Category: Outdoor Recreation & Hiking
One Crazy Weekend…Part 3: A Labor of Love
September 23, 2012 by Diane Berry · Leave a Comment
The last two posts I have been discussing our Labor Day adventure, summiting Wheeler Peak, New Mexico’s highest point, via the long trail; 16 miles round trip. We were near the summit as I left off in the last post, but racing against the clock as we (I) wanted to do so in less than four hours. As we continued, the trail from Walter to Wheeler became a bit more treacherous, causing us to slow down a bit more than we cared to at that point. Terry commented at that point, “We can still make it,” not realizing how his comments were motivating me or that I had stopped looking at my watch. Reaching the saddle between Walter and Wheeler, I began to run a bit when I could, clambering up the side of Wheeler and preparing myself for the false summit I knew from Saturday’s hike was soon to come. I did not let it slow me down, continuing to run up the final ascent to Wheeler. Just before we reached the last ledge before the summit, Terry said, “One minute.” We all but jumped up to... [Read more...]
Deer Tick Infestation closes Massachusetts Campsites
September 21, 2012 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
The busy summer season is over, and usually by this time the officials at Nickerson State Park on Cape Cod close one of their seven camping areas, but this year they are closing three of their campsites. Diagram of the relative sizes of tick species at various life stages. (Credit: tbdalliance.org) Instead of a lack of campers, it’s an infestation of Deer Ticks which is the reason. These pests are the carriers of Lyme disease. Department of Conservation and Recreation officials note while they closed the three campsites that were closest to the problem areas, people can camp in other parts of the state park, they just need to dress appropriately and check each other for ticks when they leave, reports WBUR in a special series, “Living with Lyme.” It’s a concern that swept this state park after nymph and larvae-stage ticks were found here this summer. “What people were finding at Nickerson is, they’re finding like hundreds of these larvae on their little kids,” Cape’s... [Read more...]
KanJam The Ultimate Disc Game
September 21, 2012 by Canadianladybug · Leave a Comment
What is KanJam? KanJam is a game that is gaining popularity and is based in throwing a flying disk into a container to mark points. This game originally started back in the mid 1990s when a few guys were throwing a disc into metal garbage can just for the fun of it. This game is now found in tailgating, camping, beach parties, school gymnasiums, college campuses, neighborhood parks and backyard parties to name only a few places where it can be played. How to Play KanJam consists in flying a disc into a scoring containers and make a goal. It looks easier than it is but while practicing and having fun, you are exercising yourself. Here’s the rules and point scores for the game. And believe it or not there are tournaments and leagues forming as more and more people are discovering this game. Our Thoughts When I stumbled on this game I was curious and immediately requested to review one. Our KanJam arrived quite rapidly in the late spring and we decided to bring it with us as we spend some... [Read more...]
One Crazy Weekend…Part 2: A Race Against the Clock
September 16, 2012 by Diane Berry · 2 Comments
In my last post, I detailed the beginning of a hike we undertook Labor Day Weekend, to repeat an adventure we had had with our children back in 2005: summiting Wheeler Peak via the long trail, 16 miles round trip. We pick up where we left off–in mid hike. Our resting spot with the kids After about an hour of steady hiking, you come to a trail junction which is located at approximately 10,880 feet. At this point, you have already gained 1,480 feet in elevation and you will have noticed. Over the course of this hike, you will gain a total of 4,560 feet, so you’re already one third of the way there! The left fork here ascends to Bull-of-the-Woods Pasture; the right fork is Forest Trail 90 (aka the Wheeler Peak Trail). We head off to our right and pass by the spot where we rested and had a quick snack with the kids seven years back. There is a nice spot to sit and rest with a small pond and intermittent stream, making a delightful escape, if you can forget about the work to come. We... [Read more...]
MYSTERY RV DOWSES FOR SALTWATER (or…. The Magnetism of the Ocean.)
September 12, 2012 by Professor95 · 1 Comment
Finding the “Y” shaped Willow Tree branch jammed up under the front steering gear of our RV didn’t come as a surprise. The Willow branch confirmed what I had always suspected – somehow the RV had a diving rod attached that steered us toward saltwater. For a number of years, our RV has predictably wandered toward an ocean beach – just like a dog tugging at a leash. It didn’t really matter where we were or where we actually planned on going – the beach would eventually end up as one of our destinations. So, here we are again – relaxing on the sand of a North Carolina oceanfront RV resort soaking up the still pleasantly warm September rays of sunshine. The sky is billowing with puffy white clouds surrounded by robin-egg blue and the ocean waters beneath are striped with hues of dark green and vivid blue. The Little Red Sun Shelter – Oscar & his ball – Summer Cottages high up on the dunes As I sit here under our little red pop-up sun shelter, I alternate... [Read more...]
One Crazy Weekend…or a Labor of Love?
September 12, 2012 by Diane Berry · 2 Comments
A few weeks back Terry and I were talking about how we wanted to spend the upcoming Labor Day Holiday weekend. Fresh out of ideas, I turned to him for a suggestion. “Well, we could hike Wheeler Peak the long way.” He was talking about the 16 mile round trip hike that took us over nine hours with the kids on our summer trip in 2005. There is now a “short” trail to summit New Mexico’s highest peak that runs a mere 8.4 miles round trip. We have completed that hike several times this summer already. Wondering if he was losing his mind, we ended the conversation for the time being. Our starting point: I look a bit sleepy… However, the more I thought about it, the more appealing the idea became. Sort of a do-over, if you will. We had gotten lost on the way down last time, leading to our extended hike. Reported to be an 8-9 hours hike, my goal even back then was to complete the hike in 8 hours. I wanted to wipe the nine hour trek from my personal record book. In thinking about... [Read more...]
Pine Mountain RV Resort to Host Rally Benefiting Our Fallen Soldier
September 11, 2012 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
Pine Mountain RV Resort, an RVC Outdoor Destination vacation property, will host its second annual motorcycle rally called “Rollin’ Rumble Motorcycle Rally” from September 14-16. The event is open to the public, and a portion of all proceeds will go to Our Fallen Soldiers, a charity that aids families of soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty, according to a news release. “We’re dedicated to helping the troops who have so bravely sacrificed for our country,” said Jim Anderson, general manager at Pine Mountain. “This fundraiser is very important to us because the money raised will help family members of those men and women who have given their lives for our country, and we encourage everyone to come out and support this worthwhile cause.” Currently the event has 30-50 vendors, including leather food accessories, soap, jewelry, and motorcycle accessories. Guests will also enjoy live music, great food, hot dogs, and drinks from local vendors, a raffle, poker run,... [Read more...]
Guadalupe Mountains National Park Celebrates Anniversary
September 6, 2012 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
This year commemorates the 40th anniversary of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, a desert mountain environment with more than half of its 86,000-plus acres designated as wilderness. El Capitan Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Photo credit: Dustin Nelson/NPS) Authorized on 1966 and established by Congress September 30, 1972, the national park lies along the northern limits of the state’s “boot heel” and shares a border with New Mexico. The park originated with a 1959 land gift from petroleum geologist Wallace Pratt, and was supplemented by the purchase of J.C. Hunter Jr.’s Guadalupe Mountain Ranch a decade later. Pratt loved the country’s rugged beauty enough to build a summer home on his McKittrick Canyon property, a riparian waterway in the northeast corner of the park where bigtooth maples attract hikers in the fall. Hunter’s ranch holdings comprise the lion’s share of the national park, forged from several smaller ranches in the surrounding sierras and foothills. Guadalupe... [Read more...]
Birding Hotspot: Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, NM
September 1, 2012 by Rex Vogel · 2 Comments
UFO sightings may have put Roswell, New Mexico, on the map, but at nearby Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, strange creatures are more than visitors. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. Visitor Center can be seen in the distance. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved They inhabit odd sinkholes, playa lakes, seeps, and gypsum springs fed by an underground river. Straddling the Pecos River the Refuge consists of an assortment of water habitats. Numerous seeps and free-flowing springs, oxbow lakes, marshes and shallow water impoundments, water-filled sinkholes, and the refuge namesake, Bitter Lake, make up these unique environments. Scattered across the land are over 70 natural sinkholes of different shapes and sizes. Created by groundwater erosion these water habitats form isolated communities of fish, invertebrate, amphibians, and other wildlife. Located where the Chihuahuan Desert meets the Southern Plains, Bitter Lake National Wildlife... [Read more...]
A Walk in the Sage…
August 29, 2012 by Diane Berry · 3 Comments
Looking for a hike close to Taos one recent day, we recalled a trailhead we had seen while driving down State Highway 68, heading for Santa Fe, that seemed to be just minutes from our home. We headed out in a southerly direction on 68 and, though it too more like15-20 minutes to reach, we were rewarded for our efforts with an entire trail system focused on getting to and traveling along the Rio Grande Gorge. The scenery was amazing! Our first dilemma was deciding which trail to choose as there were a number heading out from the trailhead. To decide between the two main trails, we consulted a couple heading back in after a hike on one of the trails. They recommended the Trader’s Trail as it was easier for two persons to walk side by side as the other trail was single track. It also headed directly toward the Gorge, leading to awesome views the entire hike! We set out side by side headed directly toward the Gorge. The scenery only improved as we neared our destination. We also realized... [Read more...]
