Dan with his Jeep and the Grand Tetons

I’m really hooked on a new blog I found by Dan Grec.  This Australian cat turned Canadian is driving his Jeep from the top of Alaska to the tip of South America.  I considered this trip once and even submitted videos to offroad truck advertising companies trying to get one to pay for my trip.  They all sent my tapes back.  Maybe I was too ugly?  Anyway, Dan is actually making the journey and meeting some cool folks along the way.  Check out his blog The Road Chose Me and read a brief description of Dan and his adventure below. He was relunctant to talk about himself, being a humble person, but offered this bio.:

I have set out in my Jeep TJ to drive 50,000kms (32,000mi) on The Pan
American Highway from The Arctic Ocean in Northern Alaska to Tierra
Del Fuego, the southern-most point of South America. Hiking has always
been a passion of mine, and now I get to do it all over the world.
Sometimes I do multi-day overnight hikes, and sometimes a string of
big day hikes, depending on my mood.

Some of the hikes I’ve completed so far include The Chilkoot Trail,
The West Coast Trail, countless hot spring hiking, The Zion Narrows
and day hikes at Arches & Bryce. On my way south I hope to find more
hiking, including the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru and
the Torres del Paine Circuit in Chile.

You can read all my trip reports and see a ton of photos of all the
action at my site www.dangrec.com

If anyone has suggestions for hikes I should do along the way, I’d
love to hear about those too!

-Dan Grec

Dan & Friend on West Coast Trail

Route Dan may or may not take

Give Us Your Best Shot’ photo-contest display set for March

Submitted by Joe Cuhaj
SPANISH FORT, Ala.—The Alabama Hiking Trail Society has announced the start of its 4th Annual “Give Us Your Best Shot” Photo Contest. The annual event invites amateur photographers to enter their favorite outdoor photographs to win prizes.
The society’s public relations director, Joe Cuhaj, says entrants can win prizes in one of five categories.

“We have categories for wildlife, trail, camping, and hiking photos, flora, and landscapes such as mountain views and waterfalls. There is also a special youth category that is open to children under 18.

“The only stipulation for entry is that the photos must have been taken in Alabama and deal with Alabama’s natural beauty or hiking and camping in the state.”

Entries will be displayed at the Alabama Hiking Trail Society’s annual conference March 6-7 at the Five Rivers Delta Resource Center in Spanish Fort, and will be voted on by attendees of the conference (entrants do not have to attend the conference to enter.)

First-place winners in each category will win a $30 Alabama state park gift card, good for hotels, camping, golfing and more at any state park. A Best in Show winner will be selected from all first-place winners and will receive a $100 Wal-Mart gift card.

Complete rules and entry forms are available online at www.hikealabama.org. You can also email Cuhaj at publicity@hikealabama.org or write to AHTS, PO Box 231164 Montgomery, AL 36123.

The Alabama Hiking Trail Society is a statewide non-profit hiking and trail organization.

Learn more about Alabama travel and hiking in Alabama.  This southern state is an unknown gem full of surprises for those that visit.

If you own a hiking site, kayaking site, or any other site that might be of interest this is a great place to share it with others.  If you don’t own a site but just want to share your ideas or a cool trip report that’s welcomed too.

Thanks
Scott Thompson
geckotales@gmail.com
Hiking Trip Reports

“Hikers can look forward to plenty of foliage hiking, as they hit the scenic trails by day and relaxing by night. Our programs offer an array of attractive and reasonably priced fall foliage packages for hikers who want to take advantage of everything this time of year has to offer. There is a program to suit just about everyone, from the single traveler, first time hiker, seniors, to couples. It’s the best time of the year to go hiking; no bugs, cool temperatures, less crowds and spectacular foliage.” states John Keough, Founder of ATA.

ATA offers a combination of outdoor activities and indoor pampering for adventures vacationers. ATA offers a hiking spa vacation with guided hikes in the Green Mountain National Forest for all abilities. Program’s include daily transportation, breakfast, lunch, dinner and accommodations at the Grey Bonnet Inn and Resort. Rates start at $160.00 per night, per person. Daily a la carte options are available: massage, yoga, tennis, canoeing, cooking classes and more. Working with registered dietitians, ATA has produced a delicious spa menu balancing carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats.

ATA’s 2008 season runs from June 1st to October 10th

For more information please visit www.appalachiantrailadventures.com

Photo of Karl in Training by Tommy Chandler

Read the story at the Washington Post

How Safe is Hiking in North Georgia?

 Many now wonder how safe it is to go hiking.  Like any outdoor sport it has its dangers.  One of them being the people you meet on the trail.  99.9% of the folks you meet on the trail are good souls, but the bad do find there way into the wild occasionally.  I’ve never worried much about being hurt by a wild animal, but the danger posed by humans has often entered my mind.  To be safe make sure someone knows where you are going, bring a friend or two, and carry emergency gear and proper clothing.  Situations like Meredith’s are very rare, but they do happen, so be cautious with people you meet on the trail just like someone you might meet in the city.