Hiking

The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area has announced a 45-minute, ranger-led interpretive program about Big South Fork's largest mammal: the American Black Bear. Come and enjoy an evening outdoors with Ranger Debby Zimmerman at the campfire circle to learn more about a myriad of bear-related topics such as historical relationships with human cultures, black bear biology, how to stay safe in bear country, and your role in keeping bear populations wild. This fun, fact-filled evening activity begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. (EDT) on Saturday, June 1, at the Blue Heron Campground. Everyone is welcome to this campfire circle program, which is free of charge and wheelchair accessible. The park asks that you wear weather-appropriate clothing. For directions or additional information, please call the Blue Heron Interpretive Center at (606) 376-3787. JeffHikingintheSmokys.com

Back in the day, I followed Kolby’s 100 hikes project. Very creative. He’s back for more. “I resolve to hike one hundred times and seven hundred trail miles by 2014.” Kolby Kirk When I saw him in April, he’d already reached 50 hikes. Looks good. Right? … A new job might be slowing him down a bit for the last 50. 2013.100hikes.com

Blissful Hiking Welcomes Guest Blogger Jerry "Grasshopper" Adams who shares the life of a ridgerunner working New Jersey and New York. If you are ever in the neighborhood, say hello to a ridgerunner (they love to chat!). Blissful of Blissful Hiking is working this summer in Shenandoah National Park. Running Jersey Ridges, Part 1 Birdman and Grasshopper By Jerry Adams  The summer

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that a project to repave 6.1 miles of Newfound Gap Road will begin in May. This work is part of a multi-phased rehabilitation project that started in 2007. The section to be resurfaced extends from Chimney's Picnic Area south to an overlook approximately 2 miles south of the Alum Cave Bluffs parking area where the last phase ended. The work will be performed under a $13.2 million contract with Estes Brothers Construction of Jonesville, VA and will be administered by the Federal Highway Administration's Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division. Funding is provided to the NPS through the Federal Lands Transportation Program to support this work. Park Superintendent Ditmanson said, "In developing this contract we made every effort to minimize the disruption to visitor access to Park attractions and to our gateway communities. The contract incorporates a variety of work restrictions that are tailored to minimize lane closures during the busiest periods." Motorists should expect delays due to lane closures through June 15. There will not be any daytime lane closures from June 15 through August 15. After August 15, daytime lane closures will again be allowed. No work of any kind will be permitted on federal holidays or during the month of October. This section of road was last repaved in the 1980s and is badly deteriorated. In addition to the repaving, major work items in this project include the replacement of drainage culverts and the repair of several guard walls. This work is the second of three phases to repair all 15 miles of the Road from Newfound Gap to the Park boundary at Gatlinburg - a process that Park managers expect to finish in 2016. For more information about road closures, please call the Park's Road and Weather Information Line at 865-436-1200. JeffHikingintheSmokys.com

My hiking transportation of choice. Ordered a second pair from Amazon. $130 with free delivery. Durability is terrific. I wish they had wider sizing than 2E. (“wide”)

Well – this has been on my to-do list for a long, long time … and now it’s finally happening: I’m leading a group hike! In what I hope will become a semi-regular event, at 9AM on Sunday, June 16th, I will lead a hike to Cahuenga Peak up the western side of Griffith Park [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

If you’re looking for a challenging hike with beautiful views of Lake Michigan, South Manitou Island, and North Manitou Island, then Sleeping Bear Point Trail in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is for you. This trail was chosen the #1 Hike-to-View in all the national parks in the National Geographic book, The 10 Best of Everything National Parks. The trailhead begins in the parking area at the end of Sleeping Bear Dunes Road off of M-209, just west of Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum. The narrow trail immediately brings the hiker to the dune environment where the endangered Piping Plover nests. Information signs tell the tale of how few of these birds are left and warn against disturbing them. Stay on the trail through this area. Not far beyond the nesting area is what’s called the Ghost Forest. It’s an eerie place where bare, weathered tree trunks jut up like spikes from the beige pebble filled sand.  Deer and bird tracks can be seen crisscrossing the dunes and from the looks of it, they have just as hard a time making it through the soft sand. Even the slightest changes in topography makes the sand slip down onto, over, and into your shoes making every step that much more difficult. These sandy dunes are constantly shifting, so, a number of the blue topped posts marking the passage are buried or have fallen down, leaving hikers to find their own way through some areas. This trail is considered strenuous. A combination of cold winds coming off the lake and the hot sun shining through clear skies can make your nose run and your armpits sweat at the same time. The tops of dunes can be very windy. Exposed skin will feel like it’s getting sand blasted. Nature can be harsh up there, but the panoramic view of Lake Michigan’s blue-green hued water makes it all worth while. These vantage points are great for seeing the islands, the lighthouse, and barges moving through the passage.  And even though it’s only 2.8 miles long, ripples on the wind-blown sands have a way of deceiving the eyes. Looking upon a short distance may actually appear to be a long way and vice versa. The light blue color painted on the tops of the trail marker posts matches the blue of the water near the shore. This color grows into a darker blue as the water gets deeper farther away from shore. Bees had built a hive in the sand at the base of one of the trail marker posts when we walked the trail. Be careful not to disturb them and walk around the area if you happen upon them too. There’s nowhere to hide if they decide to come after you. Near the end of the loop trail, is a forested area where the sandy trail surface quickly changes to smoothed stones that were deposited by a glacier long ago. This shaded area with gently rolling terrain is a stark contrast to the shifting, sinking, sandy environment that the majority of the trail offers and is a welcome ending to a very nice hike. If you make it to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, this hike is not to be missed. Related posts: How to choose the best sleeping bag Bear Grylls Injured in Antarctica Jacket + Tent + Sleeping Bag = JakPak

An intense 12 mile hike with over 3700 feet of elevation gain, this trail takes you through overgrown areas of the Ventana Wilderness up steep switchbacks to the ruins of a fire lookout tower abandoned in 1979. Along the way, you’ll hike through gorgeous California grassland and have... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Tomorrow night, May 23rd, will be another "Full Moon Hike" in Cades Cove of the Great Smoky Mountains.This is an excellent opportunity to take a stroll in Cades Cove under the light of a full moon. If interested, visitors should meet at the Orientation Shelter near the entrance to the Cades Cove Loop Road. The hike will take place from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM.The park asks that you wear good walking shoes, bring water and a flashlight. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. The event is subject to cancellation due to hazardous weather. JeffHikingintheSmokys.com

by site editor Rick McCharles 1956 Winter Olympics host Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, is the jumping off mountain town for visitors arriving to enjoy a region of jagged mountain spires, far more striking than the Alps. Sleep in Cortina, then catch an early bus to the trails. Of many great options, the best panorama for lunch just might be from the Nuvolau mountain hut (Refugio) built 1883, first in the Dolomites. It’s impossibly located on the very top of a 2600 meter (8530 foot) cliff. To get there you need the hiker’s shuttle bus to drop you at passo Falzarego on the SR 48. At least six different paths of varying difficulty get you to Nuvolau. Look first at Alpine Trail #439 via the Rifugio Cinque Torri (5 Towers). The Refugio offers 26 cramped beds. But with bus access this convenient, it’s best to day hike out of Cortina. (There have been many complaints from those sleeping at Nuvolau.) Bring your own gourmet Italian food and drink from town. Or order from the hut menu. Nuvolau is only open during the hiking season, June 15 to September 30. August is busiest. That’s when Italians holiday. The Dolomites are one of our top 10 hiking regions in the world. The crazies at sram somehow got up there with their mountain bikes! _____ Related: Do your shopping at Cooperativa di Cortina, founded 1893. But count your change. The ladies at the till were shortchanging foreign tourists last time we were there. If you are flying in, book the direct Cortina Express bus from Venice’s main airport, Marco Polo. Trip Advisor Cortina d’Ampezzo gives up-to-date recommendations for hotels in all price ranges. Cheapest is tenting.