Here’s a frightening outdoors news item.

Ground Squirrel

Author:Stefan’s Page

The Los Alamos Campground, located in the Angeles National Forest, has been closed after a ground squirrel found there tested positive for the plague. Let me say that again, it tested positive for the plague!

The park was officially shut down on Saturday and will remain closed for at least ten days. During that time, officials will dust the squirrel burrows in the area for fleas in an attempt to prevent the spread of the disease. The plague spreads when infected rodents are bitten by fleas, who then go on to bite humans, passing along a bacteria that can bring on a severe fever, the chills, and a blood infection. In rare occasions, it can also lead to the pneumonic plague and possibly even death. Read more.

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Another jewel worth seeing in British Columbia’s Rocky Mountains. Here’s some current news.

Our Travel Log: Day 17 Kootenay National Park, BC

We spent the day touring the Kootenay National Park located in southern British Columbia. The Park was established in 1920 as a motor road as part of a Grand Circle Tour to link the Canadian Rocky Mountains with the national parks of …

Publish Date: 06/03/2010 10:49

http://jimandraija.blogspot.com/

Why Head Overseas? Check Out Alaska and Canada for Adventure Travel!

Banff — Start at Banff then over Vermillion and Sinclair Passes, head south through Kootenay National Park, north through the Columbia River Valley to Golden in Yoho National Park, then on to Lake Louise and back to Banff. …

Publish Date: 05/28/2010 19:43

http://www.mstraveler.com/

Our National Parks

… National Park Reserve; Gulf Islands National Park Reserve; Mount Revelstoke National Park; Glacier National Park; Jasper National Park; Yoho National Park; Banff National Park; Kootenay National Park; Waterton Lakes National Park …

Publish Date: 05/17/2010 7:35

http://miscellaneouspiecesofme.wordpress.com/

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Have you been to Yosemite? Was it crowded so you could hardly move? What about visiting some parks that are a lot less known and a lot less crowded?

Here are some blog posts about a less popular and less crowded National Park, Theodore Roosevelt National Park. You might see more bison than people.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park – Fee Free Weekend at Theodore …

Free admission will be offered this weekend to entice visitors to enjoy warmer weather, longer days and spectacular badlands scenery at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. To celebrate the start of the summer season, the National Park …

Publish Date: 06/02/2010 15:53

http://www.nps.gov/

Everett Potter’s Travel Report: Steve Jermanok’s Active Travels …

A bison in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. We’re blessed with 57 National Parks in America. Some, like Yellowstone, attract more than 3 million visitors annually. Others like Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North …

Publish Date: 05/24/2010 5:43

http://www.everettpotter.com/blog/

Theodore Roosevelt National Park – Theodore Roosevelt National …

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Announces Spring Visitor Center Hours.

Publish Date: 03/31/2010 8:22

http://www.nps.gov/

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The term “trash bag” is likely to evoke an image of something of rather lowly status. But, a large heavy-duty trash bag can be very useful in the wilderness. Even though it is designed to be disposable, it is really quite durable and it weighs mere ounces.

Below I will give some uses for heavy-duty trash bags, you know, the big black lawn and leaf, 42 gallon models.

Use #1: Emergency Rain Poncho: Just cut a hole for your head and two more for your arms. If you cut the hole slightly smaller than the diameter of your head and of your arms and force your head and arms into the holes, you’ll get a snug fit.

Use #2: Emergency Windbreaker Coat: If you need to add one more layer to avoid hypothermia, you can make a windbreaker coat with the same simple instructions for making a rain poncho. It won’t have any sleeves, but it can help keep your torso warm by blocking the wind.

Use #3: Moisture Barrier: You can use a heavy-duty trash bag as a moisture barrier when sitting on wet ground. Or you can use it between your sleeping bag and the damp ground. To double the length of the barrier, just slit the seams on both sides, but not on the bottom.

Continue Reading »

Keeping up your energy on the trail is important. What can you take along that is compact, nutritious and full of energy? Well, an energy bar, of course. Here are some recipes for making them yourself along with some other information.

Diet Fix: Raw Carrot Cake Cookies and Raw Chocolate Fudge Energy Bars!

I was actually thinking of baking them on a super low setting to act as a dehydrator but just loved them raw as usual. I of course as always froze the bars as soon as I was finished. Chocolate Fudge Energy Bars 1/2 cup raw cashews …

Publish Date: 02/04/2010 17:18

http://dietfix.blogspot.com/

y-bar-recipe/”>New Energy Bar Recipe «

Golden roasted nuts, seeds and oats are enveloped by flavorful almond butter in these delectably chewy, no-fuss energy bars. Unrefined turbinado sugar adds a deep caramelly undertone. Feel free to use light brown sugar instead. …

Publish Date: 02/04/2010 13:18

http://peaknutrition.wordpress.com/

Real Food vs. Energy Bars and Sports Drinks

Here’s a little food for thought: the biggest difference between eating engineered energy sports foods and real foods after your workout is convenience. There are many “recovery products” on the market right now; …

Publish Date: 06/25/2008 8:00

http://www.fitsugar.com/

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Hazards of Hiking

Hiking Tips for High Altitude Climbs

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In 1980, I solo hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru . At one point the trail became extremely narrow. On my left side a sheer rock face rose how high I could not tell. On my right, the same face dropped hundreds of feet to deadly rocks below.

As I inched my way along, the trail got narrower until it disappeared altogether. To continue, I had to leap across a gap a yard wide. As you probably surmised, I made it across and survived.

Here are some articles on the same trail and other extreme trails around the world.

Machu Picchu: tourists unable to leave, landslides, Inca Trail …

This is the rainy season in the area and the trail is closed during February, but these conditions are extreme. There are regular updates appearing in this Thorn Tree post · BBC news and this post over on Latin America Traveler is also …

Publish Date: 01/26/2010 2:00

http://inside-digital.blog.lonelyplanet.com/

Most Extreme Hiking Trails from Around the Globe

Most Extreme Hiking Trails from Around the Globe. By dorotix, January 13th 2010 in Adventure Travel Comments (6). Stumble. If you are an adrenaline addict and adventure lover, plus you can boast excellent psychical condition and strong …

Publish Date: 01/13/2010 5:56

http://opentravel.com/blogs/

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Green Hydration

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• Helicopters evacuate hundreds of stranded tourists from near Machu Picchu (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Mudslides strand tourists at famed Peruvian site (ctv.ca)
• Peru mudslides kill five, strand 1,900 tourists (calgaryherald.com)

Winter hiking can be fun. But, staying warm must be on your list of top priorities. Here are some stay-warm rules to follow when hiking in the winter time.

Rule #1: Be proactive and stay warm. Don’t let your body get cold in the first place. It is much easier to stay warm than it is to get warm.

Rule #2: Layer your clothing so that you can modify your heat retention incrementally. You don’t want to have your only options to be a heavy down jacket or a T-shirt.

Rule #3: If you stop moving, put on more clothing to retain the heat that you have generated by your hiking activity. Don immediately a jacket or a hat or gloves to conserve your hard-earned body heat.

Rule #4: Don’t get too warm. This may sound ironic. But if you start sweating, you may end up with damp clothing that can really chill you. When you start moving again, to avoid getting hot and sweaty, take layers off or open vents.

Rule #5: Avoid cotton. They say that cotton kills. This fiber retains moisture next year body and thus brings down your temperature, sometimes to the point of hypothermia. This condition can kill.

Continue Reading »

Here is a very well done video on a unique way to make a wilderness fire. It seems to work really well.

A complaint I have is that the area surrounding the demonstration fire was not cleared properly. You can see this easily in the video. A commenter explained that the leaves were soggy and couldn’t have caught on fire. However, for purposes of teaching fire making in any environment, the video maker should have cleared the fire area thoroughly prior to starting the fire. If one did what he did in the American West, he would have started a deadly forest fire.

With that critique off of my chest, I repeat that the video is generally well done.

Enjoy the video.

Richard Davidian

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Purify Your Water or Not?

Planet Earth Deserves Our Respect

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Tired of fighting crowds of campers competing for campsites? Here are three wilderness camping spots that can only be reached by water.

Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park

For the excitement of exploring the primeval beauty of lava flows, craters, faults, lava tubes and crystalline spring waters, give California’s Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park a go. (Photo by Marcia Wright)

You will also enjoy the crystalline waters flowing from a vast system of springs. These water sources give this park its Indian name, Ahjumawi, which means “where the waters come together”.

This Northern California State Park also features mesmerizing vistas of two prominent West Coast volcanoes, Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen.

Make sure that you are dressed properly with layered clothing during the cooler months. Pay special attention to your footgear. You will be scrambling over rugged lava flows and black basalt, which covers most of the Park.

You can only reach this park by boat, which you can launch from the “Rat Farm” public boat launch. To get detailed directions to the boat launch, follow this link: Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park.

Isle Royale National Park

 
Accessible exclusively by boat or seaplane, Isle Royale National Park has long been a favorite for hikers and campers desiring an isolated wilderness experience.

There is an interesting irony about this national park located near the Canadian border and within the waters of Lake Superior. It boasts the highest overnight use per acre but remains the least visited of all the U.S. national parks.

Paddling, hiking, exploring and diving to visit local shipwrecks are popular sports at this wilderness destination. Wildlife viewing is also a unique feature of this island, where you might even get a glimpse of wolves or a bull moose.

For more information on how to reach and enjoy this island gem, click on the following link: Isle Royale National Park.

Channel Islands National Park

Located some 30 miles off the coast of Southern California, Channel Islands National Park can be reached only by boat. It is made up of five beautiful and captivating islands: Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara. These islands, each one special in its own way, offer you five unique wilderness experiences.

With a Mediterranean climate throughout the year, this destination can be pleasurable in any season. Year-round temperatures average in the mid-60s (Fahrenheit) for the highs and in the low 50s for the lows. Plan to dress accordingly.

Expect to enjoy marine vistas, starkly beautiful landscapes, cultural sites and wildlife viewing without rival. For instance, people from around the world travel to Santa Cruz Island to view the very rare Island Scrub Jay.

Additionally, San Miguel Island can boast a wildlife world record. Four distinct seal and sea lion species breed here. No other known location in the world, not even the Galapagos Islands, can beat that record or even match it. You can hike across San Miguel to witness this unmatched wildlife spectacle.

As many as six species of pinnipeds are known to frequent this island. No wonder the Channel Islands have been called America’s Galapagos.

Check this government site for more details and directions: Channel Islands National Park.

So, for a unique wilderness experience, add to your list of future wilderness visits these three water-isolated destinations: Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park, Isle Royale National Park and Channel Islands National Park. They won’t disappoint you.

     by Richard Davidian, Ph.D.

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