The Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge in Westbrook, CT takes hikers past grand evergreens and cheerful beeches before it gives way to a huge salt marsh – complete with telescope. Staffers even provide notes about the critters visitors might see on the trail, from blue crabs to skunks to ducks, cormorants and osprey.
Pop back into the woods and hike to an even better (less marshy) tidal-marsh area, where you’ll view what looks like never-ending water, birds flitting and diving throughout. Juxtapose that with views of the Shoreline East rail line and the surrounding marinas and you’ll certainly feel like an outsider looking into the world rushing by.
Trees give way to a delightful grassy walkway and field at the end of the trail. Birdsong seems louder without as much rushing wind through leaves and branches. Keep an eye out for killdeer and the very popular woodcock, known for its extravagant mating dance and subject of a popular program at this refuge.
For a few weeks each year, from April into June, the land not far beyond Mount Hood is prime for walking across juniper-dappled hills in Oregon’s high desert.
The air dries out quicker east of the mountains, making wildflowers bloom and caddis flies hatch to feed ravenous trout in the Deschutes River.
The land where central Oregon begins, around Madras and Redmond, has many wonderful walking opportunities, some with developed trails, others that require exploring.
Smith Rock State Park, with its craggy walls rising above the Crooked River, is the pinnacle of beauty in Oregon’s desert. Climbers, hikers and nature lovers fill parking lots to overflowing.
But those wanting quieter options can easily find them.
When an Alaskan says “the mountain is out” there is no doubt which mountain is filling the horizon. It is Mount McKinley, or “Denali” as most Alaskans call it. The 20,320-foot massif is the tallest mountain in North America. It is often covered by clouds, but when visible, it is a magnificent sight.
The mountain is not the reason Denali National Park and Preserve was created, however. In 1917, the park formed to protect the wildlife. Eventually expanded to 6-million acres, the park is home to moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves and grizzly bears.
More than 650 species of flowering plants eke out a living here, along with a variety of mosses and lichens. Only plants adapted to long, cold winters and short growing seasons can survive in Denali’s subarctic climate.
In addition, Denali is home to 39 species of mammals, 167 species of birds, 10 species of fish and one amphibian, the wood frog. There are no reptiles at Denali National Park, but there are dinosaur tracks, discovered in 2005, showing for the first time that prehistoric creatures lived here.
There are a number of trails in the entrance area that are free for hiking anytime. They range in difficulty from easy to challenging.
In the Atlantic, 160 kilometres off the coast of Nova Scotia, lies an island made entirely of sand.
Sable Island, where wild horses roam the dunes and shipwrecks ring the fog-shrouded shores sounds more myth than reality.
It’s also Canada’s newest national park — but visiting might be the worst thing you could do.
“You can easily love the island to death,” said Mark Butler, policy director of the Ecological Action Centre.
He and other conservationists fear that the expected influx of tourists eager to see the stark beauty of the island for themselves could harm the fragile ecosystem.
The island usually gets between 50 to 250 visitors a year.
Parks Canada has not yet decided how they will open the national park to the public, says spokesperson Julie Tompa. As a site management plan is being developed to ensure the island is protected and the best visitor experience possible is provided.
In an era where kids spend most of their time in front of a screen, the Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, Kingdom Heritage Land trails, and other Vermont hiking resources can open children’s minds to the natural world outside their doors. The Green Mountain Club not only conducts youth and adult outdoor education workshops, but it is seeking to provide improved resources to Vermont educators interested in connecting students to the mountains.
The club’s mission is not only to protect and maintain the Long Trail, but also to help the mountains play a larger role in people’s lives and foster stewardship through education. Their founder was a schoolteacher who looked out from Stratton Mountain in 1910 and dreamed of a long trail which would help his students have access to the place where he sat.
In keeping with that tradition and their mission, the Green Mountain Club has launched LongTrailBound.org to serve as an online resource and forum for Vermont educators and parents interested in providing safe and fun outdoor learning experiences for their children and students.
On Thursday, May 17, turn back time to the cool spring breezes of years gone by with a guided hike to the high-elevation, history-rich trail to Hemphill Bald. Hiking enthusiast and author Danny Bernstein (“Hiking North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Heritage”), will lead, and Judy Coker of Cataloochee Ranch, which borders the park along the trail, will join the group. This 8.4 mile “Classic Hike of the Smokies” is moderate in difficulty and has a total elevation gain/descent of 1,500 ft.
Coker will share stories about the relationship of her family over generations with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, conserving land, and entertaining mountain guests. The Hemphill Bald Trail follows the spine of the Cataloochee Divide, affording stunning vistas on a clear day and spring wildflowers long gone at lower elevations.
“Classic Hikes of the Smokies” occur on the third Thursday of every month. Other hikes in the 2012 series include the Appalachian Trail and Andrews Bald in June, and Purchase Knob in July.
Gulf Hagas—“the Grand Canyon of Maine”—and the scenic Henderson Brook Trail are among the highlights along a new, 8.9-mile, lodge-to-lodge hiking route connecting two wilderness lodges operated for the public by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).
AMC’s Maine Wilderness Lodges are popular destinations for lodge-to-lodge cross-country skiing in winter, and new this summer, guests will be able to travel from lodge to lodge via hiking trails, enjoying comfortable accommodations, hearty, home-cooked meals, and the camaraderie of other guests who visit AMC’s conservation and recreation land for hiking, paddling, fly-fishing, wildlife-watching, and relaxing in a quiet and magical part of the Maine woods.
The new lodge-to-lodge route follows the forested Henderson Brook Trail through a scenic gorge for about 1.6 miles, crossing the brook a few times along the way, before it connects with the Appalachian Trail and the Rim Trail through the slate canyon of Gulf Hagas, and then continues to Little Lyford on connecting trails.
After a historic drought left several thousand trees dead and dying in the Sam Houston and Davy Crockett national forests, U.S. Forest Service officials were forced to close hiking and horse trail systems and some recreational areas in both forests.
The closure order allowed forest service employees to evaluate areas and report their findings. Closed areas in the Davy Crockett National Forest include Ratcliff Lake Recreational Area, 4C National Recreation Trail, Tall Pines Trail, Piney Creek Horse Trails and some hunter camps and parking areas.
Closed areas in the Sam Houston National Forest include Scott’s Ridge Recreation Area, Cagle Hiking Trail, John’s Point Trail, Lone Star Hiking Trail, Multi-use Trail, Office Hiking Trail, Equestrian Trail, Double Lake Shore Hiking Trail, Double Lake Mountain Bike Trail, Kelly’s Pond camping area, dispersed camping along Forest Service Road 271, Paluke Point off Forest Service Road 248 and some hunter camps and parking areas.
All closed trail heads and established hunter camps will remain closed until all dead trees within 150 feet of the perimeter of the area are cut, and areas will be re-evaluated prior to being opened.
Officials said although some trails and areas may open in as soon as 30 days, others areas that suffered more damage may take a year. Officials hope to open Ratcliff Lake, which is estimated to have about 300 to 400 dead and dying trees, in July, although there is no exact timetable.
Spring is a great time to go hiking in Gila, NM. The weather is warmer – but not too warm – the desert blooming, and hiking into the wilderness offers great views not seen from any car window.
But hiking safely should be everyone’s first priority, and as you’ll see, even an experienced hiker can make a mistake.
Linda Ferrara has been hiking the area ever since she moved to Silver City, NM 11 years ago. This year she decided to give herself a goal. This past fall, she came up with the idea of doing 100 hikes in a year. That’s about three hikes a week. With time on her hands, and beautiful southwestern New Mexico scenery all around, Ferrara struck off.
By March, she had logged more than 40 hikes – nearly halfway to her goal.
One day, while camping in Water Canyon in the Mimbres Valley with her husband and friends, she decided to tackle a canyon she had been looking at for 10 years.
Meanderthals Note: We recently had an unplanned adventure too. Read about it here.
The Proprietary House Museum Association is organizing a hike through the Jockey Hollow section of Morristown National Historical Park on Sunday, May 6, meeting at 10 a.m. at the entrance to the park’s Visitors Center. It’s an easy to moderate hike of three to four miles.
You will be hiking where 10,000 soldiers struggled to survive the most severe winter of the 18th century while in need of food and proper clothing. You will be able to see exhibits in the visitor’s center illustrating the life.
The cost is $5 per person. To register, call the Proprietary House at 1-732-826-5527 and leave your name and phone number. Be sure to bring sturdy footwear, water, snacks, a camera, hat, and sunscreen. In the event of rain, the hike will be cancelled.
Join the Lupus Foundation of America and BAND TOGETHER FOR LUPUS AWARENESS to improve the public’s understanding of lupus and show support for those who suffer from it.
Every day during the month of May, the LFA will share a fact about lupus on their Web site and social media outlets that you can share online with your family and friends. In addition, be sure to listen to weekly audio podcasts from leading lupus physicians. This week’s podcast about Understanding Lupus will feature Dr. Joan Merrill. Listen now!
Participate in one of the many Lupus Awareness Month activities hosted by the Lupus Foundation of America’s network of chapters and affiliates around the country. Click here to see the full list.
Check out the Awareness Kit for fliers, Facebook and Twitter images, and many more tools that you can use to tell the story about lupus during the month of May.
Get people talking about lupus. Put On Purple on Friday, May 18, to show support for those with lupus and tell people why. Visit www.lupus.org/awareness to find tools and tips you can use to implement your very own Put On Purple Day activities.
Someone you know may have lupus. Someone I know and love does.
Celebrate Pinelands Month and explore the Black Run Preserve while learning about the vision of Evesham’s proposed “Open Space and Recreation Plan.” Join Evesham and Cherokee High School teachers and students, Environmental Commission members and the Pinelands Preservation Alliance on May 5 for a guided hike into the “Black Run Preserve,” the township’s newest 1,300 acre open space of Pine Barrens forest, wetlands, old cranberry bogs and streams adjacent to Kings Grant.
The guided tour will start at 9:30 a.m. and last about 2.5 hours, covering 3 miles of sand roads and trails. It will be held rain or shine.
This unique Pine Barrens property holds hidden natural beauty for folks of all ages to discover and has the potential for numerous hiking and biking trails and more.
Wear appropriate shoes for hiking, dress for the weather and bring a snack and water. Sunscreen and bug spray are also recommended.
Nature enthusiasts will flock to Roan Mountain this weekend for a host of hikes, workshops and programs highlighting the region’s rich natural history as part of the 54th annual Spring Naturalists Rally.
The event will be held Friday through Sunday, May 4-6, at Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee. Registration and information desks, as well as the evening programs, will be held at the park’s conference center. Sessions take place at various locations around the park and in the nearby Roan Highlands.
This year’s rally will continue the tradition of offering field trips led by top naturalists and engaging programs given by celebrated naturalists. While there will always be field trips that are favorites and are offered every spring, there are several brand new field trips this year. Check out the Friends of Roan Mountain brochure for details.
Featured speakers are John Pickering of Discover Life and Leonard Atkins, known as The Habitual Hiker.
The recent acquisition of 720 acres of land in the Plott Balsams in North Carolina has helped set the table for the first major park to be created along the Blue Ridge Parkway in six decades.
The pieces of property help make up Maggie Valley’s watershed. Neil Carpenter, head of the sanitary district for the town, said the recent purchase was a relief. He’s worked at preserving the land from development for the past eight years.
“Development was a possibility,” Carpenter said. “The economy slowing down bought us some time. If the economy had kept booming, I think it would have sold for development. We’re ecstatic it’s protected now.”
The land, which connects to 2,415 acres adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway that have already been purchased, run along the 6,000-foot high crest of the Plott Balsams near Sylva and Waynesville. They lie to the west and east of the 6,200-foot high Waterrock Knob, a major scenic destination on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
“The goal is to take all these conserved lands and make a park out of them,” Carpenter said. “And to make a wildlife corridor.”
The towering Plott Balsams are ecologically significant. Elk from Cataloochee have shown up there, plus the land is home to the Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel and populations of native brook trout.
Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, an iconic visual representing the American West, is famous for many reasons. Many of us grew up seeing Half Dome memorialized in the black-and-white photographs of Ansel Adams.
However, for nature lovers and backpackers, Half Dome represents one of the most arduous trails in North America, especially the final 400 feet of cable-assisted climbing to the top.
Unfortunately, the number of hikers wanting to scale Half Dome has superseded what the National Park Service deems environmentally sustainable and safe for the public.
According to its website, in 2008, nearly 1,200 people a day attempted the summit using the Dome’s cables. Given a rising number of recent deaths and an issue with “crowding” along the cables, Yosemite established an interim permit process in 2010, requiring hiking permits for Friday, Saturday and Sunday ascents.
This year, permits are required every day for the Half Dome Trail beyond the subdome, with only 400 hikers permitted each day. The permits are for the entire season when the cables are up, which traditionally runs from Memorial Day to around Columbus Day (May 25 to Oct. 8).
I am Jeff Clark, founder of Internet Brothers, publisher of Meanderthals, and a passionate hiker. I live in western NC near the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests are just out my doorstep, so the content will focus on these areas, but let me know what you would like to see on the site. 
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