“Volunteers needed to aid in a scientific study conducted by the NRA. This study will need soil and paint samples from various sources at the top of peaks within the wilderness throughout Southern California (in the Los Padres National Forest of Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Ventura counties) and in Central California near Big Sur and Carmel (in Monterey County). Volunteers must be able to partake in a strenuous hike, between 8 and 12 miles round trip with as much elevation gain as 3000’, while carrying a backpack to hold scientific equipment and sample containers (no more than 30-40lbs). These sites may require the use of ATV’s in order to reach them. Volunteers must have meticulous record keeping abilities as well as a familiarity with GPS and camera devices. Detailed sampling protocols, as well as directions and equipment, will be supplied to volunteers after interest in this study is shown. Volunteers will be coordinating closely with scientists from the NRA as they sample and hike to these sites in order to ensure accuracy of sampling, as well as aiding the volunteer with any questions or directions they may need in order to locate the sites and comply with the scientific protocol. Thank you very much for your interest, and aid in helping this important scientific study.”

more info


http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=751136

Thanks for the tip. Since this is right in my backyard, I threw my hat in the ring. Sounds interesting.

Soil and paint samples, at elevation? How much paint is there at the top of SoCal peaks? What's this study about?

A fair amount, in some cases - fire lookout towers, present and past. Most of these would have been erected early in the 20th century, and of course they were painted. I doubt anyone specified lead free paint, if they even knew of suvh a thing.

The fire tower in which I worked the summer of 1957 was mostly steel, but there were painted elements within the cabin. The typical lookout was a frame structure about twenty feet square, sometimes with ancillary buildings.

What does NRA need soil and paint samples for?

Fun!

Thought exercise: You're going to be hauling 40 pounds of scientific gear to somewhere kinda remote? What else are you going to pack?

I suspect it has something to do with California Condors and lead amunition.

Not a whole lot more.....

Haha! I'd be thinking the same thing, I suspect. I'm working on my GHB/BOB right now and it's probably about 40 pounds with food and water. Wouldn't want much more than that. Of course, in my younger more foolish days... LOL!

What kind of a trek are we talking about for this project? Are weather, mechanical injury, etc. risks?

Walkie talkie comms? Cel phones? PLBs?

Since it is the NRA, I assume they want to study the effects of lead ( from ammo ) on the environment.

In a local camping/hunting forum , a discussion of this sort took place but from health angle. How much lead does a hunter consume from within hunted birds and small game ? The discussion went on to discuss scattered ammo in the environment consumed by other animals or birds, or just leaching into plants, which are consumed by animals and birds.

Remember I am NOT from the USA. So, no debate is intened here.

I think that maybe , just maybe, someone in the NRA is sensing someone on the other side gearing up to raise concerns about the negative environmnetal impact of hunting on the environment & wildlife. So, some NRA folks want to collect their own scientific ammo for such a confrontation.

Maybe.



p.s. Mods can delete my last paragraph if need be.