As for the months of November and December, they may bring icy roads, snow, and low temperatures, but it’s also when the Grand Canyon Railway’s Polar Express train comes alive with Santa Claus, reindeer, presents, themed stories, and delicious hot chocolate, from $61.99 per ad
Overall, the benefits of visiting the Grand Canyon in winter outweigh the cons by a far shot. Travelers will find themselves enjoying beautiful landscapes against clear skies. They’ll pay less for the experience and will be able to take in the natural beauty without being harassed by throngs of loud tourists. That means it’s time to pull out the travel calendar and start planning a winter visit to the Grand Can
Imagine looking at an enormous layer cake–300 miles long–alternately bathed in white icing and stunning carrot orange. That’s what it’s like to visit Arizona’s Grand Canyon in winter after a snowfall. It’s an experience that everyone should h
Mount Rainier is a mammoth of a mountain , its highest peak clocking in at 14,411 feet. Although the Wonderland Trail loop does not ascend Mount Rainier, there is an impressive elevation gain of 25,436 feet, with several stretches demanding 3,500 feet gain and loss back to back. This is a test to the knees that will prepare hikers for the roughest parts of the Appalachian Tr
The Appalachian Trail runs for almost 100 miles through North Carolina, so a great way to get a lay of the land without hitting the actual AT is by nature hiking game missions|Https://naturetrailinsight.com/ the Art Loeb Trail. Rated difficult, the trail goes through the Pisgah National Forest and crosses over the peaks of four mountains, the tallest being the Black Balsam Knob at 6,214 feet. There is an elevation gain of 8,257 feet, challenging the endurance of any hiker looking to conquer the
With so many people disappearing while visiting the Grand Canyon , so many miles to cover on foot or by vehicle, and the limited parking spots available in peak season, a train ride to the Grand Canyon seems like the perfect solut
Break in the hiking boots with this moderately trafficked loop through the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The steep climbs will condition a thru-hikers leg’s to handle the many elevation gains and losses along the AT. The strenuous trail gains 3,533 feet of elevation over 10 miles to the Devil’s Thumb summit, the last 1,000 feet consisting of a steep scramble. Most backpackers take the opportunity to rest for the night, conquering the challenging 6-mile descent the following morn
Hike a portion of the popular Pacific Crest Trail to get a feel for what it’s like to make the wilderness your home. The Oregon Skyline Trail has an elevation gain of over 60,000 feet, taking hikers across the crest of the Cascade Mountains and through Crater Lake National Park. Several PCT hikers take the opportunity to resupply at the park, just as AT-thru-hikers stop every few days for the same reason. It is a great hike to get used to the unique demands of hiking extremely long distan
In time, MacKaye found those like-minded people who started out as the Appalachian Trail Conference but would eventually go on to become the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, known as the ATC. While the Appalachian Trail was only one part of the plan, this was the first step – the communities were planned to start after its creation. Unfortunately, the Appalachian Trail was an incredible feat in theory but proved tough to get off the ground – no pun intended. Well into the 1920s, the AT was still not completed and McKay found that the Southern states were struggling to make progress. In response, a man named Arthur Perkins, who was a retired judge, took over the completion of the trail. This also garnered attention from a man named Myron Avery, who was a lawyer in Washington. With these two now leading the charge, Avery became the head of the ATC over Perkins, while the team continued mapping out plans for the Southern sta
Maine is famous for its stunning northern forests and picturesque landscapes. One of its main outdoor hotspots is the eye-watering Acadia National Park. Piece of heaven is located on the mid-section of the Maine coast and includes the tip of the Schoodic Peninsula, half of the Mount Desert Island, and a part of the Isle au Haut. The park boasts majestic glaciated coastal and island landscapes with U-shaped valleys and glacial erratics. See here for other things to see and do in the summer in Mai
Those familiar with their AT history will likely know the name Earl Shaffer, who was the first thru-hiker to ever complete the Appalachian Trail from start to finish. This not-so-simple achievement seemed to reinvigorate the efforts to fully complete the trail in 1948. By 1951, the AT was officially declared to be open, and additional thru-hikers were permitted on the trail to complete the longest intentional hiking trail in American hist
It should be stated that during this time, the 1940s was seeing somewhat of an industrial revolution when it came to roads and transportation. The general public had a heightened interest in travel which meant that bridging the gaps between states was a priority, thus interfering with the simpler methods of travel – such as thru-hiking. The start of the Appalachian Trail’s tougher years began with the hurricane of 1
