Our first adventure was trekking to the Salto de Limon (Limon Waterfall). This was our view!

The waterfall! The cool pool of water was welcome on a hot day!

We had a traditional Dominican meal when we got back from the falls.

The next day we visit Los Haitises National Park by boat and rode through the mangroves.

This is one of the caves we explored.

Day 3 was our favorite activity - waterfall cascading! We climbed up to the 12 waterfall and then and then slid and...

...jumped our way back down!

The next morning we got up bright & early to get on the teleferico (cable car) to the top!

At the top of Mount St. Isabel

The last day was my first snorkeling experience!

More snorkeling. So glad I had a waterproof camera!

Look for a full length feature on why the North Coast is the new destination for adventure travelers in the debut issue of Adventure Insider mag in a few weeks! Make sure you subscribe to Adventure Insider Magazine

Brian Shelton

I posted last week that a friend of Adventure Insider underwent surgery to have a tumor removed from his brain.  I am please to inform you that the surgery went well and Brian is on his way to recovery and looks forward to getting back on belay.  In the mean time the climbing competition to raise money for this expensive surgery is planned for April 3, 2010 at the Sport Climbing Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Registration will begin at 5:30 and the competition will begin at 6:00.  The cost is $10 for a very worth cause.  Don’t worry about you climbing ability, there will be prizes for all abilities in addition to raffles and an all around good time.  A party will follow the competition.  Members of Adventure Insider will be there including Erick, Shane, and CJ.  Great prizes have been donated by Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, Prana, Outdoor Research, Black Diamond, Diver’s Reef, and NOLS to name a few.  If you have questions please leave a comment and we will get back to you.

We hope to see you there!

For many years my roommates and I had passes to Ski Cooper, near Leadville, Colorado. Cooper is one of the smallest ski areas in Colorado, but it’s extremely family friendly. The lifts are slower, the runs are shorter, and it’s generally a more relaxing atmosphere than larger resorts.

After we married, Angie and I decided to take advantage of the Liberty Pass offered by Vail resorts. This special pass for military members offers unlimited skiing at Keystone and Arapahoe Basin for less than half of a full price season pass. I had been to Keystone and other large resorts before, so I knew what to expect. That year we hit Keystone 5 or 6 times, including one multi-day trip when we stayed in Silverthorne. We also boarded a day or two up at A-Basin, which is a really great place but has become very crowded over the past few years. Overall though, we didn’t really care for Keystone as much as other resorts, and couldn’t handle the crowds up the road at A-Basin.

Last year we bit the bullet and bought the full price Colorado Pass which included Breckenridge, A-Basin, and Keystone. We only went to Breck since we’re not big fans of the other two any more. The pass is pretty pricey (I think we paid $450 each), but if you get enough days in it can be worth it. What we realized about halfway through the season is that we really don’t like crowds. Since we can usually only hit the slopes on weekends, and we like to sleep in a little, by the time we arrive on a Saturday morning, the entire resort is usually packed.

In addition to the lift lines and crowded slopes, we really don’t like being so far from our FJ Cruiser. We like to go back to the FJ at lunch time for a sandwich, some great tunes, and a little relaxation. That’s very difficult to do at a large resort. At Breck, that entails taking a gondola, and usually a bus to get to a large parking lot and finally back to the car. It’s really not worth it. What ends up happening is that we’re stuck eating an overpriced chicken sandwich at a VERY crowded mountainside venue. In addition to our passes, we were dropping another $60-70 every time we went (gas, parking, food, etc). Our snowboarding hobby got expensive very quickly.

That’s not to say that we didn’t enjoy ourselves. The snow is usually pretty good, and the runs are nice and long. For great terrain and lots of variety, Breckenridge is hard to beat. Also, on the rare occasion that we were able to hit the slopes during the week, the resort was generally pretty quiet. With the large crowds removed, some of the other drawbacks are easily overlooked. I highly recommend a larger resort like Breck for those coming to Colorado on vacation.

This year, since Angie isn’t able to board, I chose to grab a military pass at Monarch again. The smaller resort with far less people is much better for my tastes, especially on the weekend. I’ve been able to get to the slopes very early in the morning and get some great turns before any lift lines form. Looking forward, with the new addition to our family on the way, I think we’ll be sticking with either Monarch or Ski Cooper for the foreseeable future. I don’t like the thought of teaching our little one to ski/board on a crowded resort mountain.

What are your thoughts on large resorts versus smaller ski areas? Do you prefer the ultra fast lifts and multi-mountain terrain, or smaller areas that are more cost effective and convenient? We’d love to hear about your favorite small ski areas, next season is just around the corner and we’re looking for places to check out!

New York City

Your first visit to New York City can be an intimidating experience.  NYC is big, fast, and unlike any other city in the world — a true urban adventure. Just like any other adventure, the key to making your trip an enjoyable and exciting experience is to arm yourself with some knowledge before you go, make a plan, and leave a little room in that plan for the unexpected. This beginners guide should help get you pointed in the right direction.

Geography and Layout

I often describe NYC as a country of it’s own, complete with states (the boroughs), and towns (neighborhoods).  New York City is composed of five boroughs.  Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. Although each borough has great things to see, you’re likely to spend most of your time in Manhattan (referred to as “the city” by locals).  Manhattan is broken into many neighborhoods: the Upper West Side, Lower East Side, Murray Hill, and the Financial District to name a few.  Don’t be overly concerned about those, just know they exist.

The streets in Manhattan are laid out in a grid pattern.  Avenues run North-South and streets run East-West (see map below) with higher numbered streets to the North (uptown) and higher numbered avenues to the West.  This can make it quite simple to figure out which way to walk once you understand the pattern.  That said, below 14th St, things start to get to get a bit more confusing, and the whole of lower Manhattan is a jumble of named streets and tiny blocks. A map is key, and you may find yourself walking a block or two out of the way to figure out exactly where you are.

There are also several NYC map applications for the iPhone that you may find helpful. Isn’t technology wonderful?

Getting There

Although it is possible drive into New York, it’s not recommended.  Bridge and tunnel tolls are deliberately high to discourage people from adding to the traffic congestion in Manhattan, street  parking is extremely limited, and parking garages can be quite expensive. Navigating the city via the extensive network of buses and subway trains and the occasional taxi is not only much cheaper but also is often much quicker. So, it’s probably not surprising that we recommend getting to the city by plane or by train.

Airplane

There are three major international airports that service New York City: Newark, La Guardia, and John F. Kennedy.  Newark is located in Newark, New Jersey whereas La Guardia and JFK are located in Queens (a borough of New York City).  These airports are major hubs for many popular airlines, and JFK is a popular point of entry for many international flights. So, flights are easy to find and deals can be had if you’re willing to spend some time shopping around.  When shopping for flights most websites will allow you to use “NYC” as the destination which will generally search all three airports. Be careful however as searching for a round-trip ticket using this method will sometimes generate results that have you arriving into one airport and departing from a different one.

Transportation to and from each airport requires the use of trains or a taxi.  The information below should get you started.

If you’re coming in by train

• From Newark you will need to ride the AirTrain to “Newark Liberty International Airport” stop where you can transfer to an NJ Transit train bound for Penn Station in Manhattan.  Be aware there is also a Penn Station in Newark and you may need to change trains there.  Train tickets are purchased at NJ Transit ticket machines and normally include the AirTrain and NJ Transit fares.
• From La Guardia you will need to take a bus.  The M60 bus will take you to 125th Street in Manhattan where you can get on a number of subways.
• From JFK you can take the AirTrain.  The AirTrain connects with the New York City Subway “A”, “E”, “J”, and “Z” lines.  The AirTrain connects with the “A” at the Howard Beach station.  In order to get to the airport using this method you must be on a “Far Rockaway” train, not “Lefferts Boulevard”.  Connection with the “E”, “J”, and “Z” lines is at the Sutphin Boulevard station.  You can also connect to the Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station.

Of course cabs are also an option from all airports.  Although the price can be high for a cab it will save you considerable time and headache, particularly if you have much baggage or people as there is no additional fee for additional passengers.  Avoid drivers inside the terminals and in Newark negotiate your fare beforehand as the taxi operators are not as regulated as in New York.  Currently yellow cabs charge a flat $45 from JFK to any point in Manhattan.  While in the taxi stand line consider asking others where they are headed.  It’s a great way to reduce the cost of the cab and make new friends.

Rail

Amtrak serves New York Penn Station, located in the Midtown Manhattan.

Driving

Although not recommended, driving is an option.  I-95, I-80, and I-78 all come into the city via the Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, or the George Washington Bridge.  Tolls can run upwards of $8 for the river crossing alone and traffic can be devilish.

Where to Stay

When looking for a hotel be cautious, some aren’t what they seem.  Consult a credible source before booking your accommodations.  Staying with someone you know in the area is always a great bet or for those more daring couch surfing is always an option.  If you want to have a great experience and don’t mind a little money for it check out the Kimpton Hotels, you can even bring your four-legged traveling companion.  In addition there is a free wine hour every evening.  If you are looking to go on the cheap, NYC also has numerous hostels to choose from.  Outside that, there are literally thousands of hotels to meet most people’s taste and budget.

New York Skyline

Getting Around

New York City is served by a great mass transit system consisting of 660 miles of subway track and 208 bus routes that serve some 7.6 Million people daily.  Most subway lines and bus routes run 24/7 with reduced service during late night, holidays, and weekends.  A free subway map can be picked up at a manned ticket booth is any subway station.  Because the subway can be a little intimidating the first time you ride here are a few tips for your trip:

• Know the difference between local and express.  Express trains don’t make all stops.
• Read the signs.  When transferring trains signs will point you in the right direction.
• When ascending or descending stairs or an escalator, stay to the right.
• Be ready to exit.  During rush hour the trains can be very full.  Don’t decide at the last moment you need to get off.
• Know the stop before and after the one you want.  This will help you prepare and also serves as a backstop if you happen to miss your stop.
• When getting on a train, do not stand in front of the doors.  Stand to the side and let people off before you board.  Trust me it’s quicker.  Also, when exiting don’t stop and look for signs/maps until you are well clear.  This just slows down the people who know where they are going.
• Knowing the layout of Manhattan streets and avenues can aide your subway exit.  Many exits are marked with the intersection and the side of the street it will come up on.  Not only will this aid you in using the right exit but you won’t have to ask for directions.
• If you are not sure of something, ask.  New Yorkers have a reputation for being rude but will generally help if simply asked.

NYC is also known for yellow cabs.  There are more than 13,000 yellow cabs in the city and your chances of getting one on a cold rainy night are slim to nil.  However, most other times it’s not a big problem.  Yellow cabs are well regulated and rides will always be metered.  Less than $10 will get you a few miles and there is no charge for additional passengers.  Again, a few tips:

• Be clear on where you want to go.  The drivers may not know the name of the restaurant so give an intersection or street with cross streets. For example, if you’re headed to Katz’s Delicatessen for some pastrami on rye and a glimpse of the table from that famous scene in ‘When Harry met Sally’ you can ask your cab driver to drop you at Houston (pronounced HOW-stun, not like that city in Texas) and Ludlow.
• Available cabs will have the number on the top of the cab illuminated.  If it is extinguished it is occupied and if the outer lights are on the driver is off duty. Check out this post on Abroad’r View for more on cab tips and etiquette.
• Be ready with payment.  All yellow cabs now accept credit cards, but be ready with cash just in case.

Beyond that NYC is a great walking city, so wear comfortable shoes!! If you’re armed with a decent map and willing take to the sidewalk you’ll be rewarded with the discovery of smaller ‘local’ establishments that are off the beaten tourist path.

What to See

Food

New York is known to have some of the best restaurants on the planet.  There are plenty of very well known high end restaurants such as Per Se, Jean Georges and Daniel but there are thousands of restaurants that offer some of the best food at a much more casual atmosphere and more reasonable price.  Below are my personal favorites that I would recommend to anyone.  Keep in mind that inexpensive in NY may be skewed compared to what you are normally accustomed to.

Inexpensive

• Vanessa’s Dumpling House – If you like dumplings, don’t miss Vanessa’s.  This place is crazy cheap, and delicious.
• The Bourgeouis Pig Cafe – The cure for your fondue cravings.
• La Palapa – Great Mexican food and of course, margaritas.

Not as Inexpensive

• Blue Smoke – A phenomenal BBQ joint run by the famed Danny Meyer.  Live jazz is played seven days a week downstairs.
• The Little Owl – Casual yet upscale dining in Greenwich Village (a neighborhood on the lower east side).
• Blue Hill Farms – A restaurant inspired by an upstate farm that sources their food only from local farms.

This is just a quick list.  Check out Yelp , CitySearch and Serious Eats for more great places.

Pizza

Because it’s such a popular question I will devote a section to Pizza.  One thing that is not and never will be decided is where the best pizza is in NYC.  Instead, decide for yourself.

• Lombardi’s – The first licensed pizzeria in NYC.
• John’s – Avoid the one in Times Square and head to the original on Bleeker Street.
• Grimaldi’s – Under the Brooklyn Bridge (on the Brooklyn side) this small place offers some of the best ‘pie’ in the city.

Keep in mind, none of these places accepts reservations, you can’t get a ‘slice’ and it’s generally cash only.  It is, however worth it.

Drinks

• Dive 75 – Fun little place uptown complete with Jenga and Connect Four.
• The Little Branch – Get a lesson in all things alcohol.
• The Back Room – Enjoy your drinks in teacups, an ode to the prohibition era, in the main room.
• Death and Company – A small, dark, upscale and trendy place.
• Brandy Library Lounge – Select a glass of your favorite nightcap from what is the largest selection of brandy and scotch I have ever seen.
• The Other Room – A collection of three bars that are great for dates.

Places

There are tons of guides filled with information on what not to miss and surely you have your own list.  Here are a few places I take people who come visit.

• Grand Central Terminal – One of the icons of New York.  Check out the Campbell Apartment inside, now a bar.
• Public Library Main Reading Room – Visit the reading room
• Ellis Island – Catch the ferry at the terminal in Battery Park to visit The Statue of Liberty (reservations are required to visit her crown) and Ellis Island. Perhaps you can find your ancestors in their extensive registry.
• Central Park – Without the 843 acre park there would be 8 million crazy (crazier?) New Yorkers.
• Museums – From the Museum of Modern Art to the Museum of Natural History to the Museum of Sex and everything in between.

Resources

Google Maps (including mobile) give transit directions in NYC and if you do have a mobile version for your phone will help with walking directions as well.  There are numerous guides as well.  One favorite of mine is the Not For Tourist (NFT) Guide (Buy).

Links

• MTA – Mass Transit Authority.  The operator of NYC subways and buses.
• NJT – New Jersey Transit.  Operates Newark AirTrain and connecting train to New York Penn Station.
• Amtrak – Amtrak serves New York Penn Station.
• Newark – Newark Liberty International Airport
• La Guardia – La Guardia International Airport
• JFK – JFK International Airport

Special thanks to Elizabeth and Fu for contributions to this article.

Okemo Mountain

Saturday I took a day trip to Okemo Mountain in Vermont without having to drive a single mile.  The latest way to get to the slopes from Brooklyn is the Brooklyn Ski Bus.  Departing from Park Slope at 5am most Friday, Saturday, and Sundays, the Brooklyn Ski Bus will take you to many ski resorts in the area while you relax and sleep it off. The bus deposits you back at the pick-up point about 8pm.  With prices ranging from $89 to $109 including transportation, lift ticket, and snacks and drinks (non-alcoholic) the Brooklyn Ski Bus is a good value and certainly saves a headache or two.

Check out http://www.brooklynskibus.com/ for more information and a calender of trips.

Waiting out the rain

At Adventure Insider, we really look for adventures that are (to use a cliché) off the beaten path. We don’t want to cover the same trips that every other publication and website cover, and we really like our solitude.

Summer in the Raggeds Wilderness

This past summer, this desire led us to the Raggeds Wilderness, near Crested Butte, Colorado. There are literally hundreds of great places in Colorado for a multi-day backpacking trip, but what intrigued us about the Raggeds is that there is not much written about the area. In fact, we had a little difficulty finding which trails would meet our collective skill level (intermediate), and provide the great escape we really love.

Both of those requests were answered with the route we chose. Starting from just outside the Erickson Springs  campground (38.954157°,-107.270606°), we headed up the Dark Canyon Trail (#830). Our plan was to try to make our base camp near the beginning of Oh Be Joyful Pass trail on Silver Basin Trail (#836). Unfortunately there had been quite a bit of rain (and a few good showers that first day), so our first 6 miles were pretty slow going. By the time we got to our first big ascent “Devlis Stairway” (38.949329°,-107.192316°) the ground was muddy, sloppy, and almost impassible. Once we got up this ascent the sun was already starting to fade, so we decided to call it a night.

Heading up the trail

The next morning was much drier, so before long we were at the intersection of the Dark Canyon trail & the Silver Basin Trail. We were planning to head up silver basin trail to our base camp at the bottom of Oh Be Joyful Pass (OBJ) trail. Fortunately we picked up the Trails Illustrated map (Kebler Pass/Paonia Reservoir #133) that pointed out the fact that our original base camp was no where near water, so we decided to continue up Oh Be Joyful Pass trail to find a good spot.

Heading up the trail

Not far along the OBJ trail is a good size ridge with a great overlook to the valley below. We decided this would make a great stopping point (Base Camp: 38.937108°,-107.142046°) for the night since we needed to get some video & photos for reviews on several products (see MH Helion Tent Review & Therm-A-Rest Neo Air Review).  Although we didn’t make it, if you have the time I highly recommend you summit Oh Be Joyful pass (38.939714°,-107.115604°).

What a great view!

The next morning was a little rough for us. I was having some minor issues with my knees, and my two companions (Erick & Ed) had just previously spent 5 days in Glacier National Park. So since we had all the video & photos needed for our reviews, we decided to head down a day early. We expected to reach our vehicle (about 8 miles downhill) early in the afternoon, so we could make it to Gunnison for a nice steak dinner that night.

Views to the west

The downhill part of our trip went pretty quickly, but there were plenty of great views on the way down. The last 3-4 miles are very popular for those with horses, so watch your step. After getting back to the car, it was a short 20 minute ride to retrieve the FJ at the north parking area, and then back through Crested Butte to Gunnison for steaks and beer.

How to get there

To hike this trip from North to South (as we did) take CR-12 north from Crested Butte (you can also get to CR-12 from the north off of CO-133). You can also hike from south to north, which is less steep than our route.

Permits/Regulations

No permits are required to hike in the Raggeds Wilderness. Review all wilderness regulations for restrictions.

Outfitters

Gunnison is the closest town with several backpacking / outdoors shops. You’ll be able to find anything forgotten or missing there. Expect to pay a small premium for goods purchased in a mountain town.

Summary

This is a great trip to get away from the loads of people in many of Colorado’s back country areas during peak season.  You’ll experience several types of terrain that can be challenging at times. We’re looking forward to exploring this area again in the future.

Quick Info

Location: Raggeds Wilderness, Colorado, USA (Info)
Permits: None required.
Distance: 18mi (But several trails offer shorter/longer routes)
Difficulty (1-10): Our route was intermediate (5-6)
Maps: Kebler Pass/Paonia Reservoir Trails Illustrated #133. (Buy) Download Google Earth KML

La Palpmas Peak

While in New Mexico on business I had a chance to to get away for a couple hours to do some climbing at La Palomas Peak outside Albuquerque, New Mexico. I’ll spare you the details as the can be found in the fairly comprehensive guide located at http://www.cs.unm.edu/~moret/crag.html. I will, however share some things that may not be obvious…at least not to me. First, the trail. I immediately set of on a faint trail behind the barriers when I should have walked south (up) on the road about 50 feet to an obvious trail. Second, you may be able to pick this up from the guide but the routes are very short. Just as you start to get warmed up you top out. All in all this is a great site to do some climbing if you are in the area, especially if you are looking to do a little teaching. With routes ranging from 5.4 to 5.13 there is a great variety to choose from.

Looking Back

I headed off to Montana with the plan of backpacking the Coal/Nyack Creek Loop in the southern region of Glacier National Park.  I had seen from the online trail reports that there had been some avalanches in the area resulting in quite a few trees down and waist high river crossing about a week before my visit.  What I failed to realize from the report was the sheer numbers of trees that would have to be negotiated in order to complete the loop.  The rangers at the permit office put the number at somewhere in the ‘many hundreds’.  With that bit of information, we changed our plans.  The ranger then helped set up a trip that he was sure would be worth the effort. Worth the trip it was!

Let me start by saying I, as a general rule, try to avoid trips that require a lottery, are over-populated, and even require a permit if possible.  That said, the trip to Glacier was absolutely worth the hassle of the permitting process.  It was a fortunate set of circumstances that we happened to be at the west end of the park and started our backcountry  the following day on the east end of the park.  This required us to drive the Going-to-the-Sun Road that traverses the park east-west and is more than likely the best 50 miles you will ever drive.  Mountain goats, waterfalls, glacial valleys, and wild berries are just a few of the wonderful things you will experience on this trip.  It is worth the trip even if happens to take you out of the way.

Day 0

Small Waterfall

After dropping our car at the Chief Mountain Trailhead (our terminus) we took the shuttle to Many Glacier and acquired a hiker/biker campsite.  Although these are communal campsites it is best to inquire about them before dropping you car, cost: $5/person.  Pizza and a couple beers that evening at the Many Glacier General Store hit the spot and the next morning we hit the trail.  Now, before I divulge our itinerary I want to point out that there are so many remarkable places in Glacier that almost any combination of campsites is worth the trip.  Also keep in mind the big passes that can be downright intimidating are some of the most magnificent places to see.

Day 1

Over Ptarmigan pass and through Ptarmigan Tunnel (yes, it’s an actual tunnel).  Upon exiting the tunnel you will see Elizabeth lake far below you.  Continuing down the trail will bring Helen Lake into view along with many peaks sporting glaciers and huge waterfalls.  Further down the trail we merged with the Continental Divide Trail and eventually arrived at Elizabeth Lake (Foot) Campground.  From there it was a magnificent hike to Elizabeth Lake (Head) Campground for the night.  Here there is a little sandbar

Dawn Mist Falls

that you can ford out to for a little relaxation sitting in a glacial valley surrounded by numerous peaks and ridges.  In  hindsight I think continuing another couple miles to Helen Lake Campground would be worth the little extra effort.

Day 2

Heading back towards the foot of Elizabeth Lake and continuing to Cosley Lake Campground.  On the route we passed Dawn Mist Falls and were pleased to see a small spur that leads to the bottom of the falls.  This spur is only about a tenth of mile long is pretty much flat, making the side trip for lunch and a refreshing dip a no-brainer.  The trail is pretty flat and wandering until we reached a river fording about a half mile from the campground.  After the ford and re-installing our feet in our shoes we proceeded the last half mile where we saw a black bear scavenging berries and decided to help ourselves as well, after we were well clear of the bear.  Cosely Lake sits at the base of a cliff and is fed by the run off from Stoney Indian Pass.  A fishing pole here may serve as one of the better items to bring.  Here, each campsite is along the water with a thin stand of brush and trees and a personal trail leading to the water.  Deer are very prominent in this area and tend to crave the salt we bring along.  I caught a doe licking the handles of my trekking poles numerous times even as I approached her.

Day 3

Morning Fog in Glacier N.P.

We continued west a short distance to Mokowanis Junction Campground.  Due to the short day we decided to take a day hike after lunch and a nap.  Mokowanis Lake is reported by one guide we met, to be a great spot for a swim.  Stoney Indian Pass offers glacier pools coupled with waterfalls and steep climbing.  We chose the pass, and we not at all disappointed.  Huge waterfalls and a dip in a 58° glacial pond was what the doctor ordered.  This was by far the pinnacle of the trip and is what has me wanting to return again.

Day 4

Backtracking day.  Heading east now past Cosley Lake a few miles into Gable Creek Campground.  Hiking the vistas of the park and picking wild berries to munch on made the day memorable.

Day 5

The end of the road.  Heading out to Chief Mountain was the slowest going on the entire trip.  Made extremely muddy by the recent rains the trail was tough to negotiate and at times almost frustrating.  A steep incline followed by some wandering finishes at the Chief Mountain Trailhead.

Planning

How to get there

Bears

Both Missoula (164 mi.) and Great Falls (203 mi.) are served by major airlines with car rental services available.  Destinations closer to the park may be served by smaller airlines or connectors.  The drive to park is straight forward although there is some construction on US-93 north of Missoula as of this writing.  Another notable is the utterly delicious Montana Wheat located at the junction of US-93 and Hwy 35.  There is also a grocery store there for last minute items.  Make sure you stop for some Flathead Cherries that are grown in orchards right along your drive and sold at the numerous stands dotting the road.

Permits

Due to the popularity of the park, permits can be hard to come by for Glacier.  Advanced reservation lotteries are in effect but a certain percentage of each campground is held for walk in reservation available to day before you wish to start.  Due to the high possibility of changes, check the Glacier National Park Backcountry Camping page for up to date information.

Outfitters

Many outfitter near glacier are more than happy to help you find that item you forgot at home.  If you need a place to get a new tent, get a new sleeping bag, or get that new Therm-a-Rest Neo Air you can stop by REI in Missoula.

Summary

Waterfalls on Stoney Indian Pass

If Glacier isn’t on your list, it should be.  If it is, it should be higher.  Glacier National park is truly an amazing place to visit, it’s just a shame it’s so popular as it makes it tough to keep to the ‘insiders’.

Quick Info

Location: Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
Permits: Required.  By lottery or walk-in (see above)
Distance: Varies
Difficulty (1-10): Varies
Beta: Glacier N.P. Trails Illustrated.  Available for the whole park and in larger scale for sections of the park. (Buy)

http://www.nps.gov/glac

Canoeing the New Jersey Pine Barrens

A Rope Swing to Help You Cool Off

With summer here it’s a great time to brush up on your canoeing and kayaking skills.  A prime place to do that is in the Pine Barrens region of Southern New Jersey on the Wading River.  Pick up some sandwiches for lunch and rent a canoe or kayak (single or double) from Micks Canoe and Kayak Rental (http://www.mickscanoerental.com/) and pick your poison.  Mick’s offers put-in and take-out points that will yield trip lengths of between 4.1 and 15.7 miles.  Camping is also an option along the river.  One great option for a nice day includes a put-in at Hawkin Bridge for a three hour, 5.8 mile cruise.  Extending the trip a bit down to Beaver Branch will take about five hours to travel the 9.8 miles.  Any route you choose will not leave you bored.  The winding river is full of downed (but passable) trees, and a few small tributaries will keep you on your toes.  This is also a great opportunity to get your favorite four-legged explorer out for some action with the family.  Mick’s will transport dogs in the bus to and from the river.  So grab the dog, pick up some sandwiches and get on the river.

Our thanks to our friend Rabecca Shaw for allowing us to use her pictures.