When winter cloaks the mountains with snow or rain, many Californians break out parkas and skis and head for the high country. Others opt for local walks or the gym to keep in shape for spring. A relative few extend their hiking season by heading to that least-visited region of California: its deserts. Deserts cover over a third of the state, mostly inland areas in the south, with a finger extending north between the eastern Sierra Nevada and the state boundary.…
Touching a piece of history can be compelling, especially when combined with an equally compelling setting far from the madding crowd. Santa Cruz (sacred or holy cross) Cemetery offers an intriguing window into Gold Country’s legendary past and a pastoral foothill landscape reminiscent of early California before the world rushed in. At the entrance an interesting stone monument placed by E Clampus Vitus reveals a brief history of the place, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. It is immensely peaceful, and the softly rolling lowland hills are so easy on the eye.…
Many people believe that Eastern Oregon is void of beauty. The mountains are bare and the air is dry. However, if these folks would follow me to the Snake River for a fishing trip, I think they’d change their minds. If they were to join me on the river, they’d hear the sound of motor boats traveling up the water, and they’d smell the engine exhaust and hear the laughter of the fishermen.…
Purpose: to get people interested in the desert, to inform readers about the dangers of the desert –educational appeal, to make people laugh. You should come and visit the desert but take care of it. Invites you as a recruit to come and protect what’s left of American wilderness. Pg. 17 “Nevertheless all is not lost; much remains, and I welcome the prospect of an army of lug-soled hiker’s boots on the desert trails.”…
Imagine a place where everywhere you look, you see beauty, everywhere you smell is crisp fresh air. Everywhere surrounding you are ginormous mountains with snow slowly melting and one huge blue body of water. There are trees all over the place, and everywhere you look you see nature and all of God’s creations. This fascinating place is Lake Tahoe, in Nevada. Lake Tahoe is absolutely one of the most gorgeous places I have ever been.…
I think this story idea will interest Huck readers. Along the US-Mexico border, migrants and thru-hikers walk side-by-side but worlds apart. The Pacific Crest Trail attracts two types of people long-distance hikers about to start the journey of a lifetime and northbound migrants seeking better lives in the US. In spring, their paths converge near wooden columns marking the start of the 2,060 -mile journey that traverses the spine of the Sierra Mountains to the Canadian border. Both the thru-hikers and the migrants share a common bond and that's to cross the southernmost section of the PCT safely, while carrying the weight of expectations on their shoulders.…
Growing up in Vail, I would often ride the chair lift with strangers and they would ask, “Where are you from?” I would reply “here.” The people I shared the chairlift with would tell me how lucky I was, but I would just smile politely and nod, unaware of my fortune. I had grown up in mountains and didn’t know anything different. As I have gotten older and been fortunate enough to have traveled outside of my familiar mountain range, I have realized how intensely beautiful mountains are.…
Falcons, Drones, Data: A Winery Battles Climate Change As everyone knows, California's drought from the world's changing climate is causing us all to have to endure negative effects big and small. One consequence from this would include our wineries. California winemakers are having to face reality head on because of the hotter, drier weather we have. Grapes, the main ingredient for wine, are ripening earlier.…
During the 19th century, the United States experienced a lot of growth, both in population and in square mileage. With the acquiring of western lands from Mexico after the Mexican American War, more and more people became interested in the westward frontier. The South, hungry for more land to grow their plantations, were eager for expansion. Northerners were also excited to expand, though not for all the same reasons the South wanted to expand. The new land was the perfect opportunity for the United States to grow and thrive.…
Although summer is the most popular time to visit America’s national parks it is also the season most overrun with tourists, higher admission prices and sweltering temperatures. However, fall foliage isn’t the only thing worth turning out to see during September through November. Visitors can expect to get up close and personal with bears and other animals. Also, visitors should prepare to take out their cameras as the fading light portrays iconic places such as El Capitan in truly stunning…
They want to be alone. They want to escape from society. The want to survive off the land. They don’t choose to go on these adventures and risk starvation, hypothermia, and worse because they don’t have a reason to live. They choose to hike due to the reason that it’s the one thing that makes them happier than anything else.…
Rent-seeking is when resources are used, let’s say the government, to reap economic gains without having to contribute to society or creation of wealth. This is mostly seen through lobbying the government for subsidies. It basically is a way to earn “income”. The downside to rent-seeking is that it can be seen as corruptive, as those who impose their legal authority to gain benefits from those paying the “rent”. Overall, it can be determined that rent-seeking behaviors really do not benefit the economy and in all reality cost the economy more!…
1. You are planning a field trip for your class to the Laguna Mountains. What do you need to bring? a. It would be important for a teacher to first receive the approval of the school district and Principal of the school before making any further decisions or moves. This field trip must be revolved around educational purposes and include the areas of social, educational, and cultural background.…
It was a definite change of scenery to be immersed in nature with lush greenery, crisp air, and ocean views instead of the normal classroom scene. I liked that this experience was a chance to interact with my colleagues and learn who they are on a personal level subsequent to grading their three-minute stories the previous Fridays. From this hiking experience, I learned the value of teamwork, effective communication, and what encompasses wholesome leadership as well as what can transpire when there is no leadership. As like all experiences, there are some parts I cherished and others not as much.…
The last hike I did with the class, made me glad I had extra clothes to change into. It was surprising how more comfortable the hike was when you are warm. All and all on my next hike, I will be prepared with the knowledge of the area and…