clicking clean: green internet. @facebook @apple @google @greenpeaceusa #renewable #energy
"A Greenpeace report released Wednesday gives kudos to tech giants such as Facebook and Apple for using an increasing amount of renewable electricity to power their data centers.
Google NC Data Center
The research shows that Google, which sells its data center services to businesses, has been the most ambitious by buying wind energy that is then injected into the local electric grids where it runs data centers. Microsoft started to do the same last year when it agreed to buy power from a wind farm in Texas."
So check this out, American power houses are starting to see the benefit of renewable electricity in the US. "However it seems that we are still behind in the big picture because the European companies are leading the pack!"
"Iceland-based GreenQloud, for one, is setting up its first data center in the US near Seattle. It picked that location for the ability of its local utility, Seattle City Light, to deliver roughly 95% of its electricity from renewable sources, most of which comes from hydropower, said Jon Thorgrimur Stefansson, CEO at GreenQloud. The company, founded in 2010, plans to start running its US data center before the end of May."
I say that we need to get on the bandwagon, come on America lets show the world that we are really #1! Sorry I get a little carried away when it comes to renewable energy, better ways to power the demands of the Biggest American Businesses and keeping the internet 'green;' I love it!
Referenced by The Guardian
overland meal planning. @primusadventure @lodgecastiron @arb_usa #group #camping #cooking
Just because you're taking a trip into the backcountry doesn't mean you're diet has to be trail mix and granola; plan to eat hearty.
For the recent filming of Episode 4, we had to map out a meal plan for 7 people. As the designated camp chef, I had some work to do to prep for a three day weekend in the woods and on the road. Here are some tips that might prove useful for meal planning on your next adventure.
Jason (right) and I (left), enjoying the snow, but anxiously awaiting sausage biscuits.
Tip 1. Cooking gear.
First off, consider what you will be cooking on and with. If you're backpacking, you have to travel light and obviously wouldn't want to bring cast iron, but we're overlanding - so pack it and load it. Even though there's extra room in the truck, think hard about what you'll use and what you won't.
I planned to cook on a Primus Camp Stove and the fire, so I packed for my Lodge Cast Iron Skillet and griddle.
Tip 2. Your guests.
Make sure you know how many you're cooking for and identify any dietary restrictions. Once I had the details, I built a menu and sent it to the group for approval.
Tip 3. Building a menu.
When working up menu, be sure you can alter your meals in the field. If you're in a rush, getting hammered with rain or the group suddenly decides that they could eat a horse; you'll need to make some adjustments.
As I built a menu, I used my resources on the internet; there are a ton of good backcountry cooking websites out there. Here are a few of my favorites - The Dirty Gourmet, The Kitchn, allrecipes.com and Jen Reviews.
Ok, here's the menu that I opted for -
- Friday
- Dinner - Grilled chicken quesadillas with onions and peppers
- Saturday
- Breakfast - Bacon, eggs and toast/precooked biscuits
- Lunch - Greek herb roasted chicken pitas with feta, Kalamata olives, hummus and marinated artichoke hearts; served cold
- Dinner - Fire ready hobo (foil) pockets with smoked sausge, potatoes, onions, peppers, carrots and cabbalge; seasoned with EVOO, salt, pepper and butter.
- Sunday
- Breakfast - precooked Sausage biscuits; just heat 'em up.
Tip 4. Purchasing and packing.
Break the menu down into an ingredients list so that you can plan the purchase of everything at once. Keep the list handy for packing up prior to the trip; it'll help you remember how to pack and you can make sure you've remembered everything.
Precook what you can, it'll make life much easier. Also, leave the meat separate in case you've got an vegetarians on board.
A peak at a well prepped and cooked hobo pocket.
Tip 5. Healthy eating habits.
Make sure that you have a well-rounded variety of food such as meat, veggies, fruits, and carbs. You'll want to keep the group energy levels up throughout the day as overland travel can be quite rigorous.
Tip 6. Food storage.
Keep food storage in mind as you pack. Mostly likely you'll be relying on a cooler unless you're fortunate enough to have a travel fridge/freezer on board. Store foods that may spoil first at the bottom of cooler, where it tends to be coldest. Freeze large blocks of ice a week in advance and use them in your cooler; they melt much slower than bag ice.
A well organized Range Rover with an ARB Fridge/Freezer.
Tip 7. Back up plan.
I like to have a back up plan. I planned to cook some of the meals on the stove and some on the fire. And if we couldn't have a fire, I could always cook it on the stove.
For example, Saturday's dinner menu called for hobo pockets. A quick and easy meal in a fire pit, but if rain rolled in, I could easily cook it on the stove.
Taking a little break from cooking to give Murphy some attention.
Tip 8. Happy campers.
In the end, if the campers are happy and nobody's hungry, you've officially knocked it out of the park!
You can make plans; sometimes they go smoothly and sometimes they don’t, but remember this - as long as nobody is starving you did a great job and hopefully you learned something along the way.
Tip 9. Lessons learned.
There will always be something you could have done better and there's always something that you forgot. At times it can be hectic and slightly rushed - so rest easy and enjoy the moment!
Enjoy the people that surround you and have a cold one for dinner; most important - don't forget to have a good time. Wasn't fun your motivator to begin with?
an overland primer. @newartemis @cptstowe @dirtroadtrip #explore #appalachia
Rick Stowe, a contributing writer for The New Artemis, reached out to us this past winter after spotting us on Twitter. Together, we decided on two articles - a beginners guide to overland travel and a "behind the scenes" report on MSO's filming endeavors.
Rick's first article, "Primer to Overlanding with Mountain State Overland," reports on the general concepts associated with overland travel, its uptick in the Eastern states and MSO's rookie tips for dirt road adventures.
We invited him back to join us on an overland trip last weekend for his second article. It was a true delight having Rick as a co-pilot for Episode 4 with Dirt Road Trip; he fit right in.
Photos courtesy of Dirt Road Trip and Rick Stowe.
solar in salem. #virginia #solarenergy #appalachia @VASalem
Completed toward the end of 2013, this $5 million project was part of an initiative by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to rely more on solar energy at veterans hospitals across the country.
The 6,000 photovoltaic panels (PV) that were installed on what used to be a landfill will provide as much as 1.6 megawatts of power; about 10% of the energy consumed by the growing VA complex; baby steps, but ultimately steps in the right direction.
The Salem VA Hospital PV project is one of the largest PV systems installed and operating in Virginia today while the states largest solar farm is currently operating on the grounds of the Norfolk Naval Station.
So, think about this - if the government is embracing renewable energy, why aren't you?
overland route planning. @dirtroadtrip @gooutandplay @thenewartemis @adventurevida #overland #offroad #camping
You've got your eyes set on gravel, dirt, camping and ultimately you plan to escape the big city this weekend, but you don't know where to start. How can you plan a road trip without logging hundreds of miles on tarmac?
In this post, we'll give you some insight on how to plan your next overland route while avoiding the painted lines and freeways that separate us from the wild.
Huddled up for some last minute route planning on Tub Run Rd. in New Castle, VA.
Step 1. Consider your goal?
We invited Dirt Road Trip (DRT) and Rick Stowe, a contributing writer from The New Artemis, to join us on a Appalachia-style overland adventure for Episode 4.
DRT was bringing their capable Land Cruiser and 4Runner. We wanted to be certain that DRT traveled some terrain that would test their trucks.
Rick was writing a behind the scenes article on adventure film production and overland culture. We wanted Rick returning home dirty, dusty and smiling.
Our goal was pretty simple, keep it wild, keep it rough, find some great campsites and treat everyone to some southern hospitality.
Step 2. Use your resources.
The key to planning an overland route is to focus on using resources; don't start from scratch. There is an ocean full of routes planned and reviewed all over the internet, you just have to look. Websites like Expedition Portal and the Adventure Journal are just a few that we use to help us get started.
As natives to WV and VA, we've got a leg up once planning starts but we often end up in places we've never been. For Episode 4, we hunted down routes in SW VA because of its proximity to both parties; DRT was coming from NOVA and Rick from western TN.
After some quick internet searches, we had our hands on some recommendations that could give our trucks a run for the money and they were centrally located for both DRT and Rick.
A gazetteer is a reliable alternative to a GPS enabled device.
Step 3. Create your map.
We use Google Maps; its free but its a little tricky. You can't put in your starting and destination points and expect your route to unfold; you have to lay down your tracks.
We built our route using Google's 'Create a Map' tool; I won't bore you with a "how to" on using Google Maps, just start playing with it. Make sure you set your map for "walking" directions; otherwise, Google won't let you mark the the forest roads.
Plan on mapping out more miles than you expect to travel. This gives you options if you come upon a forest gate or private property and need to reroute.
Step 4. Review your route.
Once you got a route laid out in Google Maps, take an aerial tour of it - you'll be surprised with what you see. You can often tell the road quality which can help you determine if your route meets your goals.
You'll often see some creek crossings, tight spots, rocks and even campsites in your aerial overview. Spend some time overviewing the route so you know what to expect when you get there.
On the banks of Broad Run in Craig County.
Step 5. Campsites and destinations.
If you plan to camp, which you should, mark a couple destinations as you come across openings along the roads. In most National Forests, you can camp anywhere, so long as you're far enough off the road and their aren't any other restrictions in each particular district.
Pin potential campsites, overlooks, photo opportunities, gas spots and hazards; you'll be happy you did later.
Step 6. MVUM.
What's a MVUM? Most forest service districts put out motor vehicle use maps (MVUM) that indicate which forest roads are open and which are closed.
For Episode 4, we identified all of the forest roads and referenced the MVUM. Even though it was a couple years old, the MVUM was 95% accurate; you'll see what we mean when Episode 4 airs.
Also, pick up the phone or stop by a ranger station in the district you'll be traveling though if you want to be 99% certain. Why not 100%? Well, lets be honest; we're talking about the government, right?
Step 7. Create your .gpx file.
A .gpx file is what you'll need so that you can upload your route into your GPS device. I know there's mixed opinions on GPS; however, when time is limited for your trip you'll be happy you have it. We use GPS Visualizer to convert our Google Maps to a .gpx file. You can search the net for "how to" steps on the conversion process.
Alex from Dirt Road Trip uses an iPad to help us navigate Big Walker Mountain.
As for GPS, use your iPhone or iPad; GPS specific devices are overrated in my opinion, but they have their purposes. Gaia GPS is a great app to help guide you off the beaten path and it works wonderfully without cell service; you just have to remember to download your maps onto your device or you'll be up a creek without a paddle. Either way, it'll be an adventure!
Step 8. Share.
Finally, share your route with your trip companions. Prior to meeting up for Episode 4, we emailed the .gpx file to DRT and Rick. This allowed the team an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the route and offer suggestions if they've traveled parts of it before.
Sharing your route is a gift. You're passing on a little "secret." If the route turns out to be epic, you're passing on something that will continue to deliver memories for several years to come.