Author: Rick Mc

Career gymnastics coach who loves the outdoors, and the internet.
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poem – The Morning

My breath still a mist
in the cold crops air.
My hands through my gloves are numb.

The axe that I hold
weather beaten and old
my sole companion this morn.

I walk all alone
down this road I have known
so very many mornings
before.

’til I come to my land
so majestic and grand
The place where I am reborn.

The song birds are singing
in the high tree tops
but the scampering squirrels
scold me.

I feel a slight morning breeze
and streaming down through the trees
the sun is just on its way.

On soft, spongy carpet
I walk through the woods
and I never have felt so
at peace.

So i throw down my axe
and lay down to relax …
I’ll not cut any wood today.

~ Rick McCharles

I wrote that in a 1973-74, a Language Arts option High School class.

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The Rockwall – Kootenay National Park

A classic hike in my part of the world, the Canadian Rockies.

It’s a 3 -5 day tough backpacking trip covering 55 kms (34 miles) one way. Start at the Floe Lake Trailhead and finish at the Paint Pots Trailhead.

The trailheads are about a 2 ½ hour drive from Calgary. …

Hitchhike back to your car at the end of the trip or arrange a car shuttle before you begin. The trailheads are only 13 kms (8 miles) apart. You do need to buy a back-country pass beforehand. …

read more on Leigh McAdam‘s site Hike Bike Travel – Backpacking The Rockwall Trail – Kootenay National Park, BC

Her site is my best recent blog discovery, by the way. Check it out – Hike Bike Travel

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smoking banned on hiking trails

I hate second hand smoke.

So this legislation sounds good to me.

The Recreation and Parks District board in Pleasant Hill, California is planning to ban smoking on hiking trails within the district, as well as other open spaces like parks. …

If the Pleasant Hill no-smoking ordinance is passed, it will not be the first in California of it’s kind. Districts like Hayward and Livermore already have similar ordinances in place. …

Daily Hiker – California district to ban smoking on hiking trails

It’s nice to see California politicians have enough free time to work on forward thinking proposals like this. 🙂

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How to Hunt a Bear

Funny.

Hunting bears has long been a rite of passage in almost all civilized societies. In Greek times, bear hunting was part of the Olympics and they were naked.

Unfortunately, many of today’s young men have never known the sportsmanlike glory of sneaking up behind a majestic ursine creature and shooting it in the back while nude. Here’s how you can help keep this grand tradition alive. …

read the SECRETS on The Content Farm – How to Hunt a Bear

That site spoofs articles from “content mill” or “content farm“ sites, low quality crap customized to gain a high Google ranking. Monetized by ads.

related – Read Write Web – Content Farms: Why Media, Blogs & Google Should Be Worried

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climb Mt Reinebriggen, Norway

Dennis Janssen on Quora recommended:

Lofoten, Norway (above polar circle). After climbing Mount Reinebriggen for an hour and a half, you get this view over Reine. One of many amazing day hikes in this region…

How do you get there?

more interesting photos tagged Reinebriggen

… one day I’ll get a backpack full of Krone and head for Norway.

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Juan de Fuca Trail threatened

Adjacent to the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island B.C. is the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail.

I’ve done the WCT three times, the Juan de Fuca once.The Juan de Fuca is a nice alternative for hikers who don’t have enough time or experience.

But now some West Coasters are up-in-arms:

Warning!

West Vancouver developer Ender Ilkay is planning a big new resort along Juan de Fuca Marine Trail Park.

The latest version of the plan calls for 263 cabins, three lodges, paved roads, and septic fields on the steep Pacific slope. Over the next 12 years, blasting and bulldozing within meters of the park would damage up to 16 kilometers of the Juan de Fuca trail between China Beach and Sombrio. …

details on Forest Action

I’ll be following this head butting.

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West Coast Trail guide FREE

Well …

not FREE. But rather by donation.

The West Coast Trail in British Columbia is our #1 hike in the world. It will change your life.

Here’s a resource you shouldn’t miss, a quality PDF publication of Hike Bike Travel:

This guide answers some of the most important questions about the West Coast Trail …before you begin.

• If this is actually the trail for you
• Which trailhead you want to begin with
• How many days you want to spend on the trail
• accommodation and transportation pre and post trip
• What to pack
• Meal suggestions
• Total costs

It’s all good. But the most useful section for those planning a future WCT adventure are suggested itineraries.

The ‘issue’ on this trek is deciding on transport to and from remote trailheads: Port Renfrew and Bamfield.

To do that you need guestimate how many days you’ll need to complete the challenging 75 kilometre (45 mile) up and down.

Download and see for yourself via Hike Bike Travel – West Coast Trail – Hiking & Backpacking Guide

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Mountain biker set to ride up Everest

What an AWESOME project.

I’m so inspired.

… literally hundreds of climbers have stood on top of the mountain, but not a single mountain biker has ever managed to conquer it. One man hopes to change all that this year.

… Goldstein knows that his task won’t be an easy one. He’ll have to navigate through the dreaded Khumbu Icefall, riding his Huffy across ladders precariously placed over crevasses in the glacier. Once on the other side, he’ll start the long, slow, grueling climb up the South Col and eventually to the top. “I’m pretty sure I’ll only be using the first three gears,” he says. …

Kraig Becker on Gadling

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hiking … B-E – S-A-F-E

My checklist for day hiking is the one posted by Tom Mangan. It’s a variation on the classic Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills list.

See both here – 10 essentials for day hiking

But DAVE ANDERSON posted an interesting alternative using this mnemonic: B-E – S-A-F-E

(B) Body temperature regulation and skin protection

(E) Emergency plan

(S) Sensibility – Probably the most important “essential” to pack for a day hike is something you already have with you – your brain.

(A) Active Route Finding – Don’t get lost in the first place.

(F) First-aid kit

(E) Extended Stay – What happens when the best laid plans go array? Carry some extra things to deal with adversity

Read the details on LittlePo Adventures – What are the 10 Essential Items to Pack on a Day Hike?