Specials | Pacific Wave - Outdoor Edition 2019

THE DAILY’S OUTDOOR EDITION

Rethinking the three Rs Climbing 101 How to hike without a car SUPPLEMENT TO THE DAILY

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table of contents

05 08 10 12 14

Rethinking the three Rs

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Going hiking car-less

Loving nature to death

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Mount Rainier Nat’l Park

Enchantments

Intro to climbing Building trails in Arizona

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Your brain on nature North Cascades For the notso-outdoorsy

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EDITORS’ NOTE

This is Washington, so odds are you like being outside. We certainly do — for its beauty, it’s therapeutic effects, and the way it lets us not pay attention to our phones for a little while (if you don’t agree, check out Hailey’s article on page 24). With summer approaching, we all get the chance to go outside more and with that comes a sense of excitement, but also guilt, and maybe even dread.

Dread, because maybe, like us, you have that sinking feeling that this beautiful green overlook or clear lake water might not look anything like the way it does now in a decade or so. Maybe you’re aware that warmer weather means

THE DAILY Editorial Staff

because well, to get to the places that make you feel so good, you probably have

Editor-in-Chief Andreas Redd editor@dailyuw.com

order to enjoy it, and all of these disrupt the environment to some degree. It’s a delicate balance that both of us wrestle with, but we aren’t leaving you without solutions — or at least, the start of some.

Rachel’s piece on page 8 discusses this

Pacific Wave Editors Alyson Podesta Charlotte Houston pacificwave@dailyuw.com

page 16 explores how to hike without using a car; and Mac’s article on page 5 highlights some ways we can be better wasters (i.e., how to better reduce, reuse, and recycle).

Regardless of the ways in which you choose to enjoy nature this summer, Wave. Read it, reuse it, and recycle it!

&

Copy Chiefs Trevor Hunt Sam Steele copy@dailyuw.com Design Editor Jenna Shanker design@dailyuw.com Photo Editor Conor Courtney photo@dailyuw.com Illustrations Editor Abigail Dahl illustrations@dailyuw.com Cover Photo by Conor Courtney

Advertising and Business Staff Advertising Manager Isaac Jundt admanager@dailyuw.com Local Advertising ads@dailyuw.com Publisher Diana Kramer dianakramer@dailyuw.com Campus Advertising campus@dailyuw.com

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Breaking the (re)cycle How to really reduce your waste

Irika Sinha The Daily

By McKenzie Murray The Daily “Reduce, reuse, recycle” is a commonplace slogan in the environmentalist movement, and each of those three steps is extremely important for reducing individual pollution.

But did you know that the slogan is also meant to be an ordered list? Reducing the environment the most; reusing them comes second; and recycling, which many people might regard as an environmental fail-safe, is not nearly as effective.

Earlier this month, The Daily reported

on the phenomenon of “wishcycling,” “when someone throws an item into a recycling bin hoping that someone, somewhere, will sort it, clean it, and recycle it.” As it turns out, this is not nearly as eco-friendly of an option as people think.

In a recent article, The Seattle Times exposed a local fraudulent e-recycling business: Consumers would dutifully drop off their old electronic waste, thinking that it would be safely recycled, but it was actually unsafely scrapped while the company’s founders raked in a massive

guarantee of your waste being successfully recycled when you pitch it into the bin.

Additionally, China, the world’s largest importer of recycling materials — including thousands of tons of recycling slashed the amount it will accept. This means that many well-intentioned rotting in warehouses. (It’s also worth noting that, even in optimal circumstances, much of Seattle’s “eco-friendly” waste was getting shipped overseas, generating massive amounts of pollution.)

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So far, China’s restrictions have not impacted the UW’s recycling, according to Liz Gignilliat, manager of UW Recycling.

Our recycling is processed by Waste Management, a local garbage, recycling, and compost industry. But that doesn’t mean that everything from our school gets recycled perfectly.

“Over the last year, a few select loads of recycling have been too contaminated to be recycled, primarily due to food and liquids,” Gignilliat said. “Foods and liquids can ruin materials, especially the most common items — paper and cardboard, which can soak up coffee, soda, or grease, and degrade or mold before it can be turned into new paper.”

Many people might not understand that throwing dirty containers into the recycling has the potential to contaminate the whole load, the opposite of what they intend when they wishfully pitch the containers in. Compostable plastics, like those offered by all HFS services on campus, come in handy, as they can be composted without having to be cleaned and dried.

But, aside from wishful recycling and compostable plastics, there are more, and better, options for students to help the environment. Members of Students Expressing Environmental Dedication (SEED), a sustainability-focused student group on campus, spoke to the importance of reducing single-use plastics, in a prepared statement.

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“Students can use reusable wares and even get discounts for bringing their own mug or shopping bag,” the SEED members said. “Students can also make decisions about what to eat based on the waste they would produce. For example, eating in the dining hall on a reusable plate instead of taking your meal to go reduces waste, as does purchasing unpackaged or lightly packaged food at the market.”

Most coffee shops on campus (as well as every Starbucks) offer discounts when you bring your own mug. The District Market and the Nook also offer discounts for bringing your own reusable bag to take home your groceries. Even at standard grocery stores in Seattle, this will save you sustainable options cost-effective.

It’s worthwhile to consider your typical habits and note where you’re generating a lot of waste. Do you often take dining hall or restaurant food to-go? You could save a lot of packaging and resources by choosing to eat in, or bringing your own reusable containers to take your food.

Are you a shopaholic? Consider attending clothing swaps, buying secondhand, and even getting your favorite pieces mended at a Fix-It fair. Since the fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world, opting for more mindful clothing purchases can make a big difference.

As you delve deeper into the world of sustainability and people trying to live zero-waste (or lower-waste), you’ll discover

that there’s already a sustainable solution for just about every piece of waste you produce. From metal straws to menstrual for just about everything, especially in Seattle. Local co-ops and stores like Eco Collective make this relatively easy.

One caveat, though: It’s a bit counterproductive to rush out and buy every “sustainable” solution you can think of, particularly if you’re not actually going to use them to reduce your waste. That multicolored metal straw ordered from Amazon gathering dust at the bottom of your backpack, while a great social symbol of your environmental devotion, isn’t going to do anybody any good. In fact, the process of manufacturing that straw and shipping it to you likely generated more pollution than the plastic straw you saved by using it once.

Instead, it’s best to examine your purchasing habits and buy ethical products that you know you can integrate into your slogan — “reduce” — is applicable.

“I recommend mindfulness when buying anything — it takes energy, time and labor to create, package, transport, and dispose of any product,” Gignilliat said. “Is it worth it? Is it in line with your values?”

Slowing down, rejecting mindless consumerism, and carrying your own packaging alternatives are some of the most important individual steps you

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y a The Dail

Irika Sinh

can take for reducing waste. When you do have something to dispose of, be sure to properly sort it! Materials that can be recycled are often displayed on signs around recycling bins. The UW’s robust composting initiative also makes it easy to better dispose of your organic waste.

“When you put organic waste into a compost bin on campus it goes up to Everett to an industrial compost facility called Cedar Grove,” the SEED members said. “There it is broken down into soil and sold back into the community, even being used at the UW Farm!”

If you’re interested in getting even further involved with the lower-waste movement, consider joining SEED or another environmentally-focused organization on campus. Seattle also has many eco-friendly “buy nothing” and clothing swap groups.

While individual action is not enough to single-handedly combat the current climate crisis, reducing (and properly recycling) your waste is a huge step you can take to protect our Earth.

Reach writer McKenzie Murray at

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Photos by Lindsey Bauer The Daily

Loving nature to death My struggle with balancing appreciation and conservation

A person finds a quiet spot in the park to relax.

By Rachel Suominen Contributing writer The sun sat just above the horizon of the

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actions that hurt it.

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Of the 274 articles reviewed, 59% revealed at least one negative effect of recreation on wildlife.

One study in particular found that populations of native carnivores in areas times lower in protected areas that allowed recreation versus areas that did not. This is important because it reveals the possibility that recreation could be negating the intended biodiversity conservation in protected areas, as changing the predator population affects the balance of the entire ecosystem.

The popularity of these wilderness areas has trended upward in recent years.

In the United States, nearly a third of the total recreational visits to national parks since 1904 have occurred in the past 10 years, according to data from the National Park Service. Within that same time span, recreational visits have increased by 28%.

Ken Burns that national parks are “America’s best idea,” this recent surge in popularity may seem rightful. But in the face of increasing evidence that our presence is harming the areas we intended to protect, we may need to reevaluate our relationship with these protected natural areas.

For national parks and other protected areas to ensure the conservation they are intended to provide, humanity may need to take a step back. Of the 247 studies reviewed for the effects of recreation on plant and animal life, 32% recommended establishing trail-free areas within protected land, and 14% recommended limiting the number of visitors that can enter an area per day.

This advice lies in contrast to evidence put forth by other recent research relating to the environment: exposure to nature is good for us, and we may need it even more as the world becomes increasingly urbanized.

“Studies have shown that there are a whole bunch of different ways that spending time in nature can have positive in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences (SEFS), said. “There’s things that you would expect like … depression and anxiety, reduction of the depression rate, but then there are some things that … might be less obvious.”

the Nature for Health Initiative in the Nature for Health is trying to answer the question of how spending time in nature translates into changes in our mind and body.

Nature for Health’s research agenda, published in 2017, lists 20 possible improved mental health, improved immune function, and reduced mortality, as well as greater happiness, well-being, and satisfaction.

Though the mechanisms behind these enough evidence out there that in many living in urban and suburban settings,” Greg Bratman, professor in the SEFS and Nature for Health researcher, said.

The research being done by Nature for Health isn’t limited to pristine wilderness — nature exposure can also occur in small urban parks and through viewing “abiotic elements such as sunset or mountain views,” according to the Nature for Health research agenda.

Nature for joy, nature for conservation, nature for health. We hurt nature, nature helps us. I don’t know where we go from here. to damage the environment, there will be no questions because there will be no choice.

In the face of all the damage nature withstands, sometimes I think the natural environment would remain on this earth longer if I stopped trying to experience it. Maybe I should just stay home, stay inside, stop intruding into places in which my presence only hurts. But that’s not a solution I want to live with, and in terms of quality of life, that may not be a solution I can live with.

However, something must change if we want to ensure the conservation of the environment. A potential solution lies — counterintuitively — in increasing, rather than decreasing, access.

“We need more parks, and we need more open space, and we need more places demand will go up and that’s going to require counties and cities and states to provide more green space.”

Visitors of the arboretum can relax and walk on well-maintained trails.

In increasingly dense areas like the Puget Sound, home to 4 million people, the focus is on vital urban greenspaces.

“Green spaces clean our water and air, protect wildlife habitat, and offset the urban heat island effect by cooling our neighborhoods, while also continuing to provide healthy options for recreation and stewardship of natural areas,” a representative for Seattle Urban Forestry said in an email.

Urban natural areas are not the answer to all our problems. Every year, urban areas lose about 36 million trees.

However, they do provide something national parks don’t: access to nature that does not threaten vital ecosystems and biodiversity.

Humanity’s relationship with nature has existed for millennia, and I, for one, don’t want it to end. I can’t single-handedly stop climate change, become an animal whisperer to coax animals back to their former habitats, or plant 36 million trees in urban areas.

I can, however, help out those with a little more knowledge than I have. I’m going to go back to national parks, but next time, I’m going to bring along a donation. If I must impact them negatively, the least I can do is provide some support to mitigate that impact.

Reach contributing writer Rachel Suominen at development@dailyuw.com.

Twitter: @_rsuominen

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Enchantments Photo Essay by Dan Kim The Daily

Colchuck Lake

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Hiking through the Enchantments took a friend and me 13 hours, hiking up over 4,500 feet. It was worth every second. We started the hike at 5 a.m. and witnessed a crisp sunrise at Colchuck Lake before hiking up Aasgard Pass and continuing through the Upper Enchantments, eventually ending up at the Snow Lakes Trailhead. For those up to the task, the Enchantments provide a breathtaking experience unlike anywhere else in Washington.

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Ascending to new heights: rock climbing A beginner’s guide to the UW’s favorite hobby

By Leslie Fisher The Daily

Abigail Dahl The Daily

Basic equipment Harness: Rope:

A climbing partner: Carabiner:

Belay device: IMA members can rent a harness

Rock climbing shoes:

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Outdoor — The Daily

Basic knot technique

Basic knot technique: Frogging:

1)

Crimp:

2) Problem: Flash: 3)

Send Shredded tips:

4)

Dyno:

5)

Learning to climb

Belay communication

Climber: Belayer: Climber: Belayer:

Reach writer Leslie Fisher at

Climbing slang

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Trail building in Arizona

My experience with the Conservation Corps

By Sophie Aanerud The Daily

modeled after the Civilian Conservation

The truck thermometer reads 96 degrees.

But after several hours hunched under the Southern California sun, squinting for invasive desert knapweed against bright sand, and dodging cholla spines and suspicious ant hills, the temperature feels well over 100. As the heat waves skew the Santa Rosa foothills and, in the foreground,

administration in an effort to counter

comfort of Seattle, the repetitive ease of

nights spent in a cramped tent?

Corps member. recognized “Service and Conservation Corps,” according to the Corps Network

based on size and location, almost all are

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Forest Service, the National Park Service, and the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture.

Despite being discontinued in order to divert resources to the war effort, the of miles of trails, roads, and other park Of course, the work of the CCC requires constant upkeep and additions.

Wildlife are able to tackle a lot of this work,

Conservation Corps come in.

In 2018 alone, conservation corps

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Laura Keil The Daily

and 13,967 miles of multiuse trailway.

It was in a deluge of collegiate ennui that I applied to spend my spring quarter working as a corps member at the American Conservation Experience (ACE), with AmeriCorps on “recruiting, coordinating, and training volunteers to undertake practical environmental parks, forests, wildlife refuges and other public lands.”

A month and a half after applying, pushed a week forward, I emerged from the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, uncertain what lay before me, and hoping the massive much longer.

Since arriving, I have built trails in Sedona, Ariz., removed invasive species from the deserts of New Mexico and California, and restored recently logged forestland in Prescott, Ariz. I have met young people (most Conservation Corps

cater to those in their 20s, with ACE welcoming those between the ages of 18 and 35) from across the country. While many involved see their participation as a means of entering the conservationfocused career sector, others participate for the unorthodox work environment and opportunity to engage their passion for the environment in an organized manner.

Despite anticipating being the odd myself hoisting pick mattocks and wielding McLeods beside recently graduated well as those taking alternative paths in education.

Environmental conservation takes all different forms. The physical effort of the Conservation Corps member composes only one category of environmental stewardship, but it is a critical one.

Whether it be the maintenance of that favorite trail, the preservation of a native species, or the cleanliness of your local national park campground, Conservation

Corps are more often than not responsible.

As I come up on my last sore, sweaty, and incredibly rewarding month as a sense of melancholy upon concluding this much-needed retreat from the monotony of academia. From the satisfaction of to the sense of camaraderie between crew members, from the nights beneath starchoked skies to hours spent learning the hinge, I have found myself constantly corps member. Now, to remove those cactus spines …

Reach writer Sophie Aanerud at

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Hiker’s guilt

Getting outdoors without a car

By Alyson Podesta The Daily

Photos by Hannah Murray The Daily

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At 2.5 miles in, the trail offers a stunning view from atop Little Si.

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A view of North Bend from the Trailhead Direct bus. Trailhead Direct allows people to leave Seattle and explore hikes in the surrounding area.

Maybe you don’t have a car because it’s too expensive to keep up. Maybe you decided it isn’t worth it because we’re already valuable skill to be able to navigate the public transportation system. Or maybe you don’t like the ecological impacts of cars and you’ve decided not to drive if you don’t absolutely have to. Your relationship to your car is personal and individual, but there are growing anti-car movements that may be impacting the way you think about cars and your relationship with them. it’s common for many people who consider themselves falling into the anti-car camp to hold onto cars for one reason: outdoor recreation. Cars are essentially necessary to power your camping trip, transport you to your hike, and kick off your backpacking excursion. For many, car ownership is a necessary evil. But the dissonance between appreciating nature and contributing to car pollution is undeniable.

My feelings toward car ownership are largely ambivalent. I chose to leave my car at home, but as my family lives in the suburbs of Seattle, I know I can use my car if I feel it’s necessary. It’s not a car I would

take off-road and I prefer to avoid using it whenever possible in general. I enjoy riding public transit and I do not enjoy paying for gas and parking. I will admit, I also like to pat myself on the back for opting out of contributing to air pollution more than I already do by reducing my driving time.

However, I also understand that in many ways, I’m privileged to be able to opt out of this. I live near a network of convenient bus lines, I have a great deal on transit through U-PASS. And living in an urban, condensed area, I generally always have a fallback for when the bus fails, even if that just means walking. Transportation should be more accessible, an opinion which I feel could extend to outdoor recreation. Fortunately, accessibility to hikes is already on the rise.

In Seattle, we have the Trailhead Direct program, an urban blessing that, so far, has only been bestowed on our city (a similar shuttle exists in Los Angeles). This bus has three lines which run from local areas to nearby trailheads. Unfortunately, it only runs on weekends and holidays during the summer, but it’s a valuable resource for those looking to hike without a car. In an attempt to curb my carbon

footprint, I enlisted a few friends and tried it out: a day-hike without a car.

However, seeing as Trailhead Direct was beginning its seasonal operation, we decided to see which hikes they had to offer. My expectations were fairly low; I had never used Trailhead Direct before, but it sounded like a cool concept. We chose Little Si, as it seemed to be a manageable Trailhead Direct also stops at many other trailheads.

Altogether, our trip was comprised of four bus rides. We took the 49 to Capitol Hill, though the Link Light Rail would have been just as easy. We boarded the and Denny), and it was about 15 minutes late. The minibus was about half full going both directions, likely because it was only the second weekend it was open for the season. Some of our fellow passengers seemed to be familiar with the ride while time on the trail bus. On the bumpier, faster parts of the ride, the bus bounced heavily, making us laugh by propelling us just an inch or so out of our seats.

Our driver was friendly and our stop was

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outside the parking lot for the trailhead. more localized warming here. And same the sun began to clear out the morning lucked out with great weather. We spent a

stops only a mile or two from the trailhead.

For those looking to take on

a long lunch break at the top to appreciate the view. We only waited a few minutes at the bus stop after hiking before the bus came to collect us again. Being able to close my eyes and rest on the way home was a

recommends getting an early start and bringing a bike to get you to the trailhead quicker. Planning things to do during

We had time for a snack in Capitol Hill before catching the 49 back to the U-District. The whole excursion ran about seven hours from leaving my front door to arriving back home — not a terrible total.

If you’re a quicker hiker or choose not to

transportation go more quickly. He also encourages those who may feel hesitant about the unpredictable nature of using public transportation to view it as a part of the adventure. Even if you end up getting

noticeable effects on air quality. “Which I think is a really important point: that it’s

Buysse said.

Though the idea of reducing car use

queuing up some podcasts you’ve been of groups and resources to turn to in order to make the challenge more manageable.

Trailhead Direct for easy transport to popular trails. There’s an online meetup group comprised of transit hikers called

throw out the whole day. shaved off relatively easily.

Trailhead Direct saved us gas money and the parking pass fees we would’ve

bus fare. I now count myself as a proponent of hiking via bus. ***** If you want to do some weekday public

poorly because you tripped over a rock and got mud on your pants or something like

environmental impacts of a gesture like going carless for a hike. “From an

in an email. “Fewer cars means less air rather than a car.

“So I was planning on taking the Trailhead Direct from Seattle to Mailbox I discovered that –– I think this was last November –– I discovered that it was no

Gasoline-powered cars release carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global create issues like the well-known global greenhouse effect as well as localized public health problems. “Cars basically are responsible for affecting these two pollutants that are damaging to human

Hiking Club and Northwest Women often provide opportunities for ride-sharing and carpooling.

it’s important to remember that using a car to get to the trail doesn’t make you a bad environmentalist. Making the effort to leave the car at home as much as possible out Trailhead Direct on a weekend where you may have driven otherwise.

“I think there’s a real struggle to want to make these choices for the sake of the at the same time feeling like the impact

are totally relevant ... I think maybe sometimes we have too narrow of a view of what individual impacts are because [they Using the bus for a hike makes a

and then bike from North Bend to the

department of atmospheric science who studies the effect of smoke events on urban impacts.

elongated his trip greatly and resulted in him biking more than originally intended.

kinds can create these particulates.

Though it seems like a common sense you only use your car for the occasional outdoor excursion or because you commute reducing your car use even makes an

that may be more viable once you’re out of the city area.

On our public transit hiking

individual choices do make a difference.

“These two pollutants: particulates

transportation. Using the website Turn Off we’re producing it in the city and it sort

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Outdoor — The Daily

Mount Rainier Photo Essay by Conor Courtney The Daily

There’s nowhere better to go if you want to see a sunset, do a day hike, go camping for a weekend, or go backpacking for the week. From seeing herds of mountain goats to listening to absolute silence while looking at the stars, Mount Rainier National Park always exceeds my expectations.

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Nature has the power to increase happiness and reduce stress UW research contributes to study of biophilia

By Andy Samms Contributing writer Around the world, there is imagery of humans shedding the constraints of society to live among the beauty of the natural world. This human experience of returning to the wild is appealing to many.

But in an often stressful environment like a university, it may seem impossible to consider the natural wonders around Seattle. Researchers at the UW and beyond are studying the interaction between people and nature and have discovered that nature is a treasure trove when it comes to providing opportunities to improve well-being and happiness.

Thea Weiss, a graduate student in the department of psychology, has been researching the impacts of nature on the mind for years.

“Social and cultural evolution of our tools and how our technology dictates our life has outpaced what our bodies and minds are adapted for,” Weiss said. “We believe that is one of the causes of a lot of psychological and physiological stress and illnesses.”

Weiss explained that because we are naturally adapted to navigate forests,

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natural environments like mountains, deserts, and forests, we promote the restoration of our mental well-being. This translates into reduced stress hormones, such as cortisol, in the bloodstream.

According to an article published in National Geographic, even small amounts

mind. Just a 15-minute walk in the forest can reduce cortisol levels by 16% and lower blood pressure and heart rates.

Longer periods of time in nature can have bigger effects on mental health.

Research by David Strayer, a professor of psychology at the University of Utah, studied the effects of participants after a four-day immersion in nature. After four days in nature without access to multimedia technology, Strayer observed a 50% increase in creative problem-solving abilities. This ability corresponds with a more positive mood and lower stress.

Tabitha Kirkland, a professor of psychology at the UW, describes this phenomenon as biophilia. Biophilia is the concept that people naturally gravitate toward nature and life, and

Outdoor — The Daily

Tammy Hu The Daily

become happier. Kirkland teaches a class called Psychology of Happiness, and says

closer together. Her research has looked at

In a modern city like Seattle, people they can forget to have a soft appreciation

“In my class, I teach that happiness is emotion,” Kirkland said. “[It consistently perceive stress.” have consistently lower levels of stress and interpret the world and themselves in a positive light. According to research by Greg Bratman of Stanford University, people negative emotions regarding themselves. are correlated with an increase in mental illness. This phenomenon makes any city dweller at a higher risk of depression

rather than the developed regions acted more friendly and affectionate toward others.

backyard.

with life and lifelike processes,” Weiss said.

It might seem hard to rationalize both the physical environment and among people.”

Weiss believes that this interplay affects people of all ages.

stress and increasing creativity in a way that, biophilia brings satisfaction to life that can’t be replaced.

by relieving stress. There are many parks

to relax to take moments to appreciate the that.”

The more positive world view that

respite,” Weiss said. “It’s not an all or nothing game.”

Reach contributing writer Andy Samms at development@dailyuw.com.

Twitter: @andy_samms

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North Cascades

Photo Essay by Alex Nagode The Daily

The North Cascades are an outdoor enthusiast's playground. While it may not have the same popularity or notoriety when compared to hikes in the I-90 corridor or near Mount Rainier National Park, the quietness and remoteness of this area give the park characteristics that Hikers in the North Cascades are treated to stunning views of the most expansive glacial system in the contiguous United States and, if they’re lucky, goats and pika on hikes in this area.

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How to get outdoors when you hate going outside

By Hailey Robinson The Daily I tend to spend my summers indoors. And my weekends, and afternoons, and really any time I’m not walking to class or the grocery store. The outdoors and activities that come with them have very little appeal for me when I could be inside on my laptop instead.

A lot of things can keep you inside the apartment or dorm room — chronic depression, that assignment you have to skin sparkle and reveals you’re a vampire, the list goes on. But getting outdoors and into nature can be really healing. It can snap you out of a funk that you just can’t end when you spend the day in bed.

For me, personally, it’s a combination of factors. I’ve never really liked going outside and it’s hard to start a habit when I could stay in bed. The prospect of going on hikes or doing other outdoor activities I see my friends doing on Instagram is daunting. But you don’t have to go on a hike to enjoy the great outdoors (though you may have a few less sweet pics to share). There’s access to nature close to home, and it’s not that hard if you have somewhere to begin.

The hardest part of getting outside is just that — getting outside. When you’re used to spending weekends indoors, it can out of bed.

Start by setting a concrete goal for what you’ll do or where you’ll go when you’re outside. If you have a plan, it’s much easier to actually do something. Here are some easy ways to take in nature without much effort.

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Do your homework outside I have a lot of readings this quarter, and as much as I love sitting inside with a book, it can get a little exhausting.

Usually, I’ll head to one of the benches in the tall grass in front of the HUB which are great secluded spaces to get some reading in. There’s benches all over the Quad or Grieg Garden, those are both awesome places to get a little work done.

This works for an assignment you need your electronics for, too, and sometimes having the time limit set by your laptop battery helps. It reminds me to close my computer and look at something other than a screen for a while, and maybe grab some food, another thing I often forget when I’m studying.

Go down the hill I know Fisheries is really far, but if you head down that way and past Agua Verde, you can walk along the Montlake Cut. (You can also walk to Montlake and down the stairs by the bridge.) It’s a place absolutely worth visiting outside of the Windermere Cup. The water is absolutely gorgeous, and it’s really peaceful when not packed with people.

Down the hill in the other direction are the athletics facilities. I’m not going to suggest you go to the gym, but there is a great view of Lake Washington from Husky Softball Stadium, and our softball team is one of the best in the country.

not feeling up to going too far, but if you head north, you’ll hit Ravenna Park, and just south is the Arboretum. We may be in the city of Seattle, but in either of these parks, it doesn’t really feel like it.

It’s only about a 20-minute walk to each. Find a podcast you like, put it on, and walk along a trail until it’s over. Try forest bathing. UW Botanic Gardens offers guided tours, or you can go on your own.

Once you have a plan, it’s much easier to just get out and do it. Spending all day inside can feel like a waste when we only have about three months to enjoy the sun, and the outdoors in general, in Seattle.

Have you ever wanted to be one of those people lying on a blanket in the Quad? Do it. Have you have wanted to be the person on the swing on the HUB Lawn?

DO IT. We have a short supply of nice weather, and you should take advantage of it. But don’t forget to bring sunscreen and a water bottle; too much sun can have side effects if you aren’t used to it.

Reach Engagement Editor Hailey

Go for a walk You can just walk through campus if you’re

Tammy Hu The Daily

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TICKETS: $20 ($10 STUDENTS/SENIORS) 206.543.4880 MUSIC.WASHINGTON.EDU

We’re across from U-Village! 4515 25th Ave NE

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE REID

The Daily — Outdoor

AUTUMN 2019 The High Point Of FIN 490A P ERSONAL F INANCIAL L ITERACY Any Day In Seattle

AUTUMN2019 2019 FIN FIN490A 490A AUTUMN ERSONALFF INANCIALLL ITERACY PP ERSONAL INANCIAL ITERACY ITERAC CY

PLAN & INVEST Set your investment goals and prepare for major life expenditures like home ownership, family, and retirement

CREDIT SMART BEBE CREDIT SMART Learn how use debt responsibly and understand loans Learn how to to use debt responsibly and understand loans PLAN & INVEST PLAN & INVEST your investment goals and prepare major SetSet your investment goals and prepare forfor major lifelife expenditures like home ownership, family, and expenditures like home ownership, family, and retirement retirement

INSURE WHAT MATTERS Determine what to insure, how much, and fair pricing

INSURE WHAT MATTERS INSURE WHAT MATTERS Determine what insure, how much, and fair pricing Determine what to to insure, how much, and fair pricing

BE CREDIT SMART EXPERIENCE SEATTLE FROM THE TOP!

Learn how to use debt responsibly and understand loans

Sky View Observatory is the tallest public observatory in the Pacific Northwest and the perfect place to begin any Seattle experience. Take in the breathtaking 360 degree views from Mt. Rainier to Mt. Baker, the Olympics to the Cascades, and everything in between.

Open daily**

SPECIAL STUDENT RATES AVAILABLE WITH ID

START YOUR JOURNEY from the moment you enter.

PLAN YOUR NEXT STEPS with the city at your feet by using our tour guide tablet

SLN 15146 3 credits

Mon/Weds 9:00-10:20AM

GRAB A NORTHWEST BEVERAGE or artisanal snack from the Sky View Café

This introductory course will provide you with the tools, knowledge and understanding to confidently navigate major financial life decisions. It requires of personal finance and is open PURCHASE TICKETS TODAYno AT prior knowledge @SkyViewObservatory to all students.

SKYVIEWOBSERVATORY.COM @ColumbiaSkyView Columbia Center Floor 73, 700 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104

Walking distance from the waterfront and downtown hotels. One block east of Link Light Rail Pioneer Square Tunnel Station. **excluding some holidays and private events, see website for details

SLN 15146 SLN 15146 3 credits 3 credits

Mon/Weds 9:00-10:20AM Mon/Weds 9:00-10:20AM

This introductory course will provide you with the This introductory course will provide you with the tools, knowledge and understanding confidently tools, knowledge and understanding toto confidently navigate major financial decisions. requires navigate major financial lifelife decisions.

It Itrequires prior knowledge personal finance and open nono prior knowledge ofof personal finance and is is open students. toto allall students.

Your authentic Husky retailer founded by students, for students.

Join The Pack Rewards™, University Book Store’s instant rewards program for everyday savings, exclusive sales, members-only promotions, and more!

Visit ubookstore.com/ thepackrewards or scan the QR code for more details.

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