Posted: November 11th, 2009 | Author: TravelDeals | Filed under: Hiking, National Parks | Tags: National Parks Vacations | 8 Comments »
Hiking can be a dangerous adventure if you aren’t properly prepared. That’s why when you decide to head out on a hiking trip, you need to be sure that you have all of the right hiking equipment. For example, if you’re hiking a relatively smooth trail in a park, the supplies that you need will be quite different than if you were to hike up through Rocky Mountains National Park.
By taking the time to plan your hiking trip accordingly, and getting the gear that you need from a store that specializes in hiking equipment, you’ll likely have a much safer, more enjoyable journey because you’ll be properly prepared.
There are a few elements that you need to keep in mind when you’re shopping for the proper hiking equipment. You want gear that is high quality, comfortable, affordable, but also not overly heavy. If you’re going on a rigorous hike and climb, for example, you wouldn’t want to fill your pack with items that were too heavy or awkward to carry throughout your journey, for example. Also, you’ll need to pack according to the trip that you’re taking. If you’re going on a day trip hiking through the park, the necessary safety gear along with some water and snacks should suffice. However, if you are hiking through the Grand Canyon, the supplies that you will need will be much different.
You should visit a sporting goods store or retailer that can help you to prepare for your journey. Nothing is worse than walking into a chain store and trying to find someone who understands the different gear needed for different types of hiking. By going to a specialty store, you’ll be able to find people who can actually help you with your needs, and not just sell you a bunch of stuff that you don’t need. Once you have mapped out the trip that you are taking and the basic equipment that you’ll need, finding someone who can suggest good equipment or help you to choose between different items can be very helpful.
Another element to having the proper hiking equipment, which many people don’t realize is that while a more rigorous journey might require more tools and supplies, you should actually try to pack less whenever you are going to be out for an extended period of time or hiking rough terrain. This is because you want to have what you need, but just enough so that it doesn’t weigh you down unnecessarily.
If you over pack and are out in the middle of the mountains, you might find yourself needing to take extra breaks or getting tired faster because you packed too much. Buying lightweight equipment is the best way to avoid this. With lighter gear, you can pack more when you need to without feeling the affects of the increased weight.
Posted: October 26th, 2009 | Author: TravelDeals | Filed under: National Parks | Tags: National Parks Vacations | 7 Comments »
When traveling to Yellowstone National Park, many people feel like they cannot leave the park without making a visit to the well known Old Faithful geyser. It is a cone geyser which makes its home in Wyoming, on the national park land and Is probably the most famous geyser in the world.
This famous geyser was given its name in 1870, and was the first geyser located in the park to have a name. Old Faithful was dubbed as such during the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition, and is in what is now the old faithful historic district.
It was September 18, 1870 when members of the expedition made their way down the Firehole River from the Kepler Cascades and came upon the Upper Geyser Basin. The first geyser that they came across was Old Faithful, and was documented by Langford in his 1871 diary of the journey. When the park was young, this geyser was very often used as a place to do laundry, which many felt was degrading to the integrity of the natural wonder. The men did learn, however, that linens and cottons were unaffected by the powerful eruption, but wool clothing was ruined by the power of the blast.
Generally, when Old Faithful erupts, it can easily shoot between 3,700 and 8,400 gallons of water at the boiling level more than 150 feet in the air. The eruptions last between 90 seconds and five minutes, depending on how powerful they are. The average eruption of Old Faithful averages about 145 feet in height, and the highest record ever set was 185 feet. Generally the eruptions occur every 90 minutes, but this can also vary between 45 and 125 minutes depending on the particular conditions. There have been over 137,000 eruptions recorded, and even though Old Faithful isn’t the biggest geyser in the park, it’s still the most popular by far.
There were measurements taken of Old Faithful between 1983 and 1994, measuring depths and temperatures, to make sure the natural wonder was still in tact and operating as it should. The water was 244 degrees Fahrenheit at 72 feet deep, which is the same measurement that was recorded in 1942. Even though these measurements are the same as they once were, the geyser is erupting more frequently than ever, which many attribute to earthquakes that affect the subterranean water levels.
These changes have not affected anything that is essentially necessary, and have actually made Old Faithful easier to predict. The predictability of this geyser is attributed to the fact that it is unrelated to other geysers in the park, and is why it was rightly dubbed with the name Old Faithful. When visiting Yellowstone National Park on your next national park vacation, you certainly don’t want to miss this world famous landmark.
Posted: October 24th, 2009 | Author: TravelDeals | Filed under: National Parks | Tags: National Parks Vacations | 8 Comments »
Glacier National Park is a great destination for hikers, golfers, boaters, and families of all shapes and sizes, as well. There are so many different activities to explore when you travel to this great Montana destination that you won’t likely experience everything in one trip. Whether you travel alone, with friends, or on a family vacation, there is something for everyone at Glacier National Park.
The park itself includes more than 700 miles of trails and is well known for being a hiker’s paradise. The park is located in Northwest Montana, and extends into Canada on the northernmost side. I guess you could almost call Glacier an International Park since it is actually in 2 different countries.
Outdoor vacations are popular among families, and Glacier National Park is a great choice of destination for an outdoor vacation extraordinaire. You can enjoy fishing, hiking, camping, biking, swimming, and even just watching animals and getting in touch with nature at this great park. It is one of the largest and most untouched areas in North America, including over 50 untouched Glaciers within the boundaries itself. Lake Macdonald is the prominent lake in the park, as it is the largest, but there are more than 200 more lakes and streams to be found in this natural wonder.
A road divides the park from east to west, and is known as Going-to-the-sun road. It cuts through the heart of Glacier and spans for fifty miles hugging the shores of the two largest lakes in the park. It will take you over Logan pass and right below the continental divide, allowing you to drive along and marvel in the true beauty of untouched nature as you explore the wonders of nature and the surrounding areas. There is also a shuttle service for those who don’t want to drive that runs this road on a regular basis every day from the first of July through Labor Day Weekend.
There are almost more species of animals and plants to see in the park than can be named, guaranteeing that you can get back to nature with a trip to this northern Montana landmark and vacation destination. The majority of the fish that are to be found in lake within the park belong to the trout family, but you will find a few other varieties in different areas.
Currently, the park is being affected by the climate, because usually all of the glaciers are shrinking regularly. This is a natural occurrence that has happened many times over the last two million years, and is just nature running its course. All in all, there is plenty to do and see if you visit Glacier National Park for your next vacation. It is one of the best travel deals you will ever experience.