The San Joaquin River Is Not Endangered

Dale Matson

The San Joaquin River Below Piute Creek

The second longest river in California was recently named the most endangered river in America by American Rivers. American Rivers is a conservation group based in Washington D.C. to find out more about this group click here: https://www.americanrivers.org/.

The concerns of the group were expressed by John Cain and reported by Mark Grossi in the Fresno Bee. The on line article from April 8^th is here: http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/04/08/3867129/san-joaquin-tops-list-of-endangered.html.

Here are the strategic goals of the organization:

Strategic Goal #1: American Rivers will improve the health of rivers across the nation by protecting and restoring flows, connectivity, water quality, and habitats in priority rivers and basins.

Strategic Goal #2: American Rivers will be recognized as the leading advocate for river conservation in national policy discussions and debates.

Strategic Goal #3: American Rivers will be a financially sound and sustainable organization with a growing base of unrestricted financial support and dedicated support for priority programs.

Taken at face value, these seem like rather worthwhile goals but the claim that the San Joaquin River is endangered depends on how one defines endangered. For one thing, the 60 miles below Friant Dam is what is in question. The 300 miles above Friant is not in question. This 60-mile section has periodically dried up since the construction of the dam in the 1940s. The litigated “compromise” [courtesy of another ‘watchdog’ group The Natural Resources Defense Council] of release for Salmon and river restoration was never realistic for dry years. With the additional demands of a growing population in the Central Valley, the situation will continue to deteriorate. It is especially frustrating since there is no environmental group advocating for additional storage in wet years.

In fact, the American Rivers organization funded with a large grant from the federal government is quite proud of the fact that they have contributed to the removal of 41 dams in 2013 alone. I would like to hear what the leadership, none of whom live along the San Joaquin would like to see happen to the Friant Dam. I suspect they would like to see it removed.

My concern with where this seems to be going is additional legal action to declare this 60 mile section of the San Joaquin to be restored as a “Wild River”. Then the removal of Friant Dam would simply be preceded by a court order. Additionally, this definitely would eliminate Temperance Flat as an additional potential water storage site.

For those who proudly call themselves “environmental activists”, I would urge you to consider the people your policies affect. The San Joaquin Valley is agricultural. We produce food that is consumed worldwide. Our people and our crops depend on water. Creating more storage IS conservation. I walk or run by the San Joaquin daily as a Fresno resident. I have camped and backpacked along most of the river. A river flowing free is a beautiful sight but so is a large reservoir. In wet years, watching the San Joaquin overflowing its banks on the way to the ocean is a sad sight because I know we could be storing more water during these wet years. This overflow is wasted water.

In short, the San Joaquin River is not endangered. The compromise caused by litigation, created unrealistic expectations during dry years. The policies that forced the compromise should be revisited. If restorationists want more water, then help us build more storage. Being pro environment does not mean being anti people.        

Marathons: A Means Of Helping Us Become Grown Ups

Dale Matson

I would never call running a marathon a panacea for all of life’s ills but a marathon may be just what the doctor ordered for you. When I transitioned from the work of a plumber and heavy equipment operator to that of a student, I began to gain weight. I went from 175 to over 200 pounds. I also gave up smoking and the downside to that was the addition of an additional 25 more pounds.

I went for a post lunch walk with one of my older professors and when we were done, she walked up four flights of stairs to the psychology department. I needed to take the elevator and was embarrassed that someone old enough to be my mother was more fit than I was.

I decided at that point that running would be my replacement behavior for smoking. At age 42 and at 235 pounds, I began walking a mile a day and then two miles with a goal to run a mile. One thing led to another and eventually I completed a 5K race. I began to lose weight along the way but my eating habits were terrible. I was still eating too much, eating too many processed foods and depending too much on exercise to eliminate extra calories.

My doctor was happy that I had quit smoking but wanted to put me on cholesterol and high blood pressure medication. I resisted and decided to lose more weight. I went on the American Heart Association diet and lost 20 pounds. It put me at about 200 pounds. It’s a funny thing but being in occasional races and around new running friends makes one aware of an entirely different world of normalcy. When I went past a store security camera, I was still embarrassed at my gut but could finally run for an entire hour. Some of my friends had run a marathon and urged me to try. It seemed like such a daunting challenge.

 

I bought Jeff Galloway’s book on marathon training. Wow, there was the training schedule with incremental increases in distance, speed work and hill work. I became more careful about my eating and began to see food as fuel.

In 1991, a friend Tom Wilcox from East Troy and I drove up to the American Odyssey Marathon near Athens Wisconsin. I will spare you the 6 hours and 20 minutes of suffering on this hilly course! I came in dead last. A thunderstorm had washed away the chalk finish line on the pavement. Someone came out of the bar and gave me a finisher’s tee shirt. It was a long drive home and Tom had to spell me at the wheel. I barely made it to the house but I was elated. I had done something that seemed impossible only months before.

I have never met an individual who said that they were sorry that they had run a marathon. Yes, things like shin splints and sore knees can develop. But some of my best longstanding friendships have been fellow runners. My wife is not a runner but loves to travel. She has got me to travel all over the world by finding marathons to run in exotic locations.

Marathon training requires discipline, patience and focus. The byproduct is weight loss, self-efficacy and a sense that most goals can be reached if one is willing to break them up into manageable bites and persevere. The marathon effort helps one become a grownup. Many will attest that completing a marathon is a life-changing event that transfers to other aspects of one’s life.

Marathons are kind of like Tai Chi. You are always working on the form. What is the best weight? What is the best diet? Should I do intervals or tempo runs or both? How long should my long run be? What are the best running shoes?

There is a certain self-confidence that comes from being able to run a marathon. It will be a personal breakthrough for you. For someone stuck on a job ladder, struggling with health issues (weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, chronic indigestion), feeling kind of lonely or questioning a career choice, training for a marathon may be the best prescription. Running a marathon will expand your horizons. Get clearance from your doctor first!

   

The Pinnacles National Park

Dale Matson

Pinnacles National Park is about 2.5 hours nearly due west of Fresno. We took 99 north to 152 then 156 to Hollister. Out of Hollister we took 25 to 146 and entered the park from the east. 146 also enters the park from the west off 101 but 146 does not connect with itself within the park. In other words, you can’t drive though the park.

We were told that we were there at a good time since mid summer is very hot. We had rain the night before so the trails were not dusty and the air was clear. For someone used to the granite of the Sierras, the volcanic Pinnacles are quite a different sight.

The route we took (see map) was a bit much for folks who drove over that morning, and hiked for 7 hours then drove home. My GPS had us at 11.65 miles with about 2,200 feet of altitude gain. We included the high peaks loop and had lunch later on the loop on a bench with an outhouse nearby.

I think our biggest challenge was the balconies cave. We had headlamp but the cave required too much bodily flexibility under rather slippery conditions. We turned back and took the Balconies Cliffs trail around the cave.

When we ate lunch, we could see where the Condors were nesting on a rocky outcropping. They were flying overhead and we could see the white leading edges of their wings. I had 10 power binoculars but was unable to get a photograph of any of the birds.

The park is well maintained and the trails are well marked. there are a number of trails marked with a carabiner sign for climbers. This is also a climbing mecca. It was a special day.

There is a video of our trip on YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r6BhXNO9Ng&list=UU0G3jx2PLv6FOw2NM5Aa6Yw.   

A Pound Of Flesh And Then Some From Lance Armstrong

Dale Matson

I took this photograph of Lance at the Tour Of San Francisco

“With stunning swiftness, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said it will strip Lance Armstrong of his unprecedented seven Tour de France titles after he dropped his fight against drug charges that threatened his legacy as one of the greatest cyclists of all time.” http://seattletimes.com/html/othersports/2018979486_armstrong24.html

“Due to the seemingly insurmountable evidence that Lance Armstrong participated in doping and misled Nike for more than a decade, it is with great sadness that we have terminated our contract with him. Nike does not condone the use of illegal performance enhancing drugs in any manner.” http://nikeinc.com/news/nike-statement-on-lance-armstrong.

Trek offered a similar reason for cutting ties with Armstrong. “Trek is disappointed by the findings and conclusions in the USADA report regarding Lance Armstrong,” a statement from the bike company reads. “Given the determinations of the report, Trek today is terminating our long term relationship with Lance Armstrong.” http://www.wired.com/business/2012/10/lance-armstrong/

I sat around the coffee table with my cycling friends. I asked them what they thought about Lance Armstrong. Words like “grieved”, “duped”, and “heartsick” expressed the sentiments of our group. It was sadness and disappointment for men who saw Lance (and we called him “Lance”) as a gifted cyclist, a team player, a philanthropist, a cancer survivor and someone with an unsurpassed training ethic. We are all triathletes and were saddened that he would not be participating in Hawaii Ironman. He has been banned from more than just cycling events. We simply did not want the accusations to be true.

When I read his book, “It’s Not About The Bike: My Journey Back To Life” (2000), I was moved by how much suffering he experienced in his fight to survive. In addition to his physical struggles, his ego was diminished by experiences like children passing him while he rode his bike. Lance was a man who experienced the dark night of the soul. He did not inflict this on himself but he was stronger for it and claimed that he could NOT have won the Tour without experiencing the cancer.

Now we are looking at a downsizing once again. As I looked at a photograph of Lance from Outside Magazine (01-05-12), I saw a bare chested Lance with a Christian cross on a chain around his neck. http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/athletes/lance-armstrong/Its-Not-About-the-Lab-Rats.html?page=1 If only the proximity of the cross represented his relationship to Christ. Unfortunately it is not a crucifix and the empty cross is more symbolic of a fallen Lance than a risen Christ. It is time for Lance to revisit the purpose of suffering because he is experiencing a crucifixion of sorts too.

“It’s not about money for me. It’s all about the faith that people have put in me over the years. All of that would be erased. So I don’t need it to say in a contract, you’re fired if you test positive. That’s not as important as losing the support of hundreds of millions of people.” 

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/athletes/lance-armstrong/Its-Not-About-the-Lab-Rats.html?page=12 

The Sunday March 30 2014 Fresno Bee had an article by John Horn reviewing two recent books, Cycle of Lies: The Fall Of Lance Armstrong by Juliet Macur and Wheelmen: Lance Armstrong, the Tour de France, and the Greatest Sports Conspiracy Ever by Reed Albergotti and Vanessa O’Connell.

At some point I have to ask, “How much is too much?” Has any athlete caught doping paid any higher price than Lance? Only those who died from doping. I am not attempting to balance the positive things he has done against the negative. I am simply saying enough is enough. From this point the criticism is merely 'piling on'.  Now people are profiting from recounting the tragedy of a phoenix that rose from the ashes only to fall back to earth forever crippled by scandal. He has lost friends, sponsors, awards and honors. Even more he has lost the support and respect of millions of followers. He has been banned for life from competing in other sports than cycling.

Writers are too quick to go from calling him dishonest to an unredeemable villain. He has been given a life sentence. Those who are so quick to criticize Lance must look into their own hearts and see why it is necessary for them to continue to attack him.

Yes, Lance was dirty and denied being dirty. So were so many others during this time in many sports. Many of Lance’s teammates participated in the feeding frenzy that destroyed Lance who has paid, is paying and will continue to pay.

Lance, my friends and I forgive you. Our lives were enriched by the drama of your efforts and by our time on our bikes too. I will never forget the look you gave Jan Ullrich as you pulled away on L'Alped'Huez. Your fall doesn't invalidate our experiences.

Lance is still one of the greatest athletes that ever lived and many of those who criticize him never had a heart rate over 190, never spent one tenth of one percent of the time-on-seat on a bicycle. Those people never had to overcome cancer. I am disappointed about how things turned out but I am not disillusioned. Without the drugs he would still have been one of the best athletes that ever lived. He would have been less successful but he could have kept everything he won. It’s time to leave the man alone.

Trail Fit

Dale Matson

 Tamarack Near Huntington Lake CA 

March 28th 2014

                          

"I'm Training!

For what?

Oh, just training.

I’m thinking about the mountains I’m going to climb...” Covert Baily The Ultimate Fit or Fat

Covert Baily wrote The Ultimate Fit or Fat (1999) and at the time he wrote it, he was 67 years old. Mountain mileage is quite different than elsewhere. It is more demanding because of the steep ups and downs, the higher altitudes with less oxygen and the questionable footing on single-track trails with worse footing off trails. Mountain travel also requires equipment and supplies to sustain one on multi- day trips.

This means that there is an increased demand on the cardiovascular system and the muscles that power one up and down the trails. My primary purpose for my training is less and less competition but to enable me to continue to plan and enjoy the mountains and to search the wilderness for lost travelers as a volunteer for the Fresno County SAR Team. I believe there are those folks who enjoy working out for it’s own sake and the health benefits that accompany being toned and fit. Some work out for the sake of how they look in the many mirrors that line the walls of a fitness center.

My own sense it that working out should be goal directed. When it is goal directed, I think it can rightfully be called training. Training is related to real world activities. If working out is not related to real world activity it is for posing. Many folks aim their training at sport specific goals, which is fine. My training uses sports as a means to accomplish other goals.

As someone who began running later in life as a replacement behavior for smoking, I began to develop nagging injuries when my mileage went beyond 60 miles a week. I learned that aerobic training can be done in a variety of venues and was one of the first to write about biking and cross country skiing as a means to train for 100 mile trail runs. I later added swimming to the mix and have remained injury free since 2001.

When I could no longer run the mountain trails, I took up lightweight backpacking. This required additional upper body strength for the backpack and the use of trekking poles. Trekking poles help power the climbs uphill and are great knee savers on the steep downhill sections. I took up weight training but use high repetitions with light weights. Far too many of my friends have had shoulder surgery for a torn rotator cuff caused by lifting heavy weights. Additionally, I don’t want bulk. Backpacking like running is a gravity sport and maintaining optimum body weight is crucial to endurance in the mountains. I am always striving for proportionate strength.

My weights routine is usually 30 reps with 3 different types of exercise for each muscle group. I do core, back, chest, triceps, and biceps three times a week. I don't do much free weight work and it is less risky at my age to use the machines. I don't use weights for my legs since they get enough strength work in the regular exercises.

In the summer, I bike, swim and run three times a week. In the winter I ski and bike less. I mix up the days with no more than two activities on any day. I use a Suunto Ambit heart monitor and train scientifically. I have a high intensity run once a week where I do a tempo run to get my heart rate near predicted maximum with a high average over the duration of the exercise. This keeps my heart muscle strong and legs ‘fast’. My 10k time is still under my age in minutes.

I do a long run every other week for my base cardio. This is the most important cardio I do and determines my trail endurance. This also means a long run once a month of 20 miles. I have kept accurate records for nearly 20 years of my daily exercise. Muscles are exercise specific and so is cardio. Running stadium steps for an hour three times a week will NOT allow you to hike 20 miles a day in the mountains.

So, this is what it takes for an ordinary senior person like me to backpack comfortably in the mountains. It is worth the price with the added benefit that I am not on any medications.