A delegation of representatives from Conservation Alliance member companies spent several days in Washington DC meeting with Congressional offices about the importance of protecting Wilderness areas in California. The group also spent a day meeting with key offices urging stronger funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The group, pictured above with Representative Mary Bono-Mack, included Conrad Anker (The North Face), Nicole Bassett (prAna), Hans Cole (Patagonia), and John Sterling (The Conservation Alliance). In meetings, the delegation talked about how important protected public lands are to the outdoor industry and its customers. Legislation has been introduce to protect lands in California Desert, and in Northern San Diego County. Projects are also emerging to save public lands in the San Gabriel Mountains east of Los Angeles, and in the Los Padres National Forest near Santa Barbara and Ventura.
The group also had an interesting meeting with Colorado Senator Mark Udall (pictured above), who enjoyed trading stories with Conrad about their respective climbs on 8,000-meter peaks. Senator Udall summitted Kanchenjunga in 1990, while Conrad has twice topped out on Mt. Everest, in 1999 and 2007.