Hiking News - October 2008

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AMC Expands Winter Adventure Programs for Ages 50+

Wednesday, 29 October 2008

With the growing popularity of its programs especially for outdoor enthusiasts ages 50+, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) this winter is continuing to introduce new weeklong 50+ Adventure Camp choices, while also expanding locations to offer a 50+ Adventure Weekend in the Maine Woods.

AMC’s all-inclusive 50+ Adventure Camp is being held at Joe Dodge Lodge for the first time this win ter, adding to weeks at Highland Lodge and providing a choice of two different locations in the heart of New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Located near the base of Mt. Washington, Joe Dodge Lodge is centrally located for exploring the trails, ponds, and scenic vistas around Pinkham Notch. The five-night program at both lodges brings together outdoor enthusiasts ages 50 and older for a variety of easy, moderate, and advanced snowshoe hikes and cross-country ski tours; outdoor skills workshops; cultural and historical tours and talks; evening programs; and social activities.

For a taste of winter in the Maine Woods, AMC’s 50+ Adventure Weekend at Medawisla Wilderness Camps in the Moosehead Lake region is another new experience this year, building on AMC’s 50+ programs in the White Mountains. Private cabins with wood stoves make toasty retreats following a day on the trails.

All of the lodges have access to snowshoe and cross-country ski trails surrounded by diverse natural habitats for wildlife watching. Amenities include private rooms or cabins, freshly prepared meals, and green-friendly practices—plus every program offers the benefit of expert guiding and instruction. The L.L. Bean gear room at Highland Lodge also provides guests with free use of outdoor clothing and equipment, such as hiking boots, backpacks, water bottles, and fleece jackets.

Visit AMC's Winter Planning Guide for full details, including information about AMC’s new health and wellness weekend series, naturalist-led Lodge-to-Hut overnight trips, 50+ mid-week Ski & Stay specials, and other deals – www.outdoors.org/winterguide.

AMC’s weeklong 50+ Adventure Camps and shorter getaways this winter include:

Five-night 50+ Adventure Camps
February 1-6, 50+ Winter Sports Adventure Camp, Highland Lodge, White Mountains, NH
Try a sampling of winter outdoor pursuits, including daily snowshoe hikes, cross-country ski tours, and nature walks, with the opportunity to take a day hike to AMC’s Lonesome Lake Hut and summit one of New Hampshire’s snow-covered 4,000-foot peaks. Indoor activities will include a combination of daily historic and cultural talks and tours of the New England Ski Museum and other local landmarks, along with skills workshops on winter sports and gear and winter safety and survival. Package rates, including meals and lodging, start at $690, plus taxes, for non-members ($495 for members).

February 8-13, Winter 50+ Adventure Camp, Joe Dodge Lodge, White Mountains, NH
Join the first 50+ camp offered at Joe Dodge Lodge, the ideal location to explore the wintry wonderland at the base of Mt. Washington while snowshoeing, animal tracking, and cross-country skiing. Adding to these adventures, AMC naturalists will share their knowledge of winter ecology, local wildlife, and cultural history of the area. Package rates, including meals and lodging, start at $439, plus taxes, for non-members ($399 for members).

March 1-6, 50+ Spring Skiing Adventure Camp, Highland Lodge, White Mountains, NH
Spend a full week skiing some of the best cross-country ski trails in the White Mountains, ranging from the extensive groomed network at Bretton Woods Nordic Center to the backcountry trails around the scenic Zealand Valley. Warm up indoors during daily historic and cultural talks and tours. Previous Nordic Skiing experience required. Package rates, including meals and lodging, start at $690, plus taxes, for non-members ($495 for members).

Mid-week and weekend 50+ getaways
January 20-22; March 24-26, 50+ Adventure Mid-Week Getaway, Joe Dodge Lodge, White Mountains, NH Steal away for a mid-week escape to go snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the shadows of the Northeast’s highest peak, with snowshoe hikes ranging from a meandering nature walk to a more challenging snowshoe hike to the base of Tuckerman Ravine on Mt. Washington. All of these naturalist-guided outings will blend snow sports with White Mountain winter ecology and animal tracking. Package rates, including meals and lodging, start at $155, plus taxes, for non-members ($145 for members).

March 6-8, 50+ Adventure Weekend, Medawisla Wilderness Camps, Moosehead Lake Region, ME
Venture out into the wintry night on snowshoes or cross-country skis to listen for the calls of owls. The following day, explore the vast, snowy landscape of the Maine Woods while tracking signs of wildlife and hearing about seasonal adaptations of the area's snowshoe hare, moose, deer, coyote, and lynx. Over a campfire the second night, relax under the starlit skies. Early risers can make full use of daylight hours to ski some of the local trails around the lodge. Package rate, including meals and lodging, is $289, plus taxes, for non-members ($245 for members).

Rates and reservations
Rates vary as indicated above. Starting at rates for Highland Lodge and Joe Dodge Lodge include accommodations in a private bunkroom or family room with shared bath for up to six people, dinners, breakfasts, and lunches (dinner includes fresh baked bread, soup, salad, entree, and dessert), guided programs, use of snowshoes, cross-country ski pass, and instruction. Individuals may be subject to a single supplement or be assigned to a shared room on a same-sex basis. Private rooms with private baths are available for an additional charge. At Medawisla Wilderness Camps, accommodations are in private cabins and guests must provide their own snowshoes or cross-country skis. All meals, guided programs, and instruction are included. For reservations, call (603) 466-2727.

Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is the oldest conservation and recreation organization in the nation. With 90,000 members in the Northeast and beyond, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and wise use of the mountains, rivers and trails of the Appalachian region. The AMC supports natural resource conservation while encouraging responsible recreation, based on the philosophy that successful, long-term conservation depends upon first-hand enjoyment of the natural environment.

Source: www.outdoors.org

AMC Expands Winter Family Outdoor Programs

Tuesday, 28 October 2008

The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is extending its newly introduced family weekend series throughout this upcoming winter, to include adding one of its Maine Woods lodges to a choice of other locations in New Hampshire. AMC's weeklong family camp, being offered for the first time in winter this year, will also expand on the variety of programs especially for families during the February school vacation weeks.

A full season of AMC's guided, family-friendly experiences will range from a naturalist-led overnight trip in the backcountry at an AMC hut, introducing older families to four-season hiking, to a winter family camp week of snowshoe walks, snow shelter building, cross-country ski tours, and dog-sled rides for kids ages five-12 in the comfort of a lodge setting. Along with a specially planned mix of activities, guided nature hikes and naturalist workshops are part of each program.

Snowshoes are available for guests to borrow at AMC's New Hampshire lodges, plus there is free use of L.L. Bean gear at Highland Lodge, making it easier for families to get outdoors together. All of AMC's lodges and huts are located in or near National Forests, State Parks, or other forest areas, with access to many miles of hiking, snowshoe, and ski trails surrounded by diverse natural habitats for wildlife watching.

Visit AMC's Winter Planning Guide for more details, including information about a new health and wellness weekend series, Ski & Stay packages, and other deals – www.outdoors.org/winterguide.

All families are welcome to join winter family weekends and school vacation week activities, designed for kids ages five and older, unless otherwise noted.

Winter Family Weekend Series

December 12-14; January 30-February 1; February 27-March 1 at Joe Dodge Lodge, White Mountains, NH
Spend the weekend snowshoeing, animal tracking, building a snow shelter, and drinking hot cocoa in the shadow of Mt. Washington, all while making new friends and getting winter tips and techniques from AMC experts.

December 12-14 at Highland Lodge, White Mountains, NH
Get in the holiday spirit at AMC's sixth annual Gingerbread Weekend. Festivities will kick off with a demonstration about baking and building a gingerbread house, followed by a friendly decorating competition among families with prizes for the top gingerbread house creations. A holiday party, holiday crafts, gingerbread cookie decorating, and guided walks and hikes with an AMC adventure guide will round out the weekend's activities.

January 16-19; February 14-16 at Medawisla Wilderness Camps, Moosehead Lake Region, ME
Take advantage of the long Martin Luther King Jr. and President’s Day weekends to snowshoe or cross-country ski with a naturalist in the Maine Woods. Listen for the calls of owls on a winter evening, and the next day look for tracks and signs of wildlife in the snow while hearing about seasonal adaptations of the area's snowshoe hare, moose, deer, and lynx. Gathered around a campfire the second night, stargaze under the crystal clear winter sky. Private cabins with wood stoves make toasty retreats following a day on the trails. Activities intended for families with kids ages 8 and older.

February School Vacation Weeks
February 16-20, Winter Fun for Families at Cardigan Lodge, Lakes Region, NH
Exclusively offered this week, guided outdoor adventures and indoor programs will introduce Cardigan Lodge, a quiet road’s-end destination long popular with families in summer, to a taste of winter. The lodge’s sledding hill is a favorite for thrill rides, and families can choose from a variety of daily activities that will include learning to snowshoe, easy to moderate snowshoe hikes in the lower valleys and near the summit of Mt. Cardigan, skating on the lodge’s pond, building different snow shelters, and competing in a three-legged snowshoe race. Nightly rates, including meals and lodging, start at $71 per person, plus taxes, for adult non-members ($46 for child non-members). Stay four nights, get the fifth free. A similar line-up of daily activities will be offered at AMC's Highland Lodge and Joe Dodge Lodge throughout this vacation week.

February 16-18, Lodge-to-Hut Winter Family Adventure, Joe Dodge Lodge, White Mountains, NH
Especially for families with kids ages 10 and older, this naturalist-led tour will provide a unique opportunity to explore less-traveled, snow-covered trails and stay overnight in the backcountry at AMC’s Carter Notch Hut, part of AMC’s hut system. Learn about winter ecology in the White Mountains while fine-tuning snowshoe techniques and following animal tracks. Package rates, including meals and two-nights lodging, start at $207, plus taxes, for adult non-members ($134 for child non-members).

February 22-27, Family Adventure Camp at Highland Lodge, White Mountains, NH
A new addition, AMC's winter family camp will provide a sampler of activities to take full advantage of the season’s best, including guided cross-country skiing, snow shelter building, dog-sled rides, ice skating, snowshoe tours, ice climber viewing tours, and sledding. Package rates, including meals and 5-nights lodging, start at $690 plus taxes, for non-members ($340 for child non-members). Cross-country ski pass also included.

Rates and reservations
Winter family weekend package rates vary by location and start at $155, plus taxes, per person for adult non-members ($145 for members) and $85 per child for non-members ($84 for members) ages 12 and under. Lodging and all meals are included (except lunches during Gingerbread Weekend). February school vacation package rates vary as indicated above.

All starting at package rates at Highland Lodge, Joe Dodge Lodge, and Cardigan Lodge include private bunkroom accommodations with shared bath for up to six people, use of snowshoes, and guided programs and instruction. Private rooms with private baths and family rooms are available for an additional charge. At Medawisla Wilderness Camps, rates include accommodations in private cabins, guided programs, and instruction. Guests must provide their own snowshoes or cross-country skis. For reservations, call (603) 466-2727.

Families can take advantage of the discounted member rate by purchasing the $75 annual family membership.

Source: www.outdoors.org

Natural Foods for Deer in Alabama

Monday, 27 October 2008

One of the busiest times for deer hunters in Alabama is the month of October. Many rush out at this time to get food plots planted for the upcoming deer season. Food plots play a major roll for most hunters in the state, but are they the most productive way to provide quality nutrition for a deer herd? Many landowners and hunting clubs are not aware of, or have never considered, the opportunities for improving food sources for deer through management of native vegetation. Nothing has to be planted and managing native, wild vegetation can be the easiest, most cost-effective way to give the deer population a high quality, year round food source.

The white-tailed deer relies heavily on native forage to survive throughout the year. Deer are very selective feeders and feed on various types of grasses, forbs, shrubs, vines, and fruits. The preference that deer have for certain foods usually is directly related to the palatability and nutritional content of the food. In much of Alabama, only small amounts of preferred native plants are available due to poor habitat management practices. Habitat that produces poor quality foods may lead to malnutrition, therefore affecting deer herd health. Over time, nutritional deficiencies caused by poor habitat will affect the health of individual deer, making them more susceptible to disease, parasites and other hazards. Landowners and managers can reduce or eliminate the problems associated with malnutrition by improving the quality and quantity of desirable native wildlife foods through sound habitat management practices.

Large even-aged pine stands found throughout Alabama often provide poor deer habitat due to the low abundance of understory forage and mast producing trees. This primarily is due to the closed canopies often found in these densely planted stands. Most of the preferred food plants, like forbs and woody vines, require direct sunlight to grow. Thinning dense pine stands decreases the basal area and opens the canopy, which allows direct sunlight to reach the forest floor. This increases the quantity and quality of preferred plant species within these stands, therefore improving the quality of the deer herd's diet.

Prescribed burning is another very important, but often overlooked habitat management tool. Many plants and animals in the Southeast are fire dependant. Many fire-dependant plants are high-quality, high-protein, highly preferred deer foods. Without fire, the abundance of these plants declines. Prescribed fires in pine plantations are most effective following a timber thinning. These fires act as a fertilizing agent by releasing nutrients bound within the ground litter. This initiates an immediate response from herbaceous vegetation and woody browse species, resulting in an increase of total production per acre, as well improved palatability and nutritional content. Normally these burns should be conducted on a three- to four-year rotation. This length of rotation usually allows woody browse plants to reach several feet in height before the next burn is conducted. Close attention should be placed on the growth rate and species composition due to variations in fertility and soil quality within different stands. These observations will provide a better idea of the preferred rotation cycle best suited for a property. Prescribed burns should only be conducted by certified professionals who are aware of the safe use of fire for habitat improvement.

Fertilizing mast-producing trees and shrubs during the spring often is overlooked by hunters because they are not utilized by wildlife until late summer or early fall. However, spring is the best time to start a tree fertilization program. It usually is not economically feasible to increase acorn production over large areas through fertilization, but fertilization of a few select mast-producing trees over a small area may be. The results of fertilization can be maximized by selecting the larger, more dominant mast-producing trees. Identification of these trees can be done through monitoring mast production over a period of several years.

Many opportunities exist for improving deer habitat on most properties beyond the planting of traditional cool-season food plots. Maximizing the production of native vegetation utilizing various management practices, and then supplementing these forages with planted food plots during critical periods of the year, allows deer managers to get the most out of their property.

For more information contact Chris Nix, Wildlife Biologist, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, P.O. Box 247, Daphne, AL 36526; phone 251-626-5474.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR visit www.outdooralabama.com.

Pennsylvania DCNR Presents Trail Challenge Award

Friday, 24 October 2008

Their quest to traverse all 18 major state forest trails and complete a 780-mile trek has earned two Pennsylvania residents recognition from a statewide hiking organization and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Bureau of Forestry.

William S. Geiger of Allentown, Lehigh County, and John Potter of Montoursville, Lycoming County, are the 2008 recipients of the State Fo rest Trails Award.

DCNR and the Keystone Trails Association first unveiled the honor, earned by hiking all 780 miles of the 18 state forest hiking trails, six years ago. The hikers will be honored Saturday evening at the association's annual fall meeting at the Pocono Environmental Education Center Resort, near Dingmans Ferry in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Geiger and Potter each will receive a certificate, patch and ceremonial wooden walking stick at KTA's annual meeting.

"There is a dual reason why we teamed up with the trails association to present this coveted award," said DCNR Secretary Michael DiBerardinis. "By honoring these major hiking achievements, we also draw attention to the vast wealth of hiking opportunities in this state."

The award recognizes anyone hiking all of Pennsylvania's 18 state forest hiking trails, totaling 780 miles. There is no required sequence, direction, speed or length of time to complete the system.

"These two blazed a trail that others want to follow, and their accomplishments merit a strong salute from fellow hikers and DCNR," said DiBerardinis. "Some forest trails may be too challenging for some hikers, but sections of others can serve as portals to healthy days afield and new adventures outdoors."

The 18 trails generally are longer and more rugged than other hiking opportunities offered in Pennsylvania's state forests and parks. Most of the trails were formerly part of the local trail networks, logging roads, tram railways and carriage paths. Many sections are designated for hiking use only and each trail has its own map or guidebook.

Most of the trails are maintained by volunteer hiking groups, such as the KTA and affiliated clubs, with support from DCNR's Bureau of Forestry. The 18 trails making up the state forest hiking trail system are:

* Baker Trail, one mile in Kittanning State Forest, Clarion County;
* Black Forest Trail, 42 miles in Tiadaghton State Forest, Lycoming County;
* Bucktail Path, 34 miles in Elk State Forest, Elk County;
* Chuck Keiper Trail, 50 miles in Sproul State Forest, Clinton County;
* Donut Hole Trail, 90 miles in Sproul State Forest, Clinton County;
* Golden Eagle Trail, nine miles in Tiadaghton State Forest, Lycoming County;
* John P. Saylor Memorial Trail, 18 miles in Gallitzin State Forest, Somerset County;
* Lost Turkey Trail, nine miles in Gallitzin State Forest, Somerset County;
* Loyalsock Trail, 48 miles in Tiadaghton and Loyalsock State Forests, Lycoming and Sullivan counties;
* Mid State Trail, 173 miles in Buchanan, Rothrock, Bald Eagle, Tiadaghton and Tioga state forests through central Pennsylvania;
* Old Loggers Path, 27 miles in Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County;
* Pinchot Trail, 23 miles in Lackawanna State Forest, Luzerne County;
* Quehanna Trail, 75 miles in Moshannon and Elk state forests in Cameron, Clearfield and Elk counties;
* Rocky Knob Trail, four miles in Michaux State Forest, Cumberland and Adams counties;
* Susquehannock Trail, 83 miles in Susquehannock State Forest, Potter County;
* Thunder Swamp Trail, 26 miles in Delaware State Forest, Pike County;
* Tuscarora Trail, 38 miles in Buchanan and Tuscarora state forests, Franklin, Fulton, Cumberland and Perry counties; and
* West Rim Trail, 30 miles in Tioga State Forest, Tioga County.

For more information on recreation in state forest lands, hikers can visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us (select "Forestry," then "Recreation"). For more information about the award, contact Matt Beaver at (717) 783-7941.

Source:
pr-usa.net

Special Tour and Concert Highlight Plant Sale

Thursday, 23 October 2008

Phoenix, Arizona - The final weekend of the annual Fall Plant Sale at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park will include a special guided tour through the gardens by author and landscape expert Tom McDonald. Following the tour on October 25, a steel drum band and concert will take place in the picnic area.

The tour will begin at 3:00pm and the band will perform between 5:00and 6:30pm. Mc Donald is the owner of Smiling Dog Landscapes and is a popular fixture at Arboretum plant sale fundraisers. The Gold Canyon resident will lead a tour of "Tom's Top Ten" plants and trees for desert landscaping. He'll take visitors into the Demonstration Garden, and other colorful areas, and explain landscaping specifics including water-saving concepts.

Visitors are invited to bring a picnic and enjoy the concert.

The Arboretum is open every day from 8:00am until 5:00pm during the plant sale, which ends October 26.

Trees of the Arboretum New Guided Tour
Sunday, October 19 from 1:30pm until 3:30pm, then again November 16

Many visitors ask the question, "What is an Arboretum?"

Certified Arborist Russell Freeman will answer that and many more questions during a new guided tour through the forested areas of Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park. Visitors will learn about the towering sycamore and cottonwood trees, native hackberry and mesquite, and much more.

Freeman manages Florence Farms Nursery and is a University of Arizona Master Gardener. He teaches arboriculture in the Pinal County Master Gardening Program.

Arboretum Presents Live Music Festival
Saturday, November 8 from 10:00am until 4:00pm

Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park will present a Live Music Festival to showcase some of the performers that made the Arboretum's Summer Music Evening events so popular last summer. Singer Lawrence Haack and also the Mountain Rain Trio are "back by popular demand" for the festival along with newcomers Jim Pipkin and the Close Enough String Band.

The festival will feature performers each hour in various gardens and collections throughout the Arboretum. Visit ag.arizona.edu/bta beginning the last week in October or phone 520-689-2723 for a complete list of performers and concert times.

The concerts and tour are free with park admission.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park is located three miles west of historic Superior on U.S. Highway 60.

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