Clif Bar partners with TerraCycle to recycle wrappers

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Laurel

Congrats to Clif Bar and Odwalla Bar for coming up with a great solution to the problem of non-recyclable energy bar wrappers. There is now an alternative to “throwing away” these wrappers and contributing waste to our landfills: Sign up here and TerraCycle will ship a couple of postage-paid envelopes to your door. All you have to do is fill them and pop them in the mailbox. To sweeten the deal, 2 cents will be donated to the non-prof or charity of your choice.

And look at the pretty things your trash will become.

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Columbia Basin salmon remain in danger: Obama Administration fails to take action

Posted on June 4, 2010 by Laurel

In February of this year, U.S. District Court Judge James Redden of Portland, Oregon requested yet another revision to the Obamas administration’s Bush-era plan to protect salmon in the Northwest. The revised plan was submitted May 20 and contains only a few relatively minor changes that are unlikely to be approved by Judge Redden.

Photo courtesy of Oregon State

Currently the State of Oregon, salmon advocates and the Nez Perce tribe are suing the federal government because they claim that this salmon protection plan is not doing enough to protect the fish from the harmful effects of the dams throughout the Northwest.

Moderate opponents to the plan insist that these fish need higher flows on the Columbia to survive, and salmon advocates argue the four federal dams on the lower Snake River must be removed altogether if salmon are to survive.

Here is a great quote from John Kitzhaber, former Governor of Oregon, who is currently running for a third term about the situation: (Special thanks to Patagonia’s blog, The Cleanest Line for publishing this first:

“What is at stake here goes far beyond the issue of salmon recovery. To me, it raises the question of whether we have the courage and the will to reconcile the growing contradiction between the world we say we want to leave our children and the one we are actually creating through the decisions we make today. And it calls into question our capacity to take explicit and intentional action to shape our own future rather than to simply react to circumstances, allowing by default our future to become a matter of chance. It’s time to fight for salmon. It’s time to fight for us. It’s time to fight for our future.”

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U.S. Bicycle Route System

Posted on June 1, 2010 by Laurel

Momentum is building for the proposed U.S. Bicycle Route System, a national network of bicycle routes throughout the United States. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has approved a National Corridor Plan, which would make this the largest official bike route system in the world. The proposed corridor would cover over 50,000 miles. In comparison, Europe’s planned “Euro-Velo” covers about 36,000 miles.

Photo courtesy of www.adventurecycling.org

This plan has been in development stages for more than five years with contributions from federal and state transportation agencies, non-profits, federal and state officials and bicycling advocacy groups.

Some organizations such as Adventure Cycling, the largest membership cycling group in North America, have been particularly pro-active in helping to develop the plan by providing staff support and fundraising.

The development of a major bicycle route system in the U.S. follows the path of many regions that have created similar networks to increase tourism and recreation opportunities. Some of the most notable include the UK’s 12,000 mile National Cycle Network, and Quebec’s 2,400 mile La Route Verte (the “Green Way”.)

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White water rafting in Bend Oregon

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Laurel

Imagine surfing down the gushing whitewater runoff from the Cascade Mountains, past twisting ponderosa pines and volcanic rock outcroppings. Cool water splashes around the boat and invigorates the body and spirit on a sunny high desert day.

Whether you are planning a trip to Central Oregon or have lived here your whole life, put whitewater rafting on the list of must-do activities this summer: There are few adventures that are more enjoyable to do as a group than a trip down the river.

One of Bend Oregon’s best-known outfitters is Sun Country Tours. They offer shorter adventures like the Big Eddy Thriller, which runs down an exciting 3-mile stretch of the Deschutes, and they also offer full day excursions from Maupin. Sun Country Tours sells Hydroflasks at their main office, so be sure to pick one out to take with you on your rafting adventure.  Attach your bottle to the raft using a carabineer and it will stay put even on the most tumultuous white water.

If you are looking for multi-day trips with one of Oregon’s most renowned guide companies, check out Ouzel Outfitters selection of adventures throughout the state. They provide all your camping gear plus gourmet meals served on banquet tables.

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Hydroflask becomes court sponsors of Bend Beach Volleyball

Posted on May 21, 2010 by Laurel

The search is over! Beach volleyball players of Bend have finally secured a location for public courts near the river. Truckloads of sand from the Oregon coast have been arriving daily to the new courts in the Old Mill, near where the National Cyclocross Championship races took place late last year.

Photo by Jill Rosell Photography jillrosellphotography.com

With sponsorships from Hydroflask and other local companies and a donation from the Bend Volleyball Association, excavation for this top quality facility has begun, but because beach sand is so expensive ($10,000!), fundraising efforts continue. Volunteers are needed for backhoe work, bobcat work and any prize gifts that can be donated to raffle off.

If you live in Bend and would like to support the volleyball players, sign up for the Poker Tournament Fundraiser at Rivals Sports Bar on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 6 p.m.

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Concord, MA becomes the First Town in the U.S. to Ban Bottled Water

Posted on May 20, 2010 by Laurel

Jean Hill, and 82-year old activist, lobbied the historic Boston suburb of Concord, Massachusettes into action. Residents banned the sale of all bottled water, which will officially take effect next January, making it the first town in the country to become completely bottled water free. Bundanoon, Australia was the first city in the world to do so.

“All these discarded bottles are damaging our planet, causing clumps of garbage in the oceans that hurt fish, and are creating more pollution on our streets,” Hill said.

Annually, Americans consume 8.6 billion gallons of bottled water, according to Treehugger.com, and 40% of this water comes straight out of a tap. Although, the argument is often used that bottled water is a safe way to stay hydrated in times of emergencies, a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council found that water stored in plastic bottles for more than a few months show signs of phthalate-leaching, a chemical that blocks testosterone and other hormones.

Congratulations to residents of Concord, MA and to the efforts of Jean Hill! We know the world’s greatest water bottle is soon to become a best seller in this progressive city. Now its time to make something like this happen in Bend, Oregon…

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Stand-Up Paddleboarding is like walking on water

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Laurel

When I first read about Stand-Up Paddleboarding, my immediate reaction was that it looked a little boring and just seemed like one more sport to add to the ever-expanding pallet of recreational options.

After trying it up at Elk Lake Resort this past summer, I was totally sold. There is something amazing about being on top of the water (religious references aside!). It is also a great “core” workout because of the muscles used for balancing and using arm strength at the same time. No wonder it is the fastest growing water sport in the U.S.

If you live in Bend, flat sections of the Deschutes and Mirror Pond are the perfect location for an evening workout in the summer months. Stop by Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe and rent a board for the afternoon to see how you like it. If you want to get serious, Tumalo Creek is hosting a Stand-Up Paddleboarding race series every Wednesday in July and August this summer, sponsored by Naish Pacific Boardsports. The winners will have the opportunity to compete at the championships in California.

Tumalo Creek has a new line of orange and turquoise Hydroflasks to go with their new logo with laser artwork by Tom Dean. We think you should try balancing these bottles on the end of your board… might be more practical than having your dog on there…

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Pole Pedal Paddle – We're in it for the after party

Posted on May 13, 2010 by Laurel

To say Bend, Oregon is an outdoorsy, athletic town often feels like an understatement. Even on cold and windy days, cyclists chug up the Cascade Lakes Hwy to Mt. Bachelor, and runners usually out number walkers on most of the urban trails.

Bend’s pinnacle event of athletic fanaticism is the Pole Pedal Paddle. With six legs including downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, road biking, running, kayaking and a final sprint to the finish, the race is quintessential Bend, both because of the crazy shape athletes must be in to finish the course, and because Bend is one of the only places in the country where you could feasibly do all these activities on the same day.

The PPP is now in its 34th year and over 3,000 racers are registered to compete. It is the primary fundraiser for the Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation and raised over $140,000 for the organization in 2008.

Whether your “in it to win it” or just looking forward to the after party, come say hi to your friends at Hydroflask at the PPP festival, May 15 at the Les Schwab Amphitheatre. We’ll be sharing a tent with Mountain Supply and offering 20% off our bottles on race day. With a deal like that, everyone’s a winner ; )

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A Bottle of Wine fits perfectly into my Hydroflask

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Laurel

A long day on the river or out on the trail warrants a crisp, cool glass of wine. I discovered today that a bottle of wine fits absolutely perfectly in my tall Hydroflask, so you can bet that I’ll keep my priorities straight when packing for my next camping trip.

Decisions, decisions…

Do I take the Sokol Blosser Evolution which features nine varieties of grapes creating a “parade of flavors across the palate,” or the über-local Maragas Pinot Riche, a German style white with hints of honey suckle, pineapple and peach? Maybe both… and add another Hydroflask to my pack list.

Exploring the wines of Oregon can be an endlessly enjoyable task, but I’m especially fond of the vintners who have become leaders in the sustainability movement. Sokol Blosser, for instance was the first winery in the country to receive country to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the United States Green Building Council. They are also certified organic by Oregon Tilth, run their tractors on 50 percent biodiesel and use solar energy to power the winery. Next time your out on a wine tour, be sure to check out the living roof (pictured below), a wildflower garden that covers their underground barrel cellar.

A little closer to home, Maragas Winery has been making great strides in recent years to grow grapes in an environmentally conscious way. Over 75% of their energy comes from solar panels they have on property. They recently made the switch to an eco wine bottle, which uses less glass, saving on both waste and shipping, and they no longer use capsules (the foil surrounding the cork) because of the toxic chemicals the foils release when they are recycled. Their grapes are grown entirely organic, and they will become certified within a couple of years.

Whichever wine you decide to keep cold with your Hydroflask (I still say bring both), consider your eco-conscience when wine buying: think of local wines first, and look for labels like “Salmon-Safe” and certified organic. The fishys will thank you.

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Coke’s shareholders demand the company comes clean about BPA use: Coke says no.

Posted on May 7, 2010 by Laurel

Last month at Coca-Cola’s annual shareholders’ meeting, a number of concerned investors voted on a resolution that urged Coke to go public about their use of BPA in the linings of their aluminum cans. Coke responded that they did not think this was information that their shareholders (and consumers!) should know.

In addition to not telling the truth about their products, they are also working with some of their competitors as well as representatives from the chemical industry to stop state-wide bans on BPA, like the one that recently passed in Maryland.

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