Q&A: Tyrhee Moore on Tackling Denali

Washington, D.C., native Tyrhee Moore was 13 before he saw his first mountain. Now, six years later, Moore joins a group of African American climbers setting out to ascend the highest peak in North America on Expedition Denali. Brought together by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), these climbers are role models in the African American outdoor community, each having a passion for nature and a dedication to encouraging the involvement of minority groups in environmentally motivated activities.

With hopes to inspire people of color to explore, embrace, and experience the outdoors, this team of trailblazers will begin their summit of Denali in June of this year, on the 100th anniversary of the mountain's first ascent.

Sierra magazine spoke with Moore about the outdoors, being a city kid, and what he’ll do when he reaches the top of Denali.    

What originally motivated you to get involved with outdoor activities?

I was in the 7th grade, and my school had this summer opportunities office. I went there looking for something to do over the summer, and they told me about some camp in Wyoming. When I went, it was my first time flying on a plane or seeing mountains. And I was wondering why didn't I know anything about that at 13. I really liked the camp so I kept going back, and they ended up giving me a scholarship for a NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) course. But if it had not been for that camp that exposed inner city kids to outdoor activities, I probably would not be doing any of this.

I understand you are one of the youngest members of Expedition Denali. As a sophomore in college, what made you want to spend a month of your summer vacation climbing a mountain rather than lying on a beach somewhere with your friends?

I can always spend time with friends, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I think that's the reason that we are climbing. It is such a good cause. Right now most of my friends don't do stuff like this, but hopefully my participation in this expedition will change that.

Q&A: Vegan Long-Distance Hiker Sam Maron

Sam Maron met the Appalachian Trail (AT) in eighth grade and fell for it, hard. He was at summer camp, where a four-day backpacking trip through the Maine end of the nearly 2200-mile path settled in his bones. Maron finally trekked the whole thing almost a decade later, hiking 12 to 20 miles per day for six months in 2009. But when Maron finally did it, he wasn't eating meat anymore. Or dairy. Or honey. Maron, now 26, is working toward a masters degree in environmental advocacy and social justice from Antioch University New England. He also runs the blog Backpacking Vegan to show it can be done.

Q. What called you back to the Appalachian Trail? And why vegan?

A. What appealed to me is that it is one interconnected wilderness experience that goes thousands of miles. You’re always in the environment, you’re always in nature. That doesn’t exist many places. I transitioned to being vegan in college. That was 2005. Definitely an interest in activism and wanting to live my life in a way that is less impactful to the Earth is the primary reason. The more I learned about the environmental and social impacts of the meat and dairy industries, the more strongly I felt that I didn’t want to be a part of it.

Q. How did you prepare for the AT?

A. When I was thinking about it in the years leading up to when I actually did it, I started researching [hiking vegan] and I couldn’t find anything about it. When I started hiking, I decided I was going to try as hard as I could. I also decided I was going to start with an open mind. It’s totally doable. It’s also a challenge, but it’s really important to me. Why would I compromise something that’s important to me when I wanted to travel?

Q. Did you do this alone?

Q&A: Underwater Photographer Cathy Church

Underwater photographer Cathy Church has been exploring the ocean world since the 1960's. Inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame in 2008, Church is also a fierce activist and ocean conservation advocate with a background in marine biology and a keen eye for the underwater world. Sierra caught up with Cathy in her art gallery and photo center on Grand Cayman, where she shared her experiences with crocodiles and turtles, her fight to protect the ocean, and how she captures each moment behind the lens. --interview by Allison Montroy

Sierra: Do you ever feel that you build a relationship with the creatures that you're photographing?

Cathy Church: You do build a relationship with the feeling of being there. You may not have a relationship with a particular nudibranch — but yes, you can have a relationship with what a nudibranch is because you know how they behave and what they are going to do next. And yeah, they do talk to you — not with words — but with the way they look at you. I like to be in the water long enough and often enough that when I see something in a scene, that scene talks to me. I relate to it. The photography, the seeing the image, is definitely in your heart. 

So, how did you first get into underwater photography? 

I was a birdwatcher. I loved nature — anything natural was wonderful for me. But I knew that there would not be much future in birdwatching, and that I should become a marine scientist, because I just always loved the ocean. So, as a marine biologist it was obviously a good idea to take up photography to document my theses. And I fortunately met a fellow named Jim Church who did photography, and we continued to pioneer underwater photography together in the 70's because there wasn't a lot known about it. We had primitive equipment and flash bulbs and we would take our light meter and put it in a Skippy peanut butter jar — so there wasn't a lot of sophisticated equipment, but it was enjoyable to figure it out. And I liked the science part of it. 

Science comes into play? 

10 Places to Explore in 2013

A new year means new adventures. So empty your bucket lists and fill them with these 10 travel destinations for 2013.

1.) Farm Sanctuary--Orland, California 

This place does more than just offer you pastoral bliss and an amazing view of Black Butte Lake. Farm Sanctuary is a definite must for familial bonding whether it be with humans, animals, or both. The sanctuary is a place for rescued farm animals such as pigs, cattle, sheep, and chickens that you can meet face-to-face on a guided tour. Revamp your knowledge or learn about what you can do to help stop cruelty to animals at this destination that will surely become a family favorite. 

2.) White Sands National Monument--New Mexico

If you're tired of life here on earth, come to White Sands National Monument. You'll feel like you've stepped into a whole other world. Enjoy the surreal landscape and learn about the native plants and animals that live here and have come to adapt to both the weather and color of their surroundings. You may even gain inspiration to film your next science fiction movie from these parts!

3.) Nihiwatu--Sumba, Indonesia 

5 Unbelievable Hotels Made of Natural Materials

Part of the excitement of going on a vacation is finding that special home away from home for the trip. Why not go all-natural with your vacation fantasy? One look at some of these impressive hotels made of natural materials and you'll be booking that reservation faster than we can say eco-adventure time! 

Ice

For an extended winter wonderland experience, shack up in the Hotel de Glace in Quebec for a weekend. Not only is this hotel made entirely of ice, every year features a new theme (this past year's theme was Northern Quebec) so that visitors get a unique experience every season. This elaborate ice castle includes an icy cafe, art gallery, themed suites, and for those with impending nuptials, they even have a chapel. Just make sure to make your reservations early, this hotel is only open from January 5th through March 24th. And don't worry, if a whole weekend is just a little too bone-chilling for you, stay for a night and spend the rest of the weekend in the warmth of hotels nearby. 

Salt

At the Palacio de Sal located along the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, salt isn’t just that staple mineral on the dinner table; it’s what the dinner table is made of. That’s right, what makes this hotel unique is that the entire building, complete with furniture inside, is made from 100 percent salt. But that doesn’t limit the luxury; the hotel features a lavish dining room, game room, and even a saltwater pool for guests to enjoy during their stay. One of the most interesting features about the hotel are the bedrooms built to resemble igloos—giving guests the effect of sleeping in an ice-themed room without the bluster at bedtime.

Journey Across America: The 178-Day Hike

From stable living to the open road, Nicholas “Hobo Nick” Kleckner recounts his epic walk across the country in just 178 days—monsoons, run-ins with the law, McChicken sandwiches and all.

What made you want to head out on the road?

Well I had a good job, a house, a new car, new motorcycle. So I guess by society’s standards I was moving forward in life, but I felt like I wasn’t growing. So that’s what really started wearing on me—I just needed to break out of that rut. Eventually, I kind of pushed it to the point where I boiled over and I just came to this spot where I just decided to walk away from it all.

Wasn’t that scary for you?

Oh yeah, for sure. But I feel like I fought [that frustration and stress] for so long that when I boiled over and I walked away, I wasn’t as scared… I kind of just came to the point where I hit that peak and I knew that was what I had to do. There was no real second guessing about it, but I would say that it was just really scary in the sense of having to live on the streets. That’s just a scary thing in general.

Winter Vacation: 5 Migration Destinations

As the days grow shorter and colder, as the trees shed their leaves and the nights grow frostier, we wouldn't blame you for dreaming of travelling to a more clement climate. Where would you spend the winter, if you could? Hawaii? Mexico? Or maybe you'd rather just hole up in the basement? Well, a lot of animals are one step (or wingbeat, or flipper-flick) ahead of you.

So, whether you're a bird or a worm, listen up. Here are  5 of the most popular vacation destinations. . . for wildlife.

5 Awesome Places to Ice Skate in the U.S.

Do your holiday traditions include some time on the ice? To inspire you to enjoy the cold weather this winter, we've compiled a list of 5 great outdoor ice-skating rinks where you can practice triple axles, share first dates, or enjoy quality time with your kids. These places offer something for everyone; so whether you're just a beginner or a regular Michelle Kwan, skating is a great way to celebrate one of nature's coolest creations: the ice.

Did your favorite rink make our list?

35 Reasons to Hike the Appalachian Trail

Need a reason to embark on an epic journey on the Appalachian Trail (AT)? How about 35 reasons? The well-worn route runs from Georgia to Maine and can take hikers five months to complete. For some, that's not nearly enough. AT hiker Kevin Gallagher said, "I sure would have loved to keep going."

To illustrate some of the reasons hikers like Gallagher love the AT, the folks at HikingBoots.com recently created a cool infographic to mark the trail's highlights and inspire us to plan our next adventure.

Check out the infographic below.

10 Must-See Pedestrian Bridges

The old adage goes that you shouldn't burn bridges. And we here at Sierra agree. Instead, you should visit them.

Bridges symbolize connection -- they directly join people, places, and things that would otherwise remain isolated. So in in this post, we're honoring 10 pedestrian bridges from around the globe that are either known for their majestically outrageous architecture or historical significance. We included  famous bridges as well as relatively unknown pathways.

We encourage you to visit the bridges in your region and not only cross over into new territory, but also build bridges toward new cultures, sights, sounds, and adventures. 

Henderson Waves, Singapore