Devil's Hole Rapids on the Niagara River

This is some video I shot at Devil's Hole Rapids. The location is downstream from Niagara Falls on the Niagara River. It's shot from the Canadian side, looking across at New York State in the U.S.A.

Why is this place awesome? The massive class V and VI rapids are an amazing sight to behold. Scrambling along the boulders at the edge of the Niagara River is a blast - and a great workout. The hiking between the river and the edge of the gorge is fantastic.

How to get here? Take the Niagara Parkway north, away from the Falls. Pass the Whirlpool Rapids and Great Wolf Lodge. On the right side of the road, there will be a sign for Niagara Glen. Park there. Parking is free! A rarity for the N. F. area. Walk through the park until you find a steel staircase leading down the edge of the escarpment. Follow the trails until you reach water.

At the top of the stairs, there is a list of rule a kilometre long (this is the nanny state of Canada, afterall...). I believe one mentions bouldering. Ignore at your own risk.

Erin, Ontario Drive-Thru

Beware the Hockey Rink Boards

A little personal update...

Still Vegan but the Athlete part has been strongly tested over the past few months. In early February, I was playing defense in a pickup hockey game. I was bursting parallel to the blue line to chase a loose puck when my skate caught an edge. I was just a few feet from the boards by this time and ended up slamming head first.

Well, it wasn't quite head on but more on my left shoulder and head, buckling my head awkwardly under. The bizarre thing was the explosion in my left elbow. I was sure that my arm was broken.

I got into a sitting position but that's as far as I got on my own accord. My left hand was numb, my lower neck made an awful snap every time I tried to turn my head and my elbow was screaming.

In the days of safety and liability, the arena staff wouldn't let me up until an ambulance arrived. This took about 10 minutes, which is a long time for an imagination to work its magic. When they did arrive, my departure was delayed because a kid in the adjacent rink had knocked his head off a goal post - hockey is awesome!

At the hospital, I was able to get out of my sweaty, stinky equipment before being strapped into a neck brace. Since it was close to midnight, and they don't do cat scans during off hours unless it is deemed a dire emergency, I was stuck in the neck brace until around nine in the A.M.

Everything came back cool (or so they thought) so I was released at around 11, with the doctor telling me I'd be playing hockey by the weekend (this was now Thursday morning). The pain was immense. I was pretty much useless. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't lift anything, I couldn't put my own socks on.

I decided to keep clear of the ice rink for a few weeks. I still wasn't near 100% after the two weeks off but informed my Friday guys I'd be returning to play some hockey. On the night before, I received a call from the Emergency Room doctor from her home at around 8pm. She felt she needed to get a hold of me in fear that I would try and play hockey again.

It turns out, after reviewing the x-rays and scans, I had a fraction in my spine, about three notches down - the hunchback spot. I was done for at least six weeks.

I'm good now but didn't return to the ice this year. I will be back playing in September, though. I still have numbness and tingling in my left index finger from the last knuckle to the tip. Also, a bit in my left thumb. Since, I'm left handed, this can be a bit of a pain in the ass.

The pain in my elbow has gone away - not broken but an effect of the nerve damage. Every once in a while, I get ghost pains in my shoulder and elbow, just enough to remind me of the pain I went through for over a month.

Also, I seem to have lost a lot of strength in my upper body - I guess that's to be expected.

The moral of the story? Isn't one, really. I was wearing all the right protective equipment. The arena staff and medical people all did what they were supposed to. Chalk it up as "Shit Happens".

Eat Meat & Die - A Cool Infrographic

This was forwarded to me by a gentleman named Peter Kim. There is a ton of info in this infographic. I know that anyone who is vegan/vegetarian already knows most of this stuff. This should be posted in every school cafeteria on the continent.


Created by: OnlineAssociatesDegree.com

Stop the Mega Quarry!

This is passed on from NDACT. A mega-quarry is threatening the water table for all of Southern Ontario...

Dear friends,


An American hedge fund is about to break ground on a massive mining project that could poison a million people's drinking water and the headwaters for five major rivers, would create an open pit deeper than Niagara Falls and decimate thousands of acres of lush farmland -- and we have 4 days to stop them.

For years, Highland Companies deceived residents, posing as a potato farming company and quietly buying up thousands of acres of land from local farmers. Then, it was suddenly revealed that the massive plot of farmland would be converted into a limestone quarry -- a 2300 acre pit so deep it would seriously interfere with the ground water system in the region. But, in order to start digging, Highland must win approval from Minister of Natural Resources Linda Jeffrey.

Jeffrey is taking 4 more days to consider public opinion on this quarry before making her decision. We can deliver an overwhelming wave of opposition to Highland's destructive plan. Sign the petition, forward it to everyone and it will be submitted to Jeffrey before the consultation period ends.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_quarry/97.php?cl_tta_sign=71611d6512fca5acf5868ea12fdc2241

Highland's mega-quarry is smack dab in the middle of farmland the whole country depends on for food production. If built, it could poison clean ground water that feeds the lakes and rivers many Canadians use for drinking water. The quarry would require over seven thousand trucks to transport limestone each and every day, upping carbon emissions and requiring new roads to handle the exploding traffic -- further destroying the natural habitat of hundreds of species of animals. The city-sized pit would scar the land long after the mining was finished.

But, residents and environmental activists are working hard to oppose the quarry's license -- even the Environment Minister has called for further assessments. Ontario's Liberal government faces a tough re-election fight in October and Liberal Minister Linda Jeffrey is concerned about public opinion in these key months before votes are cast. A national call will put pressure on Jeffrey and her party to stand up for Canada's environment, its farmers and the fresh water many Canadians depend on for survival.

Let's bring the voice of all Canadians to Ontario's Minister of Natural Resources and force her to kill Highland's plan for environmental destruction. Sign the petition and then forward widely.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_quarry/97.php?cl_tta_sign=71611d6512fca5acf5868ea12fdc2241

Ontario's government should not be allowed to destroy the rivers, forests and farm land we all depend on for survival. For too long, provincial governments have kept key environmental decisions out of the national conversation -- we have a chance to change that. As one country, with a commitment to the environment and the health and safety of all Canadians, we can speak up.

With hope,

Emma, Ricken, Iain, Pascal and the rest of the Avaaz team.





MORE INFORMATION



Council of Canadians report on the mega-quarry

http://www.canadians.org/index2.html



Limestone quarry threatens prime farm land (Toronto Star)

http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/734969--limestone-quarry-threatens-prime-farm-land



Environment ministry blasts mega-quarry proposal (Toronto Star)

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1017849--environment-ministry-blasts-mega-quarry-proposal



The call for open submissions to the Ministry of Natural Resources

http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTEyNTY2&statusId=MTY4ODI5&language=en



Chong calls for federal review of quarry proposal (Guelph Mercury)

http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/local/article/549053--chong-calls-for-federal-review-of-quarry-proposal