Wild Diversity

By Sofia Baum Photo credit: Sofia Baum The Leave No Trace Seven Principles share a guiding framework to a fulfilling and intentional experience in the outdoors. The purpose of Leave No Trace is to reconnect with the natural world and avoid damaging the land, waterways, and wildlife. 1. Prepare and Plan Ahead What does this look like? ✓ Identifying goals for your experience ✓ Lining up experiences and activities with your or your groups level of knowledge, skill, and experience ✓ Considering weather, terrain, regulations, and anticipated food consumption. What's the impact? ✓ Ensure safety for yourself and your group ✓ Minimize impact on natural world ✓ Increase level of comfort and enjoyment of the experience ✓ Encourages self-growth Photo credit: B en Duchac 2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces What does this look like? ✓ Staying on trail specifically on rock, sand and gravel; ice and snow; and sparse vegetation ✓ Avoiding living soil as it miti...

By Viv Cai Photo credit: Yuri Arcurs (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Just because we may not show early signs of sun damage doesn't mean that protection against the sun is any less important for dark-skinned folks than it is for people with light or white skin. Outdoorsy BIPOC people especially need to be mindful of the dangers of sun exposure and make a habit of adding sunscreen and protective clothing to our adventure check lists. Many folks of color, especially darker-skinned folks, don’t think that sun protection applies to them. But melanin alone will not protect you against the sun! While we might not display the initial signs of sun damage as early as light-skinned folks — such as wrinkles, age spots, or hyperpigmentation — our skin is still being damaged by the Ultra Violet (UV) rays. UV damage looks different on people with different skin tones. Folks with higher melanin can still get sunburned, but might not show the redness that is typical in lighter skin tone...

By Michelle Lin I’m from the deep south where snow felt like a special treat. But after living in cities where blizzards and -40°F temps were too extreme for my liking, I escaped to the Pacific Northwest. I fell in love with summer sunsets, glorious wildflowers, and endless trails to explore. I thought I was through with the snow, but I was surprised to discover that I love hiking in the winter. Here's why! 1. Frozen waterfalls Last winter I encountered my first frozen waterfalls and I fell in love with these magical ice sculptures that only a waterfall can create. Stepping behind a waterfall surrounded by giant columns of aqua-colored ice is a wondrous experience that can only happen in the depths of winter. I’m lucky to live in an area with so many waterfalls and love seeing how they transform as the cold lingers, snow accumulates and sprays of water turn to ice. 2. Ice is magic Okay, so this is kind of like my first reason, but I wa...