It's been more than eight weeks since the Russian military invaded Ukraine without provocation, and the injustices and tragedies of this conflict have only grown in depth and scale since.
But you can help support medical relief for the Ukrainian people.
Why do National Parks Matter?
This month marks 105 years since the National Park Service was established - the organization dedicated to serving in America’s national parks, “...to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as we will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”
You might have noticed that the national parks are a big theme here at Dear Summit (like this blog post, this hiking journal, or these wooden stickers). You might also know that I donate a percentage of my profits to the National Park Foundation.
But why?
Why are National Parks so important to me? And why give up part of my profit for them?
Read morePlastic-Free July: Hiking Edition
Year round, Dear Summit is all about getting out and enjoying the wonders of nature, and sustainability is always a big part of that. But this month is the perfect time to put a little extra focus on the rising need to ditch the plastic we can so easily rely on.
Why is plastic such a big deal?
Plastic objects never truly biodegrade, but over time they do break down into tiny (toxic) plastic particles called microplastics. These particles are so tiny that they end up in the soil, waterways (such as your favorite river, lake, ocean, or local municipal tap water), the air, and even in our food. Yep. Our food. These tiny particles are like sponges to toxic substances in the environment, and then when tiny creatures mistake them for food, those particles and the toxins they carry compound as they work their way up the food chain… and eventually into the food we buy at the supermarket. Not to mention the countless birds, fish, whales, and other animals which die along the way as their stomachs fill with plastic trash instead of real food. (Learn more about the problems with microplastics here.)
So, yes, these tiny plastic bits are a big problem.
But what about recycling, you ask? Unfortunately…
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