Pollution in the air, Salt Lake City, UT.
Challenge Yourself to Clear the Air This Month
You reach the summit, you finish the race, raft the rapids, surf the wave and top out the boulder. It’s safe to say we all love a good challenge! This month in Utah (the home of Geartrade), the TravelWise Clear the Air Challenge is in full swing. No matter your home base, this is a challenge we can all be a part of. Below are our tips and tricks from simple steps to the more involved habit changes that can make a difference.
TravelWise is a division of the Utah Government that provides resources for cutting down travel emissions. This July, they are challenging residents to “Clear the Air” by thinking about and shaping up their travel habits. You may wonder what this means for your commute into the office, nightly trail rides, or weekend climbing trips, so let’s dive into the nitty-gritty bits.
Commute=Recreation?
Okay so hear us out… what if you looked at your daily commute as your hike, ride, or gym session for the day? You cut down on your emissions and get your body moving throughout the week and you can still go on your weekend adventures (don’t forget to carpool!) Genius, we know.
Stock your bag with your work clothes, and some wipes if your office isn’t equipped with a shower scenario. While this seems awesome, it’s just not possible for everyone.
Click here for Bike Commuting Basics.
Plan ahead!
Even if you don’t have the ability or time to use your commute as your recreation time, there are other small ways that you can cut down your emissions.
-Use public transportation once a week (or more!)
-Carpool once a week (or more!)
-Bring your lunch to avoid driving during your breaks
For the super flexible jobs:
-Work from your home
-Walk/ride/take the train to the coffee shop instead of driving
-Adjust your work schedule to avoid traveling during peak commute hours
-Talk to your boss about teleworking on bad air quality days
Trip Chain!
We all have a million things to do all the time, and sometimes there's just no avoiding it. When life gets like this, trip chain! For the environment and your sanity. Nothing stinks more than getting home after running an errand to then going back out to run another. Instead, make a list of all that you need to do outside of the home and lump ‘em together!
Trip Chaining Tips:
-Make a list
-Use Google maps to find the most efficient route and closer options
-Pack what you need for each stop before you go
Getting to the Trail/Beach/River!
Another sweet option is to carpool to the trail, beach, river, or wherever you love to recreate!
Grab your friends, and the dogs, load up the bikes, paddleboards, and trekking poles, and get after it! This month, challenge yourself and your pals to cut down on driving solo. You smell each other on the trail and at the brewery anyway, so let the car ride be a no-judgment zone too!
Carpooled Pals in a Slot Canyon
Have any clean air tips? We would love to hear them! Tag us in your pics or email us at hello@geartrade.com. As always be safe out there!
Kalie Lovell: self proclaimed hiker-trash, fiction and non-fiction writer, video content creator, cheese, ramen, and dog lover. As a regular UnNew-repper, she is constantly sharing gear care, maintenance, and repair tips in order to keep her gear in tip top shape for all of her hiking and backpacking adventures. Kalie dreams of an even more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming outdoor industry and wants to share her love of the outdoors with all who are willing to tag along!
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