Gadling

5 Places to See Wild Turkeys

Andrew Evans — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hiking, North America, United States, Ecotourism

The quintessential American bird is typically spotted on your dining room table, naked and headless, with a plastic thermometer thingy stuck in its butt--but, such was not the case with our early pilgrim ancestors who first laid eyes on these magnificent fowl in 17th-century Massachusetts. Real wild turkeys are truly a site to behold, so this Thanksgiving, why not step away from the TV and go find some actual live turkeys doing real turkey things? Honestly, it's not as hard as you think (New Jersey Turnpike, anyone?). Here are five destinations to get you started:

1. Long Island, New York Who would have thunk it? But yeah, New York state is home to around 300,000 turkeys, of which approximately one percent thrive in the backyards of Long Island. Do the locals embrace this living emblem of American heritage? No, all they do is complain about the mess. Sigh.

2. Edgefield, South Carolina Not only was the Palmetto State the first to secede from the Union, it's also the world headquarters for the National Wild Turkey Federation. Yes America, we have a theme park for everything, including a Wild Turkey Center dedicated to preserving turkeys so that hunters can keep shooting them. Activities include learning to stalk turkeys and classes in making turkey calls.

3. Western Oklahoma
There are A LOT of wild turkeys in Oklahoma, especially in the western counties along the Texas border. Forget making hand turkeys this year. Instead, print up this nifty, informative practice target and pretend you're a really hungry pilgrim.

4. Big Island, Hawaii Back in 1961, an intrepid farmer imported 400 wild turkeys from Texas to his ranch on the Big Island. He must have had a lousy fence, because an estimated 30,000 wild turkeys now roam the volcanic highlands of Hawaii, about half of them on the Big Island.

5. Pennsylvania After wild turkey populations dwindled nationwide, it was the good old birds of Pennsylvania that helped repopulate the rest of the country. Today, the state is home to nearly half a million wild turkeys who hang out in the back hills and hollows, eluding hunters and reproducing even more. The thing about Pennsylvania is that basically, if you go sit in the woods and wait long enough, you're pretty much gonna see a turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving then, and may all your turkey searching be as successful as the first time Americans went into the woods.

5 Places to See Wild Turkeys originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why are hikers disappearing in Costa Rica?

Kraig Becker — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hiking, Costa Rica, Ecotourism, Central America

Costa Rica seems like a tropical paradise with stunning beaches, dense rain forests, and active volcanoes. In recent years, it has become a popular destination for those looking to lounge in luxury as well as adventure travelers looking for an adrenaline rush. But a shadow has fallen across this paradise, as a number of hikers have gone missing in recent months, all under strange circumstances, and that has left some wondering if there is a sinister plot at work.

In August of this year, American David Gimelfarb went to Costa Rica on a vacation, and disappeared while hiking in Parque National Rincon de la Vieja, a thick jungle that is popular amongst backpackers. Gimelfarb's rented vehicle was found at the trail head, but there has been no trace of the grad student.

One American disappearing in a dense Central American jungle seems tragic, but not necessarily unlikely. After all, this is a remote and rugged place, where one misstep could lead to disaster. But it seems that Gimelfarb isn't the only person to go missing in that area this year. A British journalist named Michael Dixon recently disappeared without a trace while vacationing in the Guanacaste province, and American Craig Snell went missing there back in February of this year as well. Australian Brendan Robbins also was also mssing in the same region several years back, but was eventually identified by forensic evidence.

Dixon's recent disappearance has turned a spotlight back on all the cases, and investigators now believe there may be a connection between each of these incidences. They're not saying exactly why they believe this yet, but they are proceeding as if each of the missing men are still alive.

So, what do you think? Are these disappearances some kind of conspiracy? Are they connected in some way? Or is just a strange coincidence? Are adventure travelers being kidnapped or just being careless while out hiking?

Why are hikers disappearing in Costa Rica? originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Icebergs target New Zealand

Andrew Evans — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Oceania, New Zealand, Ecotourism, News, Cruises

Hundreds upon hundreds of menacing chunks of ice are headed straight for innocent New Zealand--a country that couldn't hurt a fly even if it had flyswatters for hands. Shipping companies haven't been this fretful since the pirate times of . . . this summer, while the Antarctic tourist industry is rubbing its palms like Mr. Burns.

But is it news? Probably not. It's springtime for icebergs in Antarctica. Also, Icebergs happen. The real concern is that icebergs are evolving into a major tourist attraction, right up there with sharks and poor people. Every year, more and more tourists are pouring into the polar regions and getting stuck in the ice or struck by the ice. Which reminds me of this movie I saw once where the largest cruise ship in the world (at the time) ran into an iceberg right after dinner and the hot guy drowned. Consider yourself warned: if you play with ice, you're gonna get ~~burned~~ cold sitting in a lifeboat waiting to be rescued.

Icebergs target New Zealand originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Majority of travelers admit they don't care about their carbon output

Scott Carmichael — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Ecotourism, Consumer Activism

Dutch bank ING asked their economic survey team to interview travelers about their opinion of CO2 output, and whether they really care about their impact on the environment.

As it turns out, only 15% of the 41,900 travelers interviewed actually do something about the environment. Of that 15%, only 3% actively try to offset their emissions, while others only admit to making a minor effort at it.

76% of travelers simply don't care, and 9% has "no opinion". Despite all the efforts to change the public awareness of CO2 emissions, only a small portion of people actually care.

This data is interesting, because people are slowly starting to realize that carbon offsets are not going to be the solution to the problem - the real solution is to actually reduce the emissions instead of trying to offset them by planting a couple of trees. Airlines like starting to experiment with bio fuels, and others are making small changes to their flight procedures. Of course, these measures are still in their infancy, but every little bit helps.

Continue reading Majority of travelers admit they don't care about their carbon output

Majority of travelers admit they don't care about their carbon output originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Five new travel ideas from Intrepid: get off the beaten path!

Tom Johansmeyer — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Europe, North America, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Africa, Iceland, United States, Ecotourism, Travel Deals

After a year of "travel slumps," "staycations" and other cringeworthy words and conditions, let's plan to get out on the road next year. Hey, economists are saying that the recession's already over, and the job market's recovery can't be too far behind. So, there's your motive. Opportunity? That's your vacation time; you probably have enough. All that's left to pull the perfect trip together are the means ... which Intrepid Travel is happy to provide.

Intrepid Travel has big news for next year, from green travel to exciting excursions in Iceland and North Africa. So, if you're looking for some ideas for 2010, check out the five below. Intrepid's definitely making it interesting.

1. Travel green: carbon offset
Intrepid Travel is moving more than 500 of its trips to "Carbon Offset" next year. In 2009, the company played around with the idea on 38 excursions, after having announced in December 2006 that it wanted to be carbon neutral by the end of 2010. With next year's offering, Intrepid is certainly making progress.

2. Timor-Leste: tops for adventure
Spend 15 days in Dili and its markets, trekking out to Mt. Ramelau and wandering the Suai-area rainforest. Timor-Leste hasn't been swamped with tourists yet, redefining "off the beaten path." If you're looking for the sort of experience where Intrepid excels, this is it.

Gallery: Reykjavik up close

Continue reading Five new travel ideas from Intrepid: get off the beaten path!

Five new travel ideas from Intrepid: get off the beaten path! originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gadlinks for Wednesday 11.18.09

Brenda Yun — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Learning, Blogs, Asia, North America, South America, China, Indonesia, United States, Bolivia, Ecotourism, News

We're halfway through November. For those of you living in the northern hemisphere, if you haven't felt winter yet, you will soon! Here in Hawaii, winter is rainier but the waves are bigger and better. I guess that goes for most parts of the world: the weather may stink, but there's always a bright side. Here are some semi-bright travel reads for today's installment of Gadlinks. Enjoy!

Unlike fellow Gadling writer Catherine, who took a painfully slow train through China, President Obama took Air Force One to China, where he will be doing his diplomatic "thing." Here are some things we can all learn from the Chinese. [via Yahoo!]
Uh-oh... Another world treasure is evaporating due to global warming. It may be time to say goodbye to Lake Titicaca. [via the Associated Press]
In other sad news, Indonesia's Papua is also in peril. [via Straits Times]
Hawaii may seem like paradise, but racially it's anything but. [via NPR]
Experience all the green places in San Francisco, one of America's greenest cities. [via CNN Travel]

'Til tomorrow, have a great evening!

More Gadlinks HERE.

Gadlinks for Wednesday 11.18.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Explorer hopes to visit "three poles" in one year

Kraig Becker — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Climbing, Skiing, Asia, Antarctica, Nepal, Ecotourism

Polar explorer Eric Larsen has just begun an epic adventure that will literally take him to the ends of the Earth over the course of the next year. Eric has set out on his Save The Poles Expedition, in which he plans to travel to the "three poles" within one calendar year. Those poles include the North and South of course, but also the summit of Everest, which is often referred to as the third pole in adventure circles.

The purpose behind Eric's Save The Poles campaign is to promote the use of alternative, clean energy sources as a method to reduce our carbon emissions. The environments in which he'll be traveling are fragile ones, and they are all being dramatically effected by global climate change in some profound ways. Larsen hopes that during his year-long journey he'll be able to collect data that helps demonstrate just how these places are changing.

The expedition officially got underway this week, when Eric, and two companions, set out from Patriot Hills in Antarctica for the South Pole. This will be the first leg of his journey, which is expected to take roughly 40 days, covering approximately 500 miles on skis. In the spring, he'll turn his sights north, and go after his second goal, the North Pole, which is another major arctic undertaking, but one that will be quite different from his Antarctic travels in some significant ways. Finally, next fall, he'll make his bid for the summit of Everest, during the post-monsoon climbing season, hoping to reach the summit of the highest mountain on Earth.

You can join Eric on his expedition by following along on his blog, where he has already made several audio dispatches from Antarctica, and he'll be keeping us abreast of his progress at every stage of the adventure.

Explorer hopes to visit "three poles" in one year originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bowermaster's Adventures -- Conservation International on the Galapagos Islands

Jon Bowermaster — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Learning, South America, Ecuador, Ecotourism

Fernando Ortiz grew up on mainland Ecuador and has lived in the Galapagos the past twenty years. His career path has led him from tour guide to dive guide and eventually dive company manager. Along the route he decided that talking to tourists about conservation was not enough, so he made the leap to fulltime environmentalist. Today he runs Conservation International's office in Puerto Ayora. We talk on the town's main dock, Zodiac's whipping back and forth behind us overloaded with tourists, bags of cement, cases of water and beer, two-by-fours and cement blocks, frozen chickens and everything else needed to run a community of 40,000 on an island separated from the mainland by six hundred miles.

"I have realized a few things in the last few years regarding how best to preserve the Galapagos, primarily that it doesn't matter how good your technical arguments or human arguments are, it's not about that. It's mostly, and unfortunately, all about economics and politics.

"I try not to be critical to tourism as an economy. In fact, if we analyze it in one way, tourism is probably the best way in which nature can pay in cash for its survival. If I were to go back to the islands as I saw them for the first time, nineteen years ago, I would probably find the same biologic, ecologic and evolutionary processes still happening, the same blue-footed boobies still nesting on the same trails. The same for the sea lions and penguins. Tourism has actually been well controlled, despite its growth. It's the indirect impacts of tourism that we need to control.

Continue reading Bowermaster's Adventures -- Conservation International on the Galapagos Islands

Bowermaster's Adventures -- Conservation International on the Galapagos Islands originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adventures on the Geronimo Trail

Kraig Becker — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: History, North America, United States, Ecotourism

Way out west, in the Black Range Mountains of New Mexico, there is a quiet little ranch tucked away in the thick pine trees, where cowboys still ride the trails and rustic bunkhouses give guests a place to lay their head at the end of a busy day. That place is the Geronimo Trails Guest Ranch, an adventure resort that lets us live out our wild west dreams on horseback in a pristine setting.

Located four hours from both El Paso and Albuquerque, Geronimo Trails falls well off the grid. The ranch is 85 miles form the nearest stop light, with all power generated through the use of solar panels and water supplied from nearby streams. The area is so remote, that visitors may as well turn off their cell phones when they arrive, as coverage ends 70 miles back down the road.

This eco-conscious approach helps to give the ranch a quiet, serene setting, allowing guests to rest and soak in the rustic atmosphere. And when they're done relaxing, there are plenty of things to do as well. Situated on one of New Mexico's designated scenic byways, Geronimo Trail gives access to plenty of outdoor adventure. Whether you're on horseback or hiking on foot, you'll be able to follow in the footsteps of Billy the Kid, Butch and Sundance, and even Geronimo himself, while exploring mountain meadows and beautiful, wide open vistas. There are even Native American ruins to discover, with ancient cliff dwellings and caves with wall paintings to give travelers a glimpse into what this part of America was once like, before the settlers came west.

Continue reading Adventures on the Geronimo Trail

Adventures on the Geronimo Trail originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top 7 adventure activities near Arenal, Costa Rica

Katie Hammel — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Climbing, Hiking, Costa Rica, Ecotourism, Budget Travel, Central America

For travelers in search of a little adrenaline, the Arenal region of Costa Rica serves up adventure any way you like it.

The area around the Arenal volcano in Costa Rica, about 80 miles north of San Jose in the center of the narrow country, is known as the adventure capital of Costa Rica. With a diverse landscape that features erupting volcanoes, rainforests full of life, and cascading waterfalls, it's a land perfect for active explorers. Here are the top adventure activities in the area.

Volcano Hikes
Just over 10 miles west of the small tourist town of La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano National Park is home to the big daddy of Costa Rican volcanoes. Those papier mâché volcanoes you made in 4^th grade, with their perfectly formed cones, were probably modeled on Arenal. It's everything you expect a volcano to be - lush and green on the bottom, gently sloping up its black rock sides to a pointed top with a near constant wisp of smoke wafting from its mouth.

Arenal isn't the only volcano in the area, but it is the most impressive. It's the youngest and most active. It's been erupting daily since 1968.

On clear days (which are never guaranteed in the rainy season from May to November) you can see it from miles around and its fiery lava lights up the night sky like a fireworks show. Guides will lead hikes into the rainforest around the base of the volcano, though you can also drive yourself to the observation deck for a day or night viewing.

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Top 7 adventure activities near Arenal, Costa Rica originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bowermaster's Adventures -- Tourism's impact on the Galapagos

Jon Bowermaster — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, History, Learning, South America, Ecuador, Ecotourism

It would be wrong on its face to say that tourism is the biggest problem facing the Galapagos today. Simultaneously, it is accurate to say that the growth in tourism in the one-of-a-kind archipelago is the primary reason the islands are "in danger." Those are not my words, but UNESCO's, in 2007 ... the same year Ecuador's new president claimed the islands were at "great risk" and signed a decree making their protection a national priority. You get the sense that just defining the exact problem facing the Galapagos, for both locals and outsiders, is tricky.

With ninety seven percent of the islands off-limits and under national park protection - small, guided tours limited to 60 designated sites - the system that introduces tourists to the nineteen Galapagos islands has long been regarded a model of eco-tourism. But the success of that model is what puts them at such risk today: In 1991 there were 41,000 visitors, this year there will be close to 200,000; during that same period human population has risen from a few thousand to 40,000. Those are a lot of combined footsteps - as well as ship and plane traffic -- for such a fragile eco-system (the so-called "Mona Lisa of biodiversity").

The sudden arrival of so many people from so many parts of the world introduces parasites which threaten both flora and fauna; permanent residents arrive desirous of re-creating their mainland lifestyles, including cars, dogs and cats, and air conditioning; tour operators are pushing to expand their offerings to include sport fishing and skydiving. The Ecuadorian government has tried, with limited success, to limit migration and is considering raising the national park fee paid by every tourist from $100 to $135, an attempt to slow the numbers.

Continue reading Bowermaster's Adventures -- Tourism's impact on the Galapagos

Bowermaster's Adventures -- Tourism's impact on the Galapagos originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top state parks in each state offer options for seeing native wildlife

Jamie Rhein — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hiking, Stories, United States, Ecotourism

If you want to find out which are the best state parks from the point of view of the director of each state park system, check out The Best of the Best State Parks at About.com

Darren Smith sent out a request to each director for his or her top choice. Because many directors turned in more than one offering, Smith included all suggestions. As he points out, a park that's best for birdwatching may not be best for skiing. What's "best," therefore, is subjective. In the case of a best of the best list, the more the merrier.

Subjective or not, what makes these state parks standouts, according to Smith, are their natural beauty and natural resources, as well as, in some cases, their cultural and historical significance. They are also perfect for spotting the wildlife that is native to each state.

What intrigued me about Smith's list of state parks is that there are many that are often overshadowed by the national parks and monuments that happen to be in that state as well. New Mexico is one such state.

Continue reading Top state parks in each state offer options for seeing native wildlife

Top state parks in each state offer options for seeing native wildlife originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gadlinks for Monday 11.9.09

Brenda Yun — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Learning, Blogs, North America, United States, Ecotourism

It's Wild America day here at Gadling, and we should feel grateful to have so many wild things to be crazy about here in America! Well, if nothing else, there's always "Where the Wild Things Are," which could very well be this year's sleeper of a film. Here are few more Wild America travel sleepers that should have caught your eye but for some reason didn't.

Aquariums might not at first strike you as particularly wild, but the underwater world certainly is, and this guide breaks down America's most family-friendly aquariums. [via Peter Greenberg]
After watching Ken Burns's "America's Best Idea," we should all be grateful for the beautiful wilderness of America's national parks. [via The Traveler's Notebook]
Whale watching is a worldwide pastime, and while whales may not be as endangered as they used to be, we still need to proceed with caution. [via Wall Street Journal]
Once you escape the hustle and bustle of Honolulu, Hawaii can be an awfully wild place. Check out these endangered island sights before it's too late. [via Honolulu Magazine]
It's important to consider animal welfare when we're out enjoying America's wilderness. Here are some good animal-friendly travel tips to get you in a more compassionate traveler. [via Intelligent Travel]

'Til tomorrow, have a great evening!

More Gadlinks HERE.

Gadlinks for Monday 11.9.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exploring the Mekong River

Kraig Becker — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Asia, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Ecotourism

Some of the most amazing adventure destinations center around the great rivers of the world. Whether it's rafting the Rio Grande, kayaking the Congo, or simply taking a leisurely cruise down the Nile, we seem to have a fascination with these waterways that have played an important role in human development. One of those rivers is the Mekong, which stretches for more than 2700 miles as it meanders through Laos, Thailand, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar.

In Laos, the Mekong is known as the "Mother River" and it plays an important role in that country's culture and lore. Travel writer Kate Quill discovered this for herself recently when she made her own Mekong journey, sharing the details with us in this article from the London Times. Kate spent a week on the river back in October, and describes a tropical landscape filled with dense jungles and rocky peaks.

On her journey up the Mekong, Quill stopped at a remote village that gave her a sense of what life is like for those that depend on the river for their daily needs. Villages like the one she visited remain largely untouched by the outside world, lacking nearly all modern conveniences. She also notes that the Laos' lack of public health care is also evident when interacting with the villagers.

I've been fortunate enough to visit the four longest rivers in the world, spending time on the Nile, Amazon, Yangtze, and Mississippi. Each offered their own unique experiences and glimpses into the cultures of the countries that they flow through. The Mekong seems like it continues this tradition, and offers adventure travelers another destination to add to their list of must see places.

Exploring the Mekong River originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bowermaster's Adventures -- The Charles Darwin Research Center

Jon Bowermaster — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Learning, South America, Ecuador, Video, Ecotourism

While in the Galapagos filming we ran into an American writer living in Puerto Ayora, the big town on the island of Santa Cruz, researching a book about exactly the same subject of our film - the current state of affairs across the archipelago.

Carol Ann Bassett's book is just out, published by National Geographic, fittingly titled "Galapagos at the Crossroads: Pirates, Biologists, Tourists and Creationists Battle for Darwin's Cradle of Evolution," and it's a fantastic tutorial for anyone curious about the natural and human health of the island state today.

I was particularly curious about her reportage on Darwin's initial reaction to the islands that will forever be linked with his theory of evolution.

Like other biographers of Darwin - who first visited in 1835 as a curious but inexperienced 26-year-old, born the same day as Abraham Lincoln - she labels his role as evolutionary mystery solver as "one of the greatest myths of the history of science." Citing a study by Harvard professor and MacArthur Foundation "genius" Frank Sulloway, the book details how little Darwin actually took away from the Galapagos after his five-week visit. He had "no eureka flashes of enlightenment," she writes, "it would take decades before his final theory transcended his religious beliefs and his enduring doubts."

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Bowermaster's Adventures -- The Charles Darwin Research Center originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Spice Isle: Where trails are paved with nutmeg shells

Alison Brick — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hiking, Learning, Grenada, Ecotourism, Caribbean

"You can use it for tea" he says after picking the small leaf and handing it to me to smell.

There doesn't seem to be anything that Telfor Bedeau doesn't know about Grenada's plants. In the past 50 yards alone, he's pointed out trees that would've gone unnoticed as anything other than anonymous tropical trees. But now they're recognized as some of my favorite things in the world: guava, mango, cinnamon. I'm already imagining my next supermarket trip back home going a little differently.

Telfor would be considered spry for any age, but especially since he just turned 70. He celebrated the day by doing what he seems to do (and love) best: hiking up to the top of Grenada's highest peak, Mount Saint Catharine (2,757 feet).

It was his 157th time.

Known as the "Indiana Jones of Grenada," he reached the milestone of having hiked 10,000 miles throughout Grenada in 2005. Guiding since 1990, he hikes in jellies (plastic sandals) while everybody else on the trail relies on treaded sneakers and walking sticks. He's easy to extend a smile to everyone, and a hand to anyone who needs one.

It's not that I'm writing this to flatter him -- there's little chance that he'll read this, since he doesn't use a computer or have email. No doubt it contributes to his youthful appearance. That and all the hiking. And the fact that his diet solely consists of raw fruits and vegetables.

So it was with intrigue -- both in my hiking guide Telfor and the trail -- that I hiked to the Seven Sisters Waterfalls in Grand Etang National Park.

Gallery: Grand Etang National Park, Grenada

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The Spice Isle: Where trails are paved with nutmeg shells originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bowermaster's Adventures -- Welcome to the Galapagos!

Jon Bowermaster — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, South America, Ecuador, Ecotourism

Often by the time the mainstream media runs big stories about an environmental battle it's often too late. I've seen it up-close dozens of times during the past couple decades and have reported so many David-versus-Goliath stories - usually positing good-hearted indigenous peoples and international environmental groups against greedy, monolithic utility companies and strong-arming government agents - that the stories have almost become fill-in-the-blanks. (Just change the name of the indigenous tribe, the utility company and the country and the story - and outcome - are usually very similar.)

Yet despite ominous recent headlines in the Wall Street Journal ("Galapagos Under Siege"), the Times ("Can Darwin's Lab Survive Success?") and UK's Independent ("Tourism, Over-Population and Overfishing Have Become the Blight of the Galapagos"), I happen to believe that the Ecuadorian archipelago will survive (even if more and more of its endemic creatures may not) and flourish. In some respects, as the standard bearer for the planet's evolutionary history, it simply must. As Alex Hearn, a marine biologist with the Charles Darwin Research Center on Santa Cruz Island told us about the Galapagos future, "if we can't get it right here, where can we?" A microcosm of the planet's wildlife, if the Galapagos loses its wildness it will feel like the end is near for the rest of our wild places.

Continue reading Bowermaster's Adventures -- Welcome to the Galapagos!

Bowermaster's Adventures -- Welcome to the Galapagos! originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cycling the Silk Road

Kraig Becker — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Arts and Culture, History, Asia, Europe, China, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Camping, Ecotourism

Cycling tours have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially amongst adventure travelers who are looking to explore the world from the seat of their bikes. One of the leaders in organizing these kinds of adventure cycling trips has always been Tour d'Afrique Ltd, the creative minds behind such epic rides as their namesake Tour d'Afrique and the Vuelta Sudamericana. The company has even launched a website called DreamTours that allows us to design and plan our own cycling adventures, leaving all the logistics to their travel experts.

As if that wasn't enough to keep us happily peddling our way around the globe, the Tour d'Afrique team is busily preparing for another long distance ride for 2010 that will cover the entire Silk Road, starting in Istanbul, Turkey and ending in Xi'an, China. The ride will cover more than 6650 miles over 16 weeks time, crossing through Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, as riders follow one of the most famous and important trade routes of all time, a route that was also explored by such historical figures as Alexander the Great, Marco Polo, and Genghis Khan.

Some of the highlights of the journey will include passing through an amazing variety of landscapes, from including snow capped mountains and desolate open plains. Travelers will get the opportunity to camp below sea level in the arid deserts of the Xinjiang Province in western China, while also ascending to dizzying heights as they climb along the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan, which rises well above 15,000 feet, offering a challenge for both the heart and the legs. The ancient cities of Samarqand, Bukhara, and Merv will be stops along the way as well, offering refuge from the road and a chance to explore marketplaces that have been bustling with shoppers for centuries.

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Cycling the Silk Road originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Adventure Travel World Summit goes to Scotland

Kraig Becker — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Business, Festivals and Events, Europe, United Kingdom, Ecotourism

The 2009 edition of the Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) has barely ended, and the industry is already looking forward to next year's event which is scheduled to take place in Aviemore, Scotland in early October. The annual convention, which is hosted by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), brings together some of the top adventure travel representatives from around the world to discuss issues such as ecotourism, sustainable travel, and possible future destinations.

This year's event was held in Quebec and welcomed more than 500 attendees who represented a host of travel companies spanning 56 countries from around the globe. Many of those attending used the opportunity to network with one another on potential partnerships as well as share information on best practices that can be applied to the adventure travel industry. A similar number of people are expected to attend the 2010 conference as well.

The ATWS is also used as a showcase for the host destination to demonstrate its own adventure travel potential. Next year, Scotland will be highlighting its challenging trekking courses, white water rafting destinations, and impressive sea kayaking options, all set against dramatic backdrops that are always a lure for outdoor enthusiasts.

Next year's World Summit will take place from October 4-7 and registration is already open.

2010 Adventure Travel World Summit goes to Scotland originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Classic Treks: The Continental Divide Trail

Kraig Becker — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hiking, North America, Canada, Mexico, United States, Camping, Ecotourism

When it comes to long distance treks, the U.S. is blessed with not one great hike, but three. Most people already know about the Appalachian Trail in the eastern part of the country and the Pacific Crest Trail in the west, but the third jewel of the trekking Triple Crown is the Continental Divide Trail, which just might be the most scenic and challenging of all.

The CDT stretches for more than 3100 miles from the border of Canada at the northern end to the Mexican border in the south. In between, it runs through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, as it winds its way through some of the most rugged and remote mountain regions in the United States, including the San Juans, the Sawatch Range, and the Tetons, amongst others.

The trail derives its name because it runs directly along the Continental Divide, which marks the barrier between the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean drainage basins. To one side, all the rivers run west to the Pacific, while on the other, they turn east toward the Atlantic. The Rocky Mountains, running from northern Canada, down through the U.S. create this effect, and serve as a dramatic backdrop to this long distance hike.

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Classic Treks: The Continental Divide Trail originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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