2010 August | Seneca Trail

Walls of History

: Image via Wikipedia

The first inhabitants to the area currently designated Zion National Park were the Anasazi people. The Anasazi- Navajo for ‘ancient ones’- were a tribe of nomadic hunters. They arrived sometime around 600 A.D. and made their home throughout the Four Corners. They began to dwindle around 1200 A.D when a shortage of trees- cut to create dwellings- caused a destruction of the watershed that was vital to their way of life.

After the Anasazi left, many other nomadic tribes briefly made the Zion their home, but a stable population didn’t exist again until the 19th century. The Paiutes Indians settled, quickly assimilating the canyons into their religion and stories. They crafted tales of the ‘Evil One’, believed to be a white man who would bring disease.

Early Caucasian explorers were hindered by the lack of cooperation by the native tribe, but began to explore the area in the mid-19th Century. Mormon Missionaries were some of the first whites to explore the area, finally convincing Native American guides to lead them up the all the way up to Oak Creek, stopping just before the narrowest part of the canyon. The Mormon’s later named the area Zion, paying homage to the area’s beauty, saying that the mountains were “the natural temples of God.”

The area caught the eye of the first director of the National Park’s Service, who fought hard to bring recognition to Zion. In 1918, Zion National Park was established.

When hiking through the narrows of Zion National Park, there is plenty on one’s mind. Thoughts range from the geological formations of the steep, rocky walls to the wispy, hopefully-not rainclouds overhead. In the presence of such nature, it is rare for one to think about people. The people, for instance ,that first inhabited the land around Zion National Park. The first to build settlements in the area. The first to brave the rushing waters of the North Forks River. But sometimes under the shadow of the canyon walls, it’s nice to think of other people. Especially when the water is at your thighs.
The first inhabitants to the area currently designated Zion National Park were the Anasazi people. The Anasazi- Navajo for ‘ancient ones’- were a tribe of nomadic hunters. They arrived sometime around 600 A.D. and made their home throughout the Four Corners. They began to dwindle around 1200 A.D when a shortage of trees- cut to create dwellings- caused a destruction of the watershed that was vital to their way of life. After the Anasazi left, many other nomadic tribes briefly made the Zion their home, but a stable population didn’t exist again until the 19th century. The Paiutes Indians settled, quickly assimilating the canyons into their religion and stories. They crafted tales of the ‘Evil One’, believed to be a white man who would bring disease.
Early Caucasian explorers were hindered by the lack of cooperation by the native tribe, but began to explore the area in the mid-19th Century. Mormon Missionaries were some of the first whites to explore the area, finally convincing Native American guides to lead them up the all the way up to Oak Creek, stopping just before the narrowest part of the canyon. The Mormon’s later named the area Zion, paying homage to the area’s beauty, saying that the mountains were “the natural temples of God.”
The area caught the eye of the first director of the National Park’s Service, who fought hard to bring recognition to Zion. In 1918, Zion National Park was established.

Filed Under: Fun, National Park Tagged With: National park, Zion National Park

The Mysterious Mount Kilimanjaro

: Image via Wikipedia

Are you looking for a climb that combines adventure, exotic places, a high summit, and beauty that will take your breath away? If you are, look towards Africa, that mysterious continent which has fascinated explorers and adventurers from all over the world for generations. Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is one of the most popular climbs in the world, and for good reason. It has a fairly reachable summit by the easiest route so you do not have to be a professional in order to climb Kilimanjaro, although you do have to be in good shape and be very well prepared. Training for the climb is highly recommended.

Kilimanjaro has been the subject of many tales and legends. Writers like Earnest Hemingway have immortalized the distinct mountain that rises out of the African plains—a solitary watchman of the Serengeti. The surrounding country is beautiful and wild, and if you are going to climb this mountain, you will also want to take some time to go on a safari, or enjoy the surrounding country as well. Elephants, lions, zebra, wildebeest, and giraffes wander the surrounding plains.

When preparing to climb Kilimanjaro you will want to be sure to hire a reputable guide. Make sure that you don’t necessarily just go with the cheapest guides, who will sometimes lead you up harder routes, or bring gear that is not up to the strain of the hike. It is recommended that you bring your own gear and not expect a guide group to provide it for you, that way you will know that the gear is sturdy and will hold up for the duration of the hike. Be sure that you yourself are physically and mentally prepared to make the hike. You do not want to be rushed to reach camp everyday. If you feel you need to take more days than the usual amount, talk it over with your guide beforehand. You will want to do everything possible to enjoy this once in a lifetime experience.

Filed Under: Hiking Tagged With: Mount Kilimanjaro, Mountain, Tanzania

Exploring Great Basin

But don’t be fooled, Great Basin National Park is truly a sight to see. 13,000 foot glacier-carved peaks stand high above stunning caves running. Lands ranging from dry deserts to snowcapped peaks make for gorgeous examples of beauty in contrast. Visitors to the park should hike both the caves and the mountains, gaining a respect for the different landscape held within this seventy-seven thousand acre park.

The Lehman Caves is the park’s most popular cave. Carved by the flow of water, the cave is a friendlier, simpler dark space than one would find in the Carlsbad Caverns or other park’s caves. The guided hike through the cave covers a little less than a mile, running past beautiful stalactite formations. The Lake Room and the Grand Palace are the cave’s two main attractions, with enormous columns and shields filling the space. Special candlelight tours are occasionally offered, giving the visitor of how it used to feel to explore deep, dark caves.

From the depths of the cave, head up to a peak. The Wheeler Peak Summit Drive is a twelve mile long drive that begins low in the dry forest and ends with gorgeous 10,000 foot views in the high mountains. Peak Overlook atop Wheeler Peak features a lookout situated directly a glacier 1,800 feet below. Hiking the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail allows for more amazing mountain views while stopping along clear and quiet Teresa and Stella Lakes.

A big perk to the park: it doesn’t attract as many visitors as other parks in the area. A huge plus, especially for those visitors whom desire a more intimate park experience.

Nevada has never been a destination spot for National Park enthusiasts. Typically overshadowed by Colorado and its plethora of parks to the west, or the Grand Canyon- attracting about five million visitors per year- to the south, Nevada doesn’t garner much attention. There are only two National Parks in Nevada: Death Valley and Great Basin. Since Death Valley National Park is largely situated within California, this leaves solely Great Basin National Park to call Nevada home.
But don’t be fooled, Great Basin National Park is truly a sight to see. 13,000 foot glacier-carved peaks stand high above stunning caves running. Lands ranging from dry deserts to snowcapped peaks make for gorgeous examples of beauty in contrast. Visitors to the park should hike both the caves and the mountains, gaining a respect for the different landscape held within this seventy-seven thousand acre park.
The Lehman Caves is the park’s most popular cave. Carved by the flow of water, the cave is a friendlier, simpler dark space than one would find in the Carlsbad Caverns or other park’s caves. The guided hike through the cave covers a little less than a mile, running past beautiful stalactite formations. The Lake Room and the Grand Palace are the cave’s two main attractions, with enormous columns and shields filling the space. Special candlelight tours are occasionally offered, giving the visitor of how it used to feel to explore deep, dark caves.
From the depths of the cave, head up to a peak. The Wheeler Peak Summit Drive is a twelve mile long drive that begins low in the dry forest and ends with gorgeous 10,000 foot views in the high mountains. Peak Overlook atop Wheeler Peak features a lookout situated directly a glacier 1,800 feet below. Hiking the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail allows for more amazing mountain views while stopping along clear and quiet Teresa and Stella Lakes.
A big perk to the park: it doesn’t attract as many visitors as other parks in the area. A huge plus, especially for those visitors whom desire a more intimate park experience.

Filed Under: Fun, Hiking, National Park Tagged With: Death Valley National Park, Great Basin National Park, National park

Find Adventure on the Inca Trail

: Image by ShashiBellamkonda via Flickr

If you are looking for mystery, adventure, beauty and solitude, look no further than the Inca trail in Peru. The Incas, an ancient and extinct people that once ruled the western portion of South America, have left behind impressive and mysterious ruins. While we know quite a bit about the Incan empire, there is still much that remains speculation. One thing is certain; they have left behind awe-inspiring cities and ruins that give us a glimpse into their ancient lives.

The Inca trail is traditionally a 4-day hike, although there are variations that can be done. You can choose to do a one-day route that ends at Machu Pichu or a 7-day route that ends at Machu Pichu. The 7-day route is more strenuous, but incredibly beautiful. While the hike is rated as moderate and anyone who is in shape should be able to complete the trail you should be aware that the Inca trail is high above sea level and you will want to get acclimatized to it before you start your trek. If you are coming from sea level or near sea level it is suggested that you stay in Cusco for at least three days to get used to the elevation. There will be plenty to occupy your time in and around Cusco however. This beautiful city in the heart of the Andes is built on Inca ruins and is rich in history. Visit the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Q’enko, and others. Explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas and wander through the traditional market town of Pisac.

You will need to book your trip with a trekking company as it is illegal to do the trek on your own. Do some research and choose the right trekking company for your group. Then you can get out on the trail and enjoy the ancient Inca ruins, the beautiful misty Andes, and the small villages you pass through on your way to the ancient mountain city of Machu Pichu.

Filed Under: Hiking Tagged With: Cusco, MachuPicchu, Peru

Oregon’s Deep Lake

: Image by Roger Lynn via Flickr

Seventy miles east of Medford, Oregon rests America’s deepest freshwater lake. The lake- its surface about 5,500 feet above sea level- formed after Mt. Mazama, a volcano in the Cascade Range, erupted in 4800 B.C. The explosion- estimated to be one of the biggest in history-left a massive caldera. Over time, water from melted snow collected in the caldera, creating Crater Lake.

The best time to visit Crater Lake National Park is in the summer. Visitors can drive the thirty eight mile Rim Drive, circling the lake. The drive provides numerous scenic overlooks and picnic spots. From the top of the crater’s rim, the fresh Oregon air allows for views of over one hundred miles.

For those looking to swim and play in the icy cold waters, hike down the Cleetwood Trail. ON your way down, notice the different vegetation. Mountain Hemlock, Shasta red fir, whitebark pine, and ponderosa pine are some of the many varieties of trees present in the park. The steep, mile-long trail ends at a boat launch, as well as a small area to swim.

Boat tours leave hourly in the summer, allowing visitors to become acquainted with the vastness of the deep lake. The boat stops on Wizard Island, and for those who feel up to it, a two-mile round trip hike ends on Wizard Summit. From the summit, look out over the water and up the steep cliffs. It’s easy to get lost looking out, feeling like you’re on the surface of a totally different planet.

The Rim Village Visitor Center is a perfect last stop. With plenty of information on how the lake was formed, visitors will leave Crater Lake experts. Plus, the Visitor Center has plenty of gifts, snacks, and postcards; plenty of trinkets to help you remember your day at Crater Lake.

Filed Under: Fun, National Park Tagged With: Crater Lake National Park, craterlake

Get Those Sports Tickets With Cash Loans

Anyone who’s ever really wanted to go to a major sporting event knows that these things can be very costly. While hiking the Seneca trail is free, many days the weather will not permit hiking. So this free hiking trip is not an option. Between the transportation, the tickets, and the food and beverages, it can cost several hundred dollars. Saving up for them sometimes works, but when the tickets go on sale you need the money right then, so you can get a good seat. In order to have that money at the right time, you may have to consider getting a loan. Banks can’t really help you with that, because it takes a long time to be approved, and they generally don’t give unsecured loans. If you’re credit is bad, that’s another strike against you. Rather than worry about all that hassle, check into cash loans, instead.

Once you get some money, you can go right ahead and buy the tickets you want – and then all you have to do is look forward to going to the event. If friends or family members want to go, you might even consider getting a block of tickets so you’ll be sure that everyone can sit together. Most people who choose to go with you won’t mind reimbursing you for the cost of their ticket, especially if you got really good seats because you were able to get tickets right when they went on sale.

Planning ahead is the best way to get sports tickets quickly and easily. Keep track of them, and know when they go on sale. If you do that, you’ll be ready to get them instead of messing out on good seats because the tickets have been on sale for weeks by the time you realize it. Some companies allow you to set up alerts for the tickets, too, so you won’t accidentally forget that your favorite team is about to be in your area.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Cash Loans, Sports Tickets

The Notch Mountain Loop

: Image via Wikipedia

The Notch Mountain trail in the Uinta Mountains is absolutely stunning and is easy enough that as long as you have the right equipment and are in shape you will have no trouble on this hike. You can also hike part of the trail as a day hike and still get a wonderful view. The Uinta Mountains boast some of the highest mountains in Utah and the surrounding areas, including King’s Peak—the highest point in the state. The Notch Mountain trail actually starts at the base of Bald Mountain, which is the highest peak in the western Uintas. The trail winds along the base of Bald Mountain, passes several small alpine lakes, and after only a mile or so arrives at Notch Lake. Notch mountain can be seen from this larger alpine lake, as well as Bald Mountain. The view from this lake can be absolutely surreal. During a sunset, Bald Mountain and Reid’s Peak will seem almost on fire. It is a stunning sight to see as the setting sun lights them up, their rosy rock faces glowing in the settling dusk.

East Notch Mountain, named for the natural notch, which cuts through the ridgeline, stands at 11,263 feet and is a pretty easy summit, but West Notch Mountain is a climb only for the hardcore. The Notch Mountain trail takes you past about a dozen alpine lakes and beautiful high country. The loop is only nine miles total and can be done in one day easily, although it is often more fun to do an overnight backpacking trip on this trail in order to spend more time exploring. There are several side trails that lead to beautiful little lakes. With more time you can bring fishing poles and try for trout and grayling in the lakes, and really enjoy the wilderness surrounding you on your trip.

Filed Under: Hiking Tagged With: Bald Mountain, Hiking, Uinta Mountains

Dealing with Wildlife When Hiking

: Image via Wikipedia

One of the reasons that so many people like hiking and backpacking is the chance to get out into nature and see the wilderness in an almost untouched state. It is always fun to see wildlife in their natural habitat, and you almost always get a chance to see some of the local wildlife even if you are only going on a short hike. However, it is important to be aware of the dangers associated with wildlife—the danger to you and the danger to the wildlife.

It is important to find out a little bit about the wildlife in any area that you are going hiking. In many mountain regions there will be bears, coyotes, mountain lions, deer, elk, moose, raccoons, fox, and many other types of wildlife. If you are hiking in an area with a lot of bear activity, you should be aware of a few things. Bears, while potentially dangerous, are not usually aggressive, and unless surprised or threatened will not bother you. Some hikers will carry noisemakers in order to make noise along the trail, that way any bears hanging around will not be surprised. It is also important to know what to do with your food. You do not want to keep any opened packages of food inside your tent. It is wise to carry all your food in a separate bag and hang it in a tree a little ways from your tent, or keep it in a bear box. You do not want a hungry curious bear to come sniffing in your tent for food.

It is important to keep the animals in mind as you hike. You are in their territory and to enjoy them you need to be mindful of what is best for the wildlife as well. Don’t feed curious critters, and don’t try to trap or frighten them. Remember to be respectful of your surroundings.

Filed Under: Hiking Tagged With: Hiking, Recreation, Wildlife

Why the Sportsbooks Line-up Has Expanded

When the weather turns from bad to worse so hiking is not an option, many people watch sports. The word “sports” triggers the fire of school spirit in the heart of most students. Then when the husband says sports, the wife’s eyes roll back in her head particular (at least if it’s football season). Betting sports used to be football and baseball. Then tennis, soccer, horse and auto racing, and even boxing came to be listed in the sportsbooks.

Competition is one of the identifying factors which makes a game into a sport. A sport can be a done with teams or individuals. A sport is skillful physical activity but it also has its organization side. A real sport keeps score, and there are no free moves. Literally down to the last three seconds of the football game, the players keep a wistful eye on nothing other than the “scoreboard.”

What is it that drives us to the edge of our chair as the first tennis match progresses, the first quarter of a football game ends, or the first 100 laps are behind the race car driver? The competition of the game draws us in and then traps us. Then we start pulling for one particular team, one driver, or one horse and jockey.

Sports require a high level of physical strength and ability, but it takes more than fire power to win a game, a race, a tournament, or a boxing match. Each member of the team has to understand teamwork, and he or she must have knowledge of the game. The horse jockey needs to understand his or her horse, how much to push it, and when to push it. It is vital that the race car driver has natural skills for the race track but he or she must also take ownership of the track. Knowledge is a key element in any sport.

Filed Under: General, Sports Tagged With: Association football, Gambling, Sport

Hiking in the Desert

: Image via Wikipedia

Hiking and backpacking in the desert can be a fun and rewarding experience. Deserts are often beautiful places full of mystery, interesting wildlife and surprising sights. When hiking in a hot and dry desert however you will want to know what to be prepared for in order to avoid the dangers that can come with desert hiking and backpacking. Preparation is always the key in any type of hiking and exploring that you will be doing, and knowing your terrain is an important part of that preparation.

Deserts are often hot and dry, with little cloud cover and a lot of sun. You will want to prepare for hiking in the sun. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. Getting sunburned on a backpacking trip will not only be uncomfortable, but possibly dangerous. Many deserts are hot in the daytime and quite cold at night, if you are not prepared for a cold night, and you are sunburned chills will most likely set in. Be sure you prepare for the nights in the desert where you are planning your trip.

Water is an important factor for any hike, but especially desert hiking. Heat stroke and dehydration are dangerous and often deadly. Be prepared with water, or know exactly where water is available along the way. It is always better to be prepared with more water than is necessary. You won’t mind hauling some extra water out if it saves your life. Remember to drink even if you aren’t thirsty. When you are out exercising and sweating in the heat your body may not give you the urge to drink enough, so remember to do it regardless of whether you feel really thirsty or not. Take breaks when you need them as well. If you are feeling dizzy or lightheaded, try to find some shade to sit in and rest and take a drink. Give yourself enough time to take these rests on the way to your destination.

Filed Under: Hiking Tagged With: Backpacking, Hiking, Recreation