Man who lost arm in Utah to lobby for land protection

[Iceaxe]

Man who lost arm in Utah to lobby for land protection

WASHINGTON - Utah public lands have not been kind to Aron Ralston. Four years ago, the Aspen, Colo., man cut off his arm to save his life when an 800-pound boulder pinned him for five days to a canyon wall in southern Utah.

But he hasn't held a grudge, coming to Washington, D.C., this week to advocate a bill that would protect the same Utah wilderness where he nearly bled to death.

For Ralston, 31, it's all part of a calling, even though Utah's own congressional delegation is opposed to the legislation. The measure would designate more than 9 million acres of the state's public land as official wilderness closed to oil and gas drilling and off-road vehicle use.

"This is a chance for me to give back to an area that has given so much to me," said Ralston, holding up his artificial metal arm for emphasis. "I look at what happened to me as the greatest blessing in a way. It was a miracle."

It might also be a miracle for Ralston and other environmental activists to win widespread support for the bill, which has been introduced in every Congress since 1988 without achieving passage.

Scott Parker, chief of staff for Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, said it doesn't set well with the Utah delegation that the bill was sponsored by a New Yorker, Rep. Maurice Hinchey, and that more than 3 million acres of the potential wilderness areas were inventoried by environmental groups rather than the federal government.

"A Utah wilderness bill should, at the very least, come from a member of Congress from Utah, be based on a legitimate inventory of public lands, and recognize legal and codified criteria for what constitutes wilderness," said Parker.

"This bill from New York meets none of those conditions."

Fred Piccolo, communications director for Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, agreed, saying his state has been targeted by "Eastern environmentalists" who don't care that the bill would obliterate many Utah jobs.

Supporters of the act counter that the legislation is the only way to stop a surge in oil and gas drilling that has led to 125,000 acres being leased near national parks in southern Utah.

[Sombeech]

A Utah wilderness bill should, at the very least, come from a member of Congress from Utah

Exactly. I'm starting to wonder if an East Coaster is paying Ralston to push their cause.
"He's got one arm? OK, we'll do it"

[jumar]

"Twist my arm...nevermind"

[Sombeech]

Innocent question here:

Would this restrict motorized access on the way to Blue John Canyon?

[Iceaxe]

I have looked but not been able to find out exactly what Ralston is wanting to protect. I'm guessing everything currently designated as WSA they want changed to wilderness for a starter. That seems to be the starting point for most these groups.

:cool2:

[denaliguide]

don't you think we should all give him a hand? :roflol:

[Iceaxe]

That would be handy :haha:

[price1869]

These are the same guys that are trying to take away our right to bear arms.

[Iceaxe]

Don't ya mean right to bear "arm". :haha:

[Jaxx]

Don't ya mean right to bear "arm". :haha:
The jokes seem to be never ending :roflol:

He is probably getting alot of money for being their "spokesman". I personally dont think that turning land into things like wilderness study or National Parks especially, are good for "protecting the land". We replace mining jobs for park ranger jobs and then build visitor centers, paved roads, campsites, etc. National Parks in my humble opinion have the opposite effect than they claim they strive for. They advertise and cram as many visitors they can in each year. I have alot more to say but I dont want to hijack the thread.

[Sombeech]

don't you think we should all give him a hand? :roflol:
That would be handy :haha:
These are the same guys that are trying to take away our right to bear arms.
Don't ya mean right to bear "arm". :haha:
OK guys, time to cut it off. I mean out.

[Iceaxe]

OK guys, time to cut it off. I mean out.

Go back over to the mtn biking section or I'll rip your arm off and beat you over the head with it. :lol8:

[R]

National Parks in my humble opinion have the opposite effect than they claim they strive for. They advertise and cram as many visitors they can in each year. I have alot more to say but I dont want to hijack the thread.

...except that you don't come around a corner in a canyon in a national park to find a creaking, black, leaky pumper jack cranking up and down, surrounded by huge metal tanks in the middle of a gravel parking area. We experienced exactly that at Angel Peak in New Mexico four years ago. Had it been a park, monument, or even wilderness study area, drilling and oil production would not have been allowed.

Before anyone flames me for being an energy hypocrite, note that I am a strong supporter of alternative energy policies, especially ones based on agriculturally-produced fuels like ethanol, methanol, propanol and butanol. Our economic future depends on it, as does our global security.

:soapbox:

[Iceaxe]

I understand part of what Jaxx was saying.... the Grand Staircase NM was a remote, quite and seldom visted area. Then they made it into a NM and everyone and their dog shows up and permits become a way of life. I liked it much better before it became a NM.

:cool2:

[price1869]

...except that you don't come around a corner in a canyon in a national park to find a creaking, black, leaky pumper jack cranking up and down, surrounded by huge metal tanks in the middle of a gravel parking area. We experienced exactly that at Angel Peak in New Mexico four years ago. Had it been a park, monument, or even wilderness study area, drilling and oil production would not have been allowed.


How often does this happen? Ever?

Has anyone come accross any mining trucks or lunar rovers out in the robbers roost?

Does anyone mind when they come accross mining stuff in the Swell? I think it's kind of cool.

No one is going to take away our playgrounds looking for oil. They'll be taken away by extremists with an agenda and without an arm.

[R]

No one is going to take away our playgrounds looking for oil. They'll be taken away by extremists with an agenda and without an arm.

20 years ago I might have agreed with you. Presently, though, with Americans buying SUVs the size of busses and the price of oil climbing higher for the foreseeable future, I feel that the thirst for oil is a threat to southern Utah's wilderness.

I found this at wikipedia.com...

Consumption is currently around 84 million barrels per day, or 31 billion barrels per year. Because of pumping difficulties, usable oil reserves are only about 1/3 of total reserves. At current consumption levels, world oil supply would be gone in about 32 years, around 2039. However, this ignores any additions to known reserves, changes in demand, better pumping technology, population growth, industrialization of third world countries, etc. As the supply of petroleum becomes more scarce, consumers and governments may look to energy development such as solar power, wind power, butanol, ethanol, photovoltaic, nuclear power, hydrogen, or oil from oil shale, and tar sands.

[jb]

I am a strong supporter of alternative energy policies, especially ones based on agriculturally-produced fuels like ethanol, methanol, propanol and butanol. Our economic future depends on it, as does our global security.

Not so familiar with the last three alcohols, but ethanol is far from a sure bet. I have read about a few places, notably Brazil, where the climate allows enough biomass to be grown to make ethanol energetically advantageous. But the U.S.? Big growers love the idea of ethanol because it guarantees a market for all their subsidized corn. But after they dump on enough pesticide (which requires energy to make) and fertilizer (which requires terrific amounts of energy to make) to grow enough biomass, burning ethanol in your gas tank often requires more total energy than simply burning gasoline in the first place! No, a more important energy goal than ethanol is the phaseout and replacement of the internal combustion engine.

Jeff

[gonzo]

But the U.S.? Big growers love the idea of ethanol because it guarantees a market for all their subsidized corn. But after they dump on enough pesticide (which requires energy to make) and fertilizer (which requires terrific amounts of energy to make) to grow enough biomass, burning ethanol in your gas tank often requires more total energy than simply burning gasoline in the first place!

Ding! We have a winner. This is exactly the problem with ethanol and other agriculture-based fuel sources.

I don't claim to know the answer to our energy consumption problem, but I know that ethanol isn't it.

I wonder if this should be moved to the Political forum.

[Iceaxe]

Has anyone come accross any mining trucks or lunar rovers out in the robbers roost?

Yes, but it was a Mars Rover :haha:

There is a Mars research station out near Factory Butte.

More info about it here:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/06/0626_020626_mars.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/05/images/020626_mars.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/fcrossman/aug02trip/Images/1.jpg

[Sombeech]

Go back over to the mtn biking section or I'll rip your arm off and beat you over the head with it. :lol8:

Hey, I'm Hooked.

[scoutabout]

No one is going to take away our playgrounds looking for oil. They'll be taken away by extremists with an agenda and without an arm.

20 years ago I might have agreed with you. Presently, though, with Americans buying SUVs the size of busses and the price of oil climbing higher for the foreseeable future, I feel that the thirst for oil is a threat to southern Utah's wilderness.

I found this at wikipedia.com...

Consumption is currently around 84 million barrels per day, or 31 billion barrels per year. Because of pumping difficulties, usable oil reserves are only about 1/3 of total reserves. At current consumption levels, world oil supply would be gone in about 32 years, around 2039. However, this ignores any additions to known reserves, changes in demand, better pumping technology, population growth, industrialization of third world countries, etc. As the supply of petroleum becomes more scarce, consumers and governments may look to energy development such as solar power, wind power, butanol, ethanol, photovoltaic, nuclear power, hydrogen, or oil from oil shale, and tar sands.

The world uses 85-90 million barrels a day. The US uses about 21-23.

[Jaxx]

...except that you don't come around a corner in a canyon in a national park to find a creaking, black, leaky pumper jack cranking up and down, surrounded by huge metal tanks in the middle of a gravel parking area. We experienced exactly that at Angel Peak in New Mexico four years ago. Had it been a park, monument, or even wilderness study area, drilling and oil production would not have been allowed.

Instead you walk up your paved walking trail and come around the corner and there are 500 tourists all grouped together like a heard of cattle. NP system needs some tweeking in my opinion, they are counter-productive. When we went to Arches, they only have 50 camping sites!!! Why dont the put another campground, even a primitive one, off to the west of the road when you get out the the fiery furnace area, there is nothing out there. I like seeing the oil pumping stuff and how it works. but I am kindof wierd like that. especially if it is old like the stuff at the Swell, that stuff doesn't bother me, quite the opposite. I would rather see a oil pumping thing that a bunch of retarded tourists carrying pizza boxes on the Zions trails haha. Who remembers that pic, I'll try to find the thread.

[Iceaxe]

I would rather see a oil pumping thing that a bunch of retarded tourists carrying pizza boxes on the Zions trails

He has a good point :2thumbs:

I'll trade the graffiti carving, trash dropping, motorhome driving, generator running tourist for a nice oil well any day. And the tax dollars from the oil well are probably better. :nod:

.

[Jaxx]

here is the pizza box lady that accadacca saw at Zions. Look at the crowds in the pictures, yuck!

http://uutah.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=483 - Thread

http://uutah.com/forum/files/p6180042.jpg

[R]

here is the pizza box lady that accadacca saw at Zions. Look at the crowds in the pictures, yuck!

http://uutah.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=483 - Thread

http://uutah.com/forum/files/p6180042.jpg

Aaaaaahhhh! My eyes! It burns! :dizzy:

[utidcapaco]

That would be hilarious if it weren't so disgusting (the crowds). Boy, do I hate Tourons. See http://www.wordspy.com/words/touron.asp

[Iceaxe]

The steel post and chain fence gaurding the paved trail looks so natural :haha:

[jumar]

here is the pizza box lady that accadacca saw at Zions. Look at the crowds in the pictures, yuck!

http://uutah.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=483 - Thread



:roflol: :roflol: That cracks me up, in a disgusted sort of way

[Iceaxe]

Look... she's wearing a table cloth. :lol8:

:popcorn:

[utidcapaco]

Just the kind of tablecloth you'd expect to see in a pizza parlor. . .
:roflol:

[gonzo]

The steel post and chain fence gaurding the paved trail looks so natural

If that chain fence weren't there people might get confused about which parts of nature they're supposed to enjoy. We can't have people going off and enjoying themselves all willy-nilly.

[price1869]

I found this at wikipedia.com...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_State_University#Notable_alumni

International supermode? Thanks for your reliable source.

[Sombeech]

I found this at wikipedia.com...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_State_University#Notable_alumni

International supermode? Thanks for your reliable source.

:2thumbs: Ahh, the ever changing wikipedia. :lol8:

[Iceaxe]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_State_University#Notable_alumni

International supermode? Thanks for your reliable source.

It's on the Web, it has to be true. :lol8:
.