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Update on 2010 trips
Since the last newsletter we have gotten all of our repeat fall trips up on the website (including Island Hopping in the Greek Islands, which created alot of buzz on our Facebook page)although a few are still missing prices. We also posted our new Sedona/Havasu trip and Hiking the Southwest. We're still working on a new sea kayaking trip in Nova Scotia, a paddling trip in the Smokies, and a trip to Hawaii, all of which should be up before Thanksgiving.
P.S. We have one discounted space left on Treasures of Tuscany in May.
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The National Parks We Visit
Every year we add more trips in National Parks, so this seems like a good time to list them all.
Death Valley Delights - Death Valley NP
Paddling the Okefenokee - Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (not quite a park)
Hiking Joshua Tree and Joshua Tree Rock Climbing and Yoga - Joshua Tree NP
Havasu Hike - Grand Canyon NP (1 night)
Exploring Utah's Canyons - Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches National Parks and Natural Bridges National Monument
Wildflowers and Waterfalls - Great Smoky Mountain NP
Hiking Lodge to Lodge on the Appalachian Trail - Shenandoah National Park
Grand Alaska Road Trip - Denali, Wrangell-St Elias, Kenai Fjords NP
Hoofin It in the Tetons - Yellowstone, Grand Tetons NP
Magical Maine - Acadia NP
Hiking the North Cascades - North Cascades NP
Exploring the Black Hills - Black Hills, Badlands, Wind Cave NP
Colorado Rockies Ramble - Rocky Mountain NP
Sedona, Havasu and the Grand Canyon - Grand Canyon NP (South Rim)
Hiking the Southwest - Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon (North Rim) NP
Hiking Bryce and Zion National Parks - Bryce, Zion NP
Exploring Hawaii - Volcanoes National Park
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Website Re-reviews
A few months ago I told you about Bing Travel, the travel part of Bing, which is Microsoft's attempt to dethrone Google as the chief search engine. I said it combined the easy to use interface of kayak.com with the fare forecasting abilities of Farecast. So now after using it a couple of times, I'm sold. I kept looking at flights to Las Vegas (for a trip, not a gambling vacation) and it kept telling me to wait. And it was right! I saved about $100 by waiting until it told me to buy. It certainly will not be foolproof but I figure its guess has to be more more accurate than mine.
On the downside, I am now disenchanted with Google Maps. It may tell you how to get there, but don't rely on it to tell you how long it would take. There have been 2 separate occasions where it overestimated time by an hour. Mapquest, on the other hand, was accurate both times. So if the time estimate seems off, at the least you should check with another website.
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The Appalachian Trail as you like it
The Appalachian Trail truly has mythic status in our culture. It is the first long distance trail in the US and there is something special about walking on a path with so much history. Because we all have our distinct preferences in how we hike, this year we are offering 5 very different trips on the AT. From most comfortable to most challenging, they are:
Lodge to Lodge on the AT: Want to hike a section without giving up comfy beds in lodges, hot showers, and dinners in restaurants (plus enjoy springtime flowers)? This is the trip for you!
Slackpacking Georgia: All the advantages of the above except you stay in a hostel rather than a lodge. But here are few hostels as nice as this one. The hikes also are generally longer.
Hiking Hut to Hut on the AT: You still have a bed and an indoor toilet but say goodbye to hot showers and privacy and be prepared to carry your clothes and lunches with you. We would bet, however, that you will never have a finer view at dinner than you do from Lakes of the Clouds Hut.
Backpacking the AT: An Introduction to Lightweight Backpacking: This past summer one of the graduates from this trip completed the entire trail. If you have that dream, take this trip first! Or if you don't have that dream but just want to be able to backpack with a comfortable load.
AT Section Backpack: Every year we backpack a new section of the AT. Jan says this is the best section yet. We only have one space left.
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Save Money for a Good Cause
Its that time if year again: Great Old Broads for Wilderness is having their annual auction. You can snag some good deals and all the proceeds go to support the programs of this non-profit that "uses the voices and activism of elders to preserve and protect wilderness and wild public lands." Check out the auction here: http://auction.greatoldbroads.org/.
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If you live in the Washington DC area
I am co-leading a hike for Washington Women Outdoors on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It's one of my local favorites, an 8 mile loop on Sugarloaf Mountain. If you're wanting to work off pecan pie, meet other outdoorswomen, and enjoy a spectacular hike, please join us. You can register on the WWO website at www.washingtonwomenoutdoors.org
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