Drilling the Redrock Country

As a general practice I haven't wanted to use Sol Fitness Adventure as a venue to air my political viewpoints. However, when it comes to land issues in my home state of Utah, where two of our trips take place, I don't mind bending my own rule. Sol's mission is to share wilderness with others, and fulfilling that mission requires taking action to see that wilderness is preserved.

Coming up on December 19th the Federal Government will move to open millions of acres of Utah's public lands to oil speculation by private companies. The land proposed for speculation is adjacent to Canyonlands, Arches, and Dinosaur National Monument, part of one of the most pristine desert ecosystems in the U.S. This is the kind of redrock wonderland you've seen in magazines and read about in Edward Abbey's short tales; the kind of place that offers sweet solitude and peace that is so hard to find elsewhere.

Certainly America needs to ween itself of foreign oil. But auctioning off sects of public land for private profit, particularly in areas in close proximity to National Parkland, should require the input of Park land officials and the vote of our citizens. Sol Fitness Adventures has added our voice to the Natural Resources Defense Council's attempt to gather enough voices of protest to stop the feds from taking this action.

If you agree, I encourage you to CLICK HERE to voice your own opposition.

Morocco ROCKED the Kasbah

I'm back! Morocco was truly amazing and inspiring. Waking each day to the 5:30 am call to prayer that rang out through Rabat, Fez, and Marrakesh had me feeling like I'd stepped into a time machine and traveled back 1,000 years. The haunting sound wasn't limited to the cities, either; the call echoed off mountain walls into my ears in the High Atlas Mountains above 7,000 ft . I was inspired as my Berber hiking guide, Omar, took a timeout from our lunchtime feast to pray.

Journey Beyond Travel, who specializes in Moroccan travel, planned a thrill-ride of an itinerary for us that included charismatic local guides, authentic Riad lodging, exciting explorations of the old city medinas, and invigorating hiking from a Berber base camp village. As all great adventures do, my Morocco trip had me ready to pack my bags, hop on a plane, and go right back.

Omar and I are brainstorming a few itineraries....and next time I go to Morocco the Sahara is at the top of the list!