National Park | Seneca Trail

Understanding Spread Betting

For anybody who wants to try sports spread betting and doesn’t know where to begin, it’s best to get down the basics of what spread betting itself is first. Unlike ordinary betting, spread betting has a math-based rule system that you must follow, and doesn’t rely on whoever you’re betting will win so much as how well they do overall.

Virtually all sports bets have players (horses, teams…) called the “favorite” and the “underdog”. The favorite is the one most likely to win, and the underdog is the one that’s least likely to win in the gambler’s estimation. In the simplest form of betting, the one we’re all familiar with, the bet is on whether the favorite will win or not; this produces an imbalanced amount of bets in favor of the favorite, with few if any people placing their money on the underdog. Naturally, in order to make a profit, there needs to be some betting on the underdog.

Spread betting balances things out. A “spread” of points (typically 4) is established, and whether the bet wins or loses is calculated with the spread number and whether the bet is on the underdog or the favorite. Betting for the underdog is called “taking the points”; the person placing the bet wins only if the favorite’s score is less than the underdog’s score with the spread added on. Betting for the favorite is called “giving the points”; the player wins if the underdog’s score is less than the favorite’s score minus the spread.

Instead of betting on whether the favorite will win or not, the question is now whether the favorite will win by more points than the established point spread. This effectively gives the underdog a handicap. Best of all, it enables the bookmaker to make a profit whether the underdog or the favorite receives more bets.

Filed Under: Adventure, Fun, Hiking, National Park Tagged With: City Index Group, Gambling, PR Newswire, Recreation and Sports, Sports, Sports betting, Spread betting, Win–loss record

Hiking Mount Rainier

: Image via Wikipedia

Rising high over the Puget Sound and the sparkling towers of downtown Seattle is Mount Rainier. The mountain, usually lost in the clouds, is a snow-capped beacon of light for outdoor enthusiasts of any type as soon as the sun breaks through. In the summer months, Mount Rainier National Park has a plethora of spots to bike, camp, fish, and, most importantly: hike.

Situated just ninety five miles from downtown Seattle, Mount Rainier National park is home to some of the most breathtaking hikes in the entire country. Whether you’re the novice hiker who prefers paved paths and plenty of bathroom breaks, or the experienced woodsman who doesn’t want to see another face for miles around, Mount Rainier National Park has you covered.

Paradise Visitor Center is perhaps the park’s busiest destination, and for good reason. Accessible through the park’s southern entrance, Paradise offers a variety of different hikes, accommodating every skill level. Stop at the Longmire Museum on your way up to learn a bit of history on the gorgeous mountain. There, hike the smooth, half-mile Trail of Shadows as a warm up. Then hop back in the car and continue on to the Paradise Visitor Center. Park the car, stuff your packs, and head out on the 5-mile Skyline Trail. The trail is steep but rewarding, ending at Panorama Point and some simply amazing views of the mountain.

Those coming from the eastside of the mountain may prefer to visit Sunrise Visitor Center. Enter through the park’s White River entrance and end at the Sunrise visitor center. The visitor center sits right about the tree line, allowing visitors the contrasting views of lush forest and frigid mountaintop. Hike the 1.5 mile Sourdough nature trail for a cool look at the area’s plants and animals.

Paradise and Sunrise are just two of the many spots for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the Pacific Northwest’s crown jewel. Just remember, always check current road and weather conditions before leaving.

Now get out and enjoy!

Filed Under: Fun, Hiking, National Park Tagged With: Mount Rainier National Park, Mountain, National park

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

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

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

Hiking the Backcountry in Zion National Park

: Image via Wikipedia

Zion National Park, a favorite of both experienced hikers and novices, offers a wide variety to visitors. From simple yet beautiful hikes, to extreme canyoneering, Zion is an outdoor lovers paradise. With its sheer sandstone cliffs, mazelike slot canyons and astonishing vistas, Zion draws a large crowd of people. If you are a fairly experienced hiker and you want to enjoy the glory of Zion without the large crowds, try exploring the backcountry of Zion.

Zion’s backcountry has some of the greatest hikes in the park. Group sizes in many of the popular canyons like Subway, Pine Creek, Orderville, and others are limited to six. However, if you have a larger group, you can simply split it up into smaller groups of six or less and pay for more than one permit. The total number of people allowed into many of the backcountry canyons per day is limited, so the permits go fast. The Subway, for example, is so popular that they hold a lottery for permits each year. You may submit your name and number of permits and hope to be picked out of the lottery. The park does reserve a number of permits that can be obtained online through a calendar sign up, but there are only certain dates when you can reserve permits using the calendar. Your third option is to wait in line at the permit office the day before, or the morning of your intended hike.

If you are going to choose the third option there are some things you should know. You are not allowed to camp or sleep overnight outside the permit office, but if you really want to get a permit, you should be at the permit office at about five or six in the morning. The mornings are cold, so bundle up and bring a camping chair. They only give a very limited amount of permits out at the office per day, so be prepared with another hike if you cannot get permits. The great thing about Zion is that if you don’t get the hike you want, there are plenty of other great hikes available.

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