India loves her rivers. At least twenty-five major and hundreds of tributary rivers wind across the landscapes and landforms of India, bringing colour and pulsating life into the red soils. Without water, India would be a very different land. The climate and landscapes depend wholly on water – on the rivers, and on the seasonal…
One of my favourite state parks in the USA is Niagara Falls State Park, a mere four hours away on the border between the US and Canada. If you took a poll of the denizens of the US, a large number of people would express enthusiasm when asked about Niagara Falls. Who doesn't enjoy taking…
This past weekend, I enrolled in a fantastic course on Wilderness First Aid, taught by instructors from the National Outdoors Leadership School (NOLS). I had heard positive things about NOLS from one of my best friends, which is why I couldn’t quite believe my luck when I saw that REI Pittsburgh was sponsoring this course…
Most people think that ecology is best practiced – and only practiced – in the great outdoors. Ecology calls to mind images of national parks, herds of bison, salmon fighting the current, grizzly bears, and remote places with lush forest cover. In truth, however, ecology is far more local and intimate than we are taught…
I have always been drawn towards mountains. Towards the highest peaks, whether the highest in the world or the highest in their individual landscapes. Some people are pulled towards the ocean, towards cities, or towards the interiors of their own homes; I escape to the mountains, to the remote coolness. A part of my fascination…
Today, I wrapped up a final take-home exam for a course in Conservation Biology. Naturally, most of the questions were mundane ecological prose, asking me to respond in equally-mundane ecological prose. Which is what I have been taught to use. But the final question was a refreshing breath of air. It asked us to write…
Dear World, You don't know me yet, but I have already begun to know you. Your beautiful mosaic of skin tones and languages blanketed my childhood. Your vivid golden sands, your rugged snow peaks, your lush green forests -- they formed the canvass of my dreams. You gave me constant companionship in the darkness with…
On Life and Wildlife 