Controversial Topics:

THE GIARDIA MYTH

Bob Rockwell has been saying for years that the concern about acquiring Giardia from Sierra Nevada water is overstated. His latest article "Giardia lamblia and Giardiasis"
(4 June 2003) is very convincing. Note that National Geographic Adventure Magazine published an article about Bob's findings in June 2002.

If you have ever talked to me about Giardia, you know that I have been following Bob's advice for many years. Although his research has only dealt with water in the Sierra, Rena and I "drink smart" when we visit other areas of the world, especially Canada and Alaska. Whenever we travel to a new wilderness area, I ask the park or wilderness managers whether they can point to any study that shows that the water is unsafe to drink. The answer has always been no.

And finally, in July 2005, the Los Angeles Times, a mainstream newspaper, published an in-depth article in the Outdoor section about Sierra Nevada water. And, you guessed it, No problem! "L.A. Times article, dated 26 July 2005"

AVALANCHE AVOIDANCE

Finally, two avalanche articles that emphasize avoiding avalanches rather than recovering bodies from the snow. For years I have stated to whoever would listen that:

1. Avalanche danger in the Sierras in the springtime is practically non-existent.

2. In areas that do have avalanche risk (Utah, Colorado, and most places other than the Sierra in springtime), we would be better off by avoiding potential avalanche slopes than by depending on transceivers to dig us out.

In David Spring's article, 'What's Wrong with Traditional Avalanche Courses?', he writes elegantly about statement 2.

Another way to avoid avalanches in well-known areas is to look at the history of that area. Bob Rockwell in his article 'Avalanches and the Mount Whitney Basin' has done that in the Mt. Whitney region. Years of observation have indicated areas to avoid.