Jan 17th, 2012 at 10:30AM:
One of the greatest things about the United States is its environmental diversity. From towering forests of pine to sun-hammered deserts, from snowy peaks to steaming swamps, this nation has it all.
Some of the most compelling places are also the harshest. Take this view of the sand dunes of Death Valley, taken by talented photographer John Bruckman. This is the worst part of the Mojave ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
outdoors posts
America's baddest badlands
Jan 17th, 2012 at 10:30AM:
One of the greatest things about the United States is its environmental diversity. From towering forests of pine to sun-hammered deserts, from snowy peaks to steaming swamps, this nation has it all.
Some of the most compelling places are also the harshest. Take this view of the sand dunes of Death Valley, taken by talented photographer John Bruckman. This is the worst part of the Mojave ...Boat ride through forgotten Florida at Wakulla Springs State Park
Jan 13th, 2012 at 2:00PM:
Most people who visit Wakulla Springs go for the gators. Still others want to check out where Johnny Weissmuller swung through the "jungle" as Tarzan in the 1930s and 40s or the dark, swampy thicket where the "Creature from the Black Lagoon" was said to lurk. Above all, travelers come to see the pristine tangled wilderness that is becoming rarer to find as Florida develops.
This is Wakulla ...Gadling Gear Review: Insulated fleece jacket from LL Bean
Jan 13th, 2012 at 10:00AM: Let's set aside the jokes around polar fleece as the uniform for us Pacific North-Westerners. First of all, I can take it and secondly, dude, polar fleece works. And really, it's getting better, the fabrics are getting softer and hold up longer and wash better. Even while I'm developing a preference for natural fibers, I'm finding myself pawing the new polar fleece performance clothing and ...A Headlamp is a Travel Essential
Dec 23rd, 2011 at 10:00AM: Scenario 1: Sure, there's a campfire, but it's not enough to let you see what's on your plate. You're alternating between a fork and a flashlight. That's no way to enjoy your ramen.
Scenario 2: Digging through your bag for your earplugs when your tent mate has shattered your sleep with her snoring takes both hands.
Scenario 3: That budget hotel is on generator power, and that goes off at ...10 reasons to travel to Ljubljana
Dec 13th, 2011 at 9:00AM:
When I found cheap airfare from Istanbul to Ljubljana, I didn't find many other travelers who'd been there or even say for sure which country it's in. The tiny of country of Slovenia is slightly smaller than New Jersey and its capital city isn't known for much other than being difficult to spell and pronounce (say "lyoob-lyAH-nah"). After spending a few days there last month, I quickly fell ...Pack a Sports Bra, Already
Nov 27th, 2011 at 9:00AM: If you're looking for something slightly saucy, sorry, there's nothing sexy about what I'm about to write here. It's just a bunch of practical advice for traveling women with a bit of, uh, bounce. See, I did some off road travel recently and the one item I regretted not throwing in the overnight bag? A sports bra.
Runners know the value of a good sports bra, most outdoor adventurers know this, ...Divers can experience coral spawning in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia this November
Oct 31st, 2011 at 5:30PM: In 1981, the first scientific observation of coral spawning took place. Coral spawning can be thought of as a coral orgy or sex on the Great Barrier Reef, with the process beginning six months prior when eggs and sperm begin to form in the coral. Certain factors must be present for the coral spawning to take place, such as water temperatures being 27 degrees Celsius and a full moon (the spawning ...
Wildlife refuge on island of Sanibel, Florida, introduces iNature Trail for smartphone users
Oct 13th, 2011 at 3:00PM: The J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge has introduced a new interactive smartphone capability for visitors. Called iNature Trail, the program utilizes QR (Quick Response) codes that are located around the refuge, which can be scanned by your smartphone using free downloadable applications like Neoscan and QR Scan. Once scanned, the codes will bring up YouTube videos and other informative ...
Highest numbers of whales in 25 years in Hervey Bay, Australia
Oct 13th, 2011 at 1:00PM: Right now, Hervey Bay, Australia, is seeing the highest number of whales in 25 years. According to Wally Franklin of The Oceania Project there are a record number of whales migrating down the coast. In fact, he estimates 14,000 whales in the humpback population of eastern Australia. Franklin also strongly believes that this trend will continue into November, as mother humpbacks teach their calves ...Great Himalaya Trail now open in Nepal in southern Asia
Oct 10th, 2011 at 4:00PM: The Great Himalaya Trail is officially open for visitors in Nepal in southern Asia. This trail, which stretches from Taplejung in the east to Humla in the west near the border of Tibet, is one of the longest and highest hiking routes in the world.
The goal of creating this trail is to boost tourism in Nepal and portray the country as the perfect destination for adventure seekers. During the ...Mosquito Repelling Gear: It Works
Sep 29th, 2011 at 10:00AM:
The last thing you want to bring home from your safari? Malaria. And if you're a bug attractor like me, it's not just the anti-malarials you'll want to pack. You'll also want a good sized helping of DEET infused goo. And some stuff made from fabrics that have mozzie repelling properties.
Once you've caved in to the fact that you're going to be a khaki covered dork, your life will get a lot ...Petrified Forest National Park expands by 26,000 acres
Sep 9th, 2011 at 2:00PM:
The Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona just got bigger to the tune of 26,000 acres.
After years of negotiation, the National Park Service bought the land from a ranching family, the Daily Democrat reports. This land had been enveloped by the park when it expanded from 93,500 acres to 218,500 acres in 2004.
The park is famous for its colorful petrified trees scattered across the ...Video: baby bear attack?
Aug 27th, 2011 at 11:00AM:
I saw this horrifying article about a 19 year old girl being killed by a bear while on the phone with her mother the other day. Maybe you read the gruesome story, too. It was terrifying. Reading it basically ruined my day. But, apparently, reading that news story wasn't enough for me. I proceeded to scour YouTube for bear and bear-attack related videos. Which, for the record, isn't really a ...
Today is National Get Outdoors Day!
Jun 11th, 2011 at 8:00AM: Hot on the heels of National Trails Day last weekend, now comes National Get Outdoors Day, an annual event that encourages all of us to get off the couch and go outside. To celebrate the occasion, there are a number of activities taking place across the country today, all with the intention of promoting a healthier lifestyle and an appreciation for great outdoors.
The official website for the ...Hiking in a natural park near Madrid
Jun 6th, 2011 at 12:00PM:
While Green Spain, the rainy north of the country, is Spain's popular place for hiking, there are lots of good hikes near the capital Madrid. The Comunidad de Madrid encompasses not only the city, but also several large parks, rivers, and mountains crisscrossed by numerous trails.
Yesterday I headed to one of the most beautiful spots in the region, El Parque Natural de Peñalara, an ...Travel Read: The East Highland Way hiking guide
May 24th, 2011 at 1:00PM:
Last year for my annual "Oh crap another birthday I need to prove my youth" long-distance hiking adventure, I chose Scotland's East Highland Way. It runs 78 miles from Ft. William through some beautiful countryside to Aviemore. The route had just been created by hiker Kevin Langan, and was so new there wasn't a guidebook. Kevin was kind enough to send me maps and a summary preprint of his book ...Photo of the Day: Norway Fjord in Spring
May 15th, 2011 at 7:15PM:
SPRING! That wonderful time of year when suddenly even the coldest places burst with new life and color. Today's photo, taken by Flickr user Josh Loves It in Norway, is a great way to celebrate the return of this warmer season. The photo comes to us from Norway's scenic Lofoten Islands, an isolated archipelago of isles located way up north beyond the Arctic Circle. These normally frigid ...The ten essentials of hiking and why you need them
Feb 16th, 2011 at 8:00AM: Hikers and backpackers are no doubt already familiar with the "Ten Essentials", which is a list of important items that we should always carry with us when heading out on to the trail. The list has had several iterations over the years, but the original can be traced back to a Seattle based outdoor club in the 1930's. The club, known as the Mountaineers, came up with the list of items that were ...Skiing in a former Taliban stronghold: Malam Jabba, Pakistan
Jan 29th, 2011 at 1:00PM:
Thumbing your nose at the Taliban has never been so fun.
The Malam Jabba ski resort in the Swat Valley of Pakistan has been a battleground between the Pakistani army and the Taliban for years. When the Taliban seized the area in 2006 they blew up the resort. They decided that skiing is unislamic, probably because it's fun. Well, the Muslims in the Pakistani army didn't agree with this ...Zimbabwe safari parks, resorts seized by land invaders
Jan 28th, 2011 at 9:00AM: Tourist sites are the latest targets for land seizures in Zimbabwe, reports SW Radio Africa.
A mob of about 150 people took over Lake Chivero Recreational Park, the Kumba Shiri resort, and several other sites around the lake, forbidding guests and employees from leaving.
This is one of a string of land grabs across the country committed by semi-legal mobs taking advantage of the ...
