Volley

I don't like night rides, especially group night rides – which is one reason I didn't go on the IGSSC this year. Same with night sking. Because what is aethetically pleasing and good for some people's souls is bad for wildlife. For example, the ONLY time animals get one ounce of peace and quiet in their world at ski resorts and around highly used trails is at night. Although ski areas are sacrifice areas during the day, you can see tons of tracks in the new snow of the animals that used the area at night: coyotes, foxes, snowshoe hare, cottontail, weasel, bobcat, and maybe an occasional lynx and wolverine (hopeful thinking on those last two!). I have chosen to abstain from night activities for this exact reason - as much as I can. I'll still ride the occasional trail on the way home while I’m commuting with one or two other people, but not on night group rides or especially at ski resorts. I don't skijor at night with my dogs at Eldora anymore because of the critter factor. Can you imagine the SPOOK the elk and deer and other animals get when seeing a line of lights and loud people coming through the woods and the resultant stress that occurs? It must be similar to being on your bike on a highway at night with large fast cars zooming by and not noticing you’re there. There’s direct mortality too…just look at the amount of trail-kill from bikes that occur during the night at the 24 hours of Moab…kangroo rats are squished all over the place.

I didn't take DV8 to task on that issue because I didn't want to attack him directly on something he likes to do. I also didn't take him to task on his car choice. I understand his rationale for owning an old truck.…I have owned them myself and I still own one (67 Dodge Powerwagon that’s my snowplow). I was merely using an example that is very present in my mind because of how much I need to drive now and be in the place I call hell (the road and the city).
I like to voice my opinion on my blog on the world at large's choices. Like i said in my first blog, don't take anything I say personally. I'm not attacking any my friends EVER whether you all take it that way or not.

Obviously, i couldn't agree more when DV8 says:"Overlooking beauty and flair for that which is simply practical is a mistake. A Target superstore is more practical and economically efficient than an eclectic blend of small, independent shops, but I can't imagine it's better for the soul or the environment."

But i would also argue that a Target superstore or a Walmart is NOT more economically efficient and practical in the long term or for the people that work there. These stores destroy communities and fuk over their workers, as you all have been hearing about recently with Walmart. And the environmental issues these large chains create are beyond belief and hugely non-sustainable and therefore not economically efficient except in the short term. But I agree the average american would think these stores are practical…and that’s unfortunate. I’d rather support the local economy & go to the local Coop and pay that extra dollar than shop at Walmart any day - even though I’m barely scraping by.

If not me, then who? Make your vote count.

All discourse is good. Ed Abbey definitely knew that. He was one of the greatest assholes of all time and didn'thave many friends…probably two of the only ways I am similar to him.
Finally, I was using DV8’s quote to address something that his quote reminded me of because I didn't see how the quote related to night sking. I realize that Eldora may have lost some money on night sking and therefore stopped doing it, but I don't see how night sking is very aesthetically pleasing (it’s dark out, but it is fun) and stopping it was a practical decision (albeit an economic one). That quote riled up me because the issue of cars was on my mind having to spend so much time behind large and rude SUVs while commuting to work on a bike and small car.