flora – Page 12 – besthike.com

July 2, 2015July 1, 2015

restoration of the Elwha river

The Elwha Dam was a 108-ft (33 m) high dam located in the United States, in the state of Washington, on the Elwha River approximately 4.9 miles (7.9 km) upstream from the mouth of the river on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

It was taken out in an effort to restore the original habitat, especially for fish breeding.

Looks pretty good in 2015. I did a short day hike from the viewpoint.

High Divide - 2

High Divide - 1

You didn’t want to be downstream when the floodgates were unleashed.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

• World’s Largest Dam Removal Unleashes U.S. River After Century of Electric Production

• Olympic National Park’s newest attraction is made out of an old dam [Photo Gallery]

May 7, 2015May 7, 2015

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

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The highlight was seeing 2 resplendent quetzal. Another Canadian saw 4 the same day. May is breeding season.

… The “song” is a treble syllable described as kyow or like “a whimpering pup”, often in pairs, which may be repeated monotonously. …

It was something closer to a puppy whimper than a kitten’s sound.

… classified as near threatened on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss. …

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde) … founded in 1972 … visited by roughly 70,000 visitors a year. …

… extremely high biodiversity, consisting of over 2,500 plant species (including the most orchid species in a single place), 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptilian and amphibian species, and thousands of insects, has drawn scientists and tourists since. …

I hiked all the trails in less than 4 hours. A number were closed. They looked to me to be closed permanently.

trail map

I did take one of the closed trails for a few hundred metres, just to compare. It seemed about the same but without trail maintenance.

For lunch I propped myself up against my pack under a giant tree. And enjoyed it so much that I left behind a Summit Stone.

A second highlight was the bridge through and above the forest canopy. Dangling plants living only on “air” are amazing.

click for larger version

Cost for entry in 2015 was $20 for a foreign adult. Locals consider that high compared to a similar experience in the other reserves.

On the other hand, this is the only official local hiking area that reaches the continental divide.

Though you are not likely to see any animals … (I saw only one mammal fleetingly) … I recommend this hike.

Transportation between San Jose and Monteverde is relatively painless. You can easily get to the Arenal volcano, as well.

I recommend it. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is one of the best hikes in Costa Rica.

more photos

April 7, 2015April 6, 2015

Republicans hate hikers

That’s what I assumed after seeing the American Senate vote on this:

Amendment SA 838 was introduced to allow states to take over, transfer and sell public, federal lands, including National Forests, wildlife refuges, and wilderness areas.

The vote was purely symbolic — budget amendments carry no weight of law. But senators use the opportunity to bring attention to favored political issues and compel colleagues to take a stance on major debates.

For outdoors enthusiasts, it is a wake-up call. There are many interests trying to get their hands on your public lands, and our elected officials may be willing to sell. …

Gear Junkie – Senate Vote: Amendment Sanctions Sale Of National Forests, Public Land

Democrats voted against.

To be fair, 3 Republicans — Corey Gardner of Colorado, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee crossed the aisle in opposition.

Those 3 are still welcome to sit around my campfire.

Americans who love wilderness should vote against Republicans.

Vote against Republican candidate Taylor Hayes – Fracking Old Faithful? Republicans Want to Tap Our National Parks for Energy

Vote against Rep. Don Young, a Republican from Alaska. He introduced the “No More National Parks” bill.

Tell Congress: Reject the “No More National Parks” Bill

April 6, 2015May 26, 2015

dangers of the Pacific Crest Trail

Forget about bears, mountain lions, and murderers –

The last (and only) recorded death from a wild bear in California, Oregon, or Washington? A four-year old girl in 1974. The last hiker killed by a mountain lion on the PCT? Never. The last time a person was murdered on the PCT? Also, never.

photo via HalfwayAnywhere.com

Scary things on the Pacific Crest Trail

1. LIGHTNING
2. UNMARKED TRAIL JUNCTIONS
3. BEES

bees photo via HalfwayAnywhere.com

4. GIARDIA
5. THE SUN & DEHYDRATION
6. POISONOUS PLANTS
7. BUTT CHAFE
8. BICYCLISTS
9. MOSQUITOS
10. CARS
11. UNLEASHED DOGS
12. MAN-MADE HAZARDS (Asbestos, high voltage cables, and unexploded military ordinances are just a few …)
13. THE BOOGIE MAN (psychological distress)
14. SNAKES
15. COWS
16. SNOW
17. POOP

17 Things Scarier Than Bears On The Pacific Crest Trail

February 25, 2015February 25, 2015

Eden To Addo Great Corridor Hike

South Africa, Sept 3-23, 2015

400KM. 20 days. US$2060 donation.

Click PLAY or watch the 2014 hike promo on Vimeo.

https://vimeo.com/93256738

OUR VISION:

To link three mega-reserves, namely the Garden Route National Park, The Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve and the Addo Elephant National Park by means of natural corridors to protect and restore the integrity of bio-diversity and eco-system functioning. …

maps

I’ve hiked the Otter Trail on the Garden Route and visited Addo Elephant Park. It would be terrific to connect the two on foot.

Click over to edentoaddo.co.za E2A corridor page for more information.

January 27, 2015January 22, 2015

bridges built of tree roots

Do you know where the most sustainable foot bridges are? No, not in Germany, Costa Rica or the Nordic states, which are the greenest countries according to the GGEI (Global Green Economy Index) 2014, but in the Meghalaya state of northeastern India. We’ll tell you why.

These suspension bridges are built with a form of tree shaping, and have a lifespan of 500-600 years.

The handmade footways are made from the roots of Ficus elastica trees, grown through betel tree trunks. …

The Khasis still grow new bridges, so when the old ones are vanishing, there will be another spectacular and vivacious footways to get across in the next centuries.

The Place Where Bridges Are Grown Instead of Built

January 14, 2015January 6, 2015

Grizzly Lake, Tombstone Mountains, Yukon

Hike Bike Travel:

If you’re looking for world-class mountain scenery, in an area that doesn’t get a lot of attention, then head to the Tombstone Mountain Range in the Yukon Territory. Starting at KM 58.5 on the Dempster Highway, the three to five day backpacking trip takes you first to Grizzly Lake, and then to Divide and Talus Lakes. It’s a wild, desolate, truly memorable landscape. …

The landscape though, is extraordinary – and I can safely say like nowhere else you’ve seen.

Try to arrange your trip for late August when the boreal forest and alpine meadows combine to deliver a rainbow of fall colours. But go prepared for cold temperatures and snow. I had both. …

Tombstone-backpacking-and-Dawson-City-008hsrs

A Hike to Grizzly Lake in the Tombstone Mountains

January 8, 2015January 7, 2015

Long Range Traverse, Gros Morne

Gros Morne National Park is a world heritage site located on the west coast of Newfoundland. …

Gros Morne is a member of the Long Range Mountains, an outlying range of the Appalachian Mountains, stretching the length of the island’s west coast. …

Hiking the trails is a popular activity at Gros Morne. There are about 20 marked day trip trails, exploring coastal and interior areas of the park. …

The interior of the park can also be accessed, notably through the multi-day Long Range Traverse between Western Brook Pond and Gros Morne Mountain. …

Leigh McAdam:

Before you even get a whiff of the Long Range Traverse, the premier backpacking trail on Canada’s east coast, you must pass a serious navigation test and get a full orientation by staff at the Gros Morne National Park Visitor Center.

The navigation test is nothing to sneeze at. You must understand declination and know how to take a compass bearing from the map. Although you can take along a GPS, and it might help in foggy situations, it’s your map and compass skills that are of utmost importance. It’s the only place in Canada that I am aware of that requires you to pass a navigation test. I guess what happened in the past, is too many backpackers set out, only to get lost – as there is no marked trail – and ended up needing a rescue.

Hike Bike Travel – Backpacking the Long Range Traverse in Gros Morne NP: Day 1

• Day 2

• Day 3

• Day 4

January 4, 2015January 4, 2015

hiking Mineral Ridge, Idaho

Mineral Ridge National Recreation Trail is a backcountry hiking area near Lake Coeur d’Alene …

Construction began on the trail in 1963 and the area was designated as a National Recreation Trail in 1982. There is a self-guided interpretive tour along the 3.3-mile (5.3 km) trail.

Summit of Mineral Ridge, 2,400ft (730m). Elevation gain is 600ft (180m).

We hiked it January 3rd after a snowstorm. With a 5yr-old. Late in the afternoon, slipping and sliding back to the trailhead in the dark.

Mineral Ridge

A bit more adventurous than usual. 🙂

Here’s a more typical lake view from the ridge.

Each winter from November through February a migrating population of up to 150 bald eagles visit the area to feed on spawning Kokanee salmon. An interpretive viewing program is offered annually from Christmas through New Years during peak migration.

We saw two bald eagles. 🙂

official Bureau of Land Management page

December 28, 2014December 25, 2014

El Balcon de Iberia, Cuba

Tom Mangan tipped us off to this well loved day hike.

The trail leads through the spectacular Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt (Alexander von Humboldt National Park), which UNESCO recognizes as “one of the most biologically diverse tropical islands sites on earth.” Careful where you step: you will pass some of the world’s smallest vertebrates on your way to the El Majá Waterfall, which cascades over 82 feet.

autentica Cuba

The trail begins at the first narrow section of the Santa María River …

Your hike will take you to the source of the Santa María River—El Majá Waterfall, more tban 82 feet (25 meters) high—where you can rest in the shade before treating yourself to a refreshing dip.

Duration: 5 hours
Distance: 4.3 miles (7 kilometers)

Baracoa.org