Category: fauna

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is that a RATTLESNAKE?

We nearly tripped over two 4ft-long snakes, very close together, in Arches National Park, Utah.

Click PLAY or see the snakes on YouTube.

Later I had another snake close to my camp in Canyonlands. (It’s a good idea to keep your tent zipped in this part of the world.)

At the time I hoped that this nonpoisonous big boy — the Gopher Snake or Bullsnake — was a mortal enemy of the Rattler. (I read that error in Edward Abbey’s 1968 book.)

Turns out the two species sometimes fight. Other times the snakes may even nest together.

Happily, I’ve still never seen a Rattler.

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VOLCANIC TRAVERSE hike in Alaska

Mark Scanlan recommended the Nabesna area of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the largest in the USA.

The jumping off point is Anchorage.

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… two rough gravel roads (the McCarthy Road and the Nabesna Road) wind through the park, making much of the interior accessible for backcountry camping and hiking. Chartered aircraft also fly into the park. Wrangell-St. Elias received roughly 57,221 visitors in 2004

Of the Nabesna trail options, the National Park Service website highlights a new adventure they call the Sanford-Dadina Plateau “Volcanic Traverse”.

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DISTANCE: 15 miles one way. 4-8 days depending on route and side trips.

ACCESS: Fly-in by air taxi from Gulkana Airport to upper Sanford River. Pickup from strip along Dadina River.

DIFFICULTY: Difficult. Requires extensive route finding (no trails), crossing glacial moraine, brush, steep rocky hill-sides with loose material, and negotiating swift but relatively small rivers.

HIGHLIGHTS: A wild and remote area with unsurpassed scenery. Volcanic peaks (Mount Drum 12,010’, Mount Sanford 16,237’, and Mount Wrangell 14,163’), alpine tundra, and splendid isolation. Watch for sign of caribou, Dall sheep, moose, bison, and ptarmigan.

linked via National Park Service Wrangell-St. Elias Hiking Routes

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my favourite insect – the hoverfly

I find hoverflies on most hikes. And almost everywhere in the world.

They like landing on sweaty skin, sampling the salt. A few times I’ve been able to get one to land on the tip of my nose.

This makes for a scary image as they look like a small wasp. (Sadly, some run away or try to kill the innocent fly, not knowing it is harmless.)

Flies in the Diptera family Syrphidae are commonly known as hoverflies, flower flies, or Syrphid flies. …

Many Syrphids mimic bees or wasps in appearance. It is thought that this mimicry protects hover flies from falling prey to birds and other insectivores which avoid eating true wasps because of their sting. …

Hover flies get their name from their characteristic flight pattern of hovering nearly still, then darting a short distance very rapidly only to start hovering again, a pattern not seen in the wasps and bees they mimic.

Wikipedia

This fantastic moment, captured by a young Australian photographer, won 3rd place in the Wikimedia Commons Picture of the Year 2006 competition.

Leave a comment if have any other favourite insects.

(We’re not going to get into the most hated insects.)

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Sanctuary River and Anderson Pass Loop, Alaska

I plan to travel to Alaska in August. Number one on my MUST HIKE list is Chena Dome Trail.

But this one recommended by National Geographic looks intriguing. Especially because there is not much information about it on the internet.

Hiking Denali’s Empty Quarter

To secure a permit for Denali’s vast backcountry, hikers must choose between 87 separate divisions, wait out temporary closures due to bear sightings and river floodings, and nab a pass just one day in advance (you often have to wait 3 days – editor) with no reservations accepted (www.nps.gov/dena).

Consider it minor bureaucratic penance for a chance at wilderness heaven. To choose a route—a challenge in its own right in a 6.1-million-acre (2.5-million-hectare) wildland without trails—pick up the classic Backcountry Companion: Backcountry companion: Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska at the permit office near the park entrance or online ($9; www.earthsonglodge.com).

Opt for the Sanctuary River and Anderson Pass Loop, a weeklong trek that starts when you step off the backpackers’ bus at Sanctuary River on Sheldon’s beloved north slope.

The winding route teeter-totters across both sides of the Alaska Range through Foggy Pass and Easy Pass before ending at the headwaters of the West Fork of Glacier Creek.

You’ll spot grizzly tracks, tufts of wool from Dall sheep, and alder thickets bulldozed by moose, all the while keeping your eyes wide open for the mountain to make an appearance through the clouds.

Need to Know: Old-timer’s guide to bear identification: If it climbs the tree to kill you, it’s a black bear. If it knocks the tree over first, then kills you, it’s a griz.

Alaska – Alaska Range – National Geographic Adventure Magazine

(via The Adventure Blog)

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Alpenglow magazine (HTML version)

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what’s the best backpack for a dog?

“Can I take my dog on this hike?”

That’s the critical question for many.

As an increasing number of trails disallow dogs overnight in the backcountry, it’s becomes a more important question.

One of the best hkes we know that allows dogs overnight is Paria Canyon in Utah. If you can recommend others, please leave a comment below this post.

Also leave a comment if you have a recommendation on a dog backpack. There’s some good buzz on the internet about the Kyjen models available from about US$20.


The Quick Releaseâ„¢ Dog BackPacks will give your dog maximum comfort and convenience when hiking with you. The backpack is designed with an adjustable harness and removable pack. Large storage pockets hold food, water and other gear. Made with extra-strong nylon for durability. Quick Release Dog BackPacks feature the “quick release” leash holder for use when approaching other hikers, dogs, or wildlife. Available in four sizes to fit most dogs.

The Kyjen Company :: Outdoor Gear for Pets

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Check also — HikeWithYourDog.com

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Tasmania, the Forgotten Island

This is the best introduction to Tasmania I’ve seen on-line. Superb photos!

It includes a hike on Freycinet Peninsula, one of the best hikes in the world.

Numerous walks are possible at Freycinet National Park, from one full day to a three to four day circuit, introducing each time more of the marvelous granite of the Hazards mountains which domineer the place.

I try to think of what place they remind me of, looking at the shape and color of the rocks, smelling the spiky shrubs on the trails. Corsica or some of the American West Coast mountain ranges come to my mind. And New Zealand of course.

Tasmania, the Forgotten Island — Tasmanie, l’île oubliée by La Tartine Gourmande

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hike Baffin Island

map_iqaluit.gifBluePeak tipped us to a new adventure in the far North.

Few people think of trekking in the high arctic, but Black Feather now offers a 60km trek through Katannilik Territorial Park on southern Baffin, not far from Iqaluit. There is a surprising abundance of flora, and also lots of wildlife. As a bonus, the trip ends with a country meal hosted by a local family, addding a cultural touch to the trip.

Bluepeak: Trekking in the high arctic

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seen a Tasmanian tiger?

Of all sad extinction stories, one of the saddest is that of the Tasmanian tiger.

The Thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) … is the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. …

The Thylacine became extinct on the Australian mainland thousands of years before European settlement of the continent, but survived on the island of Tasmania along with a number of other endemic species such as the Tasmanian Devil. Intensive hunting encouraged by bounties is generally blamed for its extinction, but other contributory factors may have been disease, the introduction of dogs, and human encroachment into its habitat. Despite being officially classified as extinct, sightings are still reported.

The last Thylacine … was captured in 1933 and sent to the Hobart Zoo where it lived for three years. It died on 7 September 1936

Official protection of the species by the Tasmanian government was introduced on 14 July 1936, 59 days before the last known specimen died in captivity.

Thylacine – Wikipedia

To see the last Tasmanian tiger (1933) click PLAY or watch the video clip from 1933 on YouTube.

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Overland Track, Tasmania – trip report

Rick McCharles

We named Overland one of the top 10 hikes in the world for good reason.

It’s one of the best walking adventures anywhere.

I could not have been more excited to get started when I arrived in Hobart. I immediately purchased the best guidebook (Chapman) and a map.

Transportation to and from the trailheads is provided by Tassielink bus. An early morning departure would get me to the trailhead and started same day.

This is me trying to hitch a ride after being forgotten by the bus driver en route.

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Apparently I was the first passenger left behind in 7 years.

Not an auspicious start to the hike.

The bus company rerouted me overnight, arranging a bed at a popular backpacker’s hostel. There my chicken lunch for the next day was stolen from the communal fridge — the first time I have ever had anything taken from hostel or campground.

Yeesh.

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Next morning another Tassielink bus arrived at 5:30AM.

But this time things went smoothly and I was delivered to the Cradle trailhead without a glitch. The weather was perfect.

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First priority was to scramble Cradle Mountain, the most photogenic peak in Tasmania.

I had seen many photos of the Overland Track, but the reality was far, far better. Unique, stunning scenery.

The infamous wet, stormy weather … seems to be a fabrication. Hard to believe it can snow here any day of the year.

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One of the best reasons to travel to Australia for hiking is the fantastic, diverse animal life. Friendly wallabies hang out at every hut.

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Much of the talk on the trail is deciding which sidetrip peaks to climb. Decisions are based mainly on weather. (No use climbing up into the clouds.)

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Hikers have the choice to tent … or stay in loud, crowded, smelly huts. (Bring your earplugs if you decide on the huts.)

Since the weather stayed clear, I tented every night.

And when the weather is good this hike is fairly easy. It even provides the most modern solar composting toilets.

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And the Overland Track continues to get more accessible for more hikers as muddy sections are covered with boardwalk.

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Certainly the Overland Track is one of the best hikes of my life. If you want to organize a trip there check our Overland information page.

Check flickr to see all photos from this trip annotated in full resolution