(Delivering my speech to the crowd at the Andrea Lawrence Award Dinner)

Her remarkable life journey began as an amazing athlete where she was the first American alpine skier to win two Olympic gold medals in the 1952 Olympic games. She was inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame in 1958 and carried the torch at the 1960 Winter Olympics held in Squaw Valley, CA.

After moving to Mammoth Lakes, CA in 1968, Andrea began her lifelong calling of public service and protecting places of natural history and beauty. She was elected as a Mono County supervisor in 1982, a position she held for 16 years, and was a long-time advocate for the protection and preservation of Mono Lake. In 2003 she founded the Andrea Lawrence Institute for Mountains and Rivers, a non-profit organization committed to conservation mainly targeting areas in the eastern Sierra Nevada region. 

 (L-R: CA State Park Ranger, Dave Marquart; Bodie Foundation President, Brad Sturdivant; Mono Lake Committee Ex. Director, Geoff McQuilkin)

After passing away in March 2009, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer and U.S. Representative Howard McKeon announced legislation to rename Peak 12,240 in Mono County “Mt. Andrea Lawrence” in her honor. A truly fitting gesture for an amazing woman and hero to so many who enjoy the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

One of my favorite quotes comes from the famous scholar Robert Burton. It reads: ” I light my candle from their torches”. I can assure you that whatever path that I’m destined for, I will always carry Andrea’s story with me and share it with as many people as I can.

- Robert Hanna

(Geoff McQuilkin and I on the gondola ride to the Andrea Lawrence Award Dinner)

A portion of all proceeds from the sale of the ‘Park Saver’ shirts will go to saving the 70 parks on California’s closure list. Be a voice for our parks!

Sizes:
S,M,L,XL,2XL

Colors:

• Khaki
• Cactus Green
• Storm Gray

Fabric:

• 100% preshrunk combed ringspun cotton jersey knit

Item Details:

• Super soft feel

[Referenced John Muir quote] John Muir Papers, Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library.
©1984 Muir-Hanna Trust

* Due to high demand, please allow 7-10 business days for processing.

Amongst the many places that make Benicia so special are the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park and the Benicia State Recreation Area, both which have been placed on California’s park closure list and are up against the clock to save them from this disturbing fate.

The historic Capitol building takes visitors back in time to when it served as California’s State Capitol from February 1853 to February 1854. It’s the only pre-Sacramento Capitol building still standing today and has been restored so that one feels as if they’re right in the middle of an early era legislative session.

Equally spectacular in both its story and historic significance is the Fischer-Hanlon House which is right next door to the Capitol building. Purchased by Joseph Fischer, a Swiss merchant and cattleman who came to California in 1849, it’s the only building in the entire California State Park system that exhibits the life of a 19^th century upper middle class family. Having been occupied by successive generations of the Fischer family, it’s filled with original artifacts and stories which make one feel as if they’re a member of the family while each rooms reveals another chapter in this amazing period of time.

Both of these buildings are located within the city’s commercial district and serve as the main staple for Benicia’s promotional tourism campaign. Without a doubt, visitors of the parks also contribute to the local economy by stopping in the many stores and restaurants which are just steps away from the parks. When I asked Thomas Hamilton, local business owner of The Rellik Tavern what he thought about the current situation – he said: “We’re all aware of and sensitive to the state’s budget situation but you can’t destroy local businesses and continue to take away places for kids to go and learn our history.”

A few miles down the road, I entered the Benicia State Recreation Area, the other park that sits on California’s unfortunate hit-list. As I walked along its two mile stretch of beautiful wetlands and open beauty, I couldn’t help but think that if our elected leaders had just visited these places before voting to close them, almost certainly they would have all been spared.

One of the parks many highlights is The Forrest Deaner Native Plant Botanic Garden, a 3.5 acre garden of beauty which compliments a glorious view of the 720 acre Southampton Bay Wetland Natural Preserve. I was fortunate to soon be in the company of the park’s peace officer, who took a good amount of time to show me around the area and to talk to me about the many challenges it faces with the prospect of closure. As we walked up a hill, not far from the botanical gardens, I couldn’t have imagined what I was about to witness. We soon came across a series of huge sheets of wood scattered across the mountaintop. As he lifted each one for me, he explained that they were all the works of vandals who had recently dug holes of up to 7 feet deep (and some up to 6 feet across) to steal the copper wire that  remains from the old power lines infrastructure from earlier times.  “To know this is happening right now while the park is open scares me, to think of what’ll happen if it’s closed is terrifying. It’ll give the green light to vandals to destroy these places of beauty.”

I left Benicia that day determined to do all I can in helping keep its two parks safe from the prospect of closure. Having seen what they mean to the community, all of the staff who call them home during the day, and to the many teams of volunteers who are so committed to them – we must do all we can to answer their call. We will not accept the fate that our elected officials have placed upon us and I ask that you please engage in the battle to protect these places of beauty and history. Please email me at roberth@rangeoflight.com to join the fight.

~ Robert Hanna

When the state released the park closure list in May, like many, my stomach was knotted with disgust. I had no idea what to do, but knew that I was going to roll up my sleeves and fight with every ounce of energy and vigor to do my best in protecting every park that made its way to this unnecessary hit-list.

Having spent every childhood summer at our family’s cabin in the eastern sierra, words cannot describe the anger and rage when I learned that the Mono Lake Tufa Reserve was amongst the parks on the list. Throughout my entire youth this lake had served as the backdrop for my imagination to run wild. I have ran amongst the Tufa Towers, explored the Black Point Fissures, stood in awe of the Mono Craters, and learned of the early Native Americans who once lived (and who continue) to be connected to this sacred treasure. It has offered it’s peaceful and transcendental qualities to every generation of my family since my great-great-grandfather, and I knew that this was the beginning-point to where I would embark on this  crusade.

After a few calls to the Mono Lake Committee and the California State Parks Foundation, I was soon standing with hundreds of supporters  on the steps of the capital in Sacramento. Throughout the day we lobbied with passion to various members of the Assembly and Senate. Though different in every aspect from our upbringing, professions, and parks we held sacred, we all stood alongside one another with one common message: We were not going to accept this fate, and that we were going to do whatever it takes to fight for these places so dear to us.

Next, I knew that I had to show our elected leaders first-hand the beauty of these places and called to arrange for Assemblymember Kristin Olsen and Senator Ted Gaines to visit the lake that I held so dear. Soon I found myself giving a tour to each of them in a kayak, watching in awe as they learned of all of the unique landscapes, stories, and endless supply of beauty that I had been exposed to as a kid. Needless to say, they were hooked, and each walked away promising to help in any way to back our efforts – to which they did.

After my first experience as a lobbyist, I sat amongst a group so passionate and committed, that I can’t express how much they mean to Mono Lake or this story. Our mission was simple – to collectively create a bulletproof proposal for the Parks Agency to approve and remove our beloved park from the closure list. I will forever remember this meeting and perhaps one day take my own kids to the spot and explain to them how much it means to me. It was absolutely amazing to see so many at one table, so passionate for a cause, work together and stand for something so great – that over the next few days we had put forth the final product. Once completed, the proposal was sent to Sacramento and it was now in the hands of the agency to decide our fate.

After about a month of what seemed to be the longest period of doubt, excitement, anger, waiting, and every possible human expression, we received the news on December 1st, 2011 that the proposal was accepted and that the Mono Lake Tufa Reserve was removed from California’s state park closure list.

Fittingly, a strong wind storm had knocked out all power in the Eastern Sierra that day, so we celebrated amongst one another in the darkened headquarters of the Mono Lake Committee in Lee Vining, CA. It was the perfect ending to a six month battle and I couldn’t help to think that amongst us was the late founder of the Mono Lake Committee, David Gaines, and all of the others who are tied to the history of this magnificent place. On that day, we had celebrated a victory to not only show that we would stand and fight for our parks, but we also showed the world what can be achieved by working together for something you love and believe in.

* Robert Hanna

Colors:

• Heather Sky Blue

Fabric:

• 4.40z., 50% cotton/50% polyester
• Soft feel t-shirt

Item Details:

• Made in USA
• Super soft feel

[Referenced John Muir quote] John Muir Papers, Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library.
©1984 Muir-Hanna Trust

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For as long as I can remember, April 21st  has been a date where every year many come to celebrate Muir and reflect upon his actions to protect and preserve our worlds natural beauty. Having attended so many of these wonderful events over the years, I’ve had the great privilege of meeting  many wonderful people who have openly expressed their love and admiration for him to me, and in doing so, I’ve realized that whether it be blood or spirit, we are all connected to him, and that each of us has inherited the tremendous responsibility to carry on his legacy for all generations to come.

Though many who read this blog have already themselves bonded with nature  and have made it a part of their own lives, the fact is, there are many  who have not been able to experience this beauty because of barriers which are preventing them to do so. I’ve made it a personal mission of mine to dedicate Range of Light to removing these barriers and seeing to it that we encourage as many people to seek nature as possible and to also be a part of that experience.

Having just turned 31, I’ve quickly learned that there’s a lot to do but am excited to embark on this journey where I can share my family’s passion and commitment with the world. I can’t wait to meet all of the amazing people and families along the way and look forward to partnering with Mother Nature, and all of her spiritual and transcendental qualities.

With that, I invite you all to come join the Range of Light family and share this experience with us. I look forward to all that awaits and am happy to now start up the trail. Happy birthday John Muir!

~ Robert Hanna

Colors:

• Royal
• Cream
• Red
• Black

Item Details:

• Made in the USA

Colors:

• Royal
• Cream
• Red
• Black

Item Details:

• Made in the USA

• River Blue

FABRIC:

• 5 oz., 100% certified organic preshrunk cotton jersey knit t-shirt.

ITEM DETAIL:

• Relaxed silhouette is fashion cut for women.
• Seamed color.
• Taped shoulder to shoulder.
• Double-needle stitched sleeve and bottom hem.

FEATURES:

• 100% certified organic cotton.

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COLORS:

• Black
• Leaf

FABRIC:

• 4.2 oz., 100% preshrunk combed ringspun cotton certified organic t-shirt.

ITEM DETAIL:

• Coverseam stitched collar.
• Double-needle stitched sleeve and bottom hem.

FEATURES:

• 100% certified organic cotton.

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