[loreyacallisto]

Riparian Buffers: Effectiveness at improving water quality

A book on the use of riparian buffers and sediment traps to improve the quality of water leaving agricultural land.

I have turned my master's thesis into a published book in the hopes that I can reach out to farmers and the New Zealand Government to clean up our waterways. 

I am attending an environmental conference next week and would really like to take these books with me to the conference as there will be many governmental delegates there.

Any help is so greatly appreciated!

[loreyacallisto]

Summer reading #2

Why elephants have big ears Why Elephants Have Big Ears is the result of one man's lifelong quest to understand why the creatures of the earth appear and act as they do. In a wry manner and personal tone, Chris Lavers explores and solves some of nature's most challenging evolutionary mysteries, such as why birds are small and plentiful, why rivers and lakes are dominated by the few remaining large reptiles, and why most of the large land-dwellers are mammals.

[loreyacallisto]

Summer Reading #1

To kill a mockingbird: The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it. Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, To kill a mockingbird takes you to the roots of human behaviour- to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humour and pathos. A masterpiece of American literature.

[thoughts-memories]

[novice-at-play]

“And at the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair messy and your eyes sparkling.” ~Shanti

[travelbinge]

Blue lagoon by j.casey.oneill

Lago Argentino, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina

[ohmyshows]

[rphotographys-deactivated201710]

Photo Pupular on 500px : 7am in Fjordland National Park by bdorts

[renamonkalou]

Lake Moraine | Blu3ness

[shamygifs-deactivated20170924]

7.12 | 9.20

[a-mini-a-day]

Put a toad on a little cart. There’s your day right there.

Source

[creatures-alive]

Vanguard by Max Waugh

[loreyacallisto]

Training

What am I training for?

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is a tough endurance challenge and to reach 5,895 metres and descend over a period of 6-7 days on varied terrain out in the elements, whilst combating the effects of altitude, I MUST TRAIN! 

Although walking is something I do everyday, when on the mountain the pace will be slower than I will be used to, and therefore, I will be spending on average between 6-9 hours a day on my feet. Preparation is key and will aid my enjoyment of the challenge, whilst ensuring my body is up to the rigours of the mountain.

So, how will I train?

Training is a very simple concept, it is all about progressively increasing my body’s ability to do just that little bit more and giving it time to adapt, recover and come back stronger. The trick is to train properly and to do it gradually, to ensure that I build up a good level of fitness, stamina, and endurance before the challenge.

I will need to get used to spending prolonged periods of time on my feet. This also has the added benefit of toughening up my feet and getting used to my walking boots. Equally important, is increasing my resilience to the aches and pains I might experience during my trek and developing the mindset required to cope with the nature of the challenge. 

Gym Training:

My gym workout program consists of regular and progressive resistance exercises with either free weights or free weight machines available at my gym. The idea behind the progressive resistance is that my exercise regime can be tailored to suit my age, physical condition and strength, steadily progressing to higher resistance level as I develop.

Walking Training:

I have planned to go for frequent walks which include some uphill and downhill sections. 

I’ll be taking my day-pack with me and I’ll also be carrying at least 3 litres of water. This will simulate the conditions I will encounter. 

Doing a one or two day local hiking trail around Otago will be an excellent and enjoyable way of preparing. I have have a hiking programme of at least 8 weeks to ensure I develop an adequate level of fitness.

Because Dunedin’s weather does not always permit outdoor activities, I will be doing some parts on the treadmill and simulating the flat, uphill and downhill sections. 

Obviously, my hiking programme will end before I do the challenge to ensure my body gets sufficient rest before the climb.

[loreyacallisto]

The Western Breach approach usually starts from Umbwe Gate at 1,600 metres and rapidly ascends to Barranco Camp at 3,900 metres, via Umbwe Camp (2,850 metres). 

The Western Breach route continues north up to Lava Tower for the night and then onto Arrow’s Glacier to join the Western Breach approach. 

The route is usually completed in 6 days and does not provide much time for trekkers to acclimatise.

[loreyacallisto]

Climb Plan

“ I believe that the ascent of mountains forms an essential chapter in the complete duty of man, and that it is wrong to leave any district without setting foot on its highest peak. “ - Sir Leslie Stephen

There are two main trekking seasons on Mount Kilimanjaro:January - March, and June - October. The former season is generally colder than the latter, but is also often quieter. 

The Western Breach:

The Western Breach is the most technically challenging route to Kilimanjaro’s summit. As the name suggests, the Western Breach sits on the western side of Kibo and was formed hundreds of thousands of years ago by volcanic eruptions and lava flows from Kibo’s crater.

I have decided to approach from the Umbwe Route.

In preparation for this trip, I am going to spend the next year working on my physical fitness. 

[heaven-ly-mind]

Gooood moooorning, hippo-pond! by Tomas Fjetland on 500px

[morethanphotography]

Polar Bear Cub playing with stick by markgirard