MOUNTAIN LIFE - Coast Mountains | Fall Winter 2019

111 words & artwork :: Emma Segal Getting outside and into the Coast Mountains, any wilderness really, comes with proven beneficial effects on our mental health while reducing anger, anxiety and increasing happiness. This makes a strong argument for greener cities, in addition to experiencing activities outside the city. But with 70 per cent of our 35+ million inhabitants participating in outdoor activities, what kind of social and environmental impact are we having? Depending on the activity, a whole range of apparel and accessories is manufactured to service our desire to go outside. Hiking and camping spurs the sales of multiple products—each with subcategories based on terrain and season of the adventure. Accessories multiply like rabbits the longer the trip as cooking, cleaning and navigation become increasingly important. Climbing requires one set of specific equipment, as does fishing, snow sports, biking, swimming, running, yoga, and so on. MEC alone sold 13 million products in 2018, with other retailers such as Canadian Tire, SportChek, Helly Hansen, Atmosphere, Patagonia, Arc’teryx, and Cabela’s contributing millions more dollars in purchases in the Canadian outdoor market. Several of these retailers—MEC and Patagonia in particular—are acutely aware of the impacts of their products and have practices in place to mitigate them. As a consumer, we also have a responsibility to know what we are purchasing, what it’s made of, and where it goes when we’re done with our adventures. Canadians are consuming an ever-increasing amount of product and we cannot afford to ignore the consequences. With climate change, waste handling and species preservation increasingly at the top of our cultural awareness, and more information available than ever before, we have an opportunity to make informed and lighter impact choices every time we head out to enjoy the beautiful landscape that surrounds us. As much as we are regenerated by forest bathing and nature adventures, we can look to equally support the regeneration of the land we are making use of, both where we enjoy our activities and in the places our accessories are manufactured and disposed of. Our stereotyped national image as a green leader is challenged by the stats, and it’s past time to pull up our Merino wool hiking socks and live up to our reputation. LEAVE LESS TRACE The easiest way to change the world is to change the way you interact with the world SALVATION