These past few days have been scalding hot, reaching 100 degrees almost daily. As a result we’ve been getting up VERY early- about 4 or 5- to get walking before it gets too hot. By 12 it is getting too hot to bear, so we take a break in the afternoon until it cools off again. 

We’ve been struggling with planning our route because surprisingly it is quite difficult to find maps that have not just highways, but smaller streets as well. We got some atlases today that will help us out in figuring out exactly which streets to walk on. Hopefully those will do the trick, because at this point we have a whole bag full of maps! 

As I’ve been walking these past few days I’ve been thinking a lot about why saving Oak Flat is so important. It really is an issue that involves many angles and has many problems, so although we may all have different motivations, we can all agree that it is crucial to save this area.

For environmentalists Oak Flat is an important issue because of it’s not saved, billions of gallons of water will be wasted. In a state where drought is all too common, we must protect water as one of the most invaluable resources on earth. In addition, the 2 mile, 1000 ft deep subsidence zone will permanently destroy what was once a beautiful, priceless area.

For human rights activists the protection of religious freedom plays a key role in this fight. To the San Carlos Apache Tribe,  Oak Flat is sacred and is a central part of their traditions and religious practices. In a country where freedom of religion is held as one of the most inherent human rights, we cannot stand by while religious freedom is being threatened. The destruction of Oak Flat would be deeply disrespectful and an irreversible injustice. 

For nature lovers, whether you are a birder, a hiker, or a climber, Oak Flat must be preserved so that generations to come may enjoy it’s natural beauty. Oak Flat contains thousands of climbing routes and was the site of the largest outdoor climbing competition on earth for 14 years. The nearby Gaan Canyon, which flows with refreshing water, is a unique riparian ecosystem perfect for swimming. That area could be gone as well if this mine is built.

For those who wish to protect animals, Oak Flat’s destruction would mean the loss of habitat for the countless bears, Bobcats, foxes, and more. 

This is just the beginning of a long list of reasons to stand in support of saving Oak Flat. If you feel moved to support this movement, please take action by signing this petition and writing to Congress. THANK YOU!

-Emma 

We’ve learned a lot in the last week: how long it takes for Emma to walk a mile (not long), how long it takes me to walk a mile (a lot longer); how to navigate forest service roads, how to use our JetBoil stove, how to tell the Oak Flat story in just a few words. 100 miles down, 1400 to go.

The weather’s heating up, temps will hover around 100 degrees for the next few days. Mornings are still cool and breezy, so we’re switching to early morning walking. Our alarm-dog Waldo wakes us up early enough to get a good start before the heat sets in.

We’ve passed the Muckleshoot Tribe and the Yakama Nation and next will cross the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla territory. Walking along rivers, below cliffs, and through forests that were once only inhabited by these groups I imagine what it must have been like. No noise from cars, no pavement, no rush to sit in front of a computer or work in a factory or run a cash register all day. A culture built around life in nature seems like the best possible life anyone could have.

While I’m walking I often think about the people at Oak Flat and what they must be doing right now. I imagine sitting in the cool shade and the clean water at Gaan Canyon. Knowing this special place will be there when we arrive is a blessing.

Please visit http://bit.ly/1KQZduh and take a minute to complete one action to help save Oak Flat today.

A little snake on the side of the road, anyone know what kind?

We’ve been in a national forest for several days and we’ve reached a wifi spot so I can do a quick post. We have seen such a plethora of life in this forest, from snakes to butterflies to Falcons.

It’s incredibly peaceful out here and we are enjoying every minute. We’ll make a longer post as soon as we’re back in an area with reliable internet. Stay tuned!

-Emma

Beautiful baby bird

We have been picking up our pace each day with better and better mileage. Last night we stayed at a lovely campsite with showers (!!!). After walking over 20 miles we were so tired, we both headed to bed quite early. 

In the middle of the night, as we were sleeping soundly, an incredibly loud siren went off…needless to say we were very confused and alarmed. It lasted for about a minute, and we were about to jump into our car when the siren stopped. We still don’t know what that was all about but it was sure strange.

Today we head into the forest, which means our internet and cell phone coverage will be limited. You may not hear from us for a few days, but you can rest assured we will keep on walking! 

Oh, and today is my mom’s birthday!! Isn’t she great for spending her special day walkin for an important cause? 

-Emma  Waldo taking his afternoon nap 

   Mt Ranier, we’re coming for you!

 Day one marching on the island  Campsite selfie! 

It’s been two days of walking and I am sore but motivated! As our fellow Washingtonians know it’s been an unusually warm year in the Northwest,  so we have been putting our sun hats and sunscreen to good use. 

We spent our first night with my brother Sam and his fiancée Codi. Codi treated us to a delicious homemade meal and we had a fun night relaxing and planning for the days ahead. 

Today (day two) was sunny and beautiful, and my mom and I both had some great views as walked. We’re spending tonight at a campsite amidst a very peaceful place in nature. Tomorrow we’ll be up early to continue! 

Happy trails!

-Emma

  Thanks Codi and Sam for hosting us! 

 We left at 8am this morning with the support of a few friends and we are on our way! Be sure to follow our walk in the coming months as we spread the word about Oak Flat.

Thank you for those who have helped us so far and we can’t wait to meet many people on our epic walk. Arizona, here we come!

Meet our favorite travel companion: Waldo the dog. He’ll be riding shotgun for most of the journey but we’re sure that he will want to walk with us a little bit each day. Waldo is a fun-loving mutt whose passion in life is playing fetch. He also loves popcorn, long naps, and keeping watch out the window. We’ll be featuring him with our upcoming “Where’s Waldo?” posts, so keep an eye out.

Hello all!

We have less than a week until we leave for our walk to Oak Flat. We leave Friday, May 29. For our friends on Bainbridge Island who may want to join us as we walk to the ferry, we have posted a schedule below. Be sure to plan in advance how you will get back to your car after you walk- it may be a good idea to get dropped off and picked up. The distances below refer to how far it is from each point to the ferry terminal. We hope to see you there!

9:00am:  Bay Hay and Feed (3.5 miles)

10:30am:  BI Library (1.2 miles)

11:00am: Winslow Way and Madison Ave  (.8 miles)

Hello all!

Our talk at the Bainbridge Public Library is coming up soon, and you can hear a sneak peek in this podcast.

To hear the full story join us this Saturday, May 16, at 7pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Resolution Copper and its pro-mining allies claim that this copper mine will be beneficial to the local community by boosting their economy and creating jobs.

What they fail to mention is that these jobs are temporary and finite. Once the copper is gone, any jobs that were created will be gone too. The mine is expected to last for 40 years, so the economic “boost” will not be sustainable; on the contrary, it will only be a temporary fix. Putting a band-aid on the economy is not enough- Superior and the surrounding communities deserve a sustainable solution.

In the past, Superior has already experienced the “boom and bust” effect that mining has on the local economy. When the Magma Mine closed in 1982, the town’s population dropped sharply and local businesses suffered greatly. While the Magma Mine was in operation the economy was booming, but as soon as it closed all that had been gained was quickly lost.

Resolution Copper also claims that we need to mine this area in order to continue the production of modern technologies such as cars and computers. Copper is a valuable resource, but it is running out and it’s time we learn to recycle and reuse what we already have. Environmental analyst Lester Brown estimated in 2008 that the world’s copper reserves might run out within just 25 years. Recycling copper is a worthy investment, as premium grade scrap copper usually has 95% or more of the value of the initial metal from newly mined ore. Globally recycled copper accounts for only about 35% of copper usage; if we could boost that number by investing in recycling, the need for more mines could be eliminated.

This issue is about sustainability. We need sustainable jobs and sustainable lifestyles. Let’s work together to make that happen.

Help us make this vision a reality. 

Sources:

http://www.copper.org/education/history/us-history/g_fact_future.html http://copperalliance.org/core-initiatives/sd/recycling/