This week's article is all about respect! Respect for the fellow hikers on the trail and the animals that live in the area. I will not say much more about it, as it will end up being a three page rant, I will instead let this week's article explain in a polite manner.
Sharing is caring, but not when it comes to your tunes.
"I forgot earbuds on my hike, so I played music out of my iPhone instead. Someone told me that’s noise pollution. Is that true?” –Rockin’ Out in Richmond
Dear Rockin’,
We like Journey just as much as the next person, but all good things come to an end—when you hit the trail, it’s time to stop believin’.
Even if you have the foresight to turn your music down or pause it when another hiker approaches, there’s an environmental impact at play, too.
Studies show that some species of birds and frogs have a hard time communicating, and thus finding mates, amid human-created noise. And they aren’t the only ones: There’s also evidence that bats might hate your music more than your college roommate did. Though man-made sounds don’t usually affect echolocation, the mammals will still flee from them, which cuts into their time to find food.
Still not convinced? The numbers show that wildlife, all kinds, is adversely affected by noise as quiet as 40 dBa. That’s about the volume of a humming computer.
Mountains majesty set to a soundtrack of 1980s ballads is some kind of beautiful, but what’s more important? Next time you go for a hike, skip the music. The animals will thank you, with their presence.
Your Penance
Blasting your music has social and environmental impacts. For this twofer, we prescribe five tech-free hikes. Yep, that means hiking without distractions, and in silence. When the lights do down in the city, and the sun shines on the bay, you just might prefer it.
Featured on Backpacker.com Stories on July 21, 2018
N.A.C. NEWS
(Sunday, October 17, 2021)
Good Morning,
There is no hike today, it's a rest day. But next week is the Niagara Gorge Hike, and it has attracted quite a bit of attention. Twelve people have registered so far, and they won't be disappointed. We will hike down into the Niagara Glen, an amazing plateau that sits just above the Niagara River. The remnants left behind by Niagara Falls as it passed the area 14000 years ago, and home to quite a few amazing geological features. After that, we will hike along the rivers edge, following a challenging path all the way to the Niagara Whirlpool. After enjoying a lunch at the edge of the whirlpool, we will continue around the whirlpool, and head onto another, even more treachurous path and continue to an area where you can stand next to some of the most powerful rapids in the world. You can feel the power of the Niagara River at full force here. It's an amazing feeling. We will finish by hiking back and climbing up 191 grueling wooden stairs to exit the gorge, and walk the paved Niagara Parkway Path back to the Glen. I have hiked the Niagara Gorge hundreds of times, yet it never gets boring! Remember, this is a dangerous place, and the hike is very challenging. If you do plan to attend, please be prepared. I am available to chat with anyone who would like some assistance preparing. After the Niagara Gorge hike, we will make the transfer to the new, much more modern NAC website! It will take about a week to finalize the transfer, and then new hikes will be added for the month of November and December. Those hikes will be sent out in a separate email as soon as they are posted. The www.NiagaraAdventure.ca URL will automatically take you to the new site, so you won't have to do a thing. As a reminder, I can not move your Site Member accounts over, so everyone will have to create a new accont before registering for events. I will move as much information over as I can. Once the transfer to the new web site is complete, I will also begin selling Seasons Passes for the 2022 season. The funds raised from Seasons Passes is what allows me to keep this club going. As always, Niagara Adventure Club is a Not-For-Profit club, but it does have operating expenses, and the sale of memberships and passes has helped cover these costs and keep the club operating for over a decade now. I hope to keep this club going for many more years, and provide many more adventures to all those that wish to partake.
That's all the news for this week. As always, stay safe, and happy hiking! Lenny Burch Niagara Adventure Club