Hiking Trip Reports

Below is a sad message I received today from the Sierra Club.  Please contact the Abigail Kimbell of the U.S. Forest Service and ask her to stop this action and to protect the trees we need and love:

“More than half of the remaining groves — located in Giant Sequoia National Monument— are in jeopardy because, despite being rebuked by the federal courts, the Bush Administration is refusing to back off its plan to log this irreplaceable ancient forest.

Without these protections, loggers would be permitted to cut down trees of any species 30” in diameter or larger — a size that normally takes two centuries or more to grow. In addition, timber companies would be entitled to take 7.5 million board feet of lumber from Giant Sequoia National Monument each year — enough trees to fill 2,500 logging trucks — that’s a truck almost every three hours!

Your signed petition to Abigail Kimbell will put the U.S. Forest Service on notice that the American people won’t stand by as commercial logging damages this fragile ecosystem and threatens our remaining Giant Sequoia groves. And with your backing we will work to extend permanent protections to these magnificent and imperiled trees — by transferring management of the Giant Sequoia National Monument to the National Park Service.”

Follow this link for contact info for Chief Kimbell

Ok, ok, I know I haven’t posted in a while, but I’ve been working on other projects like my North Carolina project and this one on hiking in Georgia that includes a lot of outdoor info as well as some other good Georgia travel guides.  Let me know what else you would like to see and send me your Georgia vacation, hiking, and camping pictures if you want to share them here on this blog or on my Georgia site.

Being from the Southeast I do a lot of hiking in the Appalachian Mountains.  I’m quite fond of the Smoky Mountains, North Georgia, and the hiking and views from the Blue Ridge Parkway.  I recently launched a North Carolina site and, of course, added a page about North Carolina hiking.  If you have some time please check out my new North Carolina visitors guide Web site and let me know what you think.  I’m always interested in anything of value you have for that site or any this site.

Thanks

Scott

There’s going to be a lot of people visiting China and Hong Kong this year.  Some will be avid hikers and those that want to get away from the Olympic sized crowds for a while.  I love a big party and event as much as the next person, but I need my solitude as well.  For those of you that are going to visit Hong Kong and need a break check out this interesting article about Hiking in Hong Kong.

Hiking trails lead to Hong Kong’s hidden treasures

Urban sprawl bordered by lush country parks and scenic coastline

Jim Byers

Toronto Star

HONG KONG–It’s known for its inexpensive tailors, wild markets and all-night restaurants. But take a 10-minute trip from Central, Hong Kong’s financial district, and you enter a different world.

As the bus comes through a tunnel in Victoria Peak, you’re suddenly confronted not with towers of glass and steel but a deep, blue-green bay dotted with boats and surrounded by jungle-like hills.

According to guide Fred Cheng, Deepwater Bay is the most popular beach on Hong Kong island, which has more open stretches of sand than you might think.

“We call it ‘Excuse Me’ beach, because when you jump in the water you always bump into someone and have to say ‘Excuse me,’ ” Cheng says with a laugh.

A few minutes down the road is Stanley Bay, which is getting a facelift reminiscent of Toronto’s Harbourfront. The old squatter shacks that dotted the beachfront have been moved out of the way, replaced with sidewalk cafés, palm trees and a lovely promenade that’s made for a warm night under the stars.

Stanley Bay is famous for its market, but it’s mostly trashy shirts, knick-knacks and knapsacks. Save your money for something more authentic and wander over to the Tin Hau temple to pay your respects to the Chinese god of fishermen.

Locals take a large can filled with thin sticks with different numbers and slowly shake the can until one of the sticks falls out. They then take the stick to the back of the temple and pick up a sheet of paper that corresponds to the number on the stick, and the paper reveals their fortune. The air is heavy with the smell of incense and there are offerings of fruit and other goodies.

Only a few steps away, tiny Pak Tau temple is carved out of a rock. You reach it after a lovely one-minute walk past a shady grove of trees along the water.

You can try the beach at Hac Sa or at Cheoc Van in Coloane, but the water is often murky from the Pearl River delta silt. If you want a dip, you’re much better off at Deepwater Bay or perhaps at Shek O beach, which can be reached by one of the most famous hikes in Hong Kong – the Dragon Back trail.

Hong Kong and its myriad of islands also is a haven for hikers, with endless kilometres of trails that slash through the mountainous terrain. Packed as it can be, more than 70 per cent of Hong Kong is countryside and there are 23 so-called country parks, many of which cross through wooded valleys and along gorgeous coastline.

Probably the most famous is the MacLehose Trail in the New Territories.

“It’s more than 100 kilometres long so it takes a couple of days,” Cheng explained. “Some families like to do part of the trail, then go home and have a big dinner with family or friends.”

The MacLehose snakes its way up and down over some two dozen mountains – and we’re not talking southern Ontario hills here. The highest peak in Hong Kong is 1,000 metres, and the hills are home to monkeys, deer, wild boars and the odd python.

Check out the Tai Long Wan coastline; one of the most scenic spots in Hong Kong. Or trek over to Lantau Island for the hiking and the coastline.

If you don’t have time for a major Hong Kong hike, simply take an early tram up Victoria Peak and do the hour-long peak circuit trail.

You’ll walk along a couple of small, paved roads, past gardens with palms and banyans and India rubber trees that drop roots to the ground from high over your head. You also get glimpses of small bamboo forests and black kites that ride the thermal drafts that rise up past some of the most expensive real estate in the world. Or you can stop and listen to blue magpies or thrushes as you look down on the madness of Hong Kong island below.

• For more on Hong Kong, go to www.discoverhongkong.com.

Jim Byers is a City Hall reporter with the Star.

Every American (okay, every human for that matter) owes it to him/herself to head to Arizona and visit the Grand Canyon at least once in their lifetimes. It’s truly amazing to see how a little trickle of water eventually turned into the Colorado River, which eventually carved out the Grand Canyon.

You can approach your trip to the Grand Canyon in a couple different ways. One way is to stay within the park at one of the lodges on the South Rim and take time to experience all the different things the park has to offer. The other way is to stay in one of the surrounding Arizona towns and take a day trip to the Grand Canyon for a “hit and run” view of the Canyon. Both have their plusses.

The part of the Grand Canyon The South Rim is the part of the Grand Canyon most people are familiar with. It sits on the Arizona side and can be accessed all year round. The North Rim is closed from mid-October to mid-May, and is not as visited as the South Rim.

The benefit of staying within the park is the ability to take your time to view the magnificent Canyon from different viewing points, which you can access by walking the rim trail or taking a shuttle from point to point. For those of you staying for several days, a trip to the Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon would be a lovely addition, though the drive is about 4 - 5 hours long. For those not wanting to drive, there is a shuttle which provides rim to rim service from mid-May to Mid-October.

For those staying on the South Rim, there are numerous trails down the canyon, as well as a trail along the top of the Canyon called the “Rim Trail.” If you’re staying in one of the lodges and are planning a day hike into the inner Canyon, just be aware that you probably cannot make it down and back in one day. As a matter of fact, each year around 250 people are rescued from the inner Canyon, the majority of whom are able-bodied young men between the ages of 18 to 40 who attempted to hike down and back in one ay. Don’t be one of them. A good day hike would be a couple hours down and then back up. The hike up will take longer than the hike down. Also, be sure to wear good hiking shoes as some trails can be very rocky.

Some people choose to hike down one day and either camp at the bottom or stay in the Phantom Ranch. Be aware, however, that you have to make arrangements well in advance of your trip if you choose to stay at the bottom. Campers require a backcountry permit, and Phantom Ranch is usually booked months ahead. Permits are sometimes available on that day, but why risk it? For reservations at the Phantom Ranch, you can call 888-297-2757.

Some people prefer to stay outside the park and visit the Canyon for a few hours and move on. There are numerous areas in Northern Arizona where one can stay and take a side trip to the Grand Canyon, such as Sedona and Flagstaff. While such locations are still lengthy drives (an hour from Flagstaff, two from Sedona), it’s still close enough for a day trip. Both Sedona and Flagstaff are lovely places to stay, with Sedona being the most ‘touristy” of the two towns. Flagstaff, to me, is the quirkier of the two, perhaps because it is a “university town,” home to Northern Arizona University.

Sedona and Flagstaff are also visually different. Flagstaff is surrounded by a pine forest, while Sedona is in “red rock” country. Sedona abounds with numerous high-end resorts, galleries and expensive eateries. Flagstaff is cheaper all-around, with inexpensive lodging and restaurants. Both are close enough for a day trip to the Grand Canyon.

Of course, you can always opt for an even quicker bus tour, hopping from one tourist stop to the next. But, why not take a cue from that little trickle of water which started it all? Take your time and enjoy the view.

About the Author:
Diane McCalley is an accountant, avid traveler and creator of www.thetravelerscompanion.com, where you can learn about such things as vacation cabins which are pet friendly.

Sir Edmund Hillary died today.  He not only conquered mountains but helped others reach their highest potentials.  He made the world a better place. 

Meredith’s body was found last night in a wildlife management area about an hour away from where she was abducted.  There is nothing more I can say even though I wish I could say something to make it better.  Meredith had her entire life ahead of her and a waste of a person destroyed that.  I wish the best for Meredith’s friends and family. 

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.  

The “person of interest” Gary Hilton was picked up by police last night at a convenience store where he was cleaning out his van.  Meredith’s dog, Ella, was found yesterday many miles away from Blood Mountain.  Read the complete story at AJC.com

We send our prayers and best wishes to Meredith and her family at this time.  For more detailed information you can view the site set up by her family: HelpFindMeredith.com

Update: GaryHilton was captured.  May he burn in hell! 

There is a person of interest in the missing North Georgia hiker case. The man is Gary Michael Hilton of DeKalb County (near Atlanta). This guy could be anywhere and may know something about the disappearance of Meredith Emerson. If you know where to find Gary Michael Hilton please call the Union County Sheriff’s Office at 706-439-6066.
Read updates at AJC.com

We must keep our trails safe from predators. If someone was involved in the disappearance of Meredith Emerson they may be headed to your local trail. If we watch each other’s backs we can keep our trails safe. Spread the word to your local hiking friends and family.

Hiker Meredith Emerson was hiking North Georgia’s Blood Mountain New Years day when she went missing. The 24-year old and her black lab, Ella, have not been seen since. More information at ABC news.

I’ve hiked Blood Mountain about a dozen times. It’s one of my favorite North Georgia hikes, but it is also a tough trail for the short distance. Emerson, however, is an experience hiker so this trail shouldn’t have posed much of a challenge to her. There are some indications of foul play. Read the story from ABC and if you no anything please help. We need to keep our trails safe for everyone.

If you know anything please contact the Union County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office