Annapurna: Nepal’s Commercialization Initiative For An Endangered Landscape
August 18, 2008
By Jason A. Hendricks
There have been many debates over the years surrounding the commercialization of the world’s highest peaks. Mt. Everest is the biggest example of mountain commercialization, where hundreds of climbers a year flock to the world’s highest mountain, paying thousands of dollars for a guided chance to reach the coveted summit. The recent tragedy on K2 has sparked conversations of concern for it’s own commercialism, after it was being reported that high-altitude porters had been brought in for some of this years climbs.
Annapurna, while not as well-known to the outside world as Mt. Everest or K2, is still a very important peak to high-altitude alpine climbing. The peak rises 26, 538 ft., making it the 10th highest mountain in the world. Along with the climbing, Annapurna also happens to be the focal point for a 7,629 sq. km. conservation and protection initiative known as the Annapurna Conservation Area Project.
The Annapurna Conservation Area Project helps to protect an area that offers some of the finest 
trekking trails in the Himalayan region and the world. These trails have become a world destination for many venturers into the Himalayan region and offers a nice glimpse at the natural wildlife and ecology of Nepal. This area is the largest protected area in all of Nepal and has been looked upon as an area of prestige and value to a country where income is hard to come by.
That could be changing in the very near future. Nepal has enacted plans to commercialize the area known as the Annapurna circuit. The thought is to capitalize on the area’s growing popularity with trekkers and make it more tourist friendly.
U.S. Outdoors Today Introduces The U.S. Outdoor Forums
August 7, 2008
U.S. Outdoors Today, in conjunction with Skinny Moose Media, is ready to unleash it’s latest project on the world–the U.S. Outdoor Forums. Throughout the past couple of weeks, myself, along with the Skinny Moose Media team have been creating what we are hoping will become a big asset to U.S. Outdoors Today.
The U.S. Outdoor Forums have been created to give all of us a place to share our thoughts, hangout, and meet new friends. We are hoping to reach as many people and interests as possible, all with one thing in common, the love and enjoyment of the great outdoors.
Some of the topics you can read about and discuss include:
- Camping
- Climbing
- Biking/Cycling
- Hiking/Backpacking
- Motorized Recreation
- Winter Sports
- Search & Rescue
- Survival
- Hunting
- Fishing
- Outdoor Gear
- Our National Parks
- Conservation/Environment
- Vacation/Travel
- Nature
- as well as Classifieds, Press Releases, and Outdoor Calendar
- PLUS: Areas for Specific States, General News, Sports, Politics, Hobbies, Weather, and a whole lot more.
This is definitely one of the largest outdoor forums currently available. There is something there for everyone. I am hoping that all of you will stop by and checkout the new U.S. Outdoor Forums and join me for some fun. Swing over and register, then post away.
You may find a link to the U.S. Outdoor Forums at the top of this site. If you have problems finding it, just click through the links that I have provided in this article.
Fishing Louisiana’s Prized Birdfoot Delta
June 20, 2008
By Jerry LaBella
Mention the Birdfoot Delta in any fishing circle,and you’ll get more than your share of puzzled looks. Yet this is the exact term geologist use to define the prolific area of Southeast Louisiana, better known as the Mississippi Delta complex. It’s safe to say that few anglers realize that this is the best known of the world’s major delta systems–and for more than just fishing reasons:
According to geologist, the Mississippi River has formed sixteen separate delta lobes in the past 6,000 years. Fourteen are included in the Teche, St. Bernard and Lafourche Delta complexes; the remaining two include the present Birdfoot Delta, out of Venice, which is an extension of the earlier formed initial lobe of the Plaquemines modern complex. Simply put, the delta complexes are a direct product (formation) of the powerful, land-building machine–the Mississippi River.
It can rightly be said that nature took no rest when it came to building this fertile delta region, as even at present it is still building despite man’s efforts to tame it.
