The Rest of Everest Episode 139: It's Just A Phase

Another new episode of the Rest of Everest was released yesterday, continuing the story of the Everest Base Camp trek that took place in 2009, with the team members now on their way back down the Khumbu Valley on their return trip to Kathmandu, and eventually home.

This episode is number 139 in the series and is entitled "It's Just A Phase." The video begins right where we left off last week, with the hikers moving down a very misty and foggy section of the trail, which is a common sight late in the day in the Himalaya. The mornings tend to be bright, clear, and cool, the perfect time for pictures. As the day goes on, it tends to get more cloudy, with a thick fog moving in. The day turns a bit cooler and more damp as well, as the sun gets obscured, often making the late day hikes the coolest of the day.

As the episode rolls on, the trekkers reach their destination for the day, one of the many tea houses that are common throughout the Himalaya. Once there, they enjoy warm drinks (tea, hot chocolate, etc.) and break out the card games. On this trek Phase 10 was a popular choice, and my trekking group played it as well this past spring.

Once again, the episode gives great insights for anyone planning a trek to the South Side of Everest in the near future. With lots of footage of the area, and great commentary from the crew, watching these episodes from the 2009 trek may be the best way to prepare for the hike. For me though, it's a wonderful to see some of the places I explored just a few months ago.

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Find Your Next Adventure At AvidTrips.com

Adventure travelers are always looking for new ideas and new ways to book their next escape, and a new website called AvidTrips.com has been designed from the ground up to assist in that process. The site allows you to search by a variety of categories, including destinations, activities, price, level of difficulty and so on. With that criteria set, AvidTrips will present a list of tour operators that can provide you the experience you are looking for in some of the best locations on the planet.

The interface on the site is slick and easy to use, offering up quite a bit of customization at your fingertips. There are also quite a few tour operators in the system already too, which means you'l have some good options when you decide on your next destination. The database that the site draws from is still being populated with more options and countries however, so if you have your heart set on a specific place, there is a chance it might not be available just yet.

AvidTrips has also launched a nice blog as well, with some great stories on exotic destinations from around the globe, each of which they offer access to. The editors of the site have also asked me to contribute some gear reviews and you'll find some of my own writing appearing there as well. The team behind the site is dedicated to improving it and providing more information for readers, and it looks like AvidTrips will be a great all-around tool for adventure travelers both now and into the future. I'm happy to play a small role in adding some content to the site.

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10 Best Secret Scuba Destinations

I'm not a scuba diver, at least not yet, but I know a number of readers who really enjoy it. For those who enjoy their adventures beneath the ocean, Wide World Magazine has a great article just for you, offering up their selection for the ten best undiscovered scuba spots.

The gist of the article is a simple one. We all know what the best dive spots in the world, such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Blue Hole, and so on. But this list gives us a look at some of the best dive spots in the world that hardly anyone knows about. The list contains something for everyone, offering dives in a variety of types of water and mixing in reefs, wrecks, and more.

Some of the locations that make the cut include Spitsbergen in Norway, where divers have the opportunity to encounter whales and walruses, and Pemba, Tanzania, in which offers everything from reef diving on one side to challenge drift diving on the other. One site, Port Sudan out of the Sudan, can only be reached by a single flight a week, but offers amazing wreck diving, including a ship that went down with a load of Toyota vehicles onboard. Wild!

Reading about these amazing sites makes me only want to get certified all the more. If you've already gone through certification however, you better start booking your tickets. With Wide World sharing these secrets, it won't be long until the word is out.

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Mt. Kailash Trek and Photo Workshop For 2011

For the past couple of years, Jon Miller of The Rest of Everest fame and Chris Marquardt from Tips From The Top Floor have hosted high altitude treks that have combined visits to Mt. Everest with photo workshops. Participants on the trek had the opportunity to visit both the North and South sides of the mountain while gaining valuable insights into shooting photography and videography in one of the best locations on the planet.

Now, the pair have spun off those very successful excursions into a new venture, launching the website HimalayanWorkshops.com today to support their future expeditions into the region. With that launch they've also announced that the 2011 workshop will take place on Mt. Kailash, a 21,778-foot peak located in western Tibet, that is a spiritual crossroads for Buddhists and Hindus alike.

The trek will begin on Sunday, April 17th, 2011 in Kathmandu and run to May 3rd. In between, the team will hike and drive their way through the Mt. Kailash region, exploring this beautiful area, while conducting the "highest photography workshops in the world." Cost for the three week trip is $5999 with registration opening on Sunday, Oct. 17th.

To find out more about the trek, the trip leaders, the setting, and more, click here.

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Travel Like A Pirate!

This past weekend was the International Talk Like A Pirate Day, a "holiday," and I use the term loosely,  that I just can't seem to quite comprehend. And while I generally ignore that special day, mostly because I don't know a single soul who actually cares about it, this year we have a different reason to salute those salty buccaneers of the high seas.

Our friends over at the travel site NileGuide have put together a great contest in which the winners will get to travel like a pirate to Aruba. To enter, all you have to do is click here and fill out the very simple entry form which requires just your first and last name and your e-mail address. It doesn't come any easier than that. You can also opt to receive information sent your way form the participating partners, but if you get plenty of spam in your e-mail already, you can choose to ignore that option.

If you win, you'll be swept off to lovely Aruba aboard a JetBlue flight. Once there, you'll have accommodations for 4 nights at the Hyatt Regency Aruba and get the opportunity to hit the high seas with the Jolly Pirates for some sailing and snorkeling in the beautiful waters off the island. Later you can grab some grub at the Pirate's Nest restaurant and drink some pirate swill at the Balashi Brewery.

Sounds like a fun escape and between this and the Teva House contest I mentioned yesterday, you have two chances to win a tropical adventure at the moment.

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Teva Wants To Send You On A South Pacific Adventure

Adventurous travelers looking for an escape in 2011 may have their wishes granted thanks to a new contest from Teva. The footwear manufacturer is looking to send one lucky winner, from the U.S., the U.K., the Netherlands, Korea, and Australia to Fiji for a bit of tropical adventure that is sure to be a once in a lifetime trip.

To enter the contest, simply head over to TevaHouse.com and click on the flag of your country of origin. From there, fill out the online form, and you'll automatically be entered to win a trip for two to Fiji, where you, along with your guest, and the winners from the other countries, will live aboard a 140' luxury sailing ship for ten days while exploring some of the remote areas of islands. You'll spend your days hiking through jungles, snorkeling reefs that are 100 miles from the closest resort, and whitewater rafting through the stunning landscapes of the Upper Navua Gorge, a place that has been called "a river of Eden."

The Teva Houseboat that the winners will live aboard is the logical extension of the Teva House that first appeared in Vail, Colorado during the Teva Mountain Games. That house served as home base for Teva sponsored athletes, guests, employees, and other VIP's at the games, and now the company wants to take the concept to an international level. The plan is for the Teva House to move around to different locations each year, and we'll all have the opportunity to win a chance to stay in one, while exploring the environments that will play host to the adventure. This year, that location is Fiji.

Looks like a fun adventure and I'd love to win a trip to Fiji. I'll tell you what. If I win, I'll take you, and if you win, you take me as your guest. Deal?

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Scenes From Yellowstone

Over the weekend I had a chance to edit some video together from my recent trip to Yellowstone National Park, an amazing outdoor playground that everyone should visit at some point. The scenery is unbelievable and there is plenty of wildlife to spot as well. The video below is just a hint of what you'll find there, with some shots of elk and bison, but also the Lower Falls on the Yellowstone River and the parks most famous attraction, Old Faithful. I hope you enjoy.

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National Park Service Considers Raising Climbing Fees on Denali, Rainier

The National Park Service is considering raising the fees for climbing both Denali and Mt. Rainier, two of the most iconic, and popular, peaks in North America. These discussions have caused several climbing advocacy groups to speak out against the proposals, which would institute steep increases in costs for climbers.

The proposal would see the cost of climbing Rainer rise from $30 to $50, while Denali would go from $200 up to $500, an increase of 250%. The proposal says that the increase in costs will go directly to training more climbing rangers and other ways of keeping people safe on the mountain. It also hints that future price increases could be linked to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

The Access Fund, American Alpine Club and American Alpine Guides Association call the rate increases "unnecessary and unfair" and joined forces to draft a letter to protest the move which they think will limit the ability of many climbers to actually scale those mountains. They also accuse officials of planning to put the fee hikes into effect without allowing the public to comment, something the Park Service denies. 

While these fees are not a foregone conclusion at this point, it does look like they are most likely coming sooner than later. I'm a bit torn on my thoughts on these fee hikes. On the one hand, in the greater scheme of things, these aren't big jumps. A $20 increase for going up Rainier probably won't make or break it for most climbers, although $300 more on Denali is a bit of a hit. But considering the expense of that climb, and the challenges involved, it isn't likely to be a deal breaker for those mountaineers either. Also, the fees seem to be intended for a good use as well, as making the climbs safer is always a good plan. 

On the other hand, fee increases in this economic climate seem like a bad move. Politically it sends a bad message, and when people are struggling to make ends meet, any rise in cost can be seen as bad. 

So, what are your thoughts? Is this an acceptable move or bad timing?

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The Rest of Everest Episode 138: Yaks in the Mist

One of the things that is often forgotten about a trek to Everest Base Camp is that getting there is just the halfway point of the trip. You struggle with the altitude and the challenging trail that wanders up and down some pretty impressive slopes, and when you arrive in BC, it is with a certain sense of accomplishment and wonder. Mission accomplished. But then it dawns on you, you have to go back down too!

That's the experience in the latest episode of The Rest of Everest, where the trekking group has reached the high point, and has now begun the trip back to Lukla, and eventually Kathmandu. This week's episode is entitled Yak's in the Mist, and features some of the best views of the Himalaya yet.

Early footage shows some more great scenes from the trail, giving trekkers an idea of what it is like to make this hike. Having just done it myself this past spring, it is great to see those places again and know exactly where the team is at. All those rocks and boulders strewn about are from the glacier pushing stuff down the valley, and at times they can make for rough going, both going up and down.

This episode brought back other memories as well, such as the constant gonging of the bells strung around the necks of the yaks that carry gear and other items up and down the Khumbu. There is also a scene of a man moving a herd of yaks, and his technique is a common one. While I was there, I saw them hit with sticks and rocks, whistled at, yelled at, and cajoled in a variety of ways. The yaks seldom seemed to notice any of it.

As you can imagine, the descent also goes much quicker, even if it isn't much easier. The trekking group is returning to areas that we visited early on in the season, and it won't take them long before they're back to Lukla and on their way home.

Enjoy it while you can.

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Gear Box: GoLite Hiking Clothes

It's no secret that I'm a fan of gear from GoLite. They have a reputation for making excellent products that are high in quality, very durable, and light in weight. Additionally, the company has made a commitment to limit their impact on the environment which I find highly commendable as well. When I traveled to Nepal this past spring, I even took one of their sleeping bags along, and found it to be an excellent piece of kit to have while trekking in the mountains.

Just before I left for my recent trip to Montana, I received a couple of new pieces of GoLite gear and with anticipation of having the opportunity to test them, I stuffed them in my pack, and took them along to Yellowstone. The first item was a Manitou shortsleeve tech shirt and the other was a pair of Yunnan hiking shorts, both of which seemed like the would make a great addition to my hiking wardrobe. Perfect for warm weather trekking.

Made of quick-drying and highly breathable fabrics, the Manitou tech-shirt is comfortable to wear either alone or a base layer under a jacket. Designed with flatlocked seams to prevent chafing on the trail, the shirt is form fitting, while still allowing you to move freely and without hinderance. It also offers UPF 50+ protection from the sun, not that I had a chance to take advantage of that feature on my trip, as it was raining and snowing for a good portion of the time I was in Montana. That said, the Manitou was super comfortable to wear, both on a hike or around town, and it served well as a base layer in the cooler weather and on its own when the sun started to shine.

Unfortunately, thanks to the snow and rain I mentioned above, I wasn't able to test the Yunnan hiking shorts in Montana, but had plenty of time to do so on my return to Austin, where summer is still in full swing. Turns out, the shorts are even more comfortable to wear than the Manitou shirt, offering a durable stretch nylon that is soft, looks good, and is perfect for a day on the trail. Additionally, the secure hand pockets designed to keep their contents safe and sound, as well as zippered cargo and rear pockets are a welcome addition to the design. With so many pockets, all of your small gear items will be close at hand when you need them. The shorts even look great, resembling something you'd wear kicking around town as much as into the backcountry.

While both of these gear items are designed for hiking, they also are perfect for travel too. Since they are designed and made by GoLite, they pack down very small and weigh next to nothing in your pack. They're also versatile, look great, and wear well, which means they would be perfect for an extended trip abroad where you want to travel light without compromising performance.

Like most of their gear, you can't go wrong with these two products from GoLite.

MSRP: Manitou Shirt: $45/Yunnan Shorts: $65

(Checkout more GoLite gear, including packs and clothes at TravelCountry.com)

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Driving Montana's Beartooth Highway

While visiting Montana a few weeks back I had the opportunity to take a drive along U.S. Route 212, better known as the Beartooth All American Road. I wrote about those experiences for travel sight Gadling.com today, but wanted to share some thoughts here as well, because if you're planning to head to Montana or Yellowstone in the future, you owe it to yourself to take this route.

The Beartooth Highway is just 69 miles in length, stretching between Red Lodge and Cooke City. But those are some of the most beautiful 69 miles you'll find anywhere on the planet. The scenery is breathtaking with deep valleys carved by glaciers, clear mountain lakes, rushing waterfalls, and unique rock formations lining the road. Luckily, there are plenty of scenic overlooks and pull offs along the way, giving you a chance to stop the car and capture the landscapes with your camera.

The road tops out at the Beartooth Pass at an altitude of 10,947 feet. At that altitude the weather can be of a challenge at any time of the year, which is why the road closes for the winter in mid to late October each year and doesn't re-open until Memorial Day Weekend the following year. Indeed, while I was there at the end of August, we had heavy snow on consecutive days, with whiteout conditions at the higher elevations. Those freak August blizzards are rare, but you'll want to dress appropriately no matter what time of the year you make the drive.

Outdoor enthusiasts will love the Beartooth Highway for other reasons as well. There is great hiking and backpacking along the route, and plenty of places to camp too. In the winter, the trails allow for snowmobiling, skiing, and snowshoeing too, making it an excellent, and not overcrowded, playground all year long.

Perhaps best of all, the road ends at the Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone, so while you'll lament the end of the drive, you'll have that spectacular park to offer consolation. This is one of the least used entrances to the park, and few even know it exists, so it's a perfect way to gain access without too much traffic getting in the way, and once inside, you'll have a whole new landscape to explore.

Next year is the 75th Anniversary of the Beartooth Highway, and celebrations are planned to commemorate the event. The best celebration of all however is to take the ride for yourself. I promise it's worth the trip.

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The Rest of Everest Episode 137: The Agony of DeFeet

Earlier in the week I noted that the Rest of Everest video podcast had returned from its summer hiatus with a new episode for fans to enjoy. What I failed to mention was that the show's website also received a major upgrade in the interim, with a nice clean design and some new features as well. The new layout now allows us to easily sort out the distinct expeditions/seasons of the show, but we can now watch the episodes right on the website without the need to download the files or sync through iTunes. Congrats to the show's creator, Jon Miller, for the nice update!

Yesterday, episode 137 of ROE was released, continuing the Everest Trek that took place last year. In this latest episode, entitled "The Agony of DeFeet,"the team begins their descent back to Lukla after having reached Base Camp or Kala Patar. While that is the "high point" of the trek, in more ways than one, the journey back down still has a lot to offer. A large number of the trekkers from the 2009 crew join Jon this week to narrate the episode and offer insights along the way.

The episode opens in Gorak Shep, the last village before EBC, with Chris Marquardt giving us a tour of his tent and showing us all what the conditions are like in the sleeping quarters along the way. Personally, I stayed in tea houses on my recent hike through the region, which probably offered a bit more warmth and comfort overall.

As is typical with this podcast, the images are spectacular and offer a very realistic view of what traveling through the Himalaya in really like. This particular episode offers up some nice tips for staying healthy and alert while trekking through the region as well, with a particular focus on keeping your feet feeling good. Anyone who has taken a long distance trek of any kind can tell you how important that can be. I'm fortunate in that I rarely ever get a blister, and usually don't have issues with my feet. That wasn't the case for some of the trekkers in the video or on my own trek this past April.

Glad to have the Rest of Everest back and a part of my weekly routine!

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Chasing Wolves In Yellowstone

One of the more amazing things I had the chance to do last week while I was in Yellowstone was to spend some time with park ranger Rick McIntyre who took our band of travel writers out to spot the elusive wolves that now call the park home. I wrote about this experience at length this morning over at Gadling, but definitely wanted to share some thoughts on it here as well, as it was one of those opportunities that rarely come along in your lifetime.

Now don't get me wrong, it is quite possible to spot wolves in Yellowstone. There are a number of packs that wander the park, and while they are shy when it comes to human attention, a little patience and some sharp eyes, will go a long way. But, having the opportunity to watch them with McIntyre is a completely different experience. He is THE guy in Yellowstone when it comes to tracking and observing what the wolves are up to. As I noted in the Gadling story, the wolves are his life, and he works 10+ hours per day, seven days a week, to keep track of what they are up to. In fact, it has been more than a decade since he has take a day off, and pressed on the topic he sheepishly says, "what else would I do?"

McIntyre has endless stories about the wolves, and he knows them inside and out. He knows who the wolves were sired by, and he knows their personalities inside and out. He spins endlessly fascinating tales of the politics of the pack, and told us stories about the wolves that only hinted at the intricate dynamic that not only exists inside those packs, but between them as well.

While we sat on an exposed hill, peering through a powerful spotting scope, watching members of the Blacktail Pack on a distant ridge, it was hard not to feel empathy for the wolves. Through Rick's stories, they ceased to be wild animals wandering Yellowstone, but had instead become characters in a dramatic story that unfolded on a daily basis. It added a unique element to watching them, even from a distance, that makes the experience a lasting one.

If you head out to Yellowstone, and I highly recommend that you do, be sure to take a good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope of your own, and keep your eyes peeled for the wolves. Better yet, watch out for Rick's yellow Nissan Xterra, as he's sure to be close by if you spot it. He is always happy to share stories and give some hints on where to find the wolves.

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Register Early For 2011 Summit For Someone Climbs

Big City Mountaineers has announced that early registration is now open for their Summit For Someone program, giving us all the opportunity to take part in some amazing climbs in 2011, while also giving something back in the process.

For those who aren't familiar with BCM, it is a non-profit organization that helps urban youth to boost self esteem, confidence, and their communication skills through outdoor adventures. Many of these kids may not ever get a chance to explore the great outdoors without the BCM program, which does great things for hundreds of children each year.

One of the major funding sources for the Big City Mountaineers is the Summit For Someone program, which gives adventure travelers and climbers an opportunity to take on some iconic peaks, while also helping to raise funds for BCM. Climbers simply select a peak from the list of SFS expeditions, and join the team that will be going for the summit in 2011. By doing so, they also pledge to raise funds that go directly to the BCM projects and the kids that they serve.

The amount of funds required varies from peak to peak. For instance, climbing Mt. Rainier may require a commitment of $4000 while an ascent on Denali is in the $7500 range. Climbers can elect to just pay the fee themselves or start a pledge drive, get their friends to commit to the cause, and so on. What ever it takes to raise the necessary funds. Participants are also rewarded with gift cards to MountainGear.com to help get them all the necessary equipment they'll need on the climb as well.

Early registration for the 2011 climbs opened on Sept. 1, giving us all the chance to reserve a spot for next year by putting down just $50. In doing so, you'll also be committing to paying either a $450 deposit by October 1st, or raising your first $1250 in funds by that deadline as well.

Once you're signed up however, you can expect a great adventure for 2011 and the chance to help an amazing organization continue to do great things with urban youth across the country. Summit For Somone provides a healthy dose of outdoor adventure mixed with a great opportunity to give back at the same time.

For a full list of the 2011 climbs, which includes an expedition to Kilimanjaro, and to begin the application process, click here.

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The Rest of Everest Episode 136: A Rare Opportunity

Quite a lot of things happened last week while I was out of contact and offline, including the return of my favorite video podcast, the Rest of Everest. The show has been on hiatus for the past few months while creator Jon Miller made a trek to Everest BC in the spring, and has since been transitioning to making the podcast his full time gig – a challenging endeavor to be sure!

This episode, number 136 in the series, returns us to where we were when we left off back in April, with a continuation of a trek to base camp that took place in 2009. The team has split into two groups, a few that went on to Base Camp itself, while others made the climb of Kala Patar, opting to go for the better views of the mountain as opposed to actually going to BC itself.

The video quickly reminds us why we love this podcast, starting off with some great scenery and capturing views of climbers making their way up the mountain. Those opening shots, which go on for several minutes, really help to give a sense of scale to the Himalaya, as the climbers look like tiny dots in the distance.

Other highlights to the episode include a glimpse inside the cooking tent, shots of large rocks and boulders suspended above the ground in BC by columns of ice, and the return of some old friends that long time viewers will recognize.

Having now completed this trek myself, seeing some of these images is even more fun, as I recognize many of the places that they are visiting. I look forward to the rest of this series, as the next few episodes will continue to follow the 2009 trekking team as they make their way back down the mountain to Lukla, and eventually Kathmandu.

Welcome back Jon and the rest of the ROE team!

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Back From Montana and Yellowstone, Photos To Share!

After spending the better part of last week in Montana and Yellowstone National Park, I'm home again and ready to get back to work. I had an absolutely wonderful time traveling with five other travel writers while being hosted by some fantastic people.

You'll be hearing a lot more about that trip in the days ahead, but some of the things I did while I was there included riding the Beartooth Highway, kayaked on Lake Yellowstone with OARS, went wolf spotting in Yellowstone with the ranger in charge of the program, and trail riding at the Lazy E-L Ranch. In short, it was a very busy, but very fun week.

As you might expect, the scenery was spectacular in Montana and the park. The Beartooth Highway has been called the most beautiful drive in the country, and with good reason. The views are amazing and breathtaking, and every turn brings something new to be discovered, including snow capped peaks, rushing waterfalls, and clear blue mountain lakes. But beware. If you make the drive yourself, the weather can be a bit fickle. Even at the end of August, we witnessed heavy snow and whiteout conditions, on two consecutive days. That's life in the mountains I suppose!

If you'd like to see some photos from the trip, I've put together another gallery. You can take a peek by clicking here. Hope you enjoy!

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Grand Canyon National Park Faces Challenges, Embraces Opportunities

The National Parks Conservation Association is an organization dedicated to protecting America's national parks and ensuring that they remain the amazing environments that we all know and love, so that future generations have the opportunity to enjoy them too. Recently, the NPCA released their State of the Park report on the Grand Canyon, which outlines some of the challenges that that park faces, while also turning a spotlight on the opportunities for protecting it as well.

The Grand Canyon is one of America's first national parks, and it is certainly amongst the most iconic as well. Each year, more 4.5 million visitors, both foreign and domestic, travel to the park, which encompasses more than 1.2 million acres of land in Arizona. The place is a mecca for both adventure travelers and tourists alike, with many drawn in because of the spectacular scenery and options for outdoor fun, which includes hiking, paddling, camping, and much more.

In the report, the NPCA points to some serious threats to the future of the Grand Canyon National Park, including mining activities on the park borders, increased air pollution (coming from cities more than 100 miles away!), and one that I hadn't even considered –noise pollution. The threat from mining and air pollution are fairly self explanatory, as they can directly affect the health of the environment, including the plants and animals that live there and the visitors to the park. Noise pollution, on the other hand, is one of those things that you don't necessarily think about, but can still ruin the solitude and peacefulness that you feel while in a remote place. In the case of the Grand Canyon, the noise pollution is a result of so many commercial and scenic flights passing over head, having an adverse effect on those on the ground.

Perhaps the biggest challenge to the park operating as it should comes from the lack of funding that it is receiving. Considering the current state of the economy, this should be much of a surprise I suppose, but the NPCA says that the National Park Service could use an additional $6.2 million in its annual budget just to cover the park's day-to-day functions. Even more eye opening is the fact that there is a backlog of maintenance issues that is estimated to require $300 million to address. That is an awfully big hole to try to climb out of in an era when budgets are being cut across the board.

The report also cites some great opportunities to improve the natural environment in the park and protect the plants and animals that live there. Amongst the suggestions for protecting the Canyon is the suggestion that corrections to the course of the Colorado River may need to be made to help prevent the degradation of resources along its banks. Those changes would help to create a more sustainable environment moving forward, which can only be a good thing for the long term health of the park.

Other suggestions for improvements include allowing the Park Service to have direct control over the airspace above the Canyon, which would allow them to limit the number of aircraft in the area, thus reducing the noise level. There are also plans to declare the backcountry a wilderness area, which would help protect it more fully, while also annexing threatened lands that surround the park though an act of Congress. Increased permanent funding and more research on the impact of climate change are amongst the other suggestions as well.

To read the entire report, in .pdf format, click here. For the shorter, digest version click here.

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14 Dead in Plane Crash Near Kathmandu

A small passenger plane has crashed just south of Kathmandu today, killing everyone on board. The plane carried 14 people, including three crew members and 11 passengers, with four Americans, a Briton, and a Japanese traveler amongst them.

The plane was operated by Agni Air, and was making a routine flight to Lukla, most likely to drop off trekkers heading to the Everest region, but due to poor weather in the area, the flight was turned back. There is no word at this time as to the cause of the crash, but local villagers witnessed it going down in a field.

Having made this same flight just a few months ago, I can tell you that the airlines and flight control are all very careful about when and how you can approach Lukla. It is considered amongst the most dangerous airports in the world thanks to its sloping runway that runs up the side of the mountain. But in the case of this accident, it doesn't seem to have been an issue at all considering that the plane never even had a chance to attempt a landing. Most likely there was rain or fog in the area, and the plane was ordered to return to Kathmandu, but why it went down is a mystery at this time.

We're also right on the edge of the start of the fall climbing and trekking season, with travelers just now starting to return to the Himalaya following the monsoon season. The passengers on board this flight were probably on vacation and were looking forward to trekking in the Khumbu Valley over the next couple of weeks.

This is a sad story to start the day. My condolences to the families.

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Win An Epic Grand Canyon Vacation From Cheerios

I wrote about the Do What You Love Sweepstakes from Cheerios for Gadling over the weekend, but wanted to mention it here as well, specifically because on of the dream trips that they are giving away could be of particular interest to the outdoor crowd.

The contest is a simple one. All you have to do to enter is head over to the official site and select one of ten trips that are up for grabs. From there, you'll fill out a short form with your personal contact information, and make a pledge to "love your heart." (Cheerios is purportedly a heart friendly cereal.) That's really all there is to it, and although you can only enter once per day, you can come back on subsequent days in an effort to stuff the ballot box.

Some of the vacations that they are giving away include a trip to Florida for a NASCAR event, a five day escape to Rock-n-Roll Fantasy Camp, and the chance to go to Hollywood to attend a movie premiere. But the one trip that may spark your interest is their VIP vacation to the Grand Canyon that includes a $500 shopping spree for new gear and six days of adventure in one of America's most popular national parks. While there, you'll have the opportunity to explore the Canyon by jeep and white water raft, and soar high above the park in a private helicopter for a bird's eye view of the surrounding area.

If you're interested in winning the Grand Canyon tour, they are accepting entries through April 4th of next year, which means that you'll have plenty of chances to fill out the entry form, stacking the odds in your favor for a win. Some of the other trips are being given away a lot sooner, as they are spreading out the awarding of prizes over the coming months.

Seems like a great way to see the Grand Canyon. Good luck on entering the contest!

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America's Best Adventures

A few days back I posted a link to some suggestions for adventure travel destinations this fall, with ten great spots to visit once the summer crowds, and heat, dissipate. Not to be outdone by that list, National Geographic Adventure has been running their selections for America's Best Adventures, providing us with 100 of the best escapes, with no passports required.

The list really does have something for everyone with activities ranging from backcountry skiing to climbing to mountain biking, and a whole lot more. There is even a state-by-state list of destinations, as well as an interactive map, with a majority of the states represented by at least one adventure. Not surprisingly though, most of these are located in the western part of the country, with places like Colorado, California, and Utah having more than their fair share of destinations making the top 100.

Some of the suggestions for domestic adventure bliss include backpacking Glacier National Park in Montana, mountain biking from Durango, Colorado to Moab, Utah, and paddling the Adirondacks, in New York. I was also happy to see ride RAGBRAI from my home state of Iowa make the list, as well as Float Big Bend and Boulder Hueco Tanks from my adopted state of Texas too.

With the economy continuing to remain sluggish, to say the least, and many travelers electing to stay close to home yet again this year, this list offers up some really great suggestions for those who would like to put some adventure into their life, but not break the bank doing so. It also serves as a great reminder of the incredibly diverse landscapes we have here in the U.S. and how many great activities we have in our own backyard.

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