Back when I was in Miss Mannarino's sixth grade class at Whittier Elementary in San Diego in 1975-76, we studied the metric system. Change was coming, the U.S. was going metric by 1980! So we were told. The following year in seventh grade, through all of junior and senior high, and college thereafter, nothing more was mentioned about this. What happened? Take a look at this world map. What is it showing? Those countries in red, including the U.S., are the only ones not officially requiring the use of the metric system in all aspects of living, transportation, weights/measures, weather forecasts, etc...http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/laws/usmb.html The preceding link gives the history of the aborted U.S. drive to go metric. The Reagan administration cancelled the funding for the U.S. Metric Board in 1982, citing budgetary reasons. So ended the U.S. drive toward metrication. What was the real reason? American exceptionalism, complaints from industry (especially auto-makers)? Probably a mix of both. And in spite of the findings and recommendations of the U.S. Metric Board, which were:
Findings
The present policy of maintaining a dual system of measures for trade and commerce is confusing to all segments of American society.
The present policy of maintaining a dual system of measures for trade and commerce is confusing to all segments of American society.
Voluntary metric conversion by industry occurs primarily in response to marketplace demands and usually on a company-by-company basis.
The costs of metric conversion have not been excessive.
Large segments of industry have metric capability.
Past perceptions of the difficulty of metric conversion have no basis.
There are no substantial legal barriers to metric conversion requiring Federal preemptive action.
There are no substantial technical problems with metric conversion.
Consumers accept conversion according to their own interests.
Recommendations
The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 should continue to be administered.
The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 should continue to be administered.
National policy on metric conversion should be reassessed.
Research should be conducted on economic sectors where metric capability may be critical.
The Federal Interagency Committee on Metric Policy and the National Council on State Metrication should be continued.
The functions outlined in the Board's Private Sector Planning Guidelines should be continued.
Government public awareness, consumer and education programs should be continued selectively.
The States should consider enacting uniform metric conversion legislation.
As we proudly and often state, all of the A.P.R. staff are "One-Worlders" (my favorite epithet hurled at me by a conservative person once!). That is, we view ourselves as part of the human race, who just happen to live in a certain country. And that if humanity is to survive as a race with some form of technological culture, all countries and groups must trust each other and work together to solve the looming and inter-related threats of global warming/environmental collapse and overpopulation/resource depletion. Which means working toward some form of effective World Government. As you often see in science fiction, stories/novels, and movies/television shows. I don't know about you, but I think it's inspiring to see a vision of the future like the Star Trek shows, where 300-500 years from now, humanity has evolved to the point where there is effective World Government, and the related pestilences of poverty and war have been eliminated.
M.K. Ghandi famously stated, "You must be the change you wish to see". Since we here at A.P.R. wish to see an end to the curse of American Exceptionalism, and for this country to join the global community as a force for positive change in tackling the serious threats facing us all, we offer the following METRIC MANIFESTO:
We pledge ourselves to only use the metric system henceforth in all our daily activities, writings, and relations with others. And to educate others as to why we are doing thi
s. Of course, there are some instances where this is not possible (in your lead author's other job, for example), but every effort will be made to go metric, and hence, through this small step, become more of a global citizen.
s. Of course, there are some instances where this is not possible (in your lead author's other job, for example), but every effort will be made to go metric, and hence, through this small step, become more of a global citizen. There are signs of gradual change, as this highway sign on I-15 in the Mojave Desert shows, yet the speed limit sign is still in MPH. Let's make the transition complete, and become more a part of the global community!
MT. PRINDLE - el Otro Mundo?
El Otro Mundo (spanish for "the other world") is my favorite way of referencing the place we all go every night in our dreams and when we finally let go our physical bodies in this life.
El Otro Mundo (spanish for "the other world") is my favorite way of referencing the place we all go every night in our dreams and when we finally let go our physical bodies in this life.
Looking out our windows of the Chena Ridge Research Station, you can see peak fall colour is upon us. This also means that within a few weeks it will be much colder, the ground will be frozen, and the first snowflakes flying. And, moderate conditions for a short pack trip won't last much longer. This past weekend the A.P.R. staff decided a short getaway was needed, and we decided to visit Mt. Prindle, which is listed as a 30 kilometre round trip hike to the top of it's 1612 metre summit. It is about 120 km east of Fairbanks, off the Steese Highway. A guidebook showed pictures of interesting rock formations (tors - granitic outcroppings) there and that it is not a very heavily visited place, because of two stream crossings on the first part of the trail. Perfect! 
We headed out last saturday afternoon and reached the trailhead at 4pm. Sure enough, not 20 metres from the parking spot, we had to cross Nome Creek, which was too deep and wide to hop across on rocks, so we just plunged through in our regular hiking boots and socks. Another smaller stream then had to be crossed another 100 metres or so up similarly. We did this because I knew this would be a swampy tundra hike, full of tussocks and underwater sections of trail. And since we were just going to hike 10 km this day and set up camp, no biggie. I brought extra socks for the next day, and my 7mm scuba dive neoprene booties to wear in camp for comfort/dry feet.
We headed out last saturday afternoon and reached the trailhead at 4pm. Sure enough, not 20 metres from the parking spot, we had to cross Nome Creek, which was too deep and wide to hop across on rocks, so we just plunged through in our regular hiking boots and socks. Another smaller stream then had to be crossed another 100 metres or so up similarly. We did this because I knew this would be a swampy tundra hike, full of tussocks and underwater sections of trail. And since we were just going to hike 10 km this day and set up camp, no biggie. I brought extra socks for the next day, and my 7mm scuba dive neoprene booties to wear in camp for comfort/dry feet.
It didn't take long to realize, there really aren't many people coming in here. Because berries like this wouldn't be seen on all sides of the trail otherwise. We had to stop and gorge a few times.
About 9 km and two hours up, we decided to stop and set up camp just below a bowl where the valley comes to an end. A nice stream close by would give me access for cooking and drinking water and for Mattie and Homer's needs. A few weeks ago I visited our local outdoor store, Beaver Sports, and checked out the clearance area. I saw a small one-person "Big-Agnes" Seedhouse SL-1 tent for sale for 100.00, normally 250.00. I snapped it up. This was my first opportunity to use it. It only weighs .9 kg (not much more than my bivvy sack!) and takes up a third the packed space of my larger tents. Here you can see it without the fly. During high summer, when bugs are in full swing, if not expecting rain, this will make a great bug escape zone.
With the fly on, it gives full protection from the elements. It is big enough for me and all my gear, or two people could squeeze in in a pinch, leaving their packs outside. Not bad for 100.00! It sure pays to check out that clearance rack!
Looking up the valley from our camp-site that evening in the gentle fall sun, I could make out the route we'd take tomorrow to get up Prindle. Up the slope of the tallest hill in the center, then following the ridge to the right east, and then north. 
Homer was very happy to be here, many times he had to roll around on the ground, whine, and growl to register his approval. With his strking blue eyes, wolfy body and face, he can come off as rather imposing. But he is as kind and and gentle a canine as I've ever been fortunate enough to associate with. Mattie sure loves him too.
Getting up the first slope, there was no real trail, but by the time I got to the "bookends" one re-appeared. Looking up the trail, just past this, is when I first realized, what a strange place this is. In the far distance, the 1612 metre summit of Prindle looms. The "trail" (such as it is) weaves through the tors, up that dark ridge past them, down this to another, up and over that, then to the top of Prindle. By the time we got this high, the winds were easily double what they were in camp, still sprinkling, and it was about 6-8C (42-46F), we estimated. More importantly, the lichens on the many rock fields we had to go through were quite slippery, which was potentially dangerous, in the wind, and we had to pay attention to every step.
She loves being in high places, and climbing around, just as much as she loves being in the water.
Weaving through these bizaare-looking rocks, I felt as though I was in "el Otro Mundo". They looked like a cross between Stonehenge, and the huge statues on Easter Island, at times. I think the flat grey lighting, and strong cold wind just accentuated the effect. The main area of these tors is about a kilometre long, and we took our time going through, they were so interesting. They are reknowned for rock-climbing, and I can definitely see the draw there, and will put that on the list for next year.
This is looking back, south, down the line of the tors. Such a strange place...
We were definitely put into a spiritual, almost trance-like state being here. I am a strong believer that certain areas exert different influences/energies upon us. Many hot springs have healing energy, for example. This area, to me, exemplifies a "power-center", where it would be beneficial to conduct nature-based rituals and ceremonies, as they would be very powerful. Since I am scotch/irish and swiss/german, I identify strongly with the pre-Christian, nature-based Celtic beliefs. Which I believe are healthier, and more affirming than Christianity, as every part of the Earth, person, plant, and animal, are seen as sacred, and part of the larger whole.
After our spiritual experience weaving through the tors, we ascended the next ridge. The rocks were very slippery, and I could see I would have another hour of that in the strong wind, to ascend Prindle. I decided to save it for another time. I'm running a longer, 50 km equinox marathon next weekend, and didn't want to jeopardise that with a slip. Not to mention, having to get back down, and out 15 km back to the car. It went pretty quickly descending back to camp, packing up, and then heading back to the car. We were there at 430 pm. A perfect quick two-day getaway.
I decided there should be a Summer Solstice ceremony/celebration here next June. Anyone with me? Cheers.
The trail the first several kilometres gradually ascends up the Nome Creek drainage above treeline, and did have many swampy sections, so my feet were constantly wet and muddy.
About 9 km and two hours up, we decided to stop and set up camp just below a bowl where the valley comes to an end. A nice stream close by would give me access for cooking and drinking water and for Mattie and Homer's needs. A few weeks ago I visited our local outdoor store, Beaver Sports, and checked out the clearance area. I saw a small one-person "Big-Agnes" Seedhouse SL-1 tent for sale for 100.00, normally 250.00. I snapped it up. This was my first opportunity to use it. It only weighs .9 kg (not much more than my bivvy sack!) and takes up a third the packed space of my larger tents. Here you can see it without the fly. During high summer, when bugs are in full swing, if not expecting rain, this will make a great bug escape zone.
With the fly on, it gives full protection from the elements. It is big enough for me and all my gear, or two people could squeeze in in a pinch, leaving their packs outside. Not bad for 100.00! It sure pays to check out that clearance rack!
Looking up the valley from our camp-site that evening in the gentle fall sun, I could make out the route we'd take tomorrow to get up Prindle. Up the slope of the tallest hill in the center, then following the ridge to the right east, and then north.
After a chilly, rainy, windy night, we awoke to grey skies, sprinkles, and a stiff 30-45 kph northeast wind. I knew it would be much worse as we ascended, but them's the breaks. We waited until 1030 though, for it to warm up a little, and see if it would stop sprinklin
g or improve. It didn't so we set out.
g or improve. It didn't so we set out.After ascending the flank of the first hill and ridge-line, a few kilometres brought us to the first of the significant "tors", ones I called "the bookends". All very old, weathered granite, millenia of arctic extreme weather has been working on these. These were probably about 200-300 metres above camp, which itself was probably around 1000 m elevation (tree line here is only around 900 m).
Homer was very happy to be here, many times he had to roll around on the ground, whine, and growl to register his approval. With his strking blue eyes, wolfy body and face, he can come off as rather imposing. But he is as kind and and gentle a canine as I've ever been fortunate enough to associate with. Mattie sure loves him too.
Getting up the first slope, there was no real trail, but by the time I got to the "bookends" one re-appeared. Looking up the trail, just past this, is when I first realized, what a strange place this is. In the far distance, the 1612 metre summit of Prindle looms. The "trail" (such as it is) weaves through the tors, up that dark ridge past them, down this to another, up and over that, then to the top of Prindle. By the time we got this high, the winds were easily double what they were in camp, still sprinkling, and it was about 6-8C (42-46F), we estimated. More importantly, the lichens on the many rock fields we had to go through were quite slippery, which was potentially dangerous, in the wind, and we had to pay attention to every step.
Mattie switched to mountain-goat mode early on, once we hit the rocks.
She loves being in high places, and climbing around, just as much as she loves being in the water.
Weaving through these bizaare-looking rocks, I felt as though I was in "el Otro Mundo". They looked like a cross between Stonehenge, and the huge statues on Easter Island, at times. I think the flat grey lighting, and strong cold wind just accentuated the effect. The main area of these tors is about a kilometre long, and we took our time going through, they were so interesting. They are reknowned for rock-climbing, and I can definitely see the draw there, and will put that on the list for next year.
My favorite of the tors was the last large one before ascending the dark ridge heading toward the Prindle summit. This is the one that I think really looks like an Easter Island statue.
This is looking back, south, down the line of the tors. Such a strange place...
We were definitely put into a spiritual, almost trance-like state being here. I am a strong believer that certain areas exert different influences/energies upon us. Many hot springs have healing energy, for example. This area, to me, exemplifies a "power-center", where it would be beneficial to conduct nature-based rituals and ceremonies, as they would be very powerful. Since I am scotch/irish and swiss/german, I identify strongly with the pre-Christian, nature-based Celtic beliefs. Which I believe are healthier, and more affirming than Christianity, as every part of the Earth, person, plant, and animal, are seen as sacred, and part of the larger whole.
After our spiritual experience weaving through the tors, we ascended the next ridge. The rocks were very slippery, and I could see I would have another hour of that in the strong wind, to ascend Prindle. I decided to save it for another time. I'm running a longer, 50 km equinox marathon next weekend, and didn't want to jeopardise that with a slip. Not to mention, having to get back down, and out 15 km back to the car. It went pretty quickly descending back to camp, packing up, and then heading back to the car. We were there at 430 pm. A perfect quick two-day getaway.
I decided there should be a Summer Solstice ceremony/celebration here next June. Anyone with me? Cheers.
