Hiking News - December 2006

Our Hiking News Desk stays up-to-date with all the camping events and news items from around the globe. This is the news archive of December 2006. Get your daily hiking news updates right here. You can use the Display Mode changer below to view our news in different formats:

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How to Stay Safe during Winter Hiking

Friday, 22 December 2006

Joe Kelley, a National Park Service veteran, says that blizzards make it hard for hikers, even the experienced ones, to survive.

Kelley has directed search-and-rescue operations in the Great Smo ky Mountains and other national parks during his 30-year career. Hence, natural disasters and missing people are his field of expertise. However, he says that it's not the usual blizzard that provide the most problems but the occurrence of hypothermia. "It's rare to have problems with real winter hiking," he said. "We had more problems getting hypothermia in the late fall and early spring than we did in the depths of winter," he explained.

Bob Miller, a spokesman for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, says that clothing is an important consideration when hiking. To stay warm, hikers should stay dry or else it will lead to hypothermia. "You can get hypothermia just as easily here as you can anywhere," said current president Mark Shipley of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club.

Read more about this news story at www.knoxnews.com.

New Pennsylvania Trail in Store near Route 30

Thursday, 21 December 2006

A 10-foot wide linear trail near Route 30 at Lancaster to Bareville could be in store for outdoor enthusiasts.

Mark Malhenzie, the Route 23 project manager for the Pennsylvania Department of Transporta tion, says that a trail could be added together with the construction of a new road. A five-mile recreational trail linking the Greenfield Road Area was the initial plan. The latest plan, however, pushes for a two-lane road, allowing the construction of a parallel trail. An estimated $225,000 is needed to cover the cost of the trail.

Planners envision the trail for use by local residents to get exercise. Plans for the proposed trail will be discussed in the summer by transportation planners at a public meeting. The construction, however, could begin, possibly, in 2011.

Read more about this news story at local.lancasteronline.com.

How to Prepare for Winter Camping and Hiking

Wednesday, 20 December 2006

Winter hikers and campers should need to have prior experience in other seasons and in higher elevations to put to test their "personal preparedness" and "decision-making". This is according to Laurie Gullion, coo rdinator of the Outdoor Education option at the University of New Hampshire.

Gullion enumerates helpful guidelines for winter hikers and campers. These guidelines are getting proper training, going with a support group, planning on being out overnight, leaving a trip plan, knowing how to manage the clothing and gear systems, getting enough calories and water, and understanding the weather.

"Those guidelines are appropriate for any season and every activity, but they are essential for winter experiences," Gullion said. Gullion also said that bringing a cell phone is a must. He also added that being prepared for all kinds of emergencies is highly recommended. “People must enter a winter environment with the mindset and equipment that they will be able to come to their own rescue."

Read more about this news story at www.infozine.com.

Smith Optics Introduces New Stylish Frames

Tuesday, 19 December 2006

Saluting remarkable airborne achievers, Smith Optics is introducing the MHC and the Amelia, a pair of stylish new frames that round out an expanding and ambitious Metals Collection.

Beginning with the Serpico (2005) and Arcade (2006), Smith Optics Metals Collection will now include four distinct frames, each with a fundamentally different style, perspective and attitude.

“Working with metals allows us to create distinct looks that just can’t be done with conventional molded frame technologies,” said Eric Carlson, Smith Optics’ Director of Product Development. “As a result, our metal frames are ideally suited to travel, to road trips, and to a little high altitude exploration.”

With a name inspired by adventures at 5,280 feet, the MHC is the newest addition to Smith’s growing metal collection. In this 8-base lens curve piece the standard stuff you expect from Smith Optics is all there: optical grade metal-frame construction, Tapered Lens Technology™ (TLT™) Carbonic™ Lenses, stainless steel hinges, 100% UV A/B/C protection and adjustable silicone nose pads for a custom fit.

And of course, the MHC is loaded with details that make it pure Smith, including custom acetate temple tips with an inlayed logo, laser etched Smith wordmark, and pad-printed “MHC” on the lens front.

Styled to suit the legendary aviation icon, the new Amelia from Smith Optics is a classic aviator style with refined details. Using the finest optical grade metal to create an 8-base wrap-style curvature, the Amelia is stacked with top shelf features: TLT™ Optics to eliminate light distortion, Carbonic™ lenses to provide shatterproof and ultra-light performance, stainless steel hinges, and silicone nose pads to deliver a perfect fit.

ABOUT SMITH: Based in Sun Valley, Idaho, with a Southern California office in San Clemente, Smith Optics, Inc. was founded in 1965 with the creation of the first goggle featuring a sealed thermal lens and breathable vent foam. Today, Smith is known for its diverse line of sunglasses, goggles and helmets. Smith’s devotion to excellence, innovation, performance and style has made Smith the choice of action-sport athletes worldwide. Smith products are sold in more than 50 countries through sporting goods and specialty stores. For more information, check out www.smithoptics.com. Performance. Style. Smith. Solid.

UNC Plans to Improve Property for Biking & Hiking

Tuesday, 19 December 2006

The University of North Carolina (UNC) will be hiring new employees to maintain the biking and hiking trails and natural areas in its 1000-acre, university-owned tract of land between Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Estes Drive Extension.

Four employees will be hired next year. They will be mapping out hiking and mountain biking trails for the land. They will also be installing signs and maps about how the public can use the area. Moreover, picnic facilities and roadside parking lots will be added. An old mill will also be preserved. The plan aims to encourage recreational use of the trails and the natural areas.

UNC officials have not actively managed those recreation spots in recent years. "It's been like the wild west out there," said Sharon Myers, a geologist and environmental specialist at UNC who runs on the trails. "It's not been managed in any way." UNC would be giving out $427,000 to begin the "oversight program" for the land property.

Read more about this news story at www.heraldsun.com.

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