AICHA DES GAZELLES International Off-Road Rally Returns to Morocco for the 21^st Year

WHAT:

The Rallye Aicha des Gazelles is the only all-women’s off-road rally raid in the world.  The rally is a grueling test of driving skill and navigation across southern Morocco’s most beautiful and challenging terrain. The rally is unique whereby teams are not allowed technological assistance.  In the absence of GPS, communications and service crews, teams must find the shortest distance between the checkpoints over nine days of competition with only the aid of traditional navigation – compass, outdated maps, and plotters.  The event is an incredible test of endurance, patience, and teamwork, pushing competitors to their limits.

WHEN:

March 19^th – April 2^nd

*Deadline for registration is February 19^th, 2011. Early registration for discounted rates is September 30^th, 2010.

WHERE:

France and Morocco

WHO:

Over 110 teams are expected to compete in the event – including professional drivers, athletes, celebrities and adventurers from across the globe.

ABOUT THE RALLYE AICHA DES GAZELLES:

The Rallye Aicha des Gazelles was founded in 1990 by Dominque Serra and is managed by Maienga Communications, France.  In addition to being the only all-women’s rally raid in the world and a serious navigation test, the Gazelles Rally is known and respected for its non-profit organization, Heart of Gazelles.  Through broad reaching humanitarian efforts, the Heart of Gazelles brings aid to the region through extensive medical aid, support to orphanages and schools, sustainable development for villages, and job development for women.  The rally is recognized as the only motorsport event globally with ISO 14001 Certification, having adopted strict environmental and citizen-friendly mandates and commitments. To learn more, log on to www.rallyeaichadesgazelles.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kellan Van Hoesen

United States Media Liaison

kellan@soulsidenetwork.com

203.249.1340

Teva® (a division of Deckers Outdoor Corporation) announces today its commitment to raise awareness and assist in the Gulf Of Mexico clean-up through a commitment of $100,000 through long-term partner, Waterkeeper Alliance.

“Waterkeeper Alliance is extremely grateful for the generous support of Teva in the face of this tragedy. Overcoming the damage from this ongoing disaster will demand a lot from us all, and it is heartening to see a brand like Teva stepping up to the plate,” says Kristine Stratton, Executive Director of Waterkeeper Alliance.

On Earth Day, 2010, the Gulf of Mexico was rocked with one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history. Already, fishing between the Mississippi River and Florida Panhandle has been shut down, putting incredible strain on the men and women who rely on the Gulf for their livelihood. Countless jobs will be and have been lost in the Gulf’s fishing and tourism industries, further pummeling an already struggling regional economy. The waters of the Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Mexico coastlines will be affected for years to come.

Through Teva’s continued commitment to being stewards of clean water along with their partnership with Waterkeeper Alliance, the emergency donation from Teva will assist in the effort to protect and clean up this delicate area. Together they will save marine life, wildlife, beaches and waterways that are relied on for fishing and recreation, and — most importantly – water.

“Water is the most precious of our natural resources, yet every day in the Gulf Region it is becoming more polluted,” says Pete Worley, Teva Brand President. “Teva has existed for over 25 years thanks to the waterways around the world that have been explored and enjoyed. This heritage, along with our longstanding partnership with Waterkeeper Alliance, is what compelled us to donate $100,000 to raise awareness for the Save Our Gulf effort. But that’s only a drop in the bucket. The time to act is now, because we are all part of the solution.”

Teva is tapping into their community in an effort to raise further awareness and funds for this effort. Join Teva at facebook.com/teva to find out how you can help in reaching the local Waterkeeper chapter’s goal of $250,000 towards this effort.

Via press release

Photo at top by John L. Wathen

Happy 40th Anniversary to Earth Day! In the spirit of Earth Day, we have recycled this posting from last year. The information is just as valid today as it was last year!

Here are our Top 10 Tips (potentially 11) for making small, REALISTIC changes to your daily life that can help reduce your carbon footprint over the remainder of this year:

1. Change your light bulbs. As your current incandescent bulbs burn out, consider replacing with compact fluorescent bulbs.

2. Turn the water off while brushing your teeth. As a multi-tasker myself…I always apply the toothpaste, then moisten the toothbrush and go around the house doing other things while brushing. Therefore, I eliminate multiple gallons of water flowing down the drain.

3. Consider recycling. A lot of us already do this and curbside recycling has made this even easier. If you do not currently participate, consider picking one or two items this year to recycle.

4. Subscribe to a digital publication. A lot of publications are now producing digital counterparts to their print versions. Only 1 in 4 print copies at the newsstand actually make it into the hands of a consumer. Guess where the rest go?

5. I operate under the premise when making a purchase to purchase better and less often. It may cost a little more up front…but in the long run, you will get better products and have to purchase those products less often. And, when you are ready to upgrade again, consider passing that product onto someone else to increase its lifespan and reduce its potential to end up in a landfill prematurely.
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Eric Larsen begins his quest later this week to begin his Save the Poles Expedition. This will be a first-ever journey to the North Pole, South Pole and summit of Mt. Everest in a continuous 365-day period. We caught up with Eric as he prepares to depart for Chile later this week in route to a 52-day ski expedition to the geographic South Pole. Here is what he told us:

What is your favorite expedition to date?

Eric: I like each journey for a different reason. My 2006 summer expedition to the North Pole was unique and ground breaking with a succinct environmental message. But the trip was so hard, it was anything but fun. I led a 41-day expedition to the South Pole last year and as a group we worked really well together as a team. While I haven’t traveled with dogs in a few years I have many fond memories of those trips. Completing the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon in 2004 was up there as well – 400 miles in three and a half days.

What sparked your passion for ‘adventure’?

I like being outside. I feel a strong connection to wilderness and living in close contact with nature. I also consider myself a naturally curious person and enjoy ‘discovering’ a place for the first time.

What has been your greatest challenge to date?

Trying to maintain a stable relationship:) as well as a sense of community and place while traveling so much.

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Renowned explorer, Eric Larsen, will start his Save the Poles Expedition in November 2009 to research his story on global warming. Larsen announced last week that he’s leaving for the South Pole early next month to begin the “Save the Poles” first-ever expedition to the North Pole, South Pole and summit of Mt. Everest in a continuous 365-day period. If he completes the expedition, Larsen will be the first person to accomplish this incredible feat. He hopes to spotlight the “front lines” of global warming to document the changes occurring in these last great frozen places. He will advocate strategies for reducing carbon emissions and collect relevant scientific data.

“This expedition will tell the story of these remote places so we can better understand how our actions affect the poles and ultimately the planet,” Larsen says. “We all need to be reminded that we must act now to stop global warming.”

Larsen completed the first-ever summer expedition to the North Pole in 2006 where he pulled and paddled modified canoes over 600 miles of shifting sea ice and open ocean. Larsen is a polar explorer, dog musher and educator, he has spent the past 15 years adventuring in some of the most remote and wild places left on earth. In total, he has traveled enough wilderness miles to circle the globe nearly two and half times. He has also ridden his bike across the United States, been a back country ranger in Alaska, a white water canoe guide in Colorado and wilderness trip leader in Hawaii. Larsen’s history-making expedition, One World Expedition, was the first-ever summer journey to the North Pole. In January of this year, Larsen successfully led an international team to the geographic South Pole becoming one of only a few Americans to ski to both poles.

AWM will be following Larsen’s adventure and will keep our readers updated on his progress!

An Australian city has voted to collectively eliminate its dependence on disposable water bottles and promote the use of reusable water bottles and filtered water stations throughout the town. Bundanoon is a small town located about 90 miles southwest of Sydney in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. The businesses and residents of Bundanoon voted overwhelmingly in July to take this stand against the bottles and for the environment. This initiative will make the town Australia’s First Bottled Water Free Community (and possible the world’s first as well). The initiative has been named ‘Bundy on Tap‘ as the city is expanding its filtered drinking water facilities. Businesses will have reusable bottles for sale and there will be more free filtered water stations (or ‘bubblers) for the public.

CamelBak has partnered with Bundanoon and will be the first reusable water bottle filled with tap water at the kickoff celebration this Saturday, September 26. Camelbak will be donating 2000 BPA-free reusable water bottles to the town and its businesses.

The kickoff celebration will begin at 10 a.m. this Saturday for the ‘Bundy on Tap’ initiative will include a town procession to officially turn on the tap at three new water stations where residents can fill their reusable water bottles for free.

“The residents of Bundanoon have a great reason to celebrate. Their switch to reusable water bottles will help them save money, reduce waste and protect the environment. These are three crucial issues that all municipalities must face,” said Sally McCoy, CEO for CamelBak. “As a company committed to making disposable water bottles obsolete, CamelBak was inspired by Bundanoon’s bold move, and we’re proud to be a part of their ground-breaking cause.”

For more information, contact Huw Kingston at huw@bundyontap.com.au or visit www.bundyontap.com.au.

Ever feel like you are flying when on your bicycle? How about actually flying while pedaling your bicycle?
Dutch Teenager, Jesse van Kujik, has made it happen with his pedal powered plane made out of balsa wood, polyurethane, and rip-resistant foil. All without even building a model or flying in a plane before.

This impressive project began in 2006, when the teenager started researching the Gossamer Condor (the first pedal-powerd plane to fly a figure-8) and the Gossamer Albatross (the first pedal-powered flight over the English channel.

During the next few years, van Kujik gathered materials and built a plane with an 85 foot wingspan and a bicycle chain attached to a propeller for acceleration. The maiden flight, about a week ago flew about 15 feet in the air for a distance of about 45 feet, but it is a promising start. At 19 years old, the teenager has accomplished what many only dreamed of. A few modifications and a bit more cycling and this teen will certainly accomplish some remarkable things.

Why not take a shortcut on tomorrow´s commute and bike across that lake instead of going around?
I found these great photos and story at www.china.org.cn in a post titled, Amphibious bicycle in Wuhan.

This sweet DIY setup was displayed at the Naishahu Park a couple months ago. It is made with eight large 5 gallon water bottles attached to a metal frame connected to the bike. If you check out the wheels in the photos you´ll see they´ve been rigged with paddles allowing it to manuever in the water. Off the water, you can raise the setup so that the water bottles don´t interfere with street riding. This prototype had a budget of 20,000 yuan ($3,000) and there are plans to refine the design and mass produce it.

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Want to be a little more green this summer? Check Voltaic website for a great list of DIY solar projects.

Also check out ExplorersWeb, a great site for solar equipment, expedition grade tech gear, and expedition news.

I created an automated gardening system called Garduino to monitor soil moisture and automatically water plants, provide supplemental sunlight and warn me when soil temperature drops below 50 degrees Farenheit. Using, Voltaic’s solar panels and battery pack, you can make your Arduino-based gardening even more sustainable by eliminating the need for grid-based power. (more…)

Solar power your garden

 

Sometimes our customers want all the solar charging functionality of our bags but in a different form. Benjamin Morrison, an avid cyclist, wanted to solar-ize his panniers and produced one of the nicer mods we have seen. These are his instructions from the project. (more…)

Mod your own solar bag.

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Americans spend billions of dollars every year on bottled water thinking that they are getting a safer and better tasting product. Americans complain when the price at the gas pump goes up but continue to pay far higher prices for glorified tap water. Penn & Teller address this cultural craze using a hidden camera. Watch as they put this all in perspective for a misinformed nation/world on what they think is healthy. We realize the video is over 12 minutes long…but look at it like this…you are getting an environmental message with flair (from a Sin City act)!

As we peruse the aisles at Outdoor Retailer…we are always looking for that next great piece of gear to test and share the results with our readers. We are also looking for environmental stories surrounding products as well.

There has been an ongoing discussion about the chemical BPA (Bisphenol A, suspected of being harmful to humans for over 70 years) used in so many products that we have used for years in the outdoor industry. A plethora of companies are now marketing products free of this controversial compound. So…what does one do with all of the food and beverage products that have already been made with this hazardous material? We found one great use.

GSI Outdoors had a large stockpile of the discontinued Lexan polycarbonate products in their warehouse and were opposed to sending the products to the landfill. Instead, they joined forces with Leave No Trace (LNT) to grind up the Lexan products and remolded the recycled material into the cathole trowel (seen here).

Advantages of this venture:
• Facilitates ethical backcountry use
• 1% of sales of the tool goes to support LNT programs
• Virtually unbreakable
• Tons of Lexan that did not end up in a landfill

The trowel will be available Spring 2010 and the MSRP is only $4.95.