ASHEVILLE, NC – September 30, 2014 — Just in time for the fall leaf season, a new waterfall guide for Android phones and tablets is ready for download! Starting today, you can visit 50 of Western North Carolina’s popular waterfalls using this guide on your Android device. It’s packed with the same information provided by the developer’s popular waterfall web site – but with no data connection needed after installation. Photos are provided to help you decide which of Western North Carolina’s beautiful waterfalls you’d like to...
read moreA hundred years ago, when Robert Falcon Scott set out for Antarctica on his Terra Nova expedition, his two primary goals were scientific discovery and reaching the geographic South Pole. Arguably, though, Scott was really chasing what contemporary observers call a sufferfest. He set himself up for trouble: Scott brought Manchurian and Siberian ponies that quickly fell through the snow and ice; he planned, in part, for his crew to “man-haul,” meaning that the men would pull sleds full of gear, instead of relying on dogs. Even when Scott’s men...
read moreA sense of anticipation can be felt in the forest now. The leaves are changing from green to yellow and the air feels fresh and cool. Soon the aspen will be gloriously golden. Fall is the perfect time to get out and explore some of the hikes south of Taos, NM in the Carson National Forest. Flechado Canyon Trail is a lightly-traveled hike that follows a stream through meadows and aspen groves. It climbs to Gallegos Peak with its views of Jicarita and Truchas Peaks. The hike is located just past Sipapu Ski Resort on State Road 518. Head out of...
read moreClosing in on 30 and coming off a three-year stretch he likens to a country song, Jared McCallum decided he needed more adventure. So the former Marine from Florida set out April 1 to hike the Appalachian Trail. Nevermind that he’d never hiked before – or even camped. In August, as he neared the end of his five-month, 2,180-mile adventure, McCallum decided the best way to get home would be to paddle 2,350 miles back down the Mississippi River. Nevermind that he’d never canoed in his life. He found a canoe on Craigslist, picked up a redbone...
read moreIt was a great day for a walk and a history lesson. Nearly a dozen people gathered at Prophetstown State Park near Battle Ground, Indiana to participate in a historical hiking trail. The hike was a special event for September, which is archaeology month. Participants learned how artifacts found at archeological digs have helped the park tell the story of the Native American tribes that once inhabited the land. “Artifacts have a story to tell the public about this land,” said Angie Manuel, the park’s interpretive naturalist, who led the group....
read moreRescue teams searched Sunday for dozens of climbers who were caught by the sudden eruption of a volcano in central Japan a day earlier. Mount Ontake unleashed a huge cloud of ash on Saturday morning that billowed down the mountainside and engulfed hikers in its path. Forty-five people remained trapped in several cottages on the mountain, and at least 23 other people are missing, local authorities said Sunday. The exact number of people unaccounted for was unclear, as officials were uncertain how many had already made it off the mountain....
read moreHiking the Backbone Trail is the slowest and most gratifying 65 miles you’ll ever travel in Southern California. In a region built for cars and speed, the Backbone Trail represents a return to the simple pleasures and challenges of taking your time, putting one foot in front of the other, and seeing how far you can go. Stretching through the Santa Monica Mountains from Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades almost to the beach at Point Mugu State Park, the Backbone offers endless day hike options. But if you’ve ever wanted to...
read moret’s ironic so many American success stories happened at a spot named for one of history’s iconic failures. But that’s how it is with the Donner Pass near Truckee, Calif. The first wagon train to successfully cross the Sierra Nevada squeezed through the tiny granite gap in 1844. In the 1860s laborers built massive walls and 15 tunnels through the pass to bridge the most difficult section of the Transcontinental Railroad route. And in the early 1900s the Lincoln Highway, America’s first transcontinental automobile...
read moreThe goal in making this trail available to the public is to share the history, science, and beauty of the wetlands, and to provide a glimpse into the lives of the wildlife with which we share this habitat. This three-phased project funded through the Recreational Trails Program by Montana’s State trails program enabled the design and installation of an interpretive nature trail in a 28.8 acre wetland now protected in perpetuity by the Whitefish Lake Institute (WLI). It included building the trail, interpretive trail signs, a main...
read moreThe US Forest Service today announced that Ball Creek Road (NFSR 83), located in Macon County, NC on the Nantahala Ranger District of the Nantahala National Forest, will be temporarily closed for its entire length from approx. September 29th, 2014 until late October, depending on the duration of the road work. Ball Creek Road begins at Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory and ends at Upper Nantahala Road (NFSR 67). The road work, conducted by Aldridge Brothers Inc. out of Robinsville, NC, includes the repair of two roadway slides and the replacement...
read moreWhen a special occasion comes along, most of us want our friends to celebrate with us. The celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River and the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014 is no different. The Forest Service and multiple friends and partners have joined forces to host a day of outdoor activities on the Sumter National Forest, at Oconee State Park, SC and at Chattooga Belle Farm. It is also National Public Lands Day. The celebration, which has been months in the making,...
read moreFall is more than pumpkin-flavored beverages and a reluctant step toward winter. It’s a time to enjoy nature and see Indiana in its best light – under the warm glow of colorful native trees. Fall is a welcomed season to many nature lovers because the cool crisp air and relatively low amount of precipitation means it’s time to take to the trails to celebrate the season. Bob Dispenza of Allen County Parks and the Trailblazers community hiking program said fall is the optimal time of the year to enjoy the outdoors. “We being a...
read moreIn a world of resorts eager to find a competitive edge in guest amenities, one Utah resort has truly gone to the dogs. Flash and his canine buddies get to hike the rusty red mountains twice a week — at least they will until they are adopted from the Ivins Animal Shelter in Ivins, Utah. They do it as part of a program with the Red Mountain Resort, where guests get the privilege of hiking with shelter pups — a program that seems equally beneficial for both the dogs and the humans. The Ivins Animal Shelter has a no-kill policy, and its adoption...
read moreIf you’re looking for a challenge, look no further than Hanging Rock State Park and the 2nd annual “Reach the Peaks” hiking challenge scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. The hike already has over 160 registrations and the number of registered hikers is rapidly increasing each day. Reach the Peaks, a strenuous 11 mile hike, will challenge participants to summit the five major peaks of Hanging Rock State Park, Moore’s Knob, House Rock, Cook’s Wall, Wolf Rock, and Hanging Rock, all in one day. Organized by the Stokes County Arts Council and...
read moreJoin the celebration on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014 as Frazee, Minnesota becomes an official Trail Town on the North Country National Scenic Trail. Joining communities as far-spread and diverse as Canastota, N.Y., Dayton, Ohio, and Solon Springs, Wis., Frazee has earned official status as a gateway to America’s longest National Scenic Trail. The public is invited to the dedication beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of Lake Street and Main Street by the Hostel Hornet. A hike to the Lion’s Park will follow with coffee and donuts. A Trail Town is...
read moreTrinity River National Wildlife Refuge has opened a new set of hiking trails in Liberty, TX. These trails provide a primitive hiking experience through undisturbed bottomland hardwood forests, with opportunities to view native wildlife and a range of natural habitats. All trails are fully-marked and ready to be hiked without the need of a map for guidance, but only open from sunrise to sunset. To hike the trails, follow the marked yellow posts, as well as colored tree markers, to navigate your way throughout the trail system. At the start of...
read morePerhaps you’ve heard of the war between cars and bicycles in Seattle, WA. Another battle is being waged on recreation trails across the state. If you’ve ever been startled by a speeding mountain bike while hiking or angered about a trail rutted by horse hooves or off-roaders, you have a chance to do something about it. The state is developing a trail policy that could reduce what’s known as “trail conflict.” An easy fix would be simply separating users or restricting trail use to one group or another. “The...
read more“Day Hiking the San Juan Islands and Gulf Islands,” by Craig Romano has to be one of the most ambitious hiking books out there, both for the author to write and for would-be hikers who buy it and aim to use it. Romano, who has taken up the mantle of great Northwest trails author, takes us on a journey to a land of Oz, where islands dot the Salish Sea, the collective name for inland saltwater in northwest Washington and southwestern British Columbia. Not only does he cover hikes on 24 islands, but it also describes them on the B.C....
read moreThe “most dangerous national park” has been largely closed to the public for the last 11 years. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, on the southern Arizona border, once saw a steady flow of immigrants – and drug runners – from Mexico. On Aug. 9, 2002, ranger Kris Eggle was shot and killed while chasing a cartel hit squad, prompting park officials to close nearly 70 percent of the monument in 2003. Some small areas were later reopened. But on Sept. 15, 2014 all of Organ Pipe’s 517 square miles were once again opened to hikers, birders and...
read moreThe Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin will celebrate National Public Lands on Sept. 27, 2014 with a fee-free day and volunteer service projects to improve America’s public lands. “America’s national forests and grasslands belong to all of us,” said U.S. Forest Service Eastern Regional Forester Kathleen Atkinson. “These beautiful places have so much to offer, and we hope you’ll get outside and volunteer on National Public Lands Day to enjoy these places for yourself, while improving them for...
read moreThe popular Ape Cave recreation area in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument now has a view of the iconic mountain. The Volcano View Trail is the first new trail built in the national monument in nearly two decades. Since last year, trail volunteers have been building the milelong trail, which takes hikers up to a viewpoint from the Ape Cave headquarters/visitor center, on the south side of the mountain. Monument officials expect the new trail will alleviate the long lines to the Ape Cave — with 60,000 visitors annually — since...
read moreNewly released US Topo maps for Oregon now feature segments of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. Several of the 1,835 new US Topo quadrangles for the state now display parts of the Trail along with other improved data layers. “Having the Pacific Crest NST finally show up on Oregon US Topo maps is significant for all of the recreational users of the wild spaces the trail traverses,” said Tom Carlson, Geospatial Liaison for the Pacific Northwest. “Hiking the trail provides commanding views of the volcanic peaks of the Cascade Range as...
read moreNaturalist John Muir once said, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” There is no better time than today to go outside and enjoy nature. One of the major benefits of hiking is that it delivers almost immediate rewards. As long as you haven’t been leading a totally sedentary life, you can usually begin hiking right away. Another plus: You don’t have to be in perfect shape to start and get the health benefits. Hiking is a great way to start exercising. Start with easy hikes and work up to steeper hikes that...
read moreThere’s still plenty of warm weather to test out one of the U.S. Forest Service’s improved trails in Grand County. Late summer and early fall provide an ideal opportunity to experience some of the new trail work the U.S. Forest Service has completed this summer with the help of many volunteer groups and a grant from the National Forest Foundation’s Ski Conservation Fund. Seven major trails projects are already complete and several more are planned for this fall. This season’s efforts highlight five wilderness trail projects in celebration of...
read moreThe Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), along with its Appalachian Trail (A.T.) Community™ partners and 31 Trail maintaining clubs, invite families to take a hike on the A.T. during the fourth annual Family Hiking Day on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. Held trail-wide on National Public Lands Day, Family Hiking Day is a program developed by the ATC to introduce and welcome families to the A.T. and all of the benefits that come from spending time outdoors. With studies showing that children are spending less time outdoors each year, the ATC...
read moreHiking along the Pacific Crest Trail this summer, Lon Cooper looks like a human version of the Google Street View car. Rising out of the side of his stuffed backpack is a gray pipe with a small, but thick, circular top. The antenna stands about 3 inches out of the top of his pack and looks like a miniature version of the tall cameras standing atop the infamous mapping cars. What is harder to see is the pipe running down the entire side of Cooper’s pack and the wire that follows that pipe. And what is impossible to see is what the wire...
read moreThe National Park Service (NPS) cut the ribbon on three fourths of a mile of new trails at the Mulberry Bend Scenic Overlook. The scenic overlook is situated on the Nebraska side of the Missouri National Recreation River (MNRR) just south of Vermillion. MNRR Superintendent Rick Clark said the trail had been in planning for some time as a way to give visitors to the river more access. ‘It’s been in development for some time — ever since we acquired the property as mitigation for construction of the (Vermillion-Newcastle Bridge),’ Clark said....
read moreA group that advocates for creating biking and hiking trails along abandoned rail lines wants a second cross-state trail in Missouri that would link with the Katy Trail to establish a 400-mile loop across the state. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is one of several organizations seeking to buy 145 acres of an abandoned rail corridor from Ameren Corp. The St. Louis-based company has not said when it will choose a buyer for the corridor, which was put up for sale in the spring. If the Washington D.C.-based conservancy is chosen, it would give...
read moreAfter years of planning and more than five months of construction, a link has been established between two of the Chicago area’s most heavily used bicycling and hiking trails. The one-mile link through the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Cook County Forest Preserve District’s Turnbull Woods saw immediate and heavy use. Chicago Botanic Garden Vice President Harriett Resnick said the path also makes free access to the Botanic Garden easier than ever. The Botanic Garden does not charge admission, but does charge autos to park. The path is 10 feet...
read moreThere is a wealth of backpacking opportunities around New England, but sometimes the hardest part is finding out about them. That’s where the recently revised guide “Best Backpacking in New England” comes in really handy. Authored by Matt Heid and published by the Appalachian Mountain Club, the book is a trove of three-season getaways featuring 37 multiday trips from Maine to Connecticut. Heid is a former senior editor of “AMC Outdoors” and writes a gear column for the magazine. The author of two other hiking guides, Heid is a veteran...
read moreExplore the Western N.C. towns of Cashiers, Cherokee, Dillsboro, Sylva, Balsam, Cullowhee, Glenville and Sapphire like never before with Jackson County’s new hiking map. The map, which was just released this fall, includes directions to 19 waterfalls, nine hiking trails, three multiple-use trails for riding or biking, five semi-private or public golf courses, three whitewater rafting and water sports outfitters, three horseback riding locations and eight recreational rental service locations. “As one of the premier outdoor destinations in the...
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I am Jeff Clark, founder of Internet Brothers, producer of this blog, and passionate about hiking. I live in Western NC near the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests are just out my door, 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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