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.
Hiking With Olivia: Trail Entertainment
July 14, 2008
By Olivia Reese
Hiking is about the scenery, the physical exertion, accomplishing goals and of course, the food. But playing games and singing songs while wandering through mountain meadows and shaded forest paths keeps our brains fresh and makes us laugh. Check out some of my favorites:
20 Questions
20 Questions is an old standby capable of entertaining for hours. It is simple and one of my favorites. I spent a weekend last month hiking the Great Sequoia National Forest and it took 3 hours of intense questioning to determine what my friend Victoria was thinking about…it was a mailbox. We played the game again hiking in Tahoe. It took us 2 hours to figure out “keyboard”.
The rules:
One person thinks of an object. Everyone else asks yes or no questions about the object, attempting to determine what it is. Some helpful questions: “Can you buy it at Walmart?”, “Is it made of plastic?”, “Would it cost more than $50?”, “Do you own one?”.
Explore The High Points of New York State
July 4, 2008
By Sue Freeman
American hikers are goal driven. It’s evident in the thousands each year who start a trek on the Appalachian Trail with the intent of walking 2,200 miles to a mountaintop in Maine. It’s evident in the 1,600 people attempting to reach the highest point of each state in the US – members of the Highpointers Club. And, in the hundreds of people who have become 46ers by hiking to the 46 highest peaks in New York State’s Adirondack Mountains.
If you’re a kindred spirit and enjoy hiking with a goal – become a 62er by hiking to the highest point in each county of New York State. Gary Fallesen, the former outdoor writer for Rochester’s Democrat and
Chronicle newspaper, earned his Summit Club patch and wants to recruit others to join his quest. His guidebook “Peak Experience–Hiking the Highest Summits of New York, County by County” shows
would-be 62ers how, with detailed maps, descriptions, and an account of what you might see on the way to each summit.
Begin your high point list near home in Monroe County. The highest point is not Pinnacle Hill, as most people guess. It’s a place called Hopper Hills in the southwest corner of the county. At 1,026-feet-high, it ranks as the 51st highest point of all 62 county high points. Another near-by high point that often gets guessed incorrectly is in Ontario County. Most people think it’s the jump-off on Gannett Hill in Ontario County Park. The jump-off is easy to reach and offers a spectacular view of West Hollow valley, but it is not the high point of Ontario County. That distinction belongs to Frost Hill off Gulick Road.
The highest point in New York State is Mt Marcy, towering 5,344 feet in Essex County in Adirondack State Park. Within New York State is New York City, one of the most densely populated and built-up cityscapes in the world. There is a natural high point in each of New York City’s 6 boroughs and even one on Long Island. They’re at street corners, cemeteries, and parks. This is where you’ll find the lowest high point in New York State. At only 220 feet above sea level, in Green-Wood Cemetery, is the high point of the Borough of Kings.
Between these extremes are 60 other high points to explore. You’ll find wilderness areas and mountain peaks with spectacular vistas such as Lyon Mountain in Clinton County, Alander Mountain in Columbia
County and Snowy Mountain in Hamilton County. Some high points, such as Bearpen Mountain at the top of Delaware County, require bushwhacking. Or, ride a chairlift to the top of Virgil Mountain, the summit of Cortland County. Enjoy visiting Harris Hill, the glider capital of America and high point of Chemung County.
At the western end of the state you’ll meet “Spotty” the cow, king of Bunker Hill, the high point of Niagara County. Then head east and climb a fire tower atop Hunter Mountain, the high point in Greene County. Each of the 62 county experiences will be different and each will be memorable.
Join the summit-obsessed, traveling trails and back roads in search of one county high point after another. What a great way to discover New York!
About The Author: Sue Freeman, and her husband Rich, are authors of 14 recreation guidebooks dealing with Central and Western New York State. They are also the founders of Footprint Press, a small publishing company, as well as DisplayStands4You.com. In their spare time they enjoy the great New York outdoors with a variety of activities, as well as run the New York Outdoors blog.
