Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Dispatch from the Galapagos: The summer I gave up meathttp://www.gadling.com/2008/05/11/dispatch-from-the-galapagos-the-summer-i-gave-up-meat/http://www.gadling.com/2008/05/11/dispatch-from-the-galapagos-the-summer-i-gave-up-meat/http://www.gadling.com/2008/05/11/dispatch-from-the-galapagos-the-summer-i-gave-up-meat/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Rachel Atkinson hops like a Darwin finch from one volcanic outcropping to the next, then plunges into ankle-deep mud. Squishing as she walks, the botanist with the Charles Darwin Research Station homes in on the ailing invaders: blackberry, passion fruit, and quinine bushes clustered near Santa Cruz Island's last shrubby stands of Scalesia trees. Atkinson smiles in approval. One more blast of herbicide ought to prevent the aliens from regrowing and give the Scalesia a shot at survival after all.

We were on the front-line of an epic war being waged on all sorts of invasive species in the Galápagos Islands. Surprisingly, the culprit seems to be global warming, which is usually associated with polar bears and other sorts of cold things-not an archipelago situated one degree south of the equator.

It all started in the late 1980s, when the periodic El Niños became more frequent and severe. Of course, we do have to give some credit to the pirates and whalers who began visiting the Galápagos in the 1700s and leaving behind goats, pigs, and other animals as a living larder for future visits. That couldn't have helped.
The torrential monsoons have since thrown the entire island ecosystem in a loop. In some cases, like what Atkinson is battling, invasive weeds have exploded. In other cases where there aren't weeds, native plants have been doing the exploding, also a problem because that attracts goats. Godfrey Merlen, a Galápagos native and director of WildAid, says he saw "two or three" goats on the upper flanks of Isabela Island's Alcedo volcano in 1992. When he returned three years later, he saw hundreds. "It was total chaos," Merlen says. The goats had denuded the once-lush terrain, transforming brush and cloud forests into patchy grassland.

While I didn't make it to the remote volcanoes on Isabela, I was able to tag along for two weeks with a National Geographic research team tracking giant tortoises. Although the tortoises were interesting (they've been a victim of the goats, who have eaten up their food source), I was there for the .223-caliber rifles. You see, several trigger-happy park rangers were accompanying the scientists and they were mad. Their goal was to shoot and kill any goat they saw. I learned they were part of the world's largest eradication campaign-an $18 million effort to rid the islands of 140,000 feral goats.

But I never saw them use the rifles, for by now, ten years after the start of the campaign, they have become so fit and smart they can run down the goats on foot (and bullets cost money). The first time I witnessed the exhilarating chase, I thought it couldn't be that hard to keep up with them. While the rangers nimbly corralled the goats into a basin depression, coordinating with each other in an elegant ballet, I had found a rock to stub my toe on. And that was that.

For the next two weeks, we feasted on goats. More accurately, the first week was a feast. Then we ran out of spices. Yet still, we were too polite not to chow down the goat soup, goat sandwiches, goat sushi (only once), and whatever else the park rangers / part-time chefs cooked up.

I stayed up late into the night talking to them about goats-and trying to digest my dinner. I learned that the national park imported hunting dogs from New Zealand and trained them to track and kill goats. Helicopters were pressed into service for sharpshooters to reach rugged highlands. To flush out holdouts, the park released "Judas" goats, including sterilized females plied with hormones to keep them in heat and attract males.

All in all, these rangers have been excellent hunters who were using the latest technology, and it's paid off-this year they managed to wipe out the goats on Isabela. "A great battle has been won," Victor Carrion, subdirector of the park, said to me later, though he cautioned that much more work needs to be done eradicating other invasive species.

Although one bane has been eliminated, others are at large. In northern Isabela, rats have ravaged the last two nesting sites of mangrove finches, estimated at fewer than 100. And both rats and feral cats have decimated a subspecies of marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus albemarlensis) endemic to Isabela, prompting the World Conservation Union to add it to its vulnerable list in 2004. Rangers have set out traps and poison for Isabela's rats and are plotting eradication campaigns on Floreana and Santiago islands. An effort to poison feral cats will commence next year.
Impressive, no doubt.

But those rangers?

They were not good cooks.

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]]>ecuadorfeaturedgalapagosgoatsmeattortoisesvegetarianJerry Guo2008-05-11T11:00:00+00:00Cash and Treasures: Digging for gems in Brazilhttp://www.gadling.com/2008/05/09/cash-and-treasures-digging-for-gems-in-brazil/http://www.gadling.com/2008/05/09/cash-and-treasures-digging-for-gems-in-brazil/http://www.gadling.com/2008/05/09/cash-and-treasures-digging-for-gems-in-brazil/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The last two weeks of The Travel Channel's Cash and Treasures on Wednesday night haven't included kids at the dig sites, a quality I was impressed by early on. Still, I continue to be hooked into this show. This week, I stuck around for the back to back episodes because host Kristin Gum headed out of the United States for points south in what worked as a double feature. Normally, the first half hour show satisfies me. The episode right after the first usually has a totally different theme.

Episodes: Digging for aquamarines, morganites and more.

What are they? Gems that can be worth beau coups bucks. Aquamarines range from dark green to a light blue, like clear water. Morganites are light pinkish. Gum found an aquamarine worth $3,000 and a morganite worth $1,481, once they were cut and polished.

Location: In the mountains and hills of Southeastern Brazil before the jaunt to Rio de Janeiro for the cutting and polishing. The first episode was shot in Governardor Valadares in the state of Minas Gerais at the Jaco Mine. The second episode was at the Rio Doce Mine near Rio Doce.

Getting to the Jaco Mine involved first taking a train and then a jeep on an unpaved road with 32 switchbacks. The bonus of the effort, besides the gems, was the gorgeous scenery. Gum was given mining tips by the mine's owner and his son. The snaking tunnel of the mines where the walls shimmered turned up nothing, but once Gum sifted through the tailings using a large screen, she found several aquamarines. One of them was large piece that was turned into the $3,000 beauty. The others were the type you'd put in a collection and were not considered valuable.

Even though finding an aquamarine most probably will happen at the Jaco Mine, as the son said about looking for gems, "It's gotta be hard to be good." You're also not guaranteed to find a valuable one like Gum did. There's a reason why quality gems are expensive.

The Rio Doce Mine is owned by Jerry Call, an American who has mining and gems in his blood. His sister owns a mine in North Carolina with the same name. [see Web site] Gum unearthed the morganite in Call's mine.

Even if you don't find terrific quality gems, the variety of what can be found in Brazil is astounding. Sixty-five percent of the worlds' gems come from here. If I heard right, 100% of the different types of gems are here.

During her digs, Gum also found tourmaline and assorted other rocks and minerals like feldspar, mica and quartz.. If you want to go mining in Brazil, the Cash and Treasure's Web site has a link to Chang Express, a travel agent that the show recommends.

Because the focus of the show is more on what you can mine than the culture of the country where the episodes take place, Brazil wasn't presented much more than a miner's delight. There was drinking juice out of a whole coconut, soccer playing and eating various meat dishes that Gum found divine.

Cost of mining: $100 per wheelbarrow

 

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]]>aquamarinesCash and treasuresCashAndTreasuresgem miningGemMininggemstonesmorganitesrio de janieroRioDeJanieroThe travel channelTheTravelChannelJamie Rhein2008-05-09T10:30:00+00:00Combine caffeine and naps for jet lag helphttp://www.gadling.com/2008/05/03/combine-caffeine-and-naps-for-jet-lag-help/http://www.gadling.com/2008/05/03/combine-caffeine-and-naps-for-jet-lag-help/http://www.gadling.com/2008/05/03/combine-caffeine-and-naps-for-jet-lag-help/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Here's what I do to deal with jet lag. I don't go to sleep much before I travel. I think I was a hamster in my past life. I'm the type who wants to get every last project done, every last dish washed, every last chore behind me before I head out the door. I ruminate. I become more compulsive than usual.

Sometimes, I stay up so late that going to bed may not make sense. That's what happened before the good-deed travel Mexico trip. It got to be 4:00 a.m. and I thought, I'm getting up in two hours anyway, so why bother? I slept on the plane on and off, and went to bed early the following night. When I travel across time zones, this staying up late makes me tired enough that the jet lag is not as noticeable. I'm thrown off already, what's a bit more?

When I was living in Singapore, one of my closest friend's parents visited from the U.S. They are the hearty, cross-country skiing type who stay on a scheduled routine. Their answer to jet lag was to go on a long hike through the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve almost as soon as they arrived at our apartment. Our complex edged the preserve which made hiking there pretty darned convenient. They went to bed when they normally do, and seemed not to suffer much. Getting out in the air and sunshine is one way diminish that groggy, disheveled feeling.

There was an article recently in the New York Times that explains how a combination of coffee and naps can help thwart jet lag. I suppose this is what I do, but less scientifically. I always order coffee and a club soda when I fly. Coffee for the boost, and soda water for the hydration. It feels fancier than regular water. Anything one can do to spruce up travel in my opinion.

The photo is of my 2nd cup of coffee on the Southwest flight. It's slightly out of focus, but then, so was I.

 

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]]>beveragesBukit Timah Nature PreserveBukitTimahNaturePreservecaffeinecoffeefatiguejet lagJetLagJamie Rhein2008-05-03T09:00:00+00:00Okayama, Japan: a place to see Japan at a quieter pacehttp://www.gadling.com/2008/04/29/okayama-japan-a-place-to-see-japan-at-a-quieter-pace/http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/29/okayama-japan-a-place-to-see-japan-at-a-quieter-pace/http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/29/okayama-japan-a-place-to-see-japan-at-a-quieter-pace/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

When I went to Japan several years back, the U.S. dollar was the pits against the yen. Luckily I had a friend of a friend of my brother's to stay with in Tokyo. I had a Japanese rail pass for a week so we ventured out on day trips mostly, except for two nights in Kyoto. We went on a day trip to Nara from there. Other trips were to Kamakura and Nikko. This was an impressionistic sort of trip. Japan is such a vivid place that I can conjure up pictures of most of it.

Now that my friend has moved back to Japan, I'm thinking another trip to Japan is in order, particularly since we have another place to go. Okayama, where my friend now lives, looks like it's a perfect sized city for visiting with children, and one where its possible to taken in the nuances of Japanese culture. In an odd way, it seems to be to Japan what Columbus is to the United States--a reflection of the rest of the country without being overwhelming. There is enough to see and do to make it interesting, but because of the size, the people and sites are accessible.

I'm getting this from the Okayama page at Wikitravel that lists several attractions you can take in.

Here are highlights:

There's the Korakuen Garden, one of the three Great Gardens in Japan. It dates back to 1687.

The Okayama Castle is a tribute to the tenacity of the Japanese. Destroyed during WWII, it was rebuilt to look like it did before. This might be a place my friend could be an English speaking tour guide--a suggestion Shane left on my post about helping my friend find English speakers.

The Oriental Museum is the place to find out about trade between Persia and Japan. I bet this is a great place to see similarities between textile designs of Persia and pottery designs of Japan. Maybe not, but I would guess.

Sogenji Temple offers free meditation. Plus, temples in Japan are some of the most relaxation producing places on the planet. Here's also a place to participate in a tea ceremony.

Shizutani School is possibly the oldest public school in the world. It is the oldest school in Japan to be built as an every person's school. Today it is a national treasure.

There's also Muscat Stadium, a sports stadium that has baseball games from time to time; a big monthly flea market and the statue of Momotaro. Plus, there's Mt. Misaoyama for hiking, hot springs for soaking and bike rentals.

Okay, now that I've outlined some of what there is to do in Okayama, I have to say, it looks a bit more interesting than Columbus--by a mile.

 

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]]>KamakuraKorakuen GardenKorakuenGardenMomotaroNaraOkayamaOkayama castleOkayamaCastleSogenji TempleSogenjiTemplezen templesZenTemplesJamie Rhein2008-04-29T14:30:00+00:00Converse All-Stars: You can still walk miles almost 100 years laterhttp://www.gadling.com/2008/04/28/converse-all-stars-you-can-still-walk-miles-almost-100-years-la/http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/28/converse-all-stars-you-can-still-walk-miles-almost-100-years-la/http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/28/converse-all-stars-you-can-still-walk-miles-almost-100-years-la/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

When I went on trek in Ladakh, India, most people who went along were outfitted to the gills in the latest, greatest, newest hiking clothes and shoes for such an occasion. One person, however, wore a pair of Converse All-Stars--the basic low cut version. Nothing fancy and he didn't even lace them. I can't remember if he wore socks. Probably not.

He walked unhurriedly for nine days along the trail that lead up the mountains through the Markha Valley. As he walked, he chewed tobacco and cheerfully shot the breeze. His shirts, by the way, were very nice cotton, pin-stripped button down Oxford cloth. His pants-- blue jeans. He tied a red bandana, pirate-style around his head and was never without his Ray Bans. I was proud he was in my group that lolly-gagged behind the rest. We took in the scenery and each others company, while the over-achievers sped ahead for who knows what reason except for wanting to be first. (It was hard not to delight in the gasping heaves and moans when altitude sickness kicked in for some of them.)

The Converse All-Stars said, "Kick back. Don't worry." I was happy to follow their pace. None of the five of us in the pack that brought up the rear suffered from altitude sickness. We were walking too slow for that, and my friend never got a blister that I can recall.

Converse All-Stars, also called Chuck Taylors or "Chucks," first made their appearance as basketball shoes in 1917. The company, though, is celebrating its 100th year. It was founded in 1908.

 

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]]>Chuck TaylorsChucksChuckTaylorshikingLadakhshoe shoppingshoesShoeShoppingtrekkingJamie Rhein2008-04-28T17:00:00+00:00Inca Trail? Not this summer.http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/22/inca-trail-not-this-summer/http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/22/inca-trail-not-this-summer/http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/22/inca-trail-not-this-summer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

World travelers just can't get enough of Peru's famous Inca Trail. But has the Inca Trail had enough of them? It may come as surprise to anyone still planning summer travel to Peru, but the world-famous path to Machu Picchu is completely sold out for the 2008 summer travel season, with the next available opening in September 2008.

As veteran Peru trekkers might know, the Peruvian government began imposing restrictions in 2005 on the number of hikers who could take the path each day to no more than 500. Couple this with the insane popularity of Machu Picchu on globetrotter "must-see" lists and increasingly affordable airfare deals and you have a serious supply and demand problem on your hands. While this quota is helping to preserve the impact of human visitors on this priceless cultural artifact, it's certainly frustrating news for anyone planning their trip to Peru around a stopover at the site.

If it turns out the big, bad Peruvian government has thwarted your travel plans this summer, don't despair just yet. As this article article points out, there are a few alternative routes to the famed Inca Trail including the Salkantay Trail, which also climaxes at Machu Picchu, along with the scenic Lares Valley and the spectacular Colca Canyon.

And if you're still dead set on that Inca Trail trek? Give it another try in the off-season. You might even have that million-dollar view at the top all to yourself.

 

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]]>cultural heritageCulturalHeritagehikinginca trailIncaTrailmachu picchuMachuPicchusummer travelSummerTravelsustainabletourismJeremy Kressmann2008-04-22T14:20:00+00:00Video: Earth Day ode to the John Muir Trailhttp://www.gadling.com/2008/04/22/earth-day-ode-to-the-john-muir-trail/http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/22/earth-day-ode-to-the-john-muir-trail/http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/22/earth-day-ode-to-the-john-muir-trail/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I've been thinking about John Muir and people who have such a passion that their whole life is dedicated to its pursuit. John Muir, as I wrote in a previous post, was dedicated to the preservation of nature. To really see the world as John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club, saw it, hiking the John Muir Trail is one option. The trail winds 211 miles through mountainous scenery that includes three national parks: Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia.

Typically, people start at Mt. Whitney and head to the Yosemite Valley. The best time for hiking is July through September. The Pacific Crest Trail Association has a terrific guide that explains details about the trail and gives suggestions about planning a hike.

To enjoy the hike from the comfort of your computer screen, here is a video I came across with exquisite shots that vary between landscape, closeups and people. It's perfect for enjoying the earth and reinforcing why it's important to take care of it. Thanks to raceyjones for sharing on YouTube the 20-day hike he took on the John Muir Trail August 2006.

 

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]]>Earth DayEarthDayJohn MuirJohn Muir TrailJohnMuirJohnMuirTrailSequoia National ParkSequoiaNationalParkSierra ClubSierraClubYosemiteJamie Rhein2008-04-22T11:20:00+00:00John Muir: An Earth Day odehttp://www.gadling.com/2008/04/22/john-muir-an-earth-day-ode/http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/22/john-muir-an-earth-day-ode/http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/22/john-muir-an-earth-day-ode/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Even though this weekend was filled with Earth Day activities, the actual Earth Day is today. Because yesterday was John Muir's birthday, it seems fitting to mention those places that travelers are able to appreciate today due to Muir's dedication to the environment. Besides, he was a traveler with a capital T, the kind Abha referred to in her post on Henry Lee McGinnis, the 80 year-old who has been walking for 16 years.

Born in Dunbar, Scotland, April 21, 1838, Muir quit his job at age 29 after a machine accident almost blinded him. He decided to start walking to learn about nature. The journey took him to Cuba, Florida and California. Remember he was walking. He was so enamored with California that he made it his home. Muir is credited with helping to create Yosemite National Park, as well as, Sequoia, Mount Rainier, Petrified Forest, and Grand Canyon National Parks.

And if that wasn't enough, Muir helped influence President Theodore Roosevelt to form the National Monuments program and founded the Sierra Club.

Here's a quote of Muir's to take along with you this Earth Day.

Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer,.Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature's darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature's sources never fail.

--from our National Parks, 1901.

 

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]]>CaliforniaconservationismEarth DayEarthDayearthday08John MuirJohnMuirNational ParksNationalParksSierra ClubSierraClubTheodore RooseveltTheodoreRooseveltYosemite National ParkYosemiteNationalParkJamie Rhein2008-04-22T10:20:00+00:00He's 80 and has been walking the world for 16 yearshttp://www.gadling.com/2008/04/22/hes-80-and-has-been-walking-the-world-for-16-years/http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/22/hes-80-and-has-been-walking-the-world-for-16-years/http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/22/hes-80-and-has-been-walking-the-world-for-16-years/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sometimes it's years before we hear of the real vagabonds; I wonder how many we never hear of at all! Henry Lee McGinnis has been walking the world for the last 16 years, Google him and I find nothing other than a one-minute video on BBC.

So far he has walked over 80,000 miles across the US and 66 other countries. He is currently entering South America and will finish around 2010 in Texas, after passing through Central America and Mexico.

According to his website, the former Methodist minister and World War II army sniper, carries a 100-pound rucksack with everything but a kitchen sink, and a six-foot steel-tipped walking staff for protection. When he is not camping out, he looks for local hosts for a bed.

Inspired by reading National Geographic since he was 6, at the tender age of 9, he knew this is what he wanted to do. He believes that most people are searching for answers to the following questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? This walk is an inner and outer pilgrimage for Mcginnis.

At 80, the man is still full of life: he wants to write a book of his journey and learn to play tennis before he is 100!

On the video, he leaves one message [paraphrased]: "When you are retired, don't sit in front of the TV set and gain 20-50 pounds drinking beer and eating sandwiches, go see the world!"

Prime example of the "it's never too late" notion: If he could start his pedestrian world tour dream at 62, we really have no excuse to follow ours!





 

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]]>manoldpilgrimagewalkingyearsAbha Malpani2008-04-22T08:00:00+00:00Big in Japan: Tibet unrest changes Everest climbing routeshttp://www.gadling.com/2008/04/21/big-in-japan-tibet-unrest-changes-everest-climbing-routes/http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/21/big-in-japan-tibet-unrest-changes-everest-climbing-routes/http://www.gadling.com/2008/04/21/big-in-japan-tibet-unrest-changes-everest-climbing-routes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

From San Francisco to London and Paris to India, protestors are taking to the streets to demonstrate against China's hosting of the Olympic Games. Angered by the Chinese government's refusal to meet with the Dalai Lama, as well as the continued suppression of human rights in potential breakaway regions, the world is seeking to punish China on the eve of its long-anticipated coming out party.

For travelers on the ground in China, independent tourism has never been more difficult, especially since parts of the country have now been entirely closed off to the outside world. Following wave of violence that commenced on March 14th, the Chinese government has entirely barred tourists from entering Tibet. As a so-called 'autonomous region,' non-Chinese nationals must obtain special entry permits for Tibet.

Sadly, it's looking like the 'Roof of the World' may remain in relative isolation until the Olympic Games have passed, which is a huge blow at a time when tourism in the region was beginning to flourishing. Here in Japan, this was highlighted recently in the news when Mr. Yuichiro Miura, the 75 year-old thrill seeker who once skied down Everest using a parachute as a brake, announced that he was changing his Everest climbing route.

At the young and spry age of 75, Mr. Miura (alongside his son) was planning on climbing Everest from the Chinese side in a bid to regain his title as the oldest man to climb Everest. However, despite all of the preparations that he has made, his climbing permits were canceled following the unrest in Tibet.

Mr Miura first held the record as the oldest person to climb Everest when he reached the top in 2003 at the age of 70. Although his record was broken just three years later, he is determined to regain it despite having to change his proposed route at the final hour. According to Mr. Miura, who is presently in the Nepali capital of Kathmandu, "We are here to climb and so we will."

Of course, would-climbers on Everest are also saddened by the current political climate in Nepal, which is threatening to topple the nation's troubled monarchy. And, China is also exerting pressure to not allow climbers to scale Everest until after the Olympic torch has been carried up and down the summit. Needless to say, a protest at the summit of Everest would not be a great PR moment for the Chinese government!

Despite all of these hurdles however, Mr. Miura is confident that he will shatter the Everest climbing record by the end of May. Mr. Miura is best known for having skied down Everest in 1970, using a parachute as a brake, footage of which later appeared in an Oscar-winning documentary. However, his latest bid for worldwide fame is perhaps even more challenging, given that Mr. Miura is a septuagenarian.

Then again, in a country where living beyond the age of 100 is a pretty common feat, perhaps Mr. Miura shouldn't be too upset if his travel plans are canceled this year...

** Mr. Miura's photo was taken by the Agence French-Press (AFP). Other images were courtesy of the WikiCommons Media Project. **

 

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]]>chinaeverestjapanolympicMatthew Firestone2008-04-21T10:00:00+00:00San Luis Obispo: Possible place to visit or move tohttp://www.gadling.com/2008/03/29/san-luis-obispo-possible-place-to-visit-or-live-there/http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/29/san-luis-obispo-possible-place-to-visit-or-live-there/http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/29/san-luis-obispo-possible-place-to-visit-or-live-there/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A friend and I were talking today about what we're up to. She's up to traveling to California during the end of April with her boyfriend to look for a place to live one day. They're starting in San Diego and heading up the coast. They don't know exactly where they want to live so I threw out San Luis Obispo as a possibility. I've never been there, but have heard great things. One of my oldest friends, who does lives there part time, loves the place. He's always saying I should visit.

My friend who is currently seeking out her future asked me if there are nature related activities in the area. "Oh, I'm sure of it," I said, then followed with, "I'll check." Now, I've checked.

San Luis Obispo does indeed have nature type things. It's the beginning of the Big Sur coastline. The Parks and Recreation department looks extensive. Mountains for hiking are close by. Along with nature, there are history and the arts. The Mission San Luis Obispo de Toroso was founded in 1772. Hearst Castle is also near here. This weekend is the Music for Your Eyes Gala and Art Auction. These are just a few of the things to do that I found. I'd say San Luis Obispo is a fine contender for consideration. Definitely a place to visit. Possibly a place to settle in for awhile.

Any more thoughts of good places to live in California? I'll let my friend know.

 

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]]>Big Sur coastlineBigSurCoastlineCaliforniaHearst CastleHearstCastleplaces to live in CaliforniaPlacesToLiveInCaliforniaSan DiegoSan Luis OpispoSanDiegoSanLuisOpispoJamie Rhein2008-03-29T13:00:00+00:00Read all of outdoor magazine Wend online and for freehttp://www.gadling.com/2008/03/28/read-all-of-outdoor-magazine-wend-online-and-for-free/http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/28/read-all-of-outdoor-magazine-wend-online-and-for-free/http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/28/read-all-of-outdoor-magazine-wend-online-and-for-free/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If you are an outdoor aficionado, you may already be familiar with Wend. The outdoor magazine based out of Portland, Oregon fills its pages with stories from around the globe that peak the interest of not only outdoor enthusiasts, but anyone with a wanderlust. The latest issue covers a trip through Iceland, volunteering in Indonesia, trekking Afghanistan and surfing the Great Lakes; that's what I call good reading material.

Being the eco-friendly souls that they are, the Wend crew finally put the magazine online, making all of the articles accessible via your computer. You can still buy the print version, but if you are out traveling -- or just want to save on paper consumption -- the new online version is just as satisfying. And it's free.

Check out the virtual version of the latest issue here. And if you are feeling truly inspired, shoot them an email and pitch a story.

 

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]]>wend magazineWendMagazineAnna Brones2008-03-28T19:00:00+00:00Getting High on Your Holidayhttp://www.gadling.com/2008/03/27/getting-high-on-your-holiday/http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/27/getting-high-on-your-holiday/http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/27/getting-high-on-your-holiday/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Sure, we've all thought about it and some of us do it often. Getting high on your holiday trip can be pretty fun, in fact. I mean really high, above 11,500 feet (3500 m). Not everything cool is on a beach at sea-level. Ruins in the Andes, trekking in the Himalayas and chasing back country powder are a few things you have to get high, to do. These trips are all "dream vacations," so why risk a problem with altitude sickness?

High altitude is considered to be 1500 - 3500 m (4950 - 11,500 ft) while very high altitude covers 3500 to 5500 m (11,500-18,050 ft). Anything above 5500 m falls into the extreme altitude category. Altitude sickness is not related to physical fitness and can have some deadly consequences, if not recognized and treated promptly.

Accute Mountain Sickness generally includes symptoms of headache, worse at night or during straining, nausea/vomiting and dizziness. The symptoms are often described as a "bad hangover".

Some conditions associated with more severe forms of altitude sickness or AMS (acute mountain sickness) include HACE (high altitude cerebral edema) and HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema). These conditions involve swelling and fluid accumulation in the respective tissues. Swelling of the brain, as seen in HACE, can present as marked stupor and confusion. HAPE, with fluid collecting in the person's lungs, often starts as a cough followed by progressive shortness of breath.



As with most things, prevention is better than treatment. Prevention of AMS and it's associated conditions centers around a slow, gradual ascent to altitude. This gives the body a chance to acclimatize and adjust to the physiologic demands of life at the new altitude, even if only for a few hours or days. This can be a problem for people traveling by car or plane to an area of high altitude, simply because they ascend very rapidly.

Symptoms of AMS can begins quickly, in as little as 2-3 hours after arrival to altitude, which means you can get off your plane and begin to feel bad, even before you arrive at your hotel! In an ideal world, all travelers going to higher altitude will be able to have a slow and controlled ascent, gaining no more than 600-900 m (1,980 to 2,970 ft) per day. However, this is not always practical. Anytime there is suspicion of an altitude related illness, stop ascending, immediately. If symptoms do not improve, consider a descent to lower altitude, for a few days of further acclimatization. Some expedition physicians also believe that most all medial problems, at high altitude, are to be considered AMS until proven otherwise.

There are a few medications used to combat AMS and a few good arguments, both for and against their use. The medicine that is most commonly used is called Acetazolamide. This medicine causes an acidosis, designed to combat the alkalosis caused by hyperventilation at high altitudes. Designed to be taken a few days prior to ascent, during the time at altitude and for a few days after descent, Acetazolamide is both a prophylactic medicine as well as a treatment. There is some controversy over the ideal dose to be used and I consider this article a good source of information, along with an article that favors a higher dose.

Against Acetazolamide Use:

Everything in life is a trade off and medicine is a perfect example of this. Side effects of Acetazolamide include a metallic taste, especially with soda, and frequent urination. Acetazolamide is a sulfa-based drug and allergic reactions can occur. Some studies have show than judicious exercise, on the first few days of arrival to altitude, can be effective in AMS prevention and that only 25% of travelers to resort communities at 8,000 and 12,000 feet have altitude illnesses.

For Acetazolamide Use:

A dream vacation can be ruined by many things and with 25% of travelers in an high altitude zone experiencing AMS symptoms, why risk spending your trip with a headache, or worse. Most vacation trips to high altitude zones last 7-10 days and Acetazolamide is a cheap and very effective medication for control and prevention of AMS.

Some other treatments for AMS, HACE and HAPE include dexamethasone and inhaled asthma medications like salmeterol. For the hard-core out there, Gamow bags can be used, especially on mountaineering expeditions. Ginko Biloba is also currently showing promise in AMS treatment/prevention.

As with most travel-related illnesses, prior proper preparation prevents poor performance. Understanding altitude illness and being aware of it's symptoms can help with early recognition and treatment, thus preventing a ruined trip and health risk. To learn more about AMS check out these sites:

The International Society for Mountain Medicine

The High Altitude Medicine Guide

CDC Traveler's Health Yellow Book: Altitude Illness

 

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]]>altitude illnessAltitude sicknessAltitudeIllnessAltitudeSicknessAMSHACEHAPEmountain sicknessMountainSicknessErik McLaughlin2008-03-27T10:20:00+00:00How to hike the Inca trailhttp://www.gadling.com/2008/03/23/how-to-hike-the-inca-trail/http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/23/how-to-hike-the-inca-trail/http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/23/how-to-hike-the-inca-trail/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Every time I took a step, my wet sneakers made the same sound as when I'm slurping spaghetti. I just crossed Dead Woman's Pass (which won't seem as derogatory once you hear the full backstory) at 13,700 feet and all I wanted was to sit down, get out of my soaking clothes, and take a hot shower. But I couldn't, because I was on a four day trek on the Inca trail to the lost city of Machu Picchu.

Besides the rain (the rainy season is December to February), you'll have to deal with the cold (Under Armour helps), the sun (bring lots of sunscreen, trust me), the snow (one porter died a couple years ago at Dead Woman's Pass), the endless steps (both up and down), the wake-up times (4 am on the last day to get to Machu Picchu by sun-rise), and the traffic (thousands of tourists crowd the trail during the popular season, June to August).

Oh, and there's also the $300 or so you'll spend on mandatory porters and a guide.

Even with these hassles and expenses, I guarantee you won't regret hiking the Inca trail. In fact, it's a classic favorite on any traveler's life-list. These days, though, many guides like Lonely Planet will try to convince you to take an alternative hike, citing the crowds on the trail and a rushed itinerary.

But it's not just any old trail. Taking an alternative route will mean missing out on seeing the 10+ amazing ruins scattered throughout the 33-kilometer trail. And you can avoid most of the crowds by going outside of June to August, like I did. If you can afford it, hiring a private tour will help you feel less claustrophobic, since you can just zip right past other groups-or slow down and enjoy the ruins. Having said that, the standard 3-night / 4-day itinerary really gives you plenty of time to soak it all in.
What to expect


You'll be hiking on a 500-year-old+ trail that's wide enough for foot traffic in both directions. Granted, going down the steps can be treacherous sometimes, especially after it rains when the trail can turn into just another mountain stream. The first day is very relaxing as the terrain is level. The second day is grueling, as you'll climb two passes, starting from inside a cloud forest up to snowy peaks; expect to hike more than ten miles. The third day is again fairly easy-I got to our camping site by lunchtime. And the fourth day, you'll wake up when it's still night and hike to the Sun Gate, where you'll see the sun rise over Machu Picchu. Simply spectacular.

Picking a tour

You can't hike the Inca trail by yourself. Government regulations require you to pick a tour company, which will supply a guide, the tent, plenty of porters, and all the food you can eat. It's a very good deal if you think about it, but expect to pay around $300 for a good tour. I've heard of one company that does it for $175, but you get what you paid for, which is a giant group of 25 hikers and little personal attention (and they treat the porters poorly). Recommended:
  • Llama Path (telephone: 50-0822)- I went with Llama Path, which was an amazing company that's quite affordable. Ask for Dimas to be your guide-he knows everything about Peru and the Incas, and he comes with good stories.
  • Peru Treks (50-5863)-Locally owned
  • Aventours (22-4050)-Expensive, but good quality equipment and service
  • Andean Trek (617-924-1974)-Run by an American, with great guides

Not recommended:

  • SAS (25-5205)-Their group camped next to ours. They had something like 20 hikers with only a few more porters than in our group of 7. This is the most popular agency, but don't fall for it!
How to get there

Fly or bus in to Cusco. Make sure you stay in Cusco for at least two or three days to get acclimated. Or get acclimated in neighboring Arequipa, which is what I recommend. Your tour company will arrange all transportation to and from Cusco.

See my gallery of the Inca trail and Machu Picchu here. I have galleries of Lake Titicaca, Lime and the Peruvian coast, the Sacred Valley, and canyon country up too.



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]]>featuredinca trailIncaTrailJerry Guo2008-03-23T10:20:00+00:00Belize's coral reef is threatenedhttp://www.gadling.com/2008/03/16/belizes-coral-reef-is-threatened/http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/16/belizes-coral-reef-is-threatened/http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/16/belizes-coral-reef-is-threatened/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Belize has been on my "places to dive" list for years. At the same time, I get anxious every time I think about diving in Belize. Years ago, I knew somebody who died while diving the Blue Hole, the infamous collapsed limestone cave more than 400 feet deep. She was an experiences diver, but panicked. Ever since then, the Blue Hole has sounded a little scary to me.

After reading this USA Today article, it sounds like I should get over myself and finally go there soon because Belize's coral reef is vanishing quickly. A potent mix of coastal development, tourism, overfishing, pollution and climate change has apparently damaged an estimated 40% of the Belize reef system, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Western Hemisphere's largest barrier reef, that attracts more than a third of Belize's 850,000 annual visitors. Ouch.

 

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]]>belizeblue holeBlueHolecoral reefCoralReefscuba divingScubaDivingIva Skoch2008-03-16T11:00:00+00:00Hanta Virus in American Southwesthttp://www.gadling.com/2008/03/12/hanta-virus-in-american-southwest/http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/12/hanta-virus-in-american-southwest/http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/12/hanta-virus-in-american-southwest/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Hanta Virus is a little known problem of those who live and travel in the American Southwest. Unfortunately, Hanta has a reputation for killing people and should be taken seriously. A recent article discusses a case from February, 2008. Knowledge of transmission and prevention are needed to prevent a great "Indiana Jones" style adventure, visiting ghost towns, from making you very sick.

Hanta Virus first got major media attention with an outbreak in New Mexico in the early 1990's. The "Four Corners" area (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado) was the epicenter of infectious disease and epidemiological research. This outbreak allowed researchers to determine that the disease is spread through contact with infected rodent urine and feces. Spread of Hanta between humans, directly, is not common and believed impossible.

Rodents are ubiquitous in the American Southwest and they are the primary vector for disease transmission. People especially vulnerable to this are hikers and backpackers and those who live in more rural areas. Exploration of ghost towns is a popular vacation activity and caution should be taken when doing this. These ghost towns attract the rodents and visitors to these buildings are putting themselves at potential risk through contact with animal urine and feces. However, of more than 100 reported cases, only 2 have come from hikers. The rest are from people cleaning their garages, vacation homes and other areas that include rodents excreta. Bleach solution and rubber gloves are proper protection measures, along with adequate ventilation while cleaning vacation homes or garages.

Hanta Virus symptoms include a flu-like illness with muscle aches and pains, headaches, nausea and vomiting and fatigue being common. There is no cure for Hanta Virus and care is supportive (treating the symptoms only). Worse is the Hanta Pulmonary form that classically appears after the person appears to have recovered from the initial infection. The person;s lungs fill with fluid and progression can be quite rapid, in hours in fact.

There have been 76 cases in New Mexico, since 1993, with 31 deaths.

 

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]]>hanta virusHantaVirusnew mexicoNewMexicosouthwestErik McLaughlin2008-03-12T17:20:00+00:00A review of 'Into the Wild'http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/10/a-review-of-into-the-wild/http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/10/a-review-of-into-the-wild/http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/10/a-review-of-into-the-wild/#commentsFiled under: ,

I just watched Into the Wild this weekend, somewhat of an unfortunate choice only in the sense that it's been snowing here in Pittsburgh, and well, the movie is half set in Alaska. But all was not lost, because there were also scenes from South Dakota, California, the Grand Canyon, and even a stretch in Mexico.

And that diversity and breadth of storytelling was a big part of why I thoroughly enjoyed the film.

This movie will inspire the traveler in you to follow Thoreau (one of Chris McCandless's favorite authors) abandon the rat race for a piece of your own wilderness and adventure. Chris, by the way, is the real-life young Emory grad who the movie is based upon; he donates his life savings of $24,000 to Oxfam and becomes a full-time tramp. He eventually finds his way to Alaska, his dream, where he sets into the pure wilderness with nothing more than a gun and some reading material.

I had just a few qualms about the movie. First, the editing could be a bit better (which is quite a controversial stance, mind you, considering it was nominated for an Oscar for this). I just feel it could have been told in 2 hours instead of 2.5. This leads into my next quip, that some of the scenes were quite cliche, for instance the one of him surrounded by Alaskan mountains, with his hands above him, celebrating his freedom.

But it's worth a watch. I'm looking forward to Catherine's take, since she's from that neck of the woods.

 

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]]>Jerry Guo2008-03-10T11:00:00+00:00The Earth Expedition: Seven years, two feet, and one backpackhttp://www.gadling.com/2008/03/06/the-earth-expedition-seven-years-two-feet-and-one-backpack/http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/06/the-earth-expedition-seven-years-two-feet-and-one-backpack/http://www.gadling.com/2008/03/06/the-earth-expedition-seven-years-two-feet-and-one-backpack/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Imagine packing for the next seven years. That's exactly what Daren Wendell is currently doing. On Saturday March 8, Wendell will embark on his seven year, foot-powered journey around the world, leaving at exactly 10:30 am from Dahlegona, GA.

Titled The Earth Expedition, Wendell will cross 3 continents, 17 time zones, and 14 countries; he's calculated that it will probably come out to about 36 million steps. One of his main goals for his expedition is to raise awareness about the water crisis and AIDS pandemic hitting Africa by advocating for Blood Mission.

On The Earth Expedition's website you can track Wendell's adventure, which will, among other places, take him across the Bering Strait. On top of the physical exhaustion that a 7 year trip can entail, Wendell will be making some intellectual efforts as well; during his travels he plans on learning at least the basics of the 11 different languages of the countries he will be passing through. This is one committed man. If keeping up with Wendell by way of live GPS on his website isn't enough, you can even offer up your couch for him to sleep on; if you live within 30 miles of his intended route that is.

You might be saying to yourself, "is this guy crazy?" Wendell's own response to that question: "Define crazy." Maybe that's a good point, considering the fact that he is not the only one to attempt the whole world on foot. Personally, I think I am going to stick with casual weekend hikes and leave the heavy lifting up to the slightly more motivated like Wendell.

 

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]]>Anna Brones2008-03-06T12:00:00+00:00Extreme sledding, the latest in extreme sportshttp://www.gadling.com/2008/02/28/extreme-sledding-the-latest-in-extreme-sports/http://www.gadling.com/2008/02/28/extreme-sledding-the-latest-in-extreme-sports/http://www.gadling.com/2008/02/28/extreme-sledding-the-latest-in-extreme-sports/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you think sledding using a flying saucer is a thrill--I do, the thing can spin, there's a sled out there that adds a whole new experience to winter sports. Mad River Rocket makes maneuverable adventure sleds that help you get a feeling you've turned into Superman. You don't really leap over tall buildings, but flipping, dipping and darting through trees, over ditches, up embankments, down snow covered stairs, human-made hills and naturally formed mountains is on the menu--if it's covered with snow, you're in luck.

Extreme sledding is one of the latest trends that has turned the thrill of childhood into a sport that can send adults hearts' racing. Here's a video to show just what a Mad River Rocket sled can do plus an ABC News article that details its wonder. What isn't shown is how the sled can also be used to tow gear if you're hiking in the winter. The company's Web site details more extreme sled info with loads of photos. [Thanks Davis Cox for the tip!]

 

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]]>extreme sleddingextreme sportsExtremeSleddingExtremeSportsMad River Rocket sledMadRiverRocketSledwinter sportsWinterSportsJamie Rhein2008-02-28T09:00:00+00:00Should pilots have to compete for your business?http://www.gadling.com/2008/02/27/should-pilots-have-to-compete-for-your-business/http://www.gadling.com/2008/02/27/should-pilots-have-to-compete-for-your-business/http://www.gadling.com/2008/02/27/should-pilots-have-to-compete-for-your-business/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

You've always dreamt of flying out to a remote lodge in the middle of nowhere in Alaska, but you're a bit concerned about the pilots. Are they really good enough to get you into that 1000-foot strip? Wouldn't it be nice to know just how these aviators rank?

Well, the May Day Fly-In and Airshow in Valdez, Alaska has a bush pilot competition that ranks pilots and their planes in their ability to takeoff and land in the shortest possible distances. These airplanes are highly modified to handle the tightest gravel bars Alaska has to offer. And their pilots know how to get the most out of them.

If you're looking for some experienced pilots to take you to a great lodge, you can't go too wrong with the Claus family. Dad, Paul, accomplished the shortest takeoff at 19 feet, and his 18-year old son Jay scored a 39-foot takeoff, which was good for 4th place in his class. The Claus family own and operate the Ultima Thule Lodge.

Here's 18 year old Jay's 39 foot takeoff:


I think I'm ready to go visit the Claus family and see just WHERE they're taking this airplane!


Join Kent at Cockpit Chronicles which takes you along on each of his trips as a co-pilot on the Boeing 757 and 767 out of Boston.

 

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]]>airplaneAlaskabush pilotBushPilotfeaturedlandingpilotsSTOLsupercubtakeoffUltima Thule LodgeUltimaThuleLodgeValdezKent Wien2008-02-27T13:30:00+00:00