Shenandoah National Park - Backcountry Camping - Beginner Trips New and Beginner Backpacking Trips Using Campgrounds Is this your first time backpacking? Perhaps you are trying out new equipment? Someone in your group is new to backpacking or nervous? Is this the first time out with your children? There are a number of situations where planning your backpacking trip around staying in a campground makes the most sense. Learning how to backpack and backcountry camp all at the same time can be overwhelming and often leads to unintentional resource damage. (For those of you wanting real luxury, backpacking to lodges or cabins in Shenandoah National Park is also an option, but isn't covered here.)
Top 10 hiking destinations NEW YORK - All tourism involves at least a bit of walking, even if it's just off the plane to a waiting limousine. But for those who want to put walking or hiking at the heart of their holiday fun, online travel adviser Cheapflights offers its top 10 hiking destinations. Reuters has not endorsed this list: 1. The granddaddy of mammoth hikes, the Appalachian Trail is more than 2,150 miles long and passes through 14 states. 2. More often than not, hiking entails high trees, rocks, poisonous plants, tents and the daunting task of cooking over a fire. 3. Along the limestone cliffs, weaving in and out of sandy beaches, lily ponds and fishing villages, is the 186-mile-long Pembrokeshire Coast Path. 4. At 19,336 feet, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa, and has become an increasingly popular hiking destination for travelers. 5. 6. New Zealand continuously tops adventure travel lists thanks to its collection of breathtaking terrain. 7. 8. 9. 10. (Edited by Paul Casciato)
Sliding Rock in North Carolina | Travel Blog Direction & Places to Visit - StumbleUpon Every summer, there are large number of tourist in Sliding rock, where is located one of most beautiful and unique natural mountain waterfall. It is located in Pisgah National Forest Close to Asheville NC, where people came to slip and slide on this beautiful 60-foot mountain slider. Even water is pretty cold, visitors wait patiently for their turn and slide one-by-one. At the end of the slide they make splash into the big eight-foot deep pool, swim couple feet to get into shore and get back in the line for one more slide… photo source A $1.00 per person fee is charged by the Forest Service to use the area between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, when lifeguards and rangers are on duty. photo source A restroom and changing room is provided and a lifeguard is periodically on duty especially during summer weekends from 10 AM to 5:30 PM. photo source A pool in the bottom from the falls is 8 feet deep. photo source photo source photo source photo source photo source photo source
12 Guy Trips That Will Change Your Life digg 1. Paddle the Grand Canyon Tackle 300 miles of some of the most powerful white water on the planet the old-school way, in a wooden boat.Why: Spending 13 to 18 days navigating the Colorado River through the mile-deep canyon, gazing up at 2 1/2 billion years’ worth of the earth’s crust on a nimble dory that launches you off the lips of roiling rapids turns you into a geologist, a waterman, and a more humble human being. 2. The Chyulu Hills of Kenya—the inspiration for Hemingway’s Green Hills of Africa—are where three national parks converge to protect lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalo, and leopards—the big five—and Masai warriors have become its conservationists and guides. 3. The world’s largest mammal can reach lengths of 100 feet (think three school buses) and weigh in at 200 tons—more than an entire herd of elephants. 4. 5. 6. You’ll be stripped of your watch and cellphone. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Moab meets the Grand Canyon 200 miles south of the U.S. Source: menshealth
Zen Backpacking - Ultralightweight Backpacking Packing List Contact: Ultralightweight Backpacking Packing List For backpacking, less is more. Traveling ultralight means that you carry just enough to stay alive and have move easily since you only carry a feather weight pack. The amount of gear needed for 1 weeks is the same for 3 months. Please feel free to link to this site so that others can find it. Zen Backpacking <a href=" Backpacking</a> How to take a broke-ass road trip There’s a saying that goes, ‘The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco’. It’s credited to Mark Twain, but that’s a lie; nobody really knows who said it. I wish I had. You know what else I wish I had? 1. (I know I just complained about not having a car, but I’m actually tied to my desk right now, so just look at my car reference before as a metaphor for ‘the freedom to not be at my damn desk’.) 2. If you don’t have wheels but aren’t too keen on riding with random strangers, you can always rent a car. 3. Still on the car-less theme, if you use Zipcar or one of the countless smaller local versions of car sharing, you can take a vehicle for multiple days at a time. 4. Don’t wanna spend too much loot on food while traveling? 5. You read Lonely Planet, so you know the drill, but just in case you don’t, I’ll break it down for you. 6. If you wanna save money on a road trip, don’t go to Disneyland, or any other theme park for that matter. 7. 8.
Sticky Balsamic Ribs - StumbleUpon OK, Folks. No joke, these are the best ribs ever!! I always look at reader reviews when I choose a recipe. They help me decide whether a recipe is worth it, or not. Begin with some fresh rosemary. Finely chop 2 tablespoons worth & put it in a mixing bowl. 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar & 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper {I cut back on this a bit, as I was serving this to kids}. Next, peel 8 cloves of garlic. Mince them up & add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt {right on top of the garlic}. Add this to the mixing bowl, along with a 1/2 tablespoon of kosher salt & 1/2 teaspoon pepper and stir everything up. Next, you will need 4 racks of baby back pork ribs. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cover tightly with foil & roast the ribs until the meat is very tender, about 1 3/4 hours. Add 1 cup of water to the pan & using a wooden spoon, scrape up all the brown bits. Brush the ribs with some more glaze & serve.Adapted from Gourmet magazine, July 2009Serves 4-5
Mangan's 10 Essentials for Happy Hiking Most of these aren’t essential for survival; they’re essential to me for having a good time on on a hike. (The official survival essentials are listed at the end) 1. A water supply It’s not just a matter of carrying enough water — you need access to more if you run out. That means two things: a) letting your water supply determine your hike length (turning back when it’s half-gone, for example); and b) having a plan for running dry. There’s a whole industry built around keeping you hydrated. Availability of water is as integral to a hike plan as distance, elevation gain and altitude. Water should never be far from your mind … but you don’t want to be in a situation where it’s all you think about, though, because that usually means you’re all out. 2. The most basic risk of hiking is getting lost. It doesn’t really matter what kind of map you have, so long as it tells you where to turn to get back where you came from. 3. The fabric closest to your feet has the most impact on them. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Backpacks Infographic: How to Find the Right Backpack - REI - StumbleUpon Need a break from the daily multitasking merry-go-round? Trade in your digital devices for boots and backpacks—they're your ticket to off-the-grid adventures and the wonders of the backcountry! With the right pack and a little preparation, you can head out for a day hike or a through-hike and say "CUL8R" to the daily grind. Add this infographic to your website by copying the code below: <p><a href=" src=" alt="Backpacks Infographic: How to Find the Right Backpack for You" title="Backpacks Infographic: How to Find the Right Backpack for You" /></a><br /><br />Check out REI's <a href=" next time you head outdoors! Lost Coast Backpacking Trip This page is out of date. For the latest information please go to King Range National Conservation Area. The most important change is that permits are now required. Description Trail: Lost Cost Trail Distance: 24.8 miles (one way) Start Trailhead: Mattole End Trailhead: Black Sands Beach Permits: not required for individuals (free permit required for groups) Driving distance: 230mi north of San Francisco Permits Not required for Individuals. Driving Directions to Trailheads Mattole: U.S. 101 to the "South Fork/Honeydew" exit. How to travel between trailheads? Car shuttle (leave one car a Mattole, the other at Black Sands Beach). Tides It's very important to have a tide table. These are the segments that may be impassable at high tide (mileage from Mattole): Punta Gorda (2.9mi) Sea Lion Gulch to Randall Creek (4.5-8.4mi) South end of Miller Flat to 1.5mi North of Gitchell Creek (16.7-20.7mi) Pictures From Phillipe Golle: Maps References
Camping Checklist – Camping List Preparation is essential for any outdoor adventure. Having the necessary supplies and equipment can make a difference in your overall enjoyment and experience. Checklists are a great tool to help with your organization. Your camping list will vary according to the type of camping and activities you have planned, the places you are going, the time of year and the length of your trip. By popular request, we’re now offering a printer friendly camping checklist! Shelter __Tent __Ground cloth/tarp __Extra stakes __Shade tarp/poles/rope/stakes __Axe or hammer __Mat for tent entrance __Dust pan/brush Bedding __Sleeping bag __Sheets/blankets __Pillow __Air mattress/sleeping pad/cot/tarp __Air pump __Repair kit for air mattress __Utility bags for storage Cooking Clothes __Shoes/boots __Jeans/pant/belt __Shorts __T-shirts __Socks/extra socks __Hat __Bandana __Sweatshirt/jacket __Underwear __Sleep clothes __Rain gear __Swim suit/towel __Laundry bag Personal Miscellaneous Basic First Aid Kit