Sloth Ironwoman Games 2019

Inspired by the Toucan Rescue Ranch annual Sloth Ironman Games, I decided to challenge myself to create and complete my own Ironwoman games to show my support for the sloths! Having conquered my first Sloth IronWoman Games in 2018 with a mountain climb, marathon and zipline, I wanted to set new challenges for myself in 2019. This year, I decided to tackle the ABCs of the Ironwoman challenge: Adventuring through through Paria slot canyon on the Utah/Arizona border, Biking 20 miles around Arches National Park in Moab, and Climbing the highest mountain in Arizona (Mt. Humphreys at 12,633ft). Joining me on this adventure was my best friend Tessa and the official mascot of the Sloth Ironwoman Games, Celestial Sunshine the Slothicorn.

Day 1 – Climbing Mt. Humphrey’s

Apparently climbing to the highest place in a state is called ‘highpointing’. So that’s what we did, we high pointed the tallest mountain in Arizona, about 10 miles round trip, fighting 40-50 mph winds at the top to conquer the first challenge. While it was certainly no 14er (14000ft), the elevation gain was several thousand feet, and paired with the wind, it made for quite an exhilarating hike. But we got some mild protection from the gusts at the top thanks to a very sturdy rock wall, which allowed us to take a breather, take a puff, and take a summit selfie. I’m unsure how much more ‘high pointing’ I will pursue, but it was a fantastic way to kick off the Games! After the hike, we drove north to the Utah/ Arizona border to set up camp at the trailhead of the canyon. The night sky was stellar (pun intended) and the Milky Way smiling down at us reminded us of how extraordinary and infinite this experience called life truly is.

Days 2 & 3- Adventuring and Backpacking in Paria Canyon

Starting our adventure bright and early the following day, we were picked up at the crack of dawn by our shuttle driver, Yermo, who was going to drive us to the end of the canyon so we could hike back to where my car was parked (as it is a one way trek). Yermo was full of helpful tips and good advice to help us make the most of our adventure. We got into a very interesting conversation when he mentioned that this was the first year in 60 years that there was no monsoon. Which has drastically affected the local wildlife. He said that typically he sees an abundance of hummingbirds, horny toads, tarantulas and snakes during the spring and summer, but this year, he was hard pressed to see one or two of anything. I casually asked from the backseat what he thought could be the cause of this and he paused and said, “uhhh, climate change, duh.” And it felt so refreshing to hear someone else say it!!! He went on to tell us that he had been a guide for a local resort and he had the ‘opportunity’ to take Ivanka and Jared Trump out for a tour. The topic of global warming came up and he could tell the concept flew right over their heads. But what I suggested, and what I have to constantly remind myself, is that by educating people and sharing knowledge, it is not my purpose to change their mind. My purpose is to simply plant seeds of transformation and new perspectives so that eventually THEY can change and shift their own views. So that was an inspiring way to start the journey. As this was my first overnight backpacking trip, I didn’t quite know what to expect, but between me and Tessa’s sense of confidence and excitment and with the power of the slothicorn, I’d say it was a mighty successful trip. We saw no snakes or scorpions (for better or for worse), there were no injuries, we didn’t break or lose anything, we found a perfect, isolated (as if the whole place wasn’t isolated) spot to pitch camp, we slept well, the weather was perfect, there was VERY minimal litter, we had plenty of water and shnacks and we didn’t have to carry that much of our own waste out with us 🙂 We saw the resident nesting ravens, heard them caw as it flew out of a dark ominous cave. That we then hiked into. It also took the liberty of being our alarm clock at 7:30 the next morning. A polite time to rouse us. The puddles and mud pools were actually quite fun to trek through, some of which were about 3 feet deep. One risk I was thankfully not aware of during our hike was quicksand. Which is apparently a real thing and in Paria Canyon. And I have a hunch we unknowingly came upon some and wisely decided not to go that route. But ya, that would have sucked. A lot. So we avoided that. The petroglyphs, or rock art, that we spotted was an incredible reminder of the profound antiquity of human existence in this area and Tessa and I had good fun trying to depict them and create our own stories about the people and the goats. There was one unsolved mystery that really stumped and disturbed us though. On the first day, within the first 5 hours of the hike, we came upon, 8 (8!) mysteriously dead animals on the path. 3 mice, 1 dying mouse (which upset me greatly to witness), 1 bat, 1 hawk and 2 tarantulas. All dead. None of the animals had visible wounds or causes of death and all of these creatures are adapted to live in this environment. They also had not been preyed upon. It was concerning to see and when I asked the ranger she had reaonsable explanations for the bat and tarantulas, but she said the mice was a weird case. I’m unsure what to think of it, but the ranger said “Nature can be harsh” to which I replied, “So can humans.” Poison did cross my mind as a potential culprit, but without doing an autopsy there is no way to tell. And common sense told me not to haul one of those little mice around with me for 2 days. This was a stark reminder of why protecting all living things on this planet is so crucial. Species are disappearing at exponential rates due to manmade cause and I for one refuse to idly sit by while this happens. I choose to use my words and my actions to protect and fight for this planet. This is the purpose behind what I call my ‘awareness adventures’, using my platform and experiences to promote conservation of and donations for various environmental causes and organizations. So again, if you would like to support the Sloth Ironwoman Games, you can do so my supporting Toucan Rescue Ranch by donating either directly here: https://toucanrescueranch.org  or to the Facebook fundraiser I have created here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/252262122334874/252262129001540/ .

Day 4- Biking in Moab

We left the isolation of the slot canyon behind and checked out several more touristy areas along the way to Moab including Horseshoe Bend. In part due to the crowds, we only spent a short time there, enjoying a nice sunset picnic on the ledge overlooking the great landscape. A large fire to the west, possibly a prescribed burn, was causing the sky to become thick with smoke, creating a fiery red sun as it dipped below the horizon. We again found a lovely camping site to pitch our tent for the night about an hour south of Moab. In the morning, we started our day in classic Moab adventure fashion,  by grabbing a fair trade coffee Moab Bomb (iced mocha with ice cream) at a local cafe and shopping for rocks, fossils and crystals. Heavily caffinated and fueled by crystal energies, we  headed into Arches National Park. The scenic route, while congested with tourists, was beautiful nonetheless and we were able to find a spot on the side of the road to pull off and unload the bikes. Initially thinking any and all of the trails were bike-friendly, we quickly realized that was not the case and we would have to stick to paved and gravel roadways. Not ideal, especially on a road bike, but we started down one road thinking it would connect to a trail that would lead us in a loop back to the car. Well apparently Google maps is a lying bitch because there was no trailhead and we just kept biking into the desert oblivion for several hours. Fortunately, because it was a road, there were several trucks that passed us and each asked if we were alright and needed any water (which I did eventually take someone up on, cuz ya, I ran out). It was very refreshing to see the mindfulness and kindness of strangers. 17 miles (and 2 lizard sightings!) later, Tessa and I were back at the car and on the road again to Boulder.

We had officially conquered the 2019 Sloth Ironwoman Games!!! So the physical challenges were complete, now for the challenge of achieving our goal of raising $300 for Toucan Rescue Ranch. I figure, if we can get all those adventures done in 4 days, we can raise $300 in 1 month! So, if you would like to support the Games, save the sloths and help me put the FUN in FUNdraising… you can do so by donating here : https://www.facebook.com/donate/252262122334874/252262129001540/

Thank you for following along on the adventure friends. As always, stay happy and be the change you wish to see in the world 🙂

 

VISION TREK 2019

Wow. I did it! I biked 115 miles in 3 days from Custer State Park in South Dakota to Bear Lodge, or Devil’s Tower National Monument, in Wyoming. Prior to this trip, my longest bike ride was 16 miles and that was just 3 weeks ago! Then I rode 37 miles mostly uphill on Day 1, 33 miles up and down and around the Black Hills on Day 2,  and then 45 miles on the final day mostly downhill (except for 8 miles that were ALL uphill). I biked about 6 hours each day. To determine my route, I literally Googled Custer to Devil’s Tower directions and selected the bike option. With 3 routes to choose from, I chose the one that went directly through the Black Hill National Forest. Some parts of the route were tricky and technical and rocky and probably better suited for a proper mountain bike, a very small portion was on paved county roads with lite traffic and most of my riding was done on dusty and at times gravel-y backroads and forest roads and across a lot of cattle guards. Over hills, through the woods, and across the fields of sage and wildflowers. With butterflies dancing alongside me and hawks circling overhead, deer gazing alertly ready to dart out in the middle of the road and I’m sure the occasional mountain lion watching me from a far. The journey was indeed beautiful. I’m pleased to say that I accomplished this adventure without any major snafus which is super. I didn’t flip on my bike, I only crashed once, the support car didn’t get stuck, I didn’t get chased by a mountain lion or a cow or get hit by a car and we only got lost and confused on one section! I’d label that a success! A+ adventure!

I had several goals that I wanted to accomplish during VISION TREK.                                    Goal #1. To give myself and others a re-education on how the West was taken. The history lessons we learned about cowboys and Indians when we were younger was a sugar coated and inaccurate description of how the United States acquired land. In one of my history lesson videos, I went over the various treaties that the US government implemented and then broke with the Lakota and other Plains tribes as a way to steal their land and extinguish their culture. These issues of inequality and injustice against indigenous people are still going on today as the Dakota Access Pipeline terrifyingly demonstrates. And while on my trip I learned about a new law going into affect that ultimately bans the protesting of industrial projects, so pipeline protestors and water protectors could face thousands of dollars in fines and up to 15 years in jail. Just for protecting their land, OUR HOME and  our planet. It is sickening. But by talking about these issues and bringing them to people’s attention, we have a better chance of creating positive change and supporting these communities.                                                                    Goal #2. To pick up litter along the way and do my part to make the world a cleaner, more beautiful place. While I was only able to pick up a fraction of the beer bottles I saw, I still felt good knowing that was one less glass bottle for an animal to get hurt on.         Goal #3. Encourage people to sponsor my ride and get involved in doing good by donating to the Lakota Way Healing Center (and you can still donate at lakotaway.org!) Folks can sponsor me mile for mile on certain days ($37 for 37 miles on Day 1, or $115 for 115 miles for all 3 days). As an Awareness Athlete I use these various athletic challenges to get people talking about and donating to various causes and organizations that are working to make our world a better place. And finally..                                                                                                                       Goal #4. This was a personal one; to challenge myself to accomplish something new and exciting i.e. traveling a long distance on bike. I feel satisfied that I achieved all of my goals and I am pleased to continue proving to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to. And so can you!

I picked up a couple hitchhikers along the way. On Day 1, as I was pedaling uphill on a dusty road, I happened to look down and see a small, fuzzy bumblebee trudging along. I thought, “That’s no place for a little bumblebee”, so I scooped her up knowing that bumblebees don’t sting and carried her in my hand to my next stop point. There I got her situated in my bike pouch as she was not able to fly yet and she biked 27 more miles with me to finish out Day 1. She then passed away peacefully back at the campsite. I called her Miss Buzzles. Day 2 saw no bees, but Day 3, about 4 miles into that 8 mile hill, I picked up RedStripe Bill. Same thing, looked down at the right moment, saw him struggling in the road, scooped him up and carried him on my hand for the next 4 miles, all uphill. I like to think he helped with his bee power, even though I caught him cleaning himself while perched in the back of my hand as I’m huffing and puffing. But as soon as we got to the top of the hill and I thanked him, he flew off of my hand and into the trees. It was truly wonderful to have them as travel companions. I later looked up what the bumblebee means spiritually and it symbolizes accomplishing the impossible. So that was fitting.

The biking itself was fun and challenging and peaceful and meditative. The scenery from start to finish was beautiful, but arriving at Bear Lodge was truly incredible. Seeing it in the distance and watching it get closer and closer until finally I was at the entrance.     And then at the campground. I had made it! After setting up camp and grabbing a well deserved dinner and ice cream and celebrating with the support crew, I finally was able to begin my rest and recovery. Day 4 was a day of reflection and prayer. This had been a very personal journey for me and I took the time I needed to show gratitude to everything that helped me succeed on this adventure. I walked the mile loop around the tower a total of 4 times. The first time I walked in silence and tied my 4 prayer ties along the trail. The second time I walked around barefoot and did some earthing or grounding exercises while watching the sunset. The third time I hiked in the early morning before the crowds got there to complete my Junior Ranger booklet so I could be sworn in as an official Junior Ranger of the park. And the fourth loop I walked with my family when they met me at the Tower to celebrate. It was an incredibly meaningful way to end the Trek.

Bear Lodge in the Moonlight

There is so much that I am grateful for on this trip. I’d like to thank the weather for being  so perfect for both biking and camping on all 4 days. One of the nights I fell asleep watching the stars. The sliver of the moon was beautiful with a  luminous glow around it. I stared at a planet for so long I convinced myself it was a UFO as it moved between the Tower and the horizon. I watched the stars emerge from the dusk sky as lightening flashed in the distance. I am grateful  for the challenge I set and accomplished, and for my able body that allows me to tackle these crazy adventures. I feel truly recharged and empowered and strengthened by this trip. Immense thank you to my sponsors, including Good Day Chocolates which fueled the biking and Divina Hemp who fueled my recovery; also Stashlogix and Dip Devices for their constant support of my endeavors. This trip would not have been possible without the immense help from my support team i.e. my mum who was by my side just about the whole way and who took care of all of the details and logistics and made sure I didn’t get dehydrated or sunburnt or too lost. Such a trooper! I would also like to thank Doug and Carol Good Feather and Doug Red Hail for teaching me how to be an ally to not  only the Lakota community but to stand up and fight for and be an ally for our planet. By doing do, they have helped me reconnect with my true self and purpose.

I am sincerely fortunate to have these opportunities to educate, inspire and empower myself and others, so thank you for listening, thank you for being inspired, and thank you for joining me in making the world a better place. Together, we can be the change we wish to see in the world. That, I truly believe.

Sacred Smoke Peace Statue

 

Going Green: Sustainability 101

Kermit the frog once said, “It’s not easy being green.” And he was right. We live in a society where going green in any sense of the word is inherently difficult and shunned. Whether it’s going green with a plant based diet, going green with your medicine by using plants instead of pills or adopting a sustainable lifestyle, our society and our culture is not made to support these “radical concepts”. And yet for the health of our bodies, our consciousness and our planet, it’s essential that we green up our act. And it start with education and everyone doing their part.

I wanted to learn more about how I could live  sustainable, focusing on how I could reduce my plastic footprint. Plastic is trending. It’s everywhere. literally. It’s in our homes, stores, oceans, food and even in us. Its a problem and we need to do something about it soon. I decided to host a Going Green : sustainability 101 class to share with others things that I had learned about reducing my eco-footprint and i decided to focus on 3 primary categories. 1. Green up your groceries. Buying less packaging in the first place. 2. Green up your ganja. Tips on how to be an eco-stoner and 3. Green is Beautiful. Let’s get into it.

Green Groceries – In addition to the obvious, bring your reusable shopping bag, you can buy in bulk to cut down on the amount of packaging you buy. You may just find this is not only good for your health, but for your wallet at well. And by bulk, I don’t mean Costco. There is A LOT of packaging at Costco. No, I mean shopping at stores where you bring your own bags and containers to refill with the products there. And i swear, you can get just about anything at these stores. From shampoo and detergent to trail mix, pasta, cereal, dried fruits, gummy bears, like all of life’s essentials. You purchase however much you need (and however much will fit in your jars) and you leave with no more packaging than when you came. It’s great! Ive included several link to local bulk stores at the bottom of the page.

Here are a few green tips I recently adopted:

• Just say no to baby carrots. I know their cheap and tasty and convenient, but not only are the a waste of food (apparently it’s quite the process to make a baby carrot..it don’t think it’s appropriate to go into details.) but it also comes in a plastic bag. Here is a good rule of thumb. If you could eat it fresh out the garden, then it doesn’t need to be in a bag. Frustrating, unless i go to the farmers market, it’s near impossible to find strawberries, snap peas, clementines and grapes that are in plastic. Another tip for the produce section, don’t carefully select your organic fruit and then put it in a plastic bag. (unless you use those bags for cat poop, then that is acceptable. My logic is a bag filled with poop can’t possibly fly away into the ocean. That is going to be stinking up the landfill for a long time. But moving on)
• Stop buying frozen fruit for smoothies. Again, cheap and convenient, but i learned that all it takes to make frozen fruit is….buying fruit, cutting it, putting it in the freezer on a cookie tray and then transferring to a bag at home! Fresh fruit, smoothie ready!
• Shop at the local farmers market. Not only does this support small, local businesses, it’s also the greenest way to get your food (besides growing it yourself). It’s easy to cut down on packaging here as everything is mostly sold individually (so don’t forget your reusable containers!). Doing your grocery shopping at the farmers market will also guarantee that your food is as fresh as possible. Plus you’ll find it’s a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning.
• Make your own delicious snacks to avoid being stuck with a wrapper. Personally, i love Cherry Larabars and I realized they are 3 ingredients: dates (pitted), dried cherries, and almonds, all of which can easily be bought in bulk. That’s it. I can make that. So I do, and they are equally as delicious and more cost efficient, (although dried cherries are not cheap, I’ll say that). This way I can snack guilt free without having to toss wrappers and a box.
• Composting and reducing food waste are great ways to minimize your weekly trash.
• Shop along the edges of the grocery store to ensure you purchase healthier food with less packaging as it is typically all of the fresh food aka produce, bakery, deli and also bulk.

Green Ganja – To be honest, the legal cannabis industry was not designed to be sustainable. Due to compliance and child resistant requirements, it has been difficult for companies to adopt green practices. However, things are changing, better alternatives are becoming available. Innovative companies, like Sana Packaging, based out of Boulder/Denver, are creating plant/hemp packaging (weed containers and joint tubes). Sana is even exploring ways that they can use recycled ocean plastic as an alternative to plastic. Several large dispensary chains already have converted to using Sana for their packaging needs, including The Health Center and Verde Naturals. With alternatives like these, it’s now up to the companies to decide if they want to prioritize  the planet or a little extra profit. But the consumers have a say! By supporting companies that are greening up their act, you are sending a message that you want to see a greener cannabis industry. Make your voice heard!

• Ask your dispensary if their packaging is plant based or if they have a recycle program. Often time weed jars cannot be recycled with other plastic.

• Don’t forget to bring your Stashlogix bag when buying your weed so you don’t have to take another stupid plastic impossible to open exit bag. (15% off Stashlogix with promo code High Five)!!! Also consider how much waste you will be left with once you are done with a product. For example, if you buy a joint, once you smoke that joint you’ll have the roach and the doob tube left. Well the roach is compostable, and the doob tube, if it’s Sana, is biodegradable, but edibles and concentrate packaging gets a bit trickier due to compliancy issues. So do your research and ask your bud tender if they know which companies are leaders in sustainability.
• Vape devices on the other hand, once you finish those, you are left with the battery, the charger and an empty glass or plastic cartridge that I can assure you is not recyclable. Vape pens and cartridges are the plastic straw of the cannabis industry. These products were created to be convenient, trendy and tasty, but not healthy for you or the planet. Often times, in addition to the cartridge itself being bad for the planet, what’s inside isn’t necessarily too good for the body, with many carts containing harmful chemicals like propylene-glycol and polyethylene-glycol (ew!). So even if you are convinced your distillate pen is top quality and its super quick n easy, I encourage you to enjoy your dabs with the Dipper, which is a vaporizer that allows you to sip you concentrates straight from the jar. (Clean glass dab jars are far more likely to be accepted at a recycling facility than a dirty plastic weed cartridge.) So consider these tips the next time you stop into your favorite dispensary.

And quite honestly the best way to be an eco-stoner is to grow your own medicine, make your own edibles and replace everything in your life with hemp. And it’s really not that far fetched of a statement. Hemp can be used to create clothes, paper, rope, wood, concrete, medicine, landscaping, you name it!  I hear hemp socks are just life changing. In fact, when the United States was first founded, all citizens were required to grow hemp because it was such an important cash crop. You could even pay your taxes in hemp, that’s how integral it was in early American culture. 

Green is beautiful – Again, this is all about reducing the amount of packaging you are purchasing. With companies like Lush creating eco-conscious products such as shampoo and conditioner bars (no bottles!) and toothpaste tabs (no tube!) and bulk stores offering package-less beauty products, it’s becoming easier to choose alternative options. When it comes to cosmetics, do your research on the company, checking for sustainable sourcing, community engagement, cruelty -free (vegan makeups is a safe bet. Means there are no animal products and they don’t test on animals. Which is super.) Avoid plastic products such as toothbrushes, floss sticks and floss picks, plastic Q-tips, plastic hand soap dispenser, and brushes and combs. Yes it may be a little extra investment in the short run, but in the long run, these habits are healthier for you and the planet.

To prepare for the Going Green workshop, I did my research on plastic pollution, sustainable living tips and other ways we can save our planet. The most eye opening video was of course Sir David Attenborough encouraging us all to do our part to reverse the damage we have caused to our planet. You can get inspired by watching it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Puv0Pss33M&feature=share

His 4 key call to actions on a global level are:

• • 1. Phasing out fossil fuels and replacing them with renewable energy sources, such as hydro, wind and solar. It’s imperative we slow the warming of planet and acidification of ocean and pollution of our air, all of which are consequences of abusing and relying on fossil fuels.
  • 2. Upgrading to efficient food production and eating less meat which will require less space to provide for ourselves and the livestock we rely on. In turn, this will leave more room for wildlife and natural areas, reduce deforestation and demand for fresh water while also feeding more people with healthier, more affordable food.
  • 3. Working together to properly manage our oceans. A global network needs to be established of no fishing zones and treaties on use of international waters need to be respected and enforced. These steps are essential to restore the health of the ocean.
  • 4. Population control is one of the biggest challenges facing humanity and our planet. As an international community, we need to brainstorm humane ways to combat the continuing exponential population growth. People need to start living more sustainably, more in union with our Earth. Whether by building community gardens and parks, restoring deforested and urbanized patches of land, and protecting vulnerable natural areas,  we need to encourage the growth and spread of nature whenever possible
  • Embrace the challenge we face, change the world, open our eyes, become educated.

On an individual level, there are sustainable habits that we can make a part of our daily routines. A few of these include:

• Be mindful of your water usage (in the kitchen, showers, when doing laundry and brushing your teeth, when tending to the lawn).
• Pick up litter when you see it. Don’t assume it’s someone else’s job to clean up the planet. We all have to do our part. In fact I encourage you to go out of your way to pick up trash. You’ll find it feels wonderful keeping mother nature clean.
• Learn how to properly recycle and dispose of hazardous or toxic material in your community. Difficult to dispose of items, like appliances and technologies, can be taken to places like Best Buy, which will properly dispose of things like batteries, computers, phones and cords.

A note about recycling – Reduce, reuse, recycle (and the newest one, Refuse!). That’s what we’ve been (poorly) trained to do in our society. Recycling makes us feel good about doing the bare minimum for our planet. But that is no longer sufficient. Why? Because only 9% of what ends up in those blue bins actually get recycled. The rest ends up in the landfill (and eventually the ocean) or intencerated at waste facilities that are located primarily in minority and low income neighborhoods. These facilities are responsible for a plethora of chronic health issues plaguing these communities. Children have higher rates of asthma and bronchitis than elsewhere in the country, residents breathe toxic air and suffer from numerous health issues caused from living in such toxic environments. This is a form of environmental racism, where large corporations buy cheap land and buildings in low income neighborhoods and don’t care about the consequences that their actions have on the local communities. And far often than not, the people of these neighborhoods don’t have the knowledge, power or resources to fight these injustices. This is an immense issue that needs to be talked about far more. This is an excellent video that explores this very problem: https://www.facebook.com/NowThisDaily/videos/615183102278574/UzpfSTE2MDIzNjAwNTU6MTAyMTI5MTY4NTQwNjg0MTc/

• VOTE! RALLY! SUPPORT! Make your voice heard by supporting organizations, politicians, corporations and advocacy groups that promote a sustainable future. Also, if you are financially able to do so, consider donating to charities that support conservation and sustainability such as Surfrider Foundation (surfrider.org) and the Nature Conservancy so they can continue fighting the good fight. 
• Educate and inspire others. By sharing what I’ve learned with those around me, I am creating a larger impact and when others see me making these changes and picking up litter, they too may start taking action as well. That is the ripple effect and it’s how we are going to change the world.

Helpful Links to start your green journey

Stashlogix – 15% off with promo code ‘HighFive’ – https://www.stashlogix.com

Dipper – 15% off with promo code ‘SSDP15’ – https://dipdevices.com/store/

Sana Packaging  – https://www.sanapackaging.com

How to properly recycle in Colorado: https://www.cpr.org/news/story/your-colorado-recycling-questions-answered-from-greasy-pizza-boxes-to-coffee-cups?fbclid=IwAR2_d1ot-YhouLa_Oydy2RxTKLyN83W_l-dinxV7HLHzxXXVsaVcAqbKpKQ

Eco- home and beauty tips

https://zerowastehome.com/

https://wastelandrebel.com/en/?fbclid=IwAR0fOh3gjBCgTt535fBDX7qxpD7_t84Q0bEC6rCfBELc75Y8ZHqIUrBcRTM

https://ecowarriorprincess.net/2016/12/new-years-resolution-adopting-a-green-beauty-routine/#disqus_thread

17 things you can do to save the environment at home: https://culturacolectiva.com/lifestyle/things-you-can-do-to-save-the-environment-at-home?fbclid=IwAR3wTEnOZ4RN9Zp-tWutZIXnCW08hk1qCKnQD9v2dSgE1eIwH6bRhC2ltH8

Bulk stores

Simply Bulk in Longmont- http://simplybulkmarket.com

ZERO Market at Stanley Marketplace in Denver –  https://www.thezeromarket.com/

I Am the Change I Wish to See in the World

Well today I woke up just inspired to make the world a better place. More inspired than usual that is.

 I started my day with a quick meditation basking in the morning sunlight with Lucky Duck, crystals in hand. After feeding the demanding cat breakfast, Lucky and I headed out on our morning walk, but this time, I brought my brand new gardening aka trash gloves and a garbage bag. I picked up little and big things along the way ranging from plastic bottles and beer cans, to packing peanuts and bits of styrofoam, as well as a neatly placed Kool-Whip canister in a dry river bed. I even found a piece of trash big enough to put all of my other trash in! For a 10 minute walk, Id say it was a (depressingly) decent haul. But I’d walked past this particular pile of litter for weeks and each time it bothered me, so I decided to do something about it. And wow does it look so much better! Even if they are small actions, I am still making a difference in creating a cleaner, healthier planet, starting with my neighborhood. And I hope that others are inspired to do something similar! For example, pick up straws and deflated balloons anytime you see them as these are massive choking hazards to birds, turtles and other awesome creatures. I do say it helps getting a pair of designated trash gloves, keep a pair in your car, in your hiking back pack, or in your coat pocket. It’s a much safer and more sanitary way to clean up Mother Nature. (Thanks to generous donations to the H.O.P.E fundraiser on GoFundMe, I was able to buy these as well as items for the CARE bags!)

 Feeling invigorated by my morning walk and after a breakfast of champions, I set out to do more good! I recruited a friend and we meandered the Boulder Creek path being silly and picking up more trash while admiring the impressive street art (what up SMiLE!). After a quick down and back and one bag full later, we headed to the park and handed out the 6 Care Bags I had made up. Hit up the bead shop and then loitered at Alpine Modern Cafe til closing time so I could snatch their leftover pastries. They’re croissants are on point. But I take the treats up to the local homeless shelter, or hand them out the next day to folks I see around town who I think might appreciate a delicious pastry.

Then! I attended a panel discussion on Environmental Racism at CU. Damn that campus is complicated, all the buildings (and students) looking alike, its bloody confusing! But I made it and was really glad that I did. There were 3 women who were there to discuss various environmental  issues facing minority communities in Colorado, in particular fracking in Weld County, food deserts and unjust farming practices and the housing crisis affecting Latino communities in Denver. After hearing these women talk and being presented with the facts, its mind boggling more people aren’t up in arms about these issues! We’re not only screwing up our planet with fracking and other destructive behavior , but the most vulnerable communities are the first ones to pay the price. Whether its being out right denied land ownership, or suffering from chronic health issues due to living in contaminated neighborhoods, or “superfund” sites to immigrants and undocumented workers being taken advantage of as cheap labor to feed the wealthy, environmental racism is deeply rooted in our past and present. But it doesn’t have to be in the future. These 3 women are literally risking their lives and their livelihoods to create change and to stand up and say, “HEY! THIS IS NOT OK!” They are suing the government and various politicians, they’re making trouble for multi-billion dollar oil and gas companies, they’re even pissing off the school board. But each of these women, is fighting not just because it’s personal, but because it’s the right thing to do for the planet and for humanity. It was a really eye-opening discussion and I look forward to processing and using what I learned in my future conservation and environmental projects.

I don’t talk about my proactive and positive actions to toot my own horn, I do so because I hope that it will encourage, motivate and inspire other to act as well. I believe that each of us can cast a stone that has incredibly positive ripple effects farther than the eye can see. We never know how our actions may impact others, but if you act from a selfless heart and we all work together towards the mutually beneficial goal of making the world a happier, kinder and greener home, I sincerely believe we can create positive change.

Gandhi once said “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.”

I wished the world was kinder, so I showed kindness to others.

I wished the world was cleaner and greener, so I picked up trash and planted a tree.

I wished there wasn’t war in the world, so I made peace with myself.

And I did all of this after eating a shroom brownie for lunch. Boom.

How Green is Costa Rica? Cannabis and conservation in the land of ‘Pura Vida’

My goodness I have learned a lot on this trip.  It has been amazing to learn how Costa Rica is becoming a pioneer in using renewable and clean energy to power their country. Using primarily hydroelectricity and wind power they have been able to  power their electricity for 300 days this year on renewable energy alone.  By 2020 they aim to be the first carbon-neutral country in the world. In addition to investing in and using renewable energy there are also programs that encourage Farmers to plant trees instead of cut them down and these farmers are than compensated for growing trees .  This not only offsets the carbon footprint but also creates ecosystems and habitats for Native wildlife . However when it comes to human Wildlife Conflict, for example Jaguars and pumas eating cattle, the government does not have a Compensation Program in place and this causes  problems  for people in rural areas who depend on their livestock to earn a living .  This was a problem I also studied in Kenya and Tanzania where rural farmers and herders are not being compensated for  livestock and crops lost to wildlife and therefore retaliatory killings of predators is a common and unfortunate outcome. For this reason better compensation programs need to be put in place to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Speaking of human-wildlife conflict, in speaking with one of the locals in Monteverde it was explained to me that there is a small group of eco-conscious individuals who are trying to do away with the annual Christmas festival fireworks, because they argue that it is traumatic for the animals and they flee the surrounding forests taking weeks to return. She admitted that the festival brings the town together and brings much joy to the children, and while the parade is noisy with all of the drums, it’s really just the fireworks display that they would like to see desist in the future. And she makes a good point, many of the animals in the area ate nocturnal and very sensitive to sound and I’ll get those firework booms scare the shit out of them, but again the local wildlife isn’t often taken into consideration when planning the annual fiesta de navidad.

I noticed that recycling is encouraged and made easy with recycling facilities located throughout towns. And while I did see (but not use) some straws, I also noticed that some, not all, were indeed compostable and biodegradable. Also.  Biodegradable is toilet paper! For this reason, and because it clogs their sensitive sewage systems, toilet paper is not throw in the toilet, but instead in the trash. Which I admit is a really hard habit for folks from the USA to break, but when you think about it it’s a lot easier to process waste when there’s not a bunch of soggy toilet paper in there. I also did still see litter along the side of the road and on the sidewalks but was pleased to see that the wildlife Reserves, parks and hiking trails were mostly free of litter but I did still pick up whatever I saw. And one thing that I noticed is that everywhere in the world people throw their beer cans along the side of the road. Grrr.

Coke bottles and beer cans

As for cannabis, on my first Uber ride from the airport I asked the driver what the deal with weed was in Costa Rica and he explained that while it is illegal, there is a sort of accepted tolerance for it amongst authorities and there is certainly a market, albeit a black market for it. According to several people I asked,  police won’t arrest you for it they’ll just tell you to put it out. Howe ver its important to keep in mind that how police treat Ticans (locals) is probably different than how they treat tourists, so on the popular coastal town, its best to use caution when procurring pot. I was told the weed would be shit down there and I saw 2 different stashes, and while one was about what you’d expect from non-legal weed, (brownish, with seeds) the other nugs looked like they came straight from a Colorado dispensary, I was impressed! And let me tell you, both got me high. I do so love being a weed tourist wherever I go.

Sloth IronWoman Challenge and Toucan Rescue Ranch

It all started with an email. An email from Toucan Rescue Ranch announcing the 4th annual Sloth Ironman Games. My initial reaction was, “How cool! They are hosting an Ironman Games at the Ranch! I’d consider doing that.” Then upon reading further, I realized, no, its an Ironman Games FOR the sloths. Well thats even more epic. Apparently its a fundraising campaign they do to celebrate International Sloth Day on October 20th and it’s a week of 4 different sloths ‘competing’ against each other in 4 sloth inspired games, including the 1 meter dash, hibiscus eating contest and the adorable poop off. (I highly encourage you to check out these videos by following Toucan Rescue Ranch on Facebook and Instagram, you won’t regret it.) Anyway, I was certainly amused by that and absolutely looking forward to it, however I couldn’t stop thinking about the idea of doing my own Sloth IronWoman challenge as a way to raise money and awareness for sloths. At this point I’d already booked the trip and the marathon in Costa Rica, so I had the hardest activity planned. Or so I thought. After thinking long and hard about what events I wanted to tackle, I settled on climbing, running and….zip lining.                        Fuck ya. So in October with my best friend Tessa and my dog Lucky Duck, I climbed the Iron Nipple, a 13,000 ft mountain in southern Colorado. That was no easy climb let me tell you. The snow was deep and the rocks were..well, rocky. But it was an absolute adventure and I’d do it again for the sloths! A month and a half later, I find myself running 40 kilometers through the Cloud Forests of Monteverde, climbing never ending hills, slipping and sliding down a vertical muddy..I’m not even going to call that a trail..jogging through the jungle and small Tican towns, sloshing through rivers, again..for the sloths. Because sloths can’t run for themselves! 7 hours and 22 minutes later, I could officially say the second challenge of the Sloth IronWoman Games was accomplished. (This run was also the final race of my 7 month International High Five Challenge, but that’s a whole other blog.) So the climbing was done, the running was done, now came the fun part…zip-lining through the canopy where I could get a sloths eye view of the cloud forest and boy was it exhilarating. Opting to go for the SuperWoman zip line at the end, I hurtled face first into the clouds and once i got over the fear of crashing head first into a tree, i allowed myself to look down and soar over the trees as the wind and the mist kissed my face. As cliche as it sounds, all i could do was sing, “I believe I can flyyyyyyyyy”. Like, how can you not when your literally flying through the air. And of course I didn’t slam into a tree, instead a very skilled and flirtatious guide gracefully brought me in safely and got me out of my squirrel suite harness. Nobody said zip-lining was sexy.

With the zip line course done, I could officially say that I had completed the Sloth IronWoman challenge. Now all that was left to do was go see these sloths that I was running, climbing and zipping for. Obviously because I was visiting Costa Rica, I HAD to book a tour at Toucan Rescue Ranch, which is convienlty located a cheap Uber ride just northeast of San Jose. On the final day of my trip, I got to see a puddle of sloths, a peeing sloth, a basket of 5 week old baby sloths, a sloth eating a green bean, sloth high school, sloth preschool, a sloth thats afraid of the rain and a solitary three-toed sloth. Ya, it’s as magical as it sounds. I also got to see toucans, a tayra, Mexican Hairy porcupines, a kinkajou, a miniature version of a honey badger (they also didn’t give a fuck) and an otter that likes to play with tourists and butterflies. There were also birds of prey, Amazon green parrots and macaws and spider monkeys oh my! As a wildlife sanctuary and rehabilitation center, Toucan Rescue Ranch’s primairy goals are to release animals back into the wild and to educate children, park rangers, tourists and even the police force about the importance of conservation and keeping animals IN THE WILD. While they have some permanent residents who cannot be relesed due to injury or affinity for humans (such as previous pets and hand raised orphans), many of their animals get the proper care they need to recover and can be returned to the forest at the TRR Release Site. They also have a breeding program for Keel Billed Toucans and several owl species and have successfully released several generations back into the wild.  It’s truly amazing and important work that they do and I am immensely grateful to everyone who donated to TRR and supported me on this challenge.

A basket of baby sloths

Sloths doing cute sloth things

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leading up to my trip to Costa Rica,    I upped my fundraising promotion by creating a Running for the Sloths page on Facebook where people could donate directly to Toucan Rescue Ranch. With a goal of $300, I was thrilled to see that goal surpassed thanks to donations from friends, family, strangers and anonymous donors alike. I figure if I’m going to do these crazy adventures, I may as well do them for a cause, for a reason. Because it’s not like I run for fun. So by tying it in with a charity, I can be doing these things with purpose, and the great memories and experiences are certainly an added perk 😉 But also, this is a way to get people involved in creating a better world. A world with more sloths! A world where people give more to charities than they do to Starbucks and Netflix, where $5 here to save the trees, $10 there for clean water access, $50 for humanitarian efforts across the globe, where people openly give as they are able. And people can show their support and their commitment without running 40 kilometers through the jungle. Im just saying, thats how committed I am to healing the planet, but folks can do it from home by simply donating to any of the various charitable organizations that I have ran for since June including Polar Bears International, Surfrider Organization, Lakota Way Healing Center, Humane Society, Elephant Crisis Fund and Toucan Rescue Ranch or any cause that is near and dear to your heart. I enjoy challenging myself, I enjoy adventures, and I enjoy exploring and healing our planet. I am excited to see where 2019 will take me and what else will inspire me! As always, thank you for following along on this journey. Stay happy, stay healthy, stay high!

And finally, a peeing baby sloth.

The Adventure Begins

So, why you ask am I running 26.1 miles through the Costa Rican jungle this weekend? For fun? No, not really. Because sloths can’t run for themselves that’s why. Because someone needs to say “hey! Pay attention! Sloths need saving and I’m willing to do what it takes to save them!” My goal is that by committing to these crazy athletic adventures, people will take notice of what I’m doing and the causes I’m doing it for, like raising awareness about the plight of sloths and polar bears by doing marathons and half marathons respectively. If you would like to support what I am doing without getting out of your chair, you can donate to any of the various organizations that I run and adventure for. This month, my focus is raising money for Toucan Rescue Ranch and The Sloth Institute as well as educating people about the importance of rainforest protection. And sloths. You can donate via Facebook on my Running for the sloths fundraiser page. I’m so close to reaching my goal and with your help, I just know we can achieve it. Do it for the sloths! And follow along on my rainforest journey and Stoner Safaris over on Instagram @highcoachlia. Lots of fun, mostly true facts about Costa Rican wildlife coming at ya. Off to the Cloud Forest tomorrow!! Cheers friends!

That time weed put me in the ER…

So mary-jane and I got into our first fight. For the first time in over 5 years, we had a disagreement, it got a little violent, I ended up in the ER, and I realized I needed to re-evaluate my relationship with her because obviously it was no longer healthy. Wait, what! A stoner confessing that weed made her sick! No one wants to hear or admit that, especially when you love cannabis as much as I do and especially when you see how amazing of a medicine it is. But just like anything, too much of a good thing can be harmful, and I learned that the hard (and expensive) way. Let’s back up to the beginning shall we?

Long story short, I have been doing a lot of energy work and self reflection since turning 30 this past summer and some of the side effects of that can be physical. For example, after running a half marathon and taking a sacred hike in the Black Hills at the end of August, my body (violently) let me know that I could not longer eat red meat, like steak, after a lovely birthday dinner with friends. Not entirely by choice, I have been mindful to not consume large amounts of meat since then. Another example is, my body no longer tolerating the same amount of cannabis that I had been previously consuming. 3 weeks after being in the ER with the steak incident as I call it, I was once again wearing a hospital gown reporting similar symptoms, frequent vomiting, stomach pains and nausea, lethargy and relief when taking very, very hot showers or baths (for me, CBD baths of course). Well all of those, especially that last one, are symptoms of something doctors are calling cannabis hyperemesis, aka, ‘weed sickness’.  Trust me, when the doctor said that, if looks could kill, he would have needed CPR. No stoner wants to hear that their ganja, their medicine is what’s making them sick. And you definitely don’t want to be told you have to lay off it for a month when your in pain and nauseous in the hospital. Yet this was the second time in a month that I ended up in the ER, in need of fluids, so maybe it was worth doing a little more research. I concluded that the doctor is not wrong. (He doesn’t know why he’s right, but that’s because they don’t teach the endocannabinoid system in medical school. anyway)

Basic anatomy lesson, all humans a other mammals have an endocannabinoid system, one giant puzzle inside of us. It’s found in our brain and throughout our body in what are called CB1 and CB2 receptors (among other things). It regulates everything from temperature to mood to appetite to memory function. Its ultimate goal is to bring the body to homeostasis, which means balance. You can remember that because there’s OM in it. (I just realized that myself). So we have this system, this puzzle, and we produce puzzle pieces to keep it running smoothly, we call these endocannabinoids (endo-body, cannabinoid). When we do not create enough of these puzzle pieces to complete the puzzle, our bodies and minds struggle, with diseases like epilepsy, alzheimer’s, and mood disorders to name a few. In these cases, introducing external cannabinoids, those found in plants, primarily in the cannabis plant, can serve as replacement pieces to complete the puzzle. That is why epilepsy, cancer and senior patients respond so well to cannabis oil treatment. By consuming cannabinoids they are rebalancing their body and mind. Cannabis is pretty much like meditation in plant form. Anyway, cannabis works great when there are missing puzzle pieces. But what about when the puzzle is complete, all the pieces are in their place, everything is running smoothly, but you just keep trying to add more puzzle pieces. You’re going to mess up the puzzle dude. And that exactly what I did. I was consuming more than my system needed or could process and it ended up making me sick. Like, really sick. And in hindsight, I had been sipping on the vape pens and taking mad dabs for a while leading up to it. So I admit, I was abusing my relationship with Mary-Jane, and therefore I needed to re-evaluate my consumption habits. So, mostly due to being really sick, I didn’t smoke for 3 days, and then I had a little edible, and then i had a little bedtime bowl and that seems to be working nicely. I even had a small post workout dab, and that was fine too. I feel it’s healthy to take a look at habits now and then to make sure that they are still serving their proper purpose, and if they’re not, adjust them accordingly. Again, it doesn’t mean I have to quit weed forever, heck I didn’t even quit for a week (she’s literally my longest relationship) but lowering my tolerance and consuming less is allowing me to re-develop an appreciation for my medicine.

So if you ever find yourself with persistent, violent vomiting followed by hot showers, and you’re convinced it’s food poisoning or a blocked intestine, or a sensitivity to cheese.. I recommend you hydrate, take electrolytes, go to the ER if you must (usually a good indicator that it’s time to go to the ER is when you repeatedly ask yourself if you should go to the ER. but get ready for the bill. stupid hospital bills) and lay off the weed for a couple of days. When you start back up, start low and go slow. It’s amazing what even a short break can do for your tolerance. My single evening bowl gets me high as a kite and its lovely. The takeaway from this is 1. Our endocannabinoid system is really important and we have to properly take care of it, just like the rest of our body 2.It is possible for weed to make you sick 3. Don’t panic, hydrate, stop dabbing and try higher CBD strains instead. Remember, our goal is to stay happy, high AND healthy. That’s what I call hOMeostasis.

Let’s Talk Plant Medicine. Part 1

Nature will always be our best medicine, whether that be physically getting out in nature to detox and destress amongst the trees, as the Japanese do with their forest bathing, or using the unique components that make up so many incredible plants and animals to create cures for countless ailments. But not everything has to be smoked or put into a pill in order for us to consume and receive the benefits of mother nature. Currently, the topic of ‘plant medicine’ is trending, so I want to take a moment or two to go over exactly what that means and detail 5 of the more common herbal remedies that are popping up in wellness aisles everywhere, as well in your local dispensary in 1906 New High Chocolates!

Ashwagandha –  What is it? It’s a berry producing plant in the nightshade family found in India and China as well as Nepal and Yemen too!

Whats its good for? It’s an “adaptogen,” for starters, meaning that it can help your body manage stress, so that’s good. Its been shown to lower blood sugar levels, reduce cortisol, boost brain function and help fight symptoms of anxiety and depression and memory loss. Ashwagandha also helps induce apoptosis, which is the programmed death of cancer cells and tumors aka it kills cancer.

How do I take it? Capsules found at your local Lucky’s Market or in 1906 High Love chocolates, an arousing blend of dark chocolate, cannabis and stimulating herbs. Oh la la!

Fun fact! “Ashwagandha” is Sanskrit for “smell of the horse”.

Cannabis – What is it? Colorado’s state plant and everyone’s favorite medicine.

What is it good for? THC, CBD and the number of other cannabinoids found in cannabis have a plethora of benefits for body and mind including stress and anxiety reducing, pain relief, anti-fungal, promotes bone growth and brain health, makes everything better, also a known cure for cancer, anti-epileptic, I think you get the gist. Our body has an endocannabinoid system and when the body does not create enough endocannabinoids, they need to be supplemented by cannabinoids, found in, you guessed it, cannabis! Which is why cannabis has proved to be such an effective treatment for a variety of ailments. So again, if cannabis legalization is on the ballot in your state, please vote yes! Make it medical, make it rec, make it accessible, make it legal!

How do I take it? Literally, however you want. Smoke it, dab it, vape it, eat it, put it in your…wherever. Lotions and tinctures are ideal for folks conscious of getting too high or smoking. Take a trip to Colorado and check out a dispensary and you will see all the ways in which you can consume cannabis. Also found in a 1:1 ratio of THC:CBD in all 1906 Chocolates.

Fun fact ! Only female cannabis plants produce those big beautiful buds that we love to smoke, the the whole plant has cannabinoids and can therefore be used as medicine from leaf, to bud to stems.

Corydalis – What is it?  It is a pretty flowering plant and the root is used for medicine.

What is it good for? Known in traditional Chinese medicine to be good for fibromyalgia and pain relief, it is almost as good of a pain reliever as opium, without any of the negative and addictive side effects. Particularly good for chest, abdominal and menstrual pain. Cool!

How do I take it?  Teas, capsules, supplement section at Lucky’s Market and often times as part of an herbal concoction including a variety of other plant medicines. Also found in 1906 Midnight chocolates for a less earthy way to consume. Sweet dreams!

Serious Fact!  NEVER take during pregnancy as it is a blood vitalizer and can be fatal to the baby.

Fun Fact!  I don’t know how to say this word…

Magnolia Bark – What is it?  Bark from a kind of tree in China.

What is it good for?  A number of things including anxiety, stress and depression, headaches and inflammation, menopause, protects against cancers, helps sleep…sounds like a good plant to me.

How do i take it?  Any number of ways that are available in the supplement aisle of your local health food store, and also in 1906 Calm chocolates. Don’t you feel better already?

Fun Fact! When magnolia bark extract and ginger extract were combined and given to mice, it had antidepressant effects on the mice. Then again, i’m not sure how you test that the mice are depressed in the first place. Maybe Mouse #42 was just having an off day.

Theobromine – What is it?  Chemical compound found in the cacao plant.

What is it good for?  It’s a vasodilator, so good to get the blood pumping and noted to get blood flowing to chilled hands and feet as well as the brain and inflamed joints.

How do I take it? Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate. But don’t over-do it on the 1906 GO Beans, because in addition to cannabis and theobromine, there is also a good amount of caffeine in them too. Go baby go!

Fun fact – Very similar to caffeine, albeit one is a vasodilator and the other a vasoconstrictor, they go hand in hand like PB&J and work best together. 

 

As with any new food or supplement, always do your research and consult your friendly family fish-ician before making any serious changes to your diet and wellness regimen. Whatever sense you are craving, taste it with 1906 New Highs.

 

References

https://www.nootropedia.com/theobromine/

https://shenclinic.com/pages/the-whole-truth-about-corydalis-with-respect-to-dr-oz

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/corydalis-an-herbal-medicine-for-pain-with-some-thoughts-on-drug-development/

https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-magnolia-bark-89477

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-proven-ashwagandha-benefits

All cannabis knowledge came directly from my brain.

Living Flow

I am excited to share the latest project I have had the opportunity to work on, Living Flow. A large part of my wellness journey the past couple years, in addition to cannabis, has been meditation. I have found it an extremely useful tool in not only mitigating stress and anxiety but also raising my appreciation and overall quality of life. Just like with fitness, I found it easier to practice when I committed to a group, especially a group with positive energy. After 2 years of meditating regularly with this particular instructor, he finally decided to make his mediations accessible to more people by putting them online. By creating Living Flow, anyone can access unique goal focused series or soothing guided meditations. I have found these techniques very helpful, I utilize them regularly at my You Canna Be Well workshops and I want to share them with you. Free courses are available at livingflow.com and daily inspiration and ponderings can be found @livingflowapp on Facebook and @livingflow on Instagram too.