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Winter Vs. Summer

January 20th, 2010 americanrambler

So…cold…Winter’s got me longing to be back in Utah and Arizona in the summertime.  As long as I’m daydreaming, here is my perfect summer day:

lake powell 4

The sun wakes me up in my tent, cottage cheese pancakes for breakfast, the sun is blazing hot, and I’m getting nice and toasty while taking pictures at Horseshoe bend.  After a short hike, I plunge in to refreshing Lake Powell, that is neither too warm nor too cold.  I can swim all the way to the buoy, then I’ll swim back, get out, skip some flat stones, read my book, shoot the breeze with my new friends, then go back to camp and cook up some guacamole and burritos and laugh by the campfire.  I can fall asleep stargazing on top of my sleeping bag because the Arizona night is so pleasant.

Well, enough daydreaming—I have to bundle up and go shovel snow

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Join our new Facebook page at American Rambler

January 7th, 2010 americanrambler

We are jump starting our new facebook page. Giving away cash too!  Join at http://tinyurl.com/yj2ta7m

logo draft

Get 7 of your friends to join and enter into a drawing to win $100
Get 12 of your friends to join and enter into a drawing to win $250

Good from Jan 5-25, 2010. This cash is just sitting here looking at us. Come and get it!

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Bryce Canyon’s cultural and geological history: What are hoodoos?

January 7th, 2010 americanrambler

Ok, if you don’t know what it looks like, google Bryce Canyon images and take a look.  What you see is hoodoos.  The Pauite Indians explain that the rock formations were Legend People who were bad, so Coyote turned them into stone.  A reasonable explanation, since the hoodoos do look like groups of people standing around.  Tons of faces can also be seen in the rocks.  It’s a very ancient and mystical feeling place.

But, according to science, these special formations were made by rain and snow (rather than a river running through like the Grand Canyon and Zion).  Joints and cracks were created during an uplift and then water eroded the stone into hoodoos.  They are composed of a softer rock underneath and capped with a piece of harder stone, less easily eroded.

Hmmm, two very interesting arguments.  Can it be a little bit of both?

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Bear watching

October 8th, 2009 americanrambler
Ever feel like you're being watched?

Ever feel like you're being watched?

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Road Blog- Mountain Madness day 8

August 6th, 2009 americanrambler

This morning as a surprise, DJ and I woke up early to make special Montana pancakes with huckleberry syrup for everybody.

On the ride back, conversation in the car turned to getting out of your comfort zone.  Some passengers on this trip had never been camping before, or hiked to such great heights, and everyone was feeling pretty proud.  Traci, who hadn’t jumped in the lake on the way up, was determined to do it now, as a challenge to herself.  We pulled over, and she triumphantly jumped in while everyone clapped for her.  What a moment.  Good job, Traci!

rb12

rb13

Back in Missoula, the only think left to do was go riverboarding.  Most terrifying/awesome/fun thing ever.  You’re in a full wetsuit, helmet, flippers, even neoprene mittens, and go down head first into whitewater rapids holding onto a large boogey board.  One of the rapids (where most people fell of their boards) has only ever been conquered by 20 people, most of them guides.  The river was at the highest level possible while still being safe- twice as fast/high than normal conditions.

Goodbyes were sad.  Lifelong friends and memories were made.

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Adventure Travel Road Blog- Mountain Madness day 7

July 28th, 2009 americanrambler
How inviting

How inviting

Today’s hike is to Grinnell Glacier which yields some potential facebook profile pictures.  Sarah, our favorite Aussie, counts 86 waterfalls.  Ordinarily I would never think of drinking water from a stream, but the water running down the mountain, straight from the snow a few feet above us, was so clean.

The third lake we came upon possesses a color of water I’ve never seen before.  A radiant, columbia blue, aqua turquoise.  What makes it so bright turquoise?  Theories from the group are as follows:  blue crystals, fish, magic, the amount of oxygen, and the temperature.

Perfect timing at the top.  As soon as lunch is eaten, a massive storm comes upon us, and we flee just in time.  After the 9 mile Grinnell Glacier hike, it’s chillaxin time at Many Glacier lodge, which is haunted.  I loved the gigantic open fireplace in the center of the room.  Getting up from that easy chair was one of the hardest things I’ve done all week.  Next was a small hike up to a waterfall.  Laughter lasted long into the night around the campfire.  And Megan ‘may or may not have’ scared Traci with vivid descriptions of clowns creeping through the campground at night.  (Traci has a fear of clowns)

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Rafting the Gauley River

July 27th, 2009 americanrambler

It’s one of North America’s top whitewater rafting runs, and certainly the jewel in Western Virginia’s crown.  While it takes some gut to go Gauley River rafting, many take up the challenge nearly every day. But few have lived to tell the tale. Just kidding! Even a 12-year-old could do it.

gauleyriver

FYI: Gauley River rafting in the summer is totally different than it is in the fall.

Lower Gauley River Rafting

If you’re somewhere in between beginner and pro, you’ll get a real kick out of Lower Gauley River rafting. Exciting and easygoing – sounds like a quality time to us! For the rapids masters, the Lower Gauley River still guarantees a super fun and memorable ride.

Upper Gauley River Rafting

Daredevils, show offs, and adrenaline addicts: this one’s for you. Known for rapids that will quite literally take your breath away, the Upper Gauley is only for the more adept rafters out there. In this case, 12-year-olds aren’t allowed. You have to be 16 or older to take on this not-so-gentle giant. If you’re up for some Upper Gauley River rafting, practice on some slightly more forgiving runs first.

Gauley Fest

Fall’s a fabulous time for Gauley River rafting and thus, a great time for Gauley Fest. Every September, the world’s largest “river festival” takes over the park. What to expect? Face painting and pony rides, of course! We’re just pulling your leg again. Actually, the Gauley Fest is quite cool, featuring a raffle, silent auction, sales on outdoor gear, and live music.

Photo by QuiteLucid

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Road Blog- Mountain Madness day 6

July 26th, 2009 americanrambler

Avalanche Lake

The trek up to Glacier National Park:     Lunch stop is at Flathead Lake, 50 miles long, every single one of them gorgeous.  Half the group jumped in the lake and the other half thought 50 degrees too cold. Weird. Lunch hit the spot- grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato and avocado.  A deli masterpiece despite its simplicity.  The only other stop was for Frisbee, gymnastics and yoga in a park.  Oh yeah, and the stop at Huckland, my fave.  They are a Montana delicacy, and at this place you can get any and everything Huckleberry:  jam, gummy bears, milk shakes, coffee, t shirts, syrup.  And the best part is the cutouts of celebrities on the side of the building like Luke Skywalker and Hannah Montana, who has a word bubble claiming that all the celebrities shop there, and so should you.

Glacier National Park is gorgeous.  It was formed by glaciers.  I saw a glacier there.  In 1850 there were 150 glaciers, now there are only 26 glaciers.  In 2030 there will be no glaciers.  See them before it’s too late!  The hike we did was through a cedar forest, which smelled amazing and the reward was great.  The ending point was Avalanche Lake- a mirror lake with waterfalls running down the side of the snow-capped mountain.

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Adventure Travel Road Blog- Mountain Madness day 5

July 23rd, 2009 americanrambler

In the morning we hiked a Yellowstone trail that was named after a German genius who, by the way, also invented the Bunsen burner.  It was such a clear, nice day, we could see the Grand Tetons, which were about 75 miles away!  We came upon some watermelon snow, which I’ve only seen in these parts, but it is pink colored snow that has an algae in it that can act as a laxative.

Later on, I noticed on a Montana state map a small town labeled as Hot Springs.  “Hey guys, let’s stop there since the natural hot springs in Yellowstone was closed”  “Yeah, great idea.  Let’s do that.”  So this place, which is historically romantic, ended up being a swimming pool connected to a bar.  Looking around for some reassurance, up comes a sketchy guy with some tattoos and a dubious trucker’s hat inviting us in for a soak, all the while with an intense stare.  Not the natural springs we were looking for, so we took back to the road.

The night was spent in Missoula, at the ranch.  A bbq and some playing around with the dog was in order.  And being Maureen’s birthday (one of our travelers who has an uncanny ability to sleep on command), our 13 person group celebrated in downtown Missoula, one of my favorite little college towns.

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Road Blog- Mountain Madness day 4

July 21st, 2009 americanrambler
One of the passengers, Evan, remarked how traveling in the US is just as cool as Europe.  Well put, Evan. It’s so true.  He said this in Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone.  It’s a quaint little mountain town with just a main street, but with a twist because there are full grown elk and buffalo looming around the park and crossing the streets.  They are just as comfortable in town as tourists are.  It’s called Mammoth hot springs because of the rock candy- looking hills that are a steaming hot spring.  Unfortunately, we are unable to swim in the inviting hot tubs. 
mammoth hot springs from nps
The next scenic drive was through Hayden Valley where herds of buffalo hang out.  Instructions were to push play for the Dark Side of the Moon at the second picnic site after the intersection.  Not only did Pink Floyd manage to create Dark Side to sync with the Wizard of Oz, but it also corresponds perfectly with the landscape when you drive 40 mph through Hayden Valley in Yellowstone:)

Artist’s Point is an artist’s point.  It’s a big old waterfall, which is turquoise, by the way, and the rocks surrounding it are a magnificent yellow.  Good pictures taken here.  The evening is spent back at the campsite playing Frisbee, hacky sack, and learning from the campground host that a mama bear and her cub were recently spotted in the area.  Don’t leave any food out!

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