April 2009 Archives
“Voters in the heart of the Swiss Alps on Sunday passed legislation banning naked hiking after dozens of mostly German nudists started rambling through their picturesque region.” Harry Rosenbaum of the Associated Press.
Mountain biking blogger Terry Richard writes about ten central Oregon bike trails that are perfect for novices and intermediate riders. His suggestions include Dry Canyon, Suttle Tie Trail, and the “graduation ride” at Peterson Ridge: “From Village Green Park, ride south of town on Elm Street, then enter the well-marked trail system at the city limit. The six-mile lower loop is a easy but fun, while the 17-mile upper loop will have you gaining 700 feet. You’ll be ready to ride just about anywhere after this.” On OregonLive.com.
“It was Vermont’s — in fact the nation’s — first long-distance hiking trail, and would inspire the creation of the more famous Appalachian Mountain Trail. The Long Trail was the brainchild of James P. Taylor, who got the idea one day in 1909 while hiking on Stratton Mountain and admiring the distant hills.” Mark Bushnell writes about the 1931 hike that James Gordon Hindes and his Dartmouth College fraternity brother John Eames took from southern Vermont to the Canadian border. In the Rutland Herald.
On the Ars Technica Web site, Chris Foresman discusses what is undoubtedly the beginning of a trend: the growth of iPhone applications for hikers, birders, and outdoors people of all ilks. “One ad, cleverly called ‘Itchy,’ shows three apps that might be handy for an outdoors type (well, a geeky, tech-obsessed outdoors type). It features a virtual GPS compass, a birding guide, and Howcast showing a guide to avoiding poison ivy.”
Amy Clark recommends Colorado’s Mt. Elbert, California’s Mt. Shasta, and Washington’s Mt. Baker — in order of increasing difficulty. “Like many other physical feats, mountaineering takes practice — and lots of it. Fortunately, you’ve got plenty of options. The United States alone has 87 peaks that reach 14,000 feet or higher. And even though all are in the western half of North America, the panoramic views from the summit are worth the trip. Since you’re a beginner, plan to tackle one peak at a time, starting with an easier ascent, and then progressing to a more technical guided one.”
From the 15-pound, $795 Marine 3000 to the $10 Travel Medic, Adventure Medical Kits makes an emergency medical kit for just about any purpose. Steve Regenold reviews the lineup on GearJunkie.com. “The company’s Travel Series (www.adventuremedicalkits.com/travel) is significantly pared-down from the case Mapes takes out to sea. But the four kits — including the $10 Travel Medic on up to the $70 World Travel package — include most of the necessities the average Lonely-Planet-toting traveler will need.”
The Wall Street Journal’s extreme sports correspondent, Michael Ybarra, climbs frozen waterfalls above the Icefields Parkway in Canada. “I’m standing in the sun, belaying my partner who’s hacking his way up a frozen waterfall, when I realize that for the first time all day I’m actually reasonably warm. It was seven degrees when we left the car this morning, and for most of the day I’ve been either really cold (while belaying) or with my head and body overheating and my hands and feet freezing (while climbing).”
J.J. Briggs plans to leave Monday on her quest to complete the Pacific Crest Trail — 2,650 miles — in five months. The secret to success appears to be, in her mind, the supplies she packs: “Briggs has spent the past six months dehydrating food to eat on the trail. She has tuna, polenta, mashed potatoes and even some cupcakes. She’s been testing and eating all of her food for the past month to make sure it will work. She estimates eating about 2 pounds of food a day. Then there’s the water, which she’ll carry about 10-15 pounds of each day, particularly in the desert, where she won’t find many natural water sources.” Alandra Johnson in the Bend, Oregon Bulletin.
“Fog drifted off green hills bristling with cholla cactus and spiced with the scent of sage. The loudest sounds were the songs of meadowlarks. About 600 feet below, the ocean crashed on the boulder-strewn base of steep mountains riven by wind and water. The view lies at the 20-mile mark of the new Trans-Catalina Island Trail.” In the Los Angeles Times, Louis Sahagun describes the brand new 37.2-mile hiking route that traverses Santa Catalina island off of California’s southwest coast.