Hiking News - June 2009

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Conservation Alliance Grantee Protects 7M Acres

Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Bend, Ore. -- The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) has succeeded in its effort to expand the boundaries of Nahanni National Park Reserve by a staggering seven million acres. The Conservation Alliance supported this effort with two grants totaling $50,000 in 2006 and 2008.

The park is now nearly seven times the size of the original one established in 1972. The expansion, an nounced on June 9 by Canadian Environment Minister Jim Prentice, will permanently protect an expanse of Boreal wilderness the size of Vancouver Island.

"The Nahanni is the jewel of Canada's Boreal forest, and one of the world’s greatest wilderness treasures. Canada has shown true global leadership by protecting it," says CPAWS National Executive Director Eric Hébert-Daly.

This conservation victory adds to the string of successes The Conservation Alliance is celebrating with its grantees in 2009. In March, President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, which pushed 14 Alliance-funded projects across the finish line. In total, Alliance funding has helped protect 10 million acres and 1000 miles of rivers, acquire one climbing area, and remove one dam, all in 2009.

"We're in the middle of the most exciting year of our 20-year history. The Nahanni victory marks a huge accomplishment for our Canadian colleagues," said John Sterling, Conservation Alliance Executive Director. "We think our members will be proud of our ability to invest their dollars in campaigns that can succeed given adequate funding."

Source: www.outdoorindustry.org

Free Night at Alabama State Park

Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Considering an Alabama staycation? With Alabama State Parks' new Fab 5 promotion, staying at any one of the five participating State Parks has just become an even better deal. Beginning July 1 guests who stay for three nights at a participating State Park will earn a free night during their next stay. The Fab 5 participating parks include Cheaha, DeSoto, Joe Wheeler, Lake Guntersville and Lakepoi nt State Park.

From championship style golf courses to beautiful hillside chalet views, the parks of the Fab 5 offer something for everyone including: excellent dining, hiking, camping, fishing, swimming, boat rental, and numerous other activities.

"These five parks combine resort-style luxury with the best of Alabama's natural beauty," said Randy Jinks, head of State Park Promotions. "This is just a sample of what our park system has to offer."

The Fab 5 Promotion will run through February 28, 2010, and guests have one year to take advantage of their free night. Qualifying accommodations include resort-style hotel and lodge rooms, cabins, chalets and cottages. Visit www.alapark.com for a complete list of Fab 5 details.

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.

Camping Converts on the Rise of Recession

Monday, 29 June 2009

Our preference might be five star resorts, but with the current climate forcing many to downsize their holiday spend, travelers are changing their habits. Acacia Adventure Holidays has identified a new breed of "camping converts," who are forgoing luxury for a more intrepid experience. When questioned 15% of their adventurers said that the ongoing credit crunch was behind their decision to camp, while over 70% of this group reported that they were now hooked on less extravagant holidays in Africa. The feeling of being at one with the wildlife, getting off the beaten track and the sense of camaraderie were key factors in deciding to pitch a tent next time around.

Heath Ashcroft, Marketing Director for Acacia Adventure Holidays, comments: "Camping is not all rough and ready. Our four-day Call Of The Kruger Small Group Safari includes two full days of game viewing in the national park and the campsite comes with a pool, shop, restaurant and bar. The accommodation is close to the perimeter fences and it's not unusual to hear the roar of a lion at night or chance upon a spotted genet at the evening barbeque. If you're looking for somewhere otherworldly there's always Spitzkoppe in the heart of Namibia. The dramatic red rock landscape is ideal for a little impromptu "bouldering and travelers can camp out under the stars."

Part of Acacia Adventure Holidays' recent questionnaire also focused on the best campsite experiences according to camaraderie, getting off the beaten track and wildlife:

Best for Camaraderie: Think Glastonbury on safari, as the Ngorongoro campsite has room for up to 200 tents. Perfect for the young at heart in search of non-stop animal action, a short walk will leave you with excellent views of the caldera – buffalo and lion roaming through the rim woodlands. The magnificent sunrises are a major breakfast highlight and if you want to splurge on a feast after the game drive – the lodge bars and restaurants are accessible from the camp. Try the 24-day overland South East Adventure £845pp + local payment from £367pp. Departures year round.

Best for getting off the beaten track: Wooden wind chimes are accompanied by rhythmic music, the ambient sounds drifting out across the Zambezi. An eco-camp which is described as a barefoot paradise – all the floors lined with white sand. Its thatched accommodations come complete with awe-inspiring river views where you can catch sight of the wildlife and each hut is built and maintained by the local community. Solar power will still enable you to charge mobiles and the site even has a few network spots, but torches are required to get around at night. Facilities include communal toilets, beautiful reed showers, a laidback bar, hammocks, a library and a restaurant serving vegetarian dishes. True to its eco-status the camp has links to a voluntary experience - travelers helping to construct a local school. Two days of adventure activities are also included in the trip. Opt for the eco-campsite on the new 6-day Community Schools Voluntour £510pp + local payment from £39pp) Departures March to October.

Best for wildlife action: Why stop when the game drive ends? In Etosha, described as the best reserve on the continent, adventurers can carry on wildlife viewing back at camp – the site famous for its floodlit waterholes. The landscape is dotted with graceful makalani palms – an elevated walkway taking you across the viewing area. Almost every animal is represented in this huge reserve: lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and springbok often making an appearance. Great concentrations of water birds also inhabit the region in the wet season (Nov-Mar), including a breeding colony of flamingos. Campers have a choice of two restaurants with the option to go native and enjoy African fare or tuck into dishes with a more European flavour. And for those who want a reminder of their stay, there is also a craft shop selling traditional, handcrafted Namibian goods and jewelry. Go wild on the 43-day overland Cape Town to Kenya £1,295pp + local payment from £680pp. Departures year round.

Of course, every tour operator has their personal favourite and the Acacia Adventure Holidays' team think camping in the heart of the Serengeti is the ideal 24/7 safari experience. Positioned in the heart of the national park, game viewers will be treated to some nocturnal thrills, many of the wildlife passing through the campsite under cover of darkness.

Contact Acacia Adventure Holidays on 020 7706 4700, email info@acacia-africa.com or visit Acacia Adventure Holidays for further information. ATOL No. 6499 and ABTA No. W4093 PROTECTED.

Source: www.prlog.org

Ladies Choice: Top Hikes in Northern Nevada

Friday, 26 June 2009

Given a map and a pincushion full of pins, Northern Nevada women 'pinned' their favorite hikes at the recent Nevada Women's Expo. It turns out that women like to hike almost anywhere - from open range to forested trails. But above all, they like to hike together.

The map, set up by Ladies Hiking, a website encouraging women to get out and take to the trails, started the conversation rolling, says Ladies Hiking editor Judith Harlan. "We supplied enough pins to mark 50 hikes within driving distance of Reno, Nevada, and we used all 50, often with several pins in one site."

Women pinned trails all around the Reno and Tahoe Lake area, showing places that they liked to walk with their dogs, quiet trails on the hillsides that overlook the city, and park trails that wind through pine and aspen forests, all within a short drive for residents of Reno and Sparks.

Those hikes were then all loaded up onto the ladies-hiking.com website as a foundation for future sharing of hikes, trails, and hiking stories.

If there's one common denominator we discovered by chatting with women over the map, Harlan adds, it is that what draws women to hiking is not just the value of it as exercise. Women are attracted by the beauty of it. Almost all of the women sharing their hikes talked about the scenery, the overlooks, and the wide vistas.

Many women hikers also said they like to go out in groups, and several were seeking local groups to go hiking with. The interest in hiking and in connecting with other ladies hiking was thrilling, says Harlan, because she set up the hiking site (http://www.ladies-hiking.com) and runs it as a community project for that very reason: to help women connect with each other and with the outdoors.

Blue Sky Hikes owner Kellie Lee, who shared the booth with Ladies Hiking, says she, too, left the Nevada Women's Expo with a renewed excitement for her vocation – guided hikes for groups of all levels. She shares space on the site, and is a moving force for many women getting their hiking mojo going.

Women connect on the site itself, sharing their stories about hiking, and then on Facebook, too, meeting on the Ladies Hiking fan page. "We're sharing photos and connecting on Facebook, and we're sharing longer thoughts, tips, and articles on the Website," says Harlan. "We’ll be adding more features as we go, and, most importantly, as they are requested by the women using the site. They're in charge, not me."

Source: www.prlog.org

Zell am See-Kaprun at the Hiking Season Opening

Thursday, 25 June 2009

Brilliant blue glacier ice, green woods, and a crystal clear lake: the region of Zell am See-Kaprun offers its visitors a marvelous natural experience. And there is hardly a better way to discover this unique Alpine world than on foot. Whether you would like to let your gaze wonder across the summits of the local mountains and the neighbouring Alpine passes or enjoy the solitude of deep valleys: friends of unspoiled nature are invited to explore the most beautiful gems of the region on Shanks' ponies.

More and more people fall back on this traditional and efficient method to escape the pressure and the busy hustle and bustle of everyday life. It is for this reason that Zell am See-Kaprun celebrates the beginning of summer with a great Hiking Season Opening. From 25th to 28th June 2009 guests can get to know the variety of Pinzgau's Alpine world equipped with a backpack and walking sticks. High summits and deep valleys are waiting just for you!

The long weekend kicks off with the Edelweisen event on Thursday. From 8 pm the shores of Lake Zell are the venue of the opening evening including music, dances and culinary delicacies from the region. On Friday you can venture out to lofty heights: at a guided summit tour up to the glacier of the local mountain of Kitzsteinhorn, the fans of walking can enjoy the view of the surrounding landscape. If you have had the chance to stand on the summit of a mountain of more than 3,000 metres of altitude before, you will be familiar with this feeling of elation. For the youngest visitors there are slides and toy snow groomers at the Ice Arena. In the evening, visitors of the opening event can set out on a wildly romantic torch walk along the wooden catwalks of picturesque Sigmund-Thun-Klamm gorge. For thousands of years River Ache of Kaprun has been gorging its way through the rock surface with unrestrained power. Illuminated by torch light and surrounded by the roaring water, visitors can listens to old legends from the province of Salzburg and enjoy a very special facet of Pinzgau at this unique guided walk starting at 8.15 pm.

When visiting Schmittenhöhe you are sure to feel like being able to touch the clouds. On the third day of the opening, guests can learn about the secrets of the Alpine world during a legend and a herb walk as well as at a treasure hunt with GPS receivers on the local mountain of Zell. In addition to these excursions there are climbing tours for beginners and pros before the Hiking Season Opening comes to its end on Sunday with a Mass on the mountain and a morning get-together on Schmittenhöhe.

Besides the many walks, excursions, and daily summit tours up to the 3,204-metre-high mountain of Kitzsteinhorn, visitors will be informed about the current trends in walking. If you are interested in the market's latest products, you can grab the opportunity to test them yourself at the Walking Season Opening. When planning to climb a summit of more than 8,000 metres, good footwear and functional clothing is not enough, though. At Ralf Dujmovits' multimedia presentation on 27th June, you can find out what it takes to be successful. The German mountaineer is looking back on some of his most stunning accomplishments - like the ascents of K2 and Mount Everest.

For more information on the walking offers of Zell am See-Kaprun, please visit www.zellamsee-kaprun.com on the Internet.

Source: www.openpr.com

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