Bike, Hike, and Paddle

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From January of 1996 to October of 2008, this site was called "Chuck's Backpacking Bonanza" and was hosted on AOL until they ceased such hosting. Over the years, I expanded the site to include much more than only backpacking, so the name is now Bike, Hike, and Paddle. Enjoy my efforts!
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--------------------THE INDEX IN THE SIDEBAR ON THE RIGHT WILL GET YOU STARTED--------------------
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Friday, August 19, 2011

US Bike Trails I've Biked



Rails-To-Trails and other trails I've biked
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Posted by at 9:27 PM 0 comments

Friday, August 5, 2011

Volunteer Vacations in the Wilderness with the American Hiking Society

Summer is here and hiking is at its best, but how about "giving back" or "paying forward" with some volunteer work for our trails?  The American Hiking Society offers 70+ volunteer vacation opportunities across the country.  To give you a flavor of what a volunteer vacation is like, check out this video I made for AHS...



=====

Want to see more in depth what a week of trail work is like?  Check out these videos of projects I've participated in over the last few years...

In 2011, we built a bridge and also built several long sections of boardwalk with volunteers of the North Country Trail Association in Michigan...



We built a 31' bridge up at 9000 feet in Utah's Wasatch Mountains in 2010...



In 2011, we rebuilt a boardwalk in South Carolina's Francis Marion National Forest...



In 2010 we worked on extending the Buffalo River Trail in Arkansas...



And here's a listing of all my volunteer trail projects.
Posted by at 4:33 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Road Scholar (Elderhostel) Programs

If you enjoy active, outdoor vacations, you will definitely find a Road Scholar program (formerly known as Elderhostel) of interest to you. The only requirement to join this free organization had been having attained the age of 55 years but now it is open to all ages. Road Scholar is a non-profit organization specializing in learning -- a sort of college for older folks -- offering an astounding array of many thousands of reasonably priced programs (either in a classroom or in the outdoors) all over the world. If you enjoy doing something or wish to learn something, they have a program covering that area!

I have participated in a number of programs (predominantly active, outdoor programs) and below are info and photos of the active, outdoor programs I've taken.


===============================================



  • 2002-- In Scottsdale, Arizona: Adventure 101 which involved rappelling, white-water canoeing, canyoneering, hiking, and orienteering




  • 2002-- From Chloride, Arizona: Kayaking the Colorado River below Hoover Dam in the Lake Mead Recreation Area's Black Canyon.




  • 2002-- From Highlands, North Carolina, Appalachian Hiking and White Water Rafting (class 2, 3 and 4 rapids).




  • 2002-- From St. Charles, Missouri, Bicycling the Katy Trail (140 miles along the Missouri River).




  • 2003-- In Hawai'i, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and surfing with O'ahu, Maui, and Kaua'i Adventure Program.




  • 2003-- In South Carolina, Paddling Lakes, Rivers, and Swamps.




  • 2003-- In Utah, White Water Rafting and Kayaking San Juan River




  • 2003-- In Arizona & Utah, Houseboating and Kayaking on Lake Powell




  • 2004-- In Georgia, Okefenokee Swamp Safari




  • 2005-- in Massachusetts, Biking Cape Cod and Nantuckett Island   




  • 2005-- In Maine's Acadia National Park: hiking, biking, and sea kayaking




  • 2006-- In Florida, Canoeing in the Ocala National Forest




  • 2006-- In Florida, Sea Kayaking Amelia Island and Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp




  • 2006 -- In Arizona, Adobe Photoshop Elements (a classroom program at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona)




  • 2007-- In Arizona, Biking the Border's Wild West  




  • 2007-- From Texas, Mexico's Copper Canyon by El Pacifico Railroad  




  • 2007-- In Texas, Kayaking Texas Gulf Coast Bays and Estuaries




  • 2008-- In Florida, Canoeing Three Rivers




  • 2008-- In Florida, Suwannee River: Canoe, Hike, and Folklore




  • 2009 -- In Florida, Disney World: The Mystery Behind the Magic




  • 2009 -- In Florida, Explore Wild Florida by Canoe




  • 2009 -- In Pennsylvania, Rafting, Kayaking, and Canoeing the Delaware River




  • 2009 -- In Maine, Exploring the Coast of Maine under Sail aboard the windjammer Angelique




  • 2010 -- In Florida, Snorkeling Key Largo's Coral Reefs




  • 2010 -- In Utah, Photo Workshop in Bryce, Zion, and Grand Canyon North Rim




  • 2010 -- In Arizona, Where Rock Meets Water in Glen Canyon




  • 2011 -- In Florida, Amelia and Cumberland Islands: Nature & History




  • 2011 -- In South Carolina, Kayaking Tidal Waters on St. Simons Island  




  • 2011 -- In Idaho, Rafting the Salmon River




  • 2011 -- In Washington, Kayaking the Lower Columbia River
    • Posted by at 8:24 PM 0 comments

    Sunday, February 7, 2010

    My Idea of A Diversified Portfolio...

    I have quite a few of the clever "Life Is Good" shirts, but this is my favorite... ...because it incorporates all three of my primary outdoor passions, and the title of this blog.
    Posted by at 6:25 AM 0 comments

    Saturday, October 4, 2008

    My Backpacking Locations

    I've backpacked these 52 locations and would recommend most of them. Some are great for beginners, others moderate in difficulty, and some just plain tough. However, rather than attempt to rank them, it would be best if you contact me regarding a specific area, since many factors enter into such a ranking.

    wildernessinspector at gmail dot com

    Alaska
    Kesugi Ridge Trail in Denali State Park 2004 (with photos)
    Arizona
    Grand Canyon National Park (with photos organized by trail) 1985, 1989 (and rafted canyon 1999) Havasu Canyon/Grand Canyon West (with photos) 2001
    Superstition Wilderness in the Tonto National Forest (with photos) 2002 Canyon de Chelly National Monument (2008)
    Arkansas
    Buffalo River National Trail 1999, 2002
    Ozark Highlands Trail in the Ozark National Forest (with photos) 1997
    Colorado
    Mount Zirkel Wilderness in the Routt National Forest (with photos)1987, 1990
    The Colorado Trail (with photos) 2001
    Uncompahgre/Big Blue Wilderness in the Uncompahgre National Forest (with photos) 1989, 1993, 1994
    Weminuche Wilderness in the San Juan National Forest (with photos organized by trail) 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1999
    Idaho
    Targhee National Forest/Jedediah Smith Wilderness (with photos) 1998
    Illinois
    Sand Ridge State Forest (with photos) 1998
    Shawnee National Forest 1992
    Indiana
    Hoosier National Forest (with photos) 2003
    Kentucky
    Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (with photos) 2000
    Land Between the Lakes (with photos) 1996
    Mammoth Cave National Park (with photos) 2001
    Pine Mountain Trail (with photos) 2002
    Red River Gorge (with photos) 2007
    Michigan
    Bay de Noc - Grand Island Trail in the Hiawatha National Forest (with photos) 2001
    Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior (with photos of island and moose) 1993, 1996 North Manitou Island/Sleeping Bear Dunes Natl Lakeshore (with photos) 2009
    Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (including neighboring Grand Island) (with photos) 1996
    Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park (with photos) 1992
    Sylvania Wilderness in the Ottawa National Forest (with photos) 1992
    Minnesota
    Superior Hiking Trail in the Superior National Forest (with photos) 1996
    Missouri
    Mark Twain National Forest / The Berryman Trail (with photos) 1997
    Montana
    Gallatin National Forest/Lee Metcalf Wilderness (with photos) 1998 Glacier/Waterton National Park (with photos) 1997 Bob Marshall Wilderness in the Flathead National Forest (with photos) 1997 New Hampshire
    Pemigewasset Wilderness in the White Mountain National Forest (with photos) 1995
    New Mexico
    Pecos Wilderness in the Santa Fe National Forest (with photos) 1989, 1991
    North Carolina
    Great Smoky Mountains National Park (with photos) 1995
    Lake Watagua segment of the Appalachian Trail (2006)
    South Dakota
    Black Hills National Forest/Black Elk Wilderness (with photos) 1997
    Tennessee
    Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (with photos) 2000
    Cherokee National Forest (with photos) 1998 Cumberland Trail (with photos) 2002
    Land Between the Lakes (with photos) 1996
    (Great) Smoky Mountains National Park (with photos) 1995
    Utah
    Bryce National Park (with photos) 1999
    Manti-LaSal National Forest 1999
    High Uintas Wilderness in the Ashley and Wasatch-Cache National Forests (with photos) 1990
    Zion National Park (with photos) 1999
    Virginia
    Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area (Jefferson National Forest) 2003
    Pine Mountain Trail (with photos) 2002
    Washington Olympic National Park (with photos) 2000
    Pinchot National Forest - Goat Rocks Wilderness (with photos) 2004
    Wisconsin
    Kettle Moraine State Forest -- Ice Age Trail (with photos) 2000
    Chequamegon National Forest (with photos) 1996
    Wyoming
    Grand Teton National Park (with photos) 2000
    Targhee National Forest/Jedediah Smith Wilderness (with photos) 1998
    Wind River Range/Bridger-Teton National Forest/Bridger Wilderness (with photos) 1998 Yellowstone National Park (with photos) 1997

    You can get buried in Worries of the world, But you can never Get too deep For the woods.

    --Ollie Olsen--

    This is a perpetually unfinished work as every year I discover new favorites.

    May it ever be so!

    Posted by at 2:37 AM 0 comments

    Friday, October 3, 2008

    Backpacking Info

  • Mountain men still exist, sort of. While backpacking in the Weminuche Wilderness of Colorado in 1994, we met five mountain men, replete with 1800s gear, clothing, and single shot long rifles. Here are photos and information gleaned from them regarding their unusual variation of our sport.
  • Here are dozens of backpacking tips I've accumulated from that masterful instructor called "experience" -- as well as tips sent to me by other visitors of this site:
    Tips about Gear Tips about Food Tips about Techniques
  • Annotated Bibliography: Here are lists of my favorite books related to backpacking, with comments about each book included to assist you in choosing which books might be of interest or value to you.
    How-To" Books (techniques) Philosophical Books ( the "why", not the "how") True Experience Books (actual backpacking adventures.)
  • Need a checklist of items to take while backpacking? Here is my list. I don't take every item on every trip, but this is my starting point to guarantee no necessities are overlooked, so customize this list to your own preferences.
  • For centuries, poets, authors, philosophers and conservationists have struggled to capture in mere words the spiritual essence and resplendent grandeur of trees and wilderness. The English teacher within me wishes to share these literary endeavors with you, so here are presented over a hundred excerpts from works by the world's greatest authors and thinkers as food for thought. I've worked on numerous volunteer trail projects over the years, all of which can be viewed here. I strongly encourage everyone to consider volunteering for such a project, and perhaps you'll get to have a supper of deer, elk, and. moose with the crew of the long-running PBS series "This Old House" as we did in '97! See my photo of Steve and Norm.
  • Wilderness is inspirational to me, and its sights, sounds, scents, and scenes have enkindled within me a need to express my thoughts, feelings, and backcountry experiences in original poetry.
    • Backpacking How-To's for Beginners by Ryan Moulton
    Posted by at 4:35 AM 0 comments

    Thursday, October 2, 2008

    My Volunteer Trail Projects

    (Unless marked otherwise, all projects were through American Hiking Society)

    --1997 Bob Marshall Wilderness of the Flathead National Forest in Montana.

    --1998 Gallatin National Forest of Montana.

    --1999 Manti-LaSal National Forest of Utah

    --2000 Columbia River Gorge in Washington State's Beacon Rock State Park.

    -- 2001 The Colorado Trail above Copper Mountain Resort.

    -- 2001 Hiawatha National Forest of Michigan

    --2002 Superstition Wilderness of the Tonto National Forest (Sierra Club project)

    -- 2002 Cumberland Trail Conference in Tennessee.

    --2002 Pine Mountain Trail Conference in Virginia and Kentucky.

    --2002 Buffalo National River in Arkansas

    --2003 The Palmetto Trail in South Carolina's Wateree Swamp

    --2003 Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area in Virginia

    --2003 Apache Sitgreaves National Forest on northern Arizona's Mogollon Rim

    --2004 The Florida Trail in Osceola National Forest along the Suwanee River

    --2004 Goat Rocks Wilderness of the Pinchot National Forest in Washington

    --2005 Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts (Sierra Club Trail Project)

    --2006 South Carolina's Palmetto Trail in the Francis Marion National Forest

    --2006 Independence Grove in Illinois (Forest Preserve District of Lake County)

    --2007 Spring Valley Trail in Arizona's Hell's Canyon Wilderness

    --2009 Acadia National Park in Maine (Appalachian Mountain Club project)

    --2010 Buffalo National River in Arkansas

    --2010 Manti-LaSal National Forest of Utah -- bridge construction

    --2010 Rafting Canyonlands NP & Cataract Canyon/Tamarisk removal in Utah (Sierra Club project)

    --2011 Boardwalk Reconstruction for US Fish & Wildlife Service in South Carolina

    --2011 Manistee National Forest Boardwalk and Bridge Construction in Michigan

    ==================

    I also put together a slideshow/primer here on how a trail is built, using photos from various projects.

    I strongly encourage you to consider volunteering for a project if you can spare the time. (Maybe you'll get to have a supper of deer, elk, and moose with the crew of the long-running PBS series "This Old House" as we did in '97! See my photo of Steve and Norm.)
    Posted by at 1:20 PM 0 comments

    Chicago Area Bike Trails

    Posted by at 8:57 AM 0 comments

    Wednesday, October 1, 2008

    Backpacking Colorado's Big Blue/Uncompahgre Wilderness

    View up Big Blue valley at Uncompahgre Peak, sixth highest in Colorado at 14,309 feet. This is taken from the trail which begins near the forest service campground and follows the Big Blue Creek upriver a dozen miles to reach this location. From here, a spur trail takes you up 3000 feet in about 3 miles to the top of Uncompahgre Peak.

    View from Uncompahgre Peak looking to the north. The valley between the two ridges is the trail from the Big Blue Trail to Uncompahgre Peak trail.

    Camping above Big Blue Creek near intersection of Big Blue Trail and the spur trail up to Uncompahgre Peak Trail.

    View from Uncompahgre Peak looking west at Matterhorn and Wetterhorn Peaks.

    ========================================== The wilderness, located north of the quaint Colorado town of Lake City, comprises 99,490 acres in the Uncompahgre National Forest (established in 1905) with elevations ranging from 8400 feet to 14,309 feet. Over 75 miles of trails are available, and because about half of the wilderness is above timberline (11,500 feet at this latitude) the vistas are spectacular. Alpine flowers bloom in late July and August. Elk, bighorn sheep, ptarmigan, and marmots reside here. Uncompahgre, a name given by the Ute Indians to the area around Ouray, Colorado, has been translated variously as "red water spring" and "hot water." A public hot springs pool still exists in Ouray. The area is also known as the "Switzerland of America." Several years ago I hosted an American Field Service foreign exchange student from Carpi, Italy, which is in the extreme northern part of Italy. Luca, upon seeing this area of Colorado, remarked that it did indeed resemble the Alps of Switzerland. The Big Blue Wilderness includes two of Colorado's famed "14ers," Uncompahgre Peak (14,309 feet high, the sixth highest in Colorado) and neighboring Wetterhorn Peak (14015 feet in elevation.) A trail, which climbs nearly 3000 feet in 3.5 miles allows access to Uncompahgre Peak. The first known ascent of Uncompahgre Peak was achieved in 1874, but the climbers discovered that grizzlies had preceded them. Also adjacent is the "13er," Matterhorn Peak. The two Swiss names recount the area's nickname, "Switzerland of America." Slide Lake, created by a rock slide into Big Blue Creek in the 1940s, is called a fisherman's paradise, and considerable fishing can also be found along the Big Blue. Good fishing is also found in the four other main rivers in the wilderness, Fall Creek and the three forks of the Cimarron -- Middle, East, and West. The Big Blue valley, which extends 11 miles to Uncompahgre Peak, is the most magnificent valley I've ever seen, bar none. I've backpacked here three times and will return more times to enjoy the incomparable beauty of the area. Seeing a herd of over two dozen elk circling around us while we labored over the pass by Silver Mountain is a sight I will never forget. Their beauty, agility, and grace are beyond words. FOR INFO: Uncompahgre Forest Headquarters 2250 Highway 50 Delta, CO 81416 (303) 874-7691 Exploring Colorado's Wild Areas by Scott Warren; The Mountaineers, Seattle, WA; 221 pages. Hiking Trails of Southwestern Colorado: A Guide to the San Juan and Uncompahgre National Forests by Paul Pixler; Pruett Publishing Company; Boulder, CO; 214 pages.

    Posted by at 9:19 AM 0 comments

    Chuck's Backpacking Bonanza is gone...

    Chuck's Backpacking Bonanza is gone because after 13 years, AOL has stopped hosting websites. My replacement site is now Bike, Hike, and Paddle. I appreciate AOL's sponsorship for these 13 years and for having allowed me to create Chuck's Backpacking Bonanza way back when websites were quite new, but the way AOL simply stopped hosting has many users extremely angry. I happened to notice AOL's announcement a month ago while visiting Chuck's Backpacking Bonanza because a banner had been placed across the top of the page. AOL stated they'd notify everyone by email but never did, so many users were caught unawares and lost all their pages and photos yesterday and now are up in arms. I spent dozens of hours over the last 4 weeks revising 200+ pages and re-uploading the pages of Chuck's Backpacking Bonanza as well as 500 photos to another host. We all wish AOL had at least allowed a re-direct so people who had bookmarked Chuck's Backpacking Bonanza over the last 13 years would be sent to the new Bike, Hike, and Paddle, but such is not the case. So please forgive my constant repetition of Chuck's Backpacking Bonanza but I am posting this message (and its many uses of the name Chuck's Backpacking Bonanza) hoping search engines pick it up and re-direct those looking for Chuck's Backpacking Bonanza's to its new location at Bike, Hike, and Paddle.
    Posted by at 5:43 AM 0 comments

    Sunday, September 28, 2008

    Paddling Locations in the USA & Costa Rica


    Arizona

    While twice backpacking the Grand Canyon, I longed to experience the entire canyon by raft. In 1999, I finally had the opportunity to raft all 277 miles and 160 rapids of the Canyon. Here are the photos and comments!


    Scottsdale Adventure 101 which included white-water canoeing on Verde River below Bartlett Dam.

    Kayaking the Colorado River below Hoover Dam in the Lake Mead Recreation Area's Black Canyon. 

    Houseboating and kayaking Lake Powell


    Arkansas     

    Canoeing the Buffalo National River (105 miles) 2010

    Alaska (2004)

    Kayaking Misty Fjord National Monument

    Rafting Nenana River (Denali NP in Alaska)

     Rafting Mendenhall River (Juneau, Alaska)

     Rafting  Placer River (Anchorage area)


    Colorado




  • Rafting the Arkansas River 







  • Rafting Glenwood Canyon


    Costa Rica (2010)







    • Rafting 18 miles on the Pacaure River

    Florida


    Kayaking the Suwannee River (2003) (60 miles)

    Canoeing Juniper Run in the Ocala National Forest


    Kayaking and camping Canaveral National Seashore

    Canoeing Rivers of the Ocala National Forest

    Kayaking Cedar Keys Natl. Wildlife Refuge

    Explore Wild Florida by Canoe (Ocala National Forest)
    Kayaking Greatest Rivers and Springs

     Kayaking Little Econ, St. John's, and Wekiva Rivers

     Canoeing Hillsborough, S. Withlacoochee, & Weeki Watchee Rivers

     Canoeing Suwannee and Ichetucknee Rivers



    Georgia

    Sea Kayaking Amelia Island and Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp

     
    Hawai'i 

    Kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and surfing with O'ahu, Maui, and Kaua'i Adventure Program.


    Illinois and Iowa


    The Great River Rumble 2003: Paddling and camping 140 miles down the Mississippi River

    Maine

    Kayaking Frenchman Bay in Bar Harbor near Acadia National Park


    Michigan






    Montana

    Canoeing/camping Missouri (River) Breaks for 151 miles (Lewis and Clark)


    Pennsylvania

    Rafting, Kayaking, and Canoeing the Delaware River



    North Carolina


    Appalachian White Water Rafting (class 2, 3 and 4 rapids)

    Kayaking in the Shadows of the Great Smoky Mountains (Fontana Lake) (entire perimeter)

    Rafting the Nantahala River


    South Carolina

    Paddling Low Country Lakes, Rivers, and Swamps

    Texas

    Kayaking Texas Gulf Coast Bays and Estuaries from Galveston


    Kayaking the Guadalupe River



    Utah

    Whitewater rafting and camping the San Juan River


    Canoeing/camping the Green River (2006) (120 miles)

    Canoeing/camping the Green River (2008) (120 miles)


    Rafting Moab's Colorado RiverColorado River

    Rafting Cataract Canyon and Canyonlands National Park 2010 (100 miles)





    West Virginia

    Rafting the New River Gorge

    Wyoming


    Rafting the Snake River
    Posted by at 9:41 AM 0 comments

    Saturday, September 27, 2008

    Chicago Area Paddling Locations

  • Busse Reservoir of northwestern Chicagoland.
  • Des Plaines River in northwestern Chicagoland.
  • Des Plaines River Canoe Marathon
  • Fox River in western Chicagoland.
  • Independence Grove of Lake County.
  • Long Lake of Lake County
  • Skokie Lagoons of northern Chicagoland.
    • Posted by at 9:50 AM 0 comments

    Friday, September 26, 2008

    Elderhostel/Road Scholar Adventures

    If you enjoy active, outdoor vacations, you will definitely find an Road Scholar program (formerly known as Elderhostel) of interest to you. The only requirement to join this free organization had been having attained the age of 55 years but now it is open to all ages. Road Scholar is a non-profit organization specializing in learning -- a sort of college for older folks -- offering an astounding array of many thousands of reasonably priced programs (either in a classroom or in the outdoors) all over the world. If you enjoy doing something or wish to learn something, they have a program covering that area!

    I have participated in a number of programs (predominantly active, outdoor programs) and below are info and photos of the active, outdoor programs I've taken.







  • 2002-- In Scottsdale, Arizona: Adventure 101 which involved rappelling, white-water canoeing, canyoneering, hiking, and orienteering






  • 2002-- From Chloride, Arizona: Kayaking the Colorado River below Hoover Dam in the Lake Mead Recreation Area's Black Canyon.






  • 2002-- From Highlands, North Carolina, Appalachian Hiking and White Water Rafting (class 2, 3 and 4 rapids).






  • 2002-- From St. Charles, Missouri, Bicycling the Katy Trail (140 miles along the Missouri River).






  • 2003-- In Hawai'i, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and surfing with O'ahu, Maui, and Kaua'i Adventure Program.






  • 2003-- In South Carolina, Paddling Lakes, Rivers, and Swamps.






  • 2003-- In Utah, White Water Rafting and Kayaking San Juan River






  • 2003-- In Arizona & Utah, Houseboating and Kayaking on Lake Powell






  • 2004-- In Georgia, Okefenokee Swamp Safari






  • 2005-- in Massachusetts, Biking Cape Cod and Nantuckett Island






  • 2005-- In Maine's Acadia National Park: hiking, biking, and sea kayaking






  • 2006-- In Florida, Canoeing in the Ocala National Forest






  • 2006-- In Florida, Sea Kayaking Amelia Island and Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp






  • 2006 -- In Arizona, Adobe Photoshop Elements (a classroom program at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona)






  • 2007-- In Arizona, Biking the Border's Wild West





  • 2007-- From Texas, Mexico's Copper Canyon by El Pacifico Railroad






  • 2007-- In Texas, Kayaking Texas Gulf Coast Bays and Estuaries






  • 2008-- In Florida, Canoeing Three Rivers






  • 2008-- In Florida, Suwannee River: Canoe, Hike, and Folklore






  • 2009 -- In Florida, Disney World: The Mystery Behind the Magic






  • 2009 -- In Florida, Explore Wild Florida by Canoe






  • 2009 -- In Pennsylvania, Rafting, Kayaking, and Canoeing the Delaware River






  • 2009 -- In Maine, Exploring the Coast of Maine under Sail aboard the windjammer Angelique






  • 2010 -- In Florida, Snorkeling Key Largo's Coral Reefs






  • 2010 -- In Utah, Photo Workshop in Bryce, Zion, and Grand Canyon North Rim






  • 2010 -- In Arizona, Where Rock Meets Water in Glen Canyon






  • 2011 -- In Florida, Amelia and Cumberland Islands: Nature & History






  • 2011 -- In South Carolina, Kayaking Tidal Waters on St. Simons Island 





    • 2011 -- In Idaho, Rafting Idaho's Salmon River (coming this Fall)
    • 2011 -- In Washington, Kayaking the Lower Columbia River (coming this Fall)
    Posted by at 7:26 AM 0 comments

    Thursday, September 25, 2008

    Sierra Club Outings

    John Muir, founder of The Sierra Club, strongly believed that America's finest natural areas could best be protected by taking members out into these areas, for after having experienced them, the people would willingly work to preserve and protect these areas. The Sierra Club therefore sponsors a wide variety of outings each year and I have participated in several.
  • 2002 -- Trail Service Project in the Superstition Wilderness in Arizona's Tonto National Forest
  • 2003 -- Kayaking the Suwannee River in Florida
  • 2003 -- Backpacking Indiana's Hoosier National Forest
  • 2004 -- Kayaking Canaveral National Seashore in Florida
  • 2004 -- Alaska Autumn Sampler (hiking, camping, and backpacking)
  • 2005 -- Trail Service project: Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts
  • 2006: Kayaking Florida's Greatest Rivers and Springs
  • 2006: Kayaking in the Shadows of the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina
  • 2008: A Naturalist's Kayak Trip in Florida
  • 2008: Hiking Arizona's Canyon de Chelly
  • 2010 Rafting Canyonlands National Park's Cataract Canyon/Tamarisk removal and campsite rehab in Utah
    • Posted by at 9:54 AM 0 comments

    Wednesday, September 24, 2008

    Scenic Railroads in the USA

  • Colorado's Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (which can take you to and from one of the greatest backpack destinations in America, the Weminuche Wilderness.
  • Colorado's Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad
  • Colorado's Georgetown Loop Railroad
  • Colorado's Pike's Peak Cog Railway
  • Colorado's Leadville, Colorado, & Southern Railroad Company
  • Colorado's Royal Gorge RR
  • Arizona's Verde Canyon Railroad
  • Alaska's White Pass & Yukon Route
  • Alaska Railway
  • Arkansas and Missouri Railroad
  • New Hampshire's Mount Washington Cog Railway
    • Posted by at 10:05 AM 0 comments
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