Mon, 29 September 2008
A 1,200-foot rock wall in a wilderness area – that’s standard summer fare. In a day and back before dinner? Sounds easy. Without a car? That’s when my climbing partners stopped returning my phone calls. Even with growing environmental pressures and climbing gas prices, we’ll drive hundreds of miles to exist in landscapes devoid of gridlock and angry horns. The irony can be hard to ignore. Recreating without a car might seem impossible, but this summer I set out to test the preconceived notion. What happens when you find yourself trapped in the Urban Jungle? You blaze your way out. Comments[7]
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- Fitz,
Absolutely loved the episode. I even listened to it twice. My wife and I are going to ride out to Eldorado next time we go climb there. I respect your ability to have take an idea from vision to action and then inspire others to make positive change. Keep up the great work! I look forward to the next episode. - Fitz- great episode, I've been in the woods for five months and am just now catching up on the past few diaries :) your story had me smiling as I remembered so many challenges I encountered as a thru hiker on the AT, walking on foot from Maine to Georgia. Needless to say when it came right down to it we came off the trail the only options were to walk or hitch, and when you start thinking 3.5 miles an hour is a fast pace your perspective of acceptable travel time changes a bit :) I sold my Landrover on ebay one week before I started the hike and I haven't looked back! Now it's time to pick a place to live where biking our way around really is feasible. thanks for sharing- it's wonderful to hear a creative and conscious thinker at work
- Loved this episode, but it seems you forgot two grand dirtbag traditions - sleeping by the side of the road before taking the long trip home, and hitchhiking! While not car-free, it is an arguably nearly impact-free form of travel that is immensely possible, especially in the west. I\'ve hitched and hiked from Oregon to Montana, Montana to Utah, Arizona, California and even Texas - all with months worth of gear on my back. What a way to travel! Worth a try, or if you are still driving, be sure to stop to pick up us hitchhikers!
- Fitz, great episode. I truly enjoyed the humor and relevancy while walking home on my mellow commute down Phinney from 85th to 45th. While passing cars waiting at red lights I could look out West over Puget Sound to the Olympics that consistently lure me out of the city and 180 degrees East to the Cascades and subject matter of this episode.
I share your same dilemma every time I venture out to our NW playground. Unfortunately, this is when my truck consumes gasoline, but fortunately this is the only time it does so.
I\'m always scheming loops to do via ferry boat, kayak, biking, and walking around the Sound and outlying areas. There\'s some great options out there. Keep up the good work writing, sharing, and exploring.
Cheers!
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