July 28, 2023

Overview for this week.

1. Dr. Fox's July29th seminar debuted this morning. There will be others. The Flock will keep you updated.

2. The traditional Everest hiking season has come and gone; however, the mountains will remain open to those who wish to try off season summitting on other peaks. See our map.

3. The insects of summer are back. Cicadas that have been lying dormant for 17 years are joining crickets and katydids to create the droning soundtrack of warm summer evenings.

4. In Wellness The Flock will look at the future of food and the introduction of sustainable insect protein into the western diet.

5. Then The Flock will look at Car games for young travelers.

6. In the Book Corner we look at the Smithsonian Handbook of Interesting Insects and more back seat games to relieve the boredom of hours in the car on long road trips.

7. The Flock will look at the night blooming Cereus cactus.

8. The Flock will check in with the World Central Kitchen which has had a busy summer feeding the victims of natural and man-made disasters. We'll update you on their efforts.

9. In the Pet's Corner we'll give you an update on baby Truffle who is now with his new family in his forever home.

Now, to this weeks Flock.

The July 29th Workshop was FULL.

All who registered will receive a video recording of the Workshop.

How we think, how we act, how we see things and how we feel

all become our identity.

— Dr. Hayward M. Fox, P.h.D

Kristin Harila on Nanga Parbat some days ago. photo: Kristin Harila

Last year we looked at many of highest peaks around the world. We looked at: Kilimanjaro - the highest peak in Africa at 5,895m, Aconcagua - the highest peak in South America, at 6,960m Denali - the highest peak in North America at 6,190m, Vinson Massif - the highest peak in Antarctica at 4,892m. This week we're congratulating Norwegian climber Kristin Harila who was attempting to summit all 14 of the world's highest peaks in a record setting span of three months. She accomplished her goal on the morning of July 27th when she summited K2 and set a new speed record, missing her self-imposed goal of three months by one day.

From: ExplorersWeb, By: Angela Benavides, July 27, 2023

The long, hazardous journey for the rope-fixing team on K2 is far from over. They have worked through the night and dealt with lots of heavy snow and its natural consequence: slab avalanches. The avalanches hit around midnight, Lakpa Sherpa of 8K Expeditions reported from Base Camp, but there were no injuries.

Progress was slow, and the sherpa rope fixers only reached the top at around 10:30 am Pakistan time. Kristin Harila and Tenjen Lama Sherpa, supported by the biggest team of their entire project, topped out soon after. Harila missed her self-imposed deadline to speed-climb the 14×8,000’ers within three months by just one day.

From: AlanArnette.com, By: Alan Arnette, July 19, 2023

Record summits are happening all over Pakistan this summer, including Broad Peak, GII and even GI. Pakistan has joined Nepal in monetizing their 8000ers with record permits issued this season.

By Wiki LIC - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

From: Project Base8000

There are only 14 mountains in the world which are over 8000m / 26247ft above sea level. They are known as the ‘eight-thousanders’. These mountains are all located in the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges – across Nepal, Tibet (China) and Pakistan.

The green circle marks the location of the tracker after its sudden drop to 5,710m on Peak Pobeda.

photo: mountain.ru

From: ExplorersWeb, By: Kris Annapuna, July 25, 2023

Well-known Russian alpinist Dimitry Pavlenko, his wife Svetlana, and two clients are missing on 7,439m Pobeda Peak in the Tien Shan, according to Anna Piunova at Mountain.ru.

It is possible that an avalanche swept away the four climbers. Last year, Dimitry Pavlenko disappeared for two days on the always-treacherous Pobeda, but he later reappeared at base camp. This time, unfortunately, his prospects and those of other members of his team are more dire.

From: A-Z Animals, By: Hannah Crawford, July 27, 2023

The forest is quiet, almost like you can hear a pin drop. For 17 years, this is how it has been. But the animals in the forest know that change is coming soon. A feast that they will be able to relish for a few days.

Deep underground, something is brewing. For 17 years, billions of cicadas have been growing and living underground. And then nature takes its course, and they are ready to emerge and do what they are made for.

From: NPR, Morning Edition, September 8, 2015

For many, an insect chorus is the sound of summer. But many Morning Edition listeners wrote in to say they needed help identifying the bugs making the sound

Counting stars by candlelight all are dim but one is bright; the spiral light of Venus rising first and shining best, from the northwest corner of a brand-new crescent moon crickets and cicadas sing a rare and different tune.

– Author: Robert Hunter

4. WELLNESS: Uncommon Ingredients

Insects are an excellent source of protein and other nutrients. Insects can contain two to three times as much protein by weight as ground beef. While eating insects may seem unappetizing in many western cultures, the majority of the world’s population include them as a regular part of their diet and even as a special delicacy. Given their high nutritional value and sustainability, insects may be the protein of the future.

From: Bucket List Journey, By: Annette White

Did you know that North America and Europe are basically the only regions in the world where eating bugs is not common? Let that sink in for a bit! While edible bugs may not be considered your everyday dinner dish anywhere, there’s surprisingly many types of insects you can eat and there’s equally many places that’ll happily create a delicacy out of them, either through tradition and custom or as a genius modern idea.

And why not? After all, insects are actually far more protein dense than basically any other protein we’ve been feeding ourselves thus far, not to mention rich in other nutrients. There’s actually about 1700 types of bugs eaten in 113 different countries but here’s a bucket list of edible bugs that will get you started.

From: WebMD, Medically Reviewed by: Christine Mikstas, D, LD, January 26, 2021

Open Your Mind, and Your Mouth

You might think of eating insects as something kids do on a dare. But some of these little animals are popular around the world for their nutritional value -- and they’re starting to catch on in the U.S. Not long ago, sushi and lobster didn’t seem all that appetizing to Americans, so it’s not as far-fetched as it sounds

Maybe you're not quite an adventurous enough eater right now to incorporate insects into your diet. The following article highlights nine plant-based ingredients that are equally uncommon to most diets but are packed with nutrients and flavor. The list includes ingredients like mesquite flower, a gluten free and nutty tasting alternative to wheat flower, goji berries, a vitamin and antioxidant rich berry from the Himalayas, cordyceps mushroom powder, maca and other lesser used ingredients.

From: Healthline, By: KseniaAvdulova, November 20, 2018

From mesquite mocha lattes to goji berry tea, these recipes are packed with unusual ingredients and high-impact health benefits.

What if I told you that there is a handful of nutritious ingredients that could revamp your food life and bring you powerful health benefits without a massive kitchen intervention? And that those ingredients actually taste great, and can most likely be found at your local health food store?

5. KID'S CORNER: Summer Road Trip Games

Are we there yet? Keep young travelers engaged on a long drive and help the miles go by faster.

From: BestProducts.com, By:Cat Bowen, June 8, 2023

Car games for kids are the perfect gift to give your littles before they're sitting in the car for a few hours. They're a special little surprise that they're not expecting, and I think that's really sweet.

6. BOOK CORNER: Summer Titles For All Ages

This week’s titles include a handbook of insects from the Smithsonian that will entertain and fascinate readers young and old on any summer trip. We also have a title filled with games to make the miles sail by on your next road trip. As a bonus, we've included an I Spy deck of 48 cards with objects to spot along the road keeping young ones engaged on long drives.

Smithsonian Handbook of Interesting Insects presents striking photographic profiles of insects, each one specially selected from the 34 million specimens found in one of the oldest and most important entomology collection in the world, held by London's Natural History Museum.

The best way to make a long trip fast and enjoyable is to keep all your friends and family entertained and laughing. But what happens when you run out of things to say or do? Forget about electronic devices and open The Best Ever Back Seat Games, the book that will make your trip unforgettable! 

Based on the bestselling I Spy book series. This seek-and-find card game is perfect for keeping kids entertained and appreciating the scenery on the road. Whether on short rides near home or on cross-country road trips, children will enjoy the challenge of finding objects that match their cards outside their car.

7. AROUND TOWN: The Night Blooming Cereus Cactus

From: Tohono Chul Gardens

It has a hallowed place in Tohono O’ odham storytelling, has inspired folk songs, paintings, thousands of photographs and even a perfume. The Night Blooming Cereus, Peniocereus greggi, the aptly nick-named “The Queen of the Night”, creates an elusive flower, blooming en masse only one night of the year. Opening slowly at dusk the beautiful palm-sized flower is wilted within a few hours of sunrise. 

8. PHILANTHROPY: World Central Kitchen

WCK volunteers in Vermont.

If you are in the Washington D.C. or Los Angeles metropolitan areas, you are going to have a chance to help support the World Central Kitchen and have a delicious sampling of the meals they provide to people.

9. PET'S CORNER: Baby Truffle Update

Baby Truffle with his travel chaperone Ryan before his trip to his new permanent home.

Baby Truffle, safe and sound at his new home. These little pups grow so fast.

Baby Truffle is now part of the family.

Dr. Rachna Schroff with Zeus Truffle “Lambie” Garcia-Shroff

photo: Dr. Puneet Schroff

Flock Reader Submission

A Great Horned Owl submitted by Flock reader Nancy Ferguson.

Don't Be Shy: Share Your Stories!

I'm looking forward to sharing more of your personal stories - oral, written, or otherwise, as we enter our second year. I'd so love to present them to The Flock, hit a mailbox below to share your story.

Holualoa Ed Fit Wellness & Culture 2

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