Mountain biking is a fun sport. It promotes good exercise and appreciation of the great outdoors. A mountain bike is a specifically designed bicycle to maneuver over rough terrain and off road areas. It also has several specific parts that are usually used for mountain bikes only. The frame or body is the most important of the mountain bike parts because this is the biggest and this is your basis for all your other mountain bike parts. It is here that you will attach all the other parts that you will need to be able to use your mountain bike. Frames come in many sizes and shapes and even have different materials depending in the rider’s preference.
Bike frames come in steel alloys, very heavy and used in the first generation mountain bikes. The aluminum alloy frames are lighter and more rigid. They are also more affordable and easier to make in to the desired shapes because they are more pliable. Titanium frames are the most expensive among the lightest frames in the industry but they are also the most durable and less likely to corrode or break due to high pressure and stress. Other materials are carbon fiber and Kevlar. These frames are also light but they are prone to corrosion and are irreparable once dented or broken,
Other mountain bike parts are the handle bars which is used to control the bike along with the crank and derailleur. Handle bars are supposed to be as wide as the biker’s shoulders but these can be cut to suit the biker’s preference. Cranks are the mountain bike parts that are attached to the chain rings and the chains to make the bike move. Pedals are attached to the cranks for a biker’s feet or bike shoes. Derailleur is the part used to shift the chain from one chain ring to another to change the speed of pedaling.
More mountain bike parts are the shifters and gears. These are connected to the previous mountain bike parts. The shifters control the derailleur to accommodate the shifting of the gears from a low speed to high speed. Gears are several rings that have teeth around them where the chains slip into place to be able to make the rear wheel move. The brakes, wheels and tires are mountain bike parts that are also essential to ride. Brakes help to stop or slow the speed of the rider while the wheels and tires are specifically designed to withstand the rough terrain where the bike and rider go. Most mountain bikes use front suspension or shocks to absorb the impact of the rough terrain. One of the more important parts of accessory of a mountain bike is the helmet. Always wear one when you are riding your bike.
Discover The Mountainous Rainforest Above Puerto Vallarta
Just beyond Banderas Bay and the city of Puerto Vallarta, the Sierra Madre Mountains create an epic backdrop to one of Mexico’s premier destinations. Within the valleys and canyons of this mountain range, a lush rainforest serves as home to an incredible variety of plant and animal life. Though human residents are few within the Sierra Madre’s rainforest, tourists visit this enchanting natural environment everyday for a number of unique activities. On any given day in the rainforest, you can visit a strange colonial boomtown high in the mountains, swing from the treetops on a canopy tour and go for a simple hike through some truly incredible scenery. If you want to experience the rainforest while in Mexico, look no further than the Sierra Madre Mountains in Puerto Vallarta’s backyard.
In recent years, canopy tours have become a favorite adventure for tourists in Puerto Vallarta. Originally developed in the rainforests of Costa Rica, canopy tours allow thrill-seeking travelers to ride pulley lines between platforms high in the trees. During the tours, helpful guides are on hand to help even the most timid participants make the most of the scenic experience. As you glide from tree to tree, the guides will also point out unique plant life and offer plenty of information about the rainforest’s extensive ecosystem. Though the activity might seem dangerous, each tour is supported by an incredible array of safety equipment and open to children six and older. Ask your concierge for tour recommendations as some tour companies will pick up outside the best resorts and discounts are often available to guests.
If you want to go deeper into the rainforest and see the remains of a once-prosperous mining town, take the 15 minute flight to San Sebastian. Though seeing the town of San Sebastian can be an eye-opening experience, the journey can be just as captivating. The short tour flights fly low over the mountains and the rainforest canopy, passing picturesque waterfalls and canyons. When you reach the remote village of 500 situated at over 4,300 feet, it might be hard to spot San Sebastian’s prosperous past. Yet, remnants of the 18th century silver boom that drew over 30,000 people to the area are hiding throughout the countryside. Today, the current residents embrace tourists and love to share stories with curious travelers. One of the most interesting characters is Pachita, a 92-year old woman who has spent her entire life in San Sebastian and works at the town’s quaint candy story. Most tours to San Sebastian also include a fresh-cooked meal at one of the town’s colonial haciendas.
If you want to experience the natural beauty of the rainforest at the ground level, there are a number of hiking and biking tours available in Puerto Vallarta. Most tour companies offer different excursions to suit all ages and skill levels. The most popular hiking tours generally last 2-3 hours and wind through incredible vegetation, while the advanced tours incorporate all the best sites of the rainforest and can last all day. Along the way, tour guides will point out interesting species and assist tourists in bird and animal watching. Mountain biking tours offer similar opportunities, yet some tours also allow guests to ride from the cobblestone streets of Puerto Vallarta directly into the mountains.
While most of the tours mentioned here will provide transportation from your resort and food throughout the day, there are a number of items you should bring along for a day in the rainforest. For your comfort, you should pack both sunscreen and insect repellent and apply each throughout the day. If you plan on taking a dip in any of the rainforest’s waterfalls or lagoons, you might want to pack a swimsuit and towel. To make the most of the scenery, you should also bring along binoculars and a camera to preserve the memories.
If you are looking for some unique outdoor activities for your trip to Mexico and Puerto Vallarta, look no further than mountains above the city. As the rainforest and all of its activities lie just a few miles from the luxurious resorts of Puerto Vallarta, this special destination is able to provide the best of both worlds unlike anywhere else.
In recent years, canopy tours have become a favorite adventure for tourists in Puerto Vallarta. Originally developed in the rainforests of Costa Rica, canopy tours allow thrill-seeking travelers to ride pulley lines between platforms high in the trees. During the tours, helpful guides are on hand to help even the most timid participants make the most of the scenic experience. As you glide from tree to tree, the guides will also point out unique plant life and offer plenty of information about the rainforest’s extensive ecosystem. Though the activity might seem dangerous, each tour is supported by an incredible array of safety equipment and open to children six and older. Ask your concierge for tour recommendations as some tour companies will pick up outside the best resorts and discounts are often available to guests.
If you want to go deeper into the rainforest and see the remains of a once-prosperous mining town, take the 15 minute flight to San Sebastian. Though seeing the town of San Sebastian can be an eye-opening experience, the journey can be just as captivating. The short tour flights fly low over the mountains and the rainforest canopy, passing picturesque waterfalls and canyons. When you reach the remote village of 500 situated at over 4,300 feet, it might be hard to spot San Sebastian’s prosperous past. Yet, remnants of the 18th century silver boom that drew over 30,000 people to the area are hiding throughout the countryside. Today, the current residents embrace tourists and love to share stories with curious travelers. One of the most interesting characters is Pachita, a 92-year old woman who has spent her entire life in San Sebastian and works at the town’s quaint candy story. Most tours to San Sebastian also include a fresh-cooked meal at one of the town’s colonial haciendas.
If you want to experience the natural beauty of the rainforest at the ground level, there are a number of hiking and biking tours available in Puerto Vallarta. Most tour companies offer different excursions to suit all ages and skill levels. The most popular hiking tours generally last 2-3 hours and wind through incredible vegetation, while the advanced tours incorporate all the best sites of the rainforest and can last all day. Along the way, tour guides will point out interesting species and assist tourists in bird and animal watching. Mountain biking tours offer similar opportunities, yet some tours also allow guests to ride from the cobblestone streets of Puerto Vallarta directly into the mountains.
While most of the tours mentioned here will provide transportation from your resort and food throughout the day, there are a number of items you should bring along for a day in the rainforest. For your comfort, you should pack both sunscreen and insect repellent and apply each throughout the day. If you plan on taking a dip in any of the rainforest’s waterfalls or lagoons, you might want to pack a swimsuit and towel. To make the most of the scenery, you should also bring along binoculars and a camera to preserve the memories.
If you are looking for some unique outdoor activities for your trip to Mexico and Puerto Vallarta, look no further than mountains above the city. As the rainforest and all of its activities lie just a few miles from the luxurious resorts of Puerto Vallarta, this special destination is able to provide the best of both worlds unlike anywhere else.
Different Types of Mountain Bikes
With mountain biking being a very popular sport,
there are many bikes to choose from. Depending
on what type of riding you like, the style of
bikes you can choose from will vary. Below, you'll
find tips on the different types of bikes available.
1. Cross country
Almost all mountain bikes will fit into this category.
Cross country mountain bikes are light weight, making
them easy to ride over most terrains, even up and
down hills. This is the most common mountain bike
and it can be used with ease for riding on the path
or even commuting.
2. Downhill
These types of bikes are for serious bikers who
crave the ultimate adventure. Downhill bikes have
front and rear suspension, strong parts, and disc
brakes. Rarely available off the shelf, most riders
like to custom build their own.
3. Trials
Trail mountain biking involves a great degree of
skill and is classified as the precision riding of
the sport. Similiar to downhill bikes, trial riders
will often build their own bikes rather than purchase
one off a shelf. Generally very light and very
strong, these bikes require a lot of discipline.
4. Jump and slalom
Slalom and jump bikes are very strong and designed
for jumping, street racing, and slalom. They offer
a front suspension and use very strong components
dedicated to what they do. These bikes are very
popular with the sport of mountain biking.
Even if you are new to mountain biking, the sport can
be a lot of fun. There are several bikes to choose
from, all of which depend on your style. If you are
still looking for the best style for you, all you
have to do is try out several bikes and see which one
suites you the best.
Visit This More Info:
there are many bikes to choose from. Depending
on what type of riding you like, the style of
bikes you can choose from will vary. Below, you'll
find tips on the different types of bikes available.
1. Cross country
Almost all mountain bikes will fit into this category.
Cross country mountain bikes are light weight, making
them easy to ride over most terrains, even up and
down hills. This is the most common mountain bike
and it can be used with ease for riding on the path
or even commuting.
2. Downhill
These types of bikes are for serious bikers who
crave the ultimate adventure. Downhill bikes have
front and rear suspension, strong parts, and disc
brakes. Rarely available off the shelf, most riders
like to custom build their own.
3. Trials
Trail mountain biking involves a great degree of
skill and is classified as the precision riding of
the sport. Similiar to downhill bikes, trial riders
will often build their own bikes rather than purchase
one off a shelf. Generally very light and very
strong, these bikes require a lot of discipline.
4. Jump and slalom
Slalom and jump bikes are very strong and designed
for jumping, street racing, and slalom. They offer
a front suspension and use very strong components
dedicated to what they do. These bikes are very
popular with the sport of mountain biking.
Even if you are new to mountain biking, the sport can
be a lot of fun. There are several bikes to choose
from, all of which depend on your style. If you are
still looking for the best style for you, all you
have to do is try out several bikes and see which one
suites you the best.
Visit This More Info:
Being the Mountain
As I hiked up the path to the Peaceful Valley Chapel, I relished the quiet of my early morning solitude. After many years as a participant and assistant instructor at Thomas Crum's Journey To Center Program, this beautiful and energizing ten-minute hike had become a personal ritual. Each morning of each Journey to Center week, before our breathing and meditation session at 7, I always hike to the top of this small mountain to be inspired by the view of a much higher mountain range in the distance.
I stare at the 14,000-foot peaks, open my arms and breathe, inviting their energy, power, beauty and peace into my being. I contrast their stability and their "just there-ness" with my own approval-seeking energy, their effortless poise with my striving to do the right thing, and their natural and graceful essence with my desire to appear knowledgeable and beautiful and centered.
Could I possibly just BE? Like the mountain? There.
That turned out to be my practice this year - and I let the mountain be my teacher. Each time (well, most times) that I found myself in striving or approval-seeking mode, I stopped, breathed, and thought about the mountain. Thought about just BEING - like the mountain.
Each time I practiced, I felt my body come back to a relaxed stance, mind clear, my being at rest. It was as if I had been leaning forward - out of myself - looking for something, someone, to be okay. As I thought of the mountain, I came back to center.
Is there a place that helps you return to your own powerful presence? Your needs are met, you are okay just the way you are. Find it now - in your office, your home, your cubicle. Bring your mountain back into view. And have a great journey to center.
I stare at the 14,000-foot peaks, open my arms and breathe, inviting their energy, power, beauty and peace into my being. I contrast their stability and their "just there-ness" with my own approval-seeking energy, their effortless poise with my striving to do the right thing, and their natural and graceful essence with my desire to appear knowledgeable and beautiful and centered.
Could I possibly just BE? Like the mountain? There.
That turned out to be my practice this year - and I let the mountain be my teacher. Each time (well, most times) that I found myself in striving or approval-seeking mode, I stopped, breathed, and thought about the mountain. Thought about just BEING - like the mountain.
Each time I practiced, I felt my body come back to a relaxed stance, mind clear, my being at rest. It was as if I had been leaning forward - out of myself - looking for something, someone, to be okay. As I thought of the mountain, I came back to center.
Is there a place that helps you return to your own powerful presence? Your needs are met, you are okay just the way you are. Find it now - in your office, your home, your cubicle. Bring your mountain back into view. And have a great journey to center.
American Express Vacations Uncovers A Jewel Of The Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains
Thanks to the growing popularity of the wilderness resort, there are a number of American Express travel Deals available to travelers looking for outdoor beauty. But with the public’s growing demand, comes a need for travel agents to be able to recommend specific sights, resorts and activities to offer value their clients. New research has uncovered some amazing resorts, with varying degrees of luxury and value in an area called the June Lake Loop located in Mono County, California.
For the Rugged Traveler
Down route US 395, about 70 miles from the small city Bishop, tells us travelers see the most beautiful scenic loop by far: The June Lake Loop. This green and richly forested area is home to four large lakes. This beautiful area includes June Lake, noted for its rich cobalt blues and aquamarine streaks, Gull Lake, known for its California Sea Gull population, Silver Lake, known for its glassy and silvery color and Grant Lake is also the largest lake in the most barren part of the area. The Loop has six campgrounds, three named for June Lake, Gull Lake and Sliver Lake: Oh! Ridge, Reversed Creek and Walker Lake. The campgrounds are a great value, costing only $12 a day and are great for travelers wishing to experience the Eastern Sierras in its most natural and rugged setting. Reservations are recommended, but not required.
For the More Reserved Traveler
Not all travelers are up to sleeping on the ground under the stars. But in June Lake, there are a number of motels, which are privately held, offering varying levels of comfort and value. For travelers who wish to experience the beauty of the surrounding nature with some of the comforts allowed to modern travelers, recommends its clients check out the Silver Lake Resort. This resort was originally established in 1916, and offers private, one-bedroom cabins with a bed, a bathroom, a kitchenette, and in some cases, a television with cable. Cabins start at about $125 a night and range to $230 a night. The smaller cabins sleep two and the larger cabins sleep eight.
For the Luxury Traveler
The June Lake Loop has boomed in resent years and is now beginning to attract visitors with a taste for luxury. A number of privately held mansions and condos have sprung up, and some are available to rent on a weekly basis. For visitors interested in experiencing nature in the lap of luxury, try the Double Eagle Resort and Spa. Their Deluxe Two Bedroom Cabins have a wood burring fireplace, fully equipped kitchens, a furnished living room, TV/VCR, telephones, a king or queen in at least one bedroom, outside decks with furnishings and a barbecue. All of the cabins have breath taking views of the near by Carson Peak. A full service spa and health and fitness center is also on the property. There are also several activities available to guests, including horseback riding, hiking, lead nature walks and rock climbing.
There are so many choices for travelers who wish to experience the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. From camping to resorts, there are accommodations for every type of traveler. There are a number of American Express Exclusives offered to anyone interested in staying in a non-government run resort in the June Lake Loop. This destination is becoming a hot spot for worldwide travelers who wish to experience near by Mammoth Mountain or Yosemite National Park.
For the Rugged Traveler
Down route US 395, about 70 miles from the small city Bishop, tells us travelers see the most beautiful scenic loop by far: The June Lake Loop. This green and richly forested area is home to four large lakes. This beautiful area includes June Lake, noted for its rich cobalt blues and aquamarine streaks, Gull Lake, known for its California Sea Gull population, Silver Lake, known for its glassy and silvery color and Grant Lake is also the largest lake in the most barren part of the area. The Loop has six campgrounds, three named for June Lake, Gull Lake and Sliver Lake: Oh! Ridge, Reversed Creek and Walker Lake. The campgrounds are a great value, costing only $12 a day and are great for travelers wishing to experience the Eastern Sierras in its most natural and rugged setting. Reservations are recommended, but not required.
For the More Reserved Traveler
Not all travelers are up to sleeping on the ground under the stars. But in June Lake, there are a number of motels, which are privately held, offering varying levels of comfort and value. For travelers who wish to experience the beauty of the surrounding nature with some of the comforts allowed to modern travelers, recommends its clients check out the Silver Lake Resort. This resort was originally established in 1916, and offers private, one-bedroom cabins with a bed, a bathroom, a kitchenette, and in some cases, a television with cable. Cabins start at about $125 a night and range to $230 a night. The smaller cabins sleep two and the larger cabins sleep eight.
For the Luxury Traveler
The June Lake Loop has boomed in resent years and is now beginning to attract visitors with a taste for luxury. A number of privately held mansions and condos have sprung up, and some are available to rent on a weekly basis. For visitors interested in experiencing nature in the lap of luxury, try the Double Eagle Resort and Spa. Their Deluxe Two Bedroom Cabins have a wood burring fireplace, fully equipped kitchens, a furnished living room, TV/VCR, telephones, a king or queen in at least one bedroom, outside decks with furnishings and a barbecue. All of the cabins have breath taking views of the near by Carson Peak. A full service spa and health and fitness center is also on the property. There are also several activities available to guests, including horseback riding, hiking, lead nature walks and rock climbing.
There are so many choices for travelers who wish to experience the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. From camping to resorts, there are accommodations for every type of traveler. There are a number of American Express Exclusives offered to anyone interested in staying in a non-government run resort in the June Lake Loop. This destination is becoming a hot spot for worldwide travelers who wish to experience near by Mammoth Mountain or Yosemite National Park.
Adding Mountain Bike Lights To Your Bike
Both hobby cyclists and professional cyclists will find that bike lights can be very helpful. They serve a great number of functional purposes, including letting motorists know that you are on the road and showing you where you are going. You will find that there are several different bicycle lights available, so you want to choose the bike light that best fits your needs and your riding style.
You can find quite a large variety of bike lights that are both durable and dependable at online bicycle equipment stores and shops. They can help you find the right bike light that will fit your needs. The prices are comparable to brick and mortar stores and shipping is fast. You will probably get your lights within a week or so after you place your order.
Another place that you may want to look for your safety bike lights is at your local bicycle dealer. Their prices may be a little higher, but if you are not sure what you want, you may prefer seeing the lights in person so that you can make a better informed decision. The salesman at your local bike dealer can help you find the bike lights that are right for your particular bike riding and functional needs.
There are thousands of people that enjoy the thrilling, heart-pounding sport of mountain biking. Some riders enjoy riding down those mountains at night and adding bike lights can help them to make it safer and more enjoyable. One long-lasting and durable type of light that you may want to consider is the LED light. It will last you for many rides to come.
The protection of the bicyclist is the main reason that bike lights were designed. Mountain bikes can be sued for many different purposes, including transportation around time and for other recreational uses. There are some kids who even ride mountain bikes back and forth to school and the lights will help them to be safer while riding. This can keep them safe and help decrease your worry.
Due to the huge popularity in bicycle, it should not be difficult to find accessories, including bike lights, for your bike. You can find a plethora of different online shops that can offer you a varied choice in bicycle lights. This is wonderful is you have some kind of idea concerning what you need and want, but if you don’t, then you may want to stick with a local bicycle shop or email the online store so that you get some help.
There is a large price range in lights for your mountain bike. They start at around $25 for bulkier lights and the price increases the lighter and more advanced that they are up to about $500. Your functional needs and riding commitment will have a huge impact on the amount of money that you will want to spend on this accessory. If you only ride your bike casually, then you may want to choose a less expensive light, but if you ride your bike seriously, then you will want to spend a little more.
You can find quite a large variety of bike lights that are both durable and dependable at online bicycle equipment stores and shops. They can help you find the right bike light that will fit your needs. The prices are comparable to brick and mortar stores and shipping is fast. You will probably get your lights within a week or so after you place your order.
Another place that you may want to look for your safety bike lights is at your local bicycle dealer. Their prices may be a little higher, but if you are not sure what you want, you may prefer seeing the lights in person so that you can make a better informed decision. The salesman at your local bike dealer can help you find the bike lights that are right for your particular bike riding and functional needs.
There are thousands of people that enjoy the thrilling, heart-pounding sport of mountain biking. Some riders enjoy riding down those mountains at night and adding bike lights can help them to make it safer and more enjoyable. One long-lasting and durable type of light that you may want to consider is the LED light. It will last you for many rides to come.
The protection of the bicyclist is the main reason that bike lights were designed. Mountain bikes can be sued for many different purposes, including transportation around time and for other recreational uses. There are some kids who even ride mountain bikes back and forth to school and the lights will help them to be safer while riding. This can keep them safe and help decrease your worry.
Due to the huge popularity in bicycle, it should not be difficult to find accessories, including bike lights, for your bike. You can find a plethora of different online shops that can offer you a varied choice in bicycle lights. This is wonderful is you have some kind of idea concerning what you need and want, but if you don’t, then you may want to stick with a local bicycle shop or email the online store so that you get some help.
There is a large price range in lights for your mountain bike. They start at around $25 for bulkier lights and the price increases the lighter and more advanced that they are up to about $500. Your functional needs and riding commitment will have a huge impact on the amount of money that you will want to spend on this accessory. If you only ride your bike casually, then you may want to choose a less expensive light, but if you ride your bike seriously, then you will want to spend a little more.
Accessories For Mountain Bike
As a beginner mountain biker, it is quite natural for you to get a bit overwhelmed with all the mountain bike accessories that you see in a bike store or shop. Although there are many types of mountain bike accessories being sold in the market today, you do not really need all of them so don’t waste your money on the things that you will not really have much use when you go biking. Instead of buying those fancy mountain bike accessories, invest on safety gears and accessories.
The helmet is one of the most important mountain bike accessories that you need. Unfortunately, a lot of bikers often do not wear helmets when they go out that they end up suffering from severe head injuries during a fall. To safeguard your head when negotiating difficult mountain bike trails, you need to wear a reliable headgear. A good helmet is your best friend when you are out there negotiating some difficult mountain bike trails so make sure that you get one.
Aside from buying mountain bike helmet, you will need gloves to protect your hands. In many cases, you need to grip the handle of your bike tightly when you negotiate difficult trails so you need gloves to cushion your hands. Furthermore, is case of a fall, you hands are the first things that usually touch the ground. If you are not wearing gloves, you could suffer from serious injuries when you hit your hands on some sharp objects like rocks when you try to break a fall.
What type of gloves should you get? Full-fingered gloves are a lot safer than those that only protect your palm and half the length of your fingers. Although gloves that do not cover up to the fingers tips are more comfortable than the full-fingered type, you are still at risk of hurting your fingers during a fall.
Your mountain bike accessories will not be complete without the eyes protection. You need to protect your eyes when you go out biking. You can run into some deep trouble if something gets into your eyes and blur your eyesight. Always remember that small particles and some insects can easily get into your eyes while you negotiate mountain bike trails.
When it comes to mountain bike accessories, the mountain bike shoes should be on your list. You need to buy mountain bike shoes to keep your feet comfortable while biking. Note that your feet could feel a bit sore after pedaling for a while so make sure that you wear comfortable shoes.
The helmet is one of the most important mountain bike accessories that you need. Unfortunately, a lot of bikers often do not wear helmets when they go out that they end up suffering from severe head injuries during a fall. To safeguard your head when negotiating difficult mountain bike trails, you need to wear a reliable headgear. A good helmet is your best friend when you are out there negotiating some difficult mountain bike trails so make sure that you get one.
Aside from buying mountain bike helmet, you will need gloves to protect your hands. In many cases, you need to grip the handle of your bike tightly when you negotiate difficult trails so you need gloves to cushion your hands. Furthermore, is case of a fall, you hands are the first things that usually touch the ground. If you are not wearing gloves, you could suffer from serious injuries when you hit your hands on some sharp objects like rocks when you try to break a fall.
What type of gloves should you get? Full-fingered gloves are a lot safer than those that only protect your palm and half the length of your fingers. Although gloves that do not cover up to the fingers tips are more comfortable than the full-fingered type, you are still at risk of hurting your fingers during a fall.
Your mountain bike accessories will not be complete without the eyes protection. You need to protect your eyes when you go out biking. You can run into some deep trouble if something gets into your eyes and blur your eyesight. Always remember that small particles and some insects can easily get into your eyes while you negotiate mountain bike trails.
When it comes to mountain bike accessories, the mountain bike shoes should be on your list. You need to buy mountain bike shoes to keep your feet comfortable while biking. Note that your feet could feel a bit sore after pedaling for a while so make sure that you wear comfortable shoes.
Beautiful Vancouver, City of the Sea & Mountains
As one flies over Vancouver during the decent into the Canadian city’s airport, the surrounding beautiful natural scenery is already noticed with mountains on one side and the sea on the other. Once inside the baggage claim area of the international airport, visitors are greeted with large Pacific Northwest Coast Indian art carvings. This adds to the overall flavor of nature and the environment that makes Vancouver so different from other major cities. When driving along Granville Street towards the city center, one can’t help but notice that the trees and hedges in the residential areas are so much larger and taller than the ones we normally see elsewhere. One of the
locals claims that the superior growth of the area’s plant life is due to the huge amount of rainfall. Vancouver is close to both the ocean and the mountain range so lots of rain is expected. In fact, the rain here can actually be a problem as grey skies, especially during the winter months, are one of the few negatives of living in Vancouver. Fortunately, there is very little snowfall within the city so for Vancouverites, it is a trade off of some sort to have to deal with rain rather than shoveling snow during their winters. As for tourists, the best time to visit Vancouver is the least wet season which is during the summer months. I’ve been told by another local that September is one of the best months to visit. When the sun is shining in Vancouver with both the ocean and mountains as the background, it really doesn’t get any better.
Stanley Park on the west side of downtown Vancouver is the most visited attraction. A drive around the island will reveal great photo spots of both the city and the ocean. Vancouver’s Aquarium is also on site in Stanley Park as well as a magnificent collection of Pacific Northwest Coastal Indian art totem poles. Of course, one can always marvel at the tall trees which seem to touch the skies here. The Lion’s Gate Suspension Bridge connects Stanley Park with North Vancouver on the other side of the harbor. On the north side is Grouse Mountain, the area’s closest ski resort to the city that has turned into an all year round attraction. During the non-winter months, one can take the gondola up Grouse mountain for some wonderful hiking and views of the Vancouver skyline. The Capilano Suspension Bridge which visitors walk across to a nice nature area is another must see nearby. One of the cuisine highlights in the British Columbia province is the salmon and one of the best restaurants to sample it is the Salmon House in adjacent West Vancouver. Dinner there with the Pacific Northwest Coast Indian art décor and spectacular nighttime views of the city is one of the best ways to finish off a day of sightseeing.
Back in downtown Vancouver, the Gastown district is one of the top tourist areas for boutique shopping and souvenirs. Don’t miss the steam clock that rings on the hour. Vancouver has one of the largest Asian communities in North America so the Chinatown nearby as expected has some of the best dim sum luncheons outside of Hong Kong. Further boutique shopping can be found in the Yaletown and Granville Island districts.
If time permits, one of the recommended day trips to do out of Vancouver is to drive up the Sea & Sky highway to Whistler, one of North America’s largest ski resorts. During the off ski season, Whistler is all season resort with many activities such as hiking, biking, festivities and shopping in the village. A ride up the gondola here will enable visitors to get a bird’s eye view of the majestic Canadian Rockies mountain range. The drive itself to Whistler, about two and a half hours along the coastline, offers many wonderful scenic points as well.
Vancouver is a great city to visit as one can really see how a major city can still be in very scenic surroundings. For those coming to Vancouver as the departure port of a cruise to either Hawaii or Alaska, it is highly recommended to allocate at least a full day before or after the cruise to see what the city has to offer. As I mentioned before, on a sunny day with the sea on one side and the mountains on the other, Vancouver is really hard to beat.
locals claims that the superior growth of the area’s plant life is due to the huge amount of rainfall. Vancouver is close to both the ocean and the mountain range so lots of rain is expected. In fact, the rain here can actually be a problem as grey skies, especially during the winter months, are one of the few negatives of living in Vancouver. Fortunately, there is very little snowfall within the city so for Vancouverites, it is a trade off of some sort to have to deal with rain rather than shoveling snow during their winters. As for tourists, the best time to visit Vancouver is the least wet season which is during the summer months. I’ve been told by another local that September is one of the best months to visit. When the sun is shining in Vancouver with both the ocean and mountains as the background, it really doesn’t get any better.
Stanley Park on the west side of downtown Vancouver is the most visited attraction. A drive around the island will reveal great photo spots of both the city and the ocean. Vancouver’s Aquarium is also on site in Stanley Park as well as a magnificent collection of Pacific Northwest Coastal Indian art totem poles. Of course, one can always marvel at the tall trees which seem to touch the skies here. The Lion’s Gate Suspension Bridge connects Stanley Park with North Vancouver on the other side of the harbor. On the north side is Grouse Mountain, the area’s closest ski resort to the city that has turned into an all year round attraction. During the non-winter months, one can take the gondola up Grouse mountain for some wonderful hiking and views of the Vancouver skyline. The Capilano Suspension Bridge which visitors walk across to a nice nature area is another must see nearby. One of the cuisine highlights in the British Columbia province is the salmon and one of the best restaurants to sample it is the Salmon House in adjacent West Vancouver. Dinner there with the Pacific Northwest Coast Indian art décor and spectacular nighttime views of the city is one of the best ways to finish off a day of sightseeing.
Back in downtown Vancouver, the Gastown district is one of the top tourist areas for boutique shopping and souvenirs. Don’t miss the steam clock that rings on the hour. Vancouver has one of the largest Asian communities in North America so the Chinatown nearby as expected has some of the best dim sum luncheons outside of Hong Kong. Further boutique shopping can be found in the Yaletown and Granville Island districts.
If time permits, one of the recommended day trips to do out of Vancouver is to drive up the Sea & Sky highway to Whistler, one of North America’s largest ski resorts. During the off ski season, Whistler is all season resort with many activities such as hiking, biking, festivities and shopping in the village. A ride up the gondola here will enable visitors to get a bird’s eye view of the majestic Canadian Rockies mountain range. The drive itself to Whistler, about two and a half hours along the coastline, offers many wonderful scenic points as well.
Vancouver is a great city to visit as one can really see how a major city can still be in very scenic surroundings. For those coming to Vancouver as the departure port of a cruise to either Hawaii or Alaska, it is highly recommended to allocate at least a full day before or after the cruise to see what the city has to offer. As I mentioned before, on a sunny day with the sea on one side and the mountains on the other, Vancouver is really hard to beat.
Banff & Lake Louise, Canadian Rocky Mountain Jewel
One of the most beloved travel destinations in Canada is the Banff and Lake Louise area located in the province of Alberta. The town of Banff is 90 minutes (75 miles) west of Calgary and is within the Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. One can see the Rocky Mountains from Calgary since the Banff area is at the eastern edge of the Canadian Rocky Mountain range. It is also one of the most visited areas in Canada all year round since the rugged beauty of the mountains and the protected wilderness draws tourists from around the world. During the winter, the three local resorts of Sunshine Village, Norquay Mystic Ridge and Lake Louise offer some of the best snow skiing around.
There are numerous shops, restaurants and small to mid-sized hotels in the town of Banff which is why the majority of travelers use it as the base during their stays. The town itself is small enough to walk around in since large scale development is limited since Banff is located within a national park. As a result, the town of Canmore just outside the national park boundary has become a recent spot of development. This offers tourists with rental cars another choice for accommodations. There is a complete range of accommodations from budget motels to the ritzy and majestic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel overlooking the nearby valley. Many hotels have views of the mountain ranges and I can personally claim that there is something very magical about waking up and seeing a snow capped peak first thing in the morning, particularly during the non-winter season.
Like the choice of accommodations, the range of dining opportunities covers the entire spectrum as well. Travelers can dine at the most fancy eating establishments or buy their own groceries at the local grocer. One thing for beef lovers is not to miss the Alberta prime rib here which is a local specialty. It practically melts in your mouth. Some restaurants serve very generous 24 ounce (or higher) portions called mountain cuts for those who think they can eat it all.
There are numerous activities during the non-winter seasons including hiking, horseback riding, fishing, golf and a hot springs spa heated naturally by the mountain. The wonderful mountain scenery just makes these activities seem that much more special here. Imagine golfing with views of mountains in the background and glimpses of elk. Of course, the winters have the skiing and snowboarding but there are other winter activities such as dog sledding and snowmobile tours. For skiers and boarders, there is a very good bus shuttle system set up which picks skiers up at various locations around town and transports them to any of the three ski resorts mentioned earlier. Some shuttle stops are right outside of the many hotels so for many, it can be door to slope and return service. Most skiers opt to ski all three resorts during their stays.
Lake Louise is about 45 minutes (35 miles) further into the mountain range and home to one of the largest ski areas in North America. World class events are held here as well as a previous winter Olympics and the resort Lake Louise is serviced by the ski shuttle system from Banff. Even for non-skiers, a day trip to Lake Louise is a must. The largest hotel there, the Chateau Lake Louise, is right beside the beautiful Lake Louise itself. There is a glacier named Victoria Glacier which is nestled between snow capped mountains. During the winters, the lake is completely frozen and people can walk right across it. The hotel usually sets up a skating area on the lake. During the summers, one can still see some of the white snow capped peaks along with the glacier but what makes things really special is the lake itself too which is an emerald green color. On certain days and hours, the lake gives a stunning reflection of the mountain/glacier scene. This combination offers one of the most beautiful and photographed scenes in Canada. No motorized boats are allowed in the lake but there are canoe rentals available. Taking a canoe across the lake while seeing the glacier and mountain range is one of the most special, peaceful activities one can do.
The wildlife in the Banff and Lake Louise area is another attraction. There are wildlife spotting tours available but every time I have traveled to the area, I've seen deer and elk along the roads and highways. I've even seen them wander right into the front of the Banff Springs hotel. The road that leads up to the Norquay Mystic Ridge ski resort just outside of Banff is a golden spot for wildlife. On every drive up that particular road whether during the winter or summer, I have always seen curly horned mountain goats. Many are so used to cars that they would just move aside for vehicles to get by but would still stay on the roads. This makes great photo opportunities.
One thing to be careful of especially when hiking is the possibilities of bears. During the non-winter seasons, pay attention to the local rangers who give reports of bear sightings as it is not recommended to go on trails where bears have been recently.
Many world tourists think of Canada as a land of wonderful natural scenery and although the country is much more than that, the Banff and Lake Louise area is probably one of the best examples of Canadian natural beauty. It is a place that draws visitors, foreign and Canadians alike, back to the area like it does for me every few years.
Description of the Banff and Lake Louise area, one of the most beautiful and scenic year round places in Canada. Also a top ski destination.
There are numerous shops, restaurants and small to mid-sized hotels in the town of Banff which is why the majority of travelers use it as the base during their stays. The town itself is small enough to walk around in since large scale development is limited since Banff is located within a national park. As a result, the town of Canmore just outside the national park boundary has become a recent spot of development. This offers tourists with rental cars another choice for accommodations. There is a complete range of accommodations from budget motels to the ritzy and majestic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel overlooking the nearby valley. Many hotels have views of the mountain ranges and I can personally claim that there is something very magical about waking up and seeing a snow capped peak first thing in the morning, particularly during the non-winter season.
Like the choice of accommodations, the range of dining opportunities covers the entire spectrum as well. Travelers can dine at the most fancy eating establishments or buy their own groceries at the local grocer. One thing for beef lovers is not to miss the Alberta prime rib here which is a local specialty. It practically melts in your mouth. Some restaurants serve very generous 24 ounce (or higher) portions called mountain cuts for those who think they can eat it all.
There are numerous activities during the non-winter seasons including hiking, horseback riding, fishing, golf and a hot springs spa heated naturally by the mountain. The wonderful mountain scenery just makes these activities seem that much more special here. Imagine golfing with views of mountains in the background and glimpses of elk. Of course, the winters have the skiing and snowboarding but there are other winter activities such as dog sledding and snowmobile tours. For skiers and boarders, there is a very good bus shuttle system set up which picks skiers up at various locations around town and transports them to any of the three ski resorts mentioned earlier. Some shuttle stops are right outside of the many hotels so for many, it can be door to slope and return service. Most skiers opt to ski all three resorts during their stays.
Lake Louise is about 45 minutes (35 miles) further into the mountain range and home to one of the largest ski areas in North America. World class events are held here as well as a previous winter Olympics and the resort Lake Louise is serviced by the ski shuttle system from Banff. Even for non-skiers, a day trip to Lake Louise is a must. The largest hotel there, the Chateau Lake Louise, is right beside the beautiful Lake Louise itself. There is a glacier named Victoria Glacier which is nestled between snow capped mountains. During the winters, the lake is completely frozen and people can walk right across it. The hotel usually sets up a skating area on the lake. During the summers, one can still see some of the white snow capped peaks along with the glacier but what makes things really special is the lake itself too which is an emerald green color. On certain days and hours, the lake gives a stunning reflection of the mountain/glacier scene. This combination offers one of the most beautiful and photographed scenes in Canada. No motorized boats are allowed in the lake but there are canoe rentals available. Taking a canoe across the lake while seeing the glacier and mountain range is one of the most special, peaceful activities one can do.
The wildlife in the Banff and Lake Louise area is another attraction. There are wildlife spotting tours available but every time I have traveled to the area, I've seen deer and elk along the roads and highways. I've even seen them wander right into the front of the Banff Springs hotel. The road that leads up to the Norquay Mystic Ridge ski resort just outside of Banff is a golden spot for wildlife. On every drive up that particular road whether during the winter or summer, I have always seen curly horned mountain goats. Many are so used to cars that they would just move aside for vehicles to get by but would still stay on the roads. This makes great photo opportunities.
One thing to be careful of especially when hiking is the possibilities of bears. During the non-winter seasons, pay attention to the local rangers who give reports of bear sightings as it is not recommended to go on trails where bears have been recently.
Many world tourists think of Canada as a land of wonderful natural scenery and although the country is much more than that, the Banff and Lake Louise area is probably one of the best examples of Canadian natural beauty. It is a place that draws visitors, foreign and Canadians alike, back to the area like it does for me every few years.
Description of the Banff and Lake Louise area, one of the most beautiful and scenic year round places in Canada. Also a top ski destination.
Andes Mountains Adventure
My Andes mountains adventure started with a graveyard.
All the monuments near the first refuge weren't for climbers without skill. This graveyard is testament to the unpredictability of high places. Chimborazo is very high. It randomly drops large rocks or pieces of glacier on you, and has weather that changes by the minute. Hiking to the second refuge, we could hear the rocks and pieces of ice falling somewhere above.
"El Refugio Edward Whymper" is a simple, unheated, hut at 16,000 feet. It's named after the English climber who first made it to the summit of the mountain. It isn't completely unheated. When somebody feels like carrying wood up to 5000 meters, the fireplace might raise the temperature 3 degrees.
We drank "mate de coca" a tea made of coca leaves, which are also used to make another product - one that is taken up the nose. That seemed to help. We went hiking for a short while, which was the sum total of my acclimatization. Paco cooked something, and after eating I slept for at least an hour before starting the ascent at eleven that night.
Mount Chimborazo
Mount Chimborazo is in Ecuador, about 100 miles south of the Equator. At it's peak, it is the furthest point from the center of our planet. Earth bulges at the equator, making Mount Chimborazo even further out there than Everest. It's the closest point to the sun on the planet, and yet still the coldest place in Ecuador.
Paco, my guide, woke me up at ten that evening. He frowned when he saw my sleeping bag, which packed up smaller than a football, and weighed a pound. My frameless 13-ounce backpack didn't seem to impress him either. In any case, although it was below freezing in the hut, just as he said it would be, I had stayed warm - as I said I would.
Paco didn't speak a word of English, and I was just learning Spanish. Since our whole group consisted of him and me, we had some communication problems. I thought, for example, that the "night" (a few hours) in the hut was included in the $130 fee. He thought I was a mountain climber.
Actually, I had practiced once with crampons and an ice axe on a sledding hill near my house. I climbed forty feet while people walked by with their sleds, warning their kids to stay away from me.
I think Paco was telling me he didn't like the papery rainsuit I was using as a shell. He frowned at my homemade one-ounce ski mask. When he saw my insulating vest, a feathery piece of poly batting with a hole cut in it for my head, I just pretended not to understand what he was saying.
I hadn't planned to climb Chimborazo with such lightweight gear, but I had come to Ecuador on a courier flight, and could bring only carry-on luggage. I had only 12 pounds in the pack to begin with, so by the time I put on all my clothes that night, the weight on my back was irrelevant. The weight of my body, however, wasn't. Paco had to coax me up that mountain.
Glaciers Near The Equator
The glaciers start near the hut. Hiking soon became mountaineering. I put on crampons for the second time in my life. During one of my many breaks ("Demasiado" - too many, which I pretended not to understand when Paco explained in Spanish), I noticed that the thermometer I carried had bottomed out at 5 degrees fahrenheit. I wasn't cold, but I was exhausted at times - the times when I moved. When I sat still I felt like I could run right up that mountain.
We struggled (okay, I struggled) up the ice, hiking, climbing, jumping over crevasses, until I quit at 20,000 feet. I had also quit at 19,000 feet, and at 18,000 feet. Quitting had become my routine. Lying had become Paco's, so he told me straight-faced that the summit was just fifty feet higher. Maybe I wanted to believe him, or maybe the lack of oxygen had scrambled my brain. In any case, I started up the ice again.
We stumbled onto the summit at dawn. Or rather, I stumbled. Paco, who seemed somewhat frail down at the refuge, was in his element at 20,600 feet. Dirtbag Joe, a nineteen-year-old kid from California with ten dollars in his pocket, borrowed equipment, and my Ramen noodles in his stomach, was waiting with a smile.
The sky was a stunning blue color that you never see at lower elevations. Cotapaxi, a classic snow-covered volcano to the north, was clearly visible 70 or 80 miles away. Chimborazo's shadow fell across forty miles of land to the west. I had never seen anything like it.
Handshakes all around, and it was time to get off the mountain. I was told you don't want to be on Mount Chimborazo when she wakes up. She wakes up at nine a.m.
Paco was looking at his watch, and telling me to hurry. He got further and further ahead. Was he going to abandon me? When I caught up to him at the hut at nine a.m., I heard the rocks begin to fall out of the ice above as the sun warmed it. Now I understood. We really needed to get down to the refuge by nine. A thousand feet lower a photograph that mercifully doesn't show my shaking knees ended my Andes mountains adventure.
All the monuments near the first refuge weren't for climbers without skill. This graveyard is testament to the unpredictability of high places. Chimborazo is very high. It randomly drops large rocks or pieces of glacier on you, and has weather that changes by the minute. Hiking to the second refuge, we could hear the rocks and pieces of ice falling somewhere above.
"El Refugio Edward Whymper" is a simple, unheated, hut at 16,000 feet. It's named after the English climber who first made it to the summit of the mountain. It isn't completely unheated. When somebody feels like carrying wood up to 5000 meters, the fireplace might raise the temperature 3 degrees.
We drank "mate de coca" a tea made of coca leaves, which are also used to make another product - one that is taken up the nose. That seemed to help. We went hiking for a short while, which was the sum total of my acclimatization. Paco cooked something, and after eating I slept for at least an hour before starting the ascent at eleven that night.
Mount Chimborazo
Mount Chimborazo is in Ecuador, about 100 miles south of the Equator. At it's peak, it is the furthest point from the center of our planet. Earth bulges at the equator, making Mount Chimborazo even further out there than Everest. It's the closest point to the sun on the planet, and yet still the coldest place in Ecuador.
Paco, my guide, woke me up at ten that evening. He frowned when he saw my sleeping bag, which packed up smaller than a football, and weighed a pound. My frameless 13-ounce backpack didn't seem to impress him either. In any case, although it was below freezing in the hut, just as he said it would be, I had stayed warm - as I said I would.
Paco didn't speak a word of English, and I was just learning Spanish. Since our whole group consisted of him and me, we had some communication problems. I thought, for example, that the "night" (a few hours) in the hut was included in the $130 fee. He thought I was a mountain climber.
Actually, I had practiced once with crampons and an ice axe on a sledding hill near my house. I climbed forty feet while people walked by with their sleds, warning their kids to stay away from me.
I think Paco was telling me he didn't like the papery rainsuit I was using as a shell. He frowned at my homemade one-ounce ski mask. When he saw my insulating vest, a feathery piece of poly batting with a hole cut in it for my head, I just pretended not to understand what he was saying.
I hadn't planned to climb Chimborazo with such lightweight gear, but I had come to Ecuador on a courier flight, and could bring only carry-on luggage. I had only 12 pounds in the pack to begin with, so by the time I put on all my clothes that night, the weight on my back was irrelevant. The weight of my body, however, wasn't. Paco had to coax me up that mountain.
Glaciers Near The Equator
The glaciers start near the hut. Hiking soon became mountaineering. I put on crampons for the second time in my life. During one of my many breaks ("Demasiado" - too many, which I pretended not to understand when Paco explained in Spanish), I noticed that the thermometer I carried had bottomed out at 5 degrees fahrenheit. I wasn't cold, but I was exhausted at times - the times when I moved. When I sat still I felt like I could run right up that mountain.
We struggled (okay, I struggled) up the ice, hiking, climbing, jumping over crevasses, until I quit at 20,000 feet. I had also quit at 19,000 feet, and at 18,000 feet. Quitting had become my routine. Lying had become Paco's, so he told me straight-faced that the summit was just fifty feet higher. Maybe I wanted to believe him, or maybe the lack of oxygen had scrambled my brain. In any case, I started up the ice again.
We stumbled onto the summit at dawn. Or rather, I stumbled. Paco, who seemed somewhat frail down at the refuge, was in his element at 20,600 feet. Dirtbag Joe, a nineteen-year-old kid from California with ten dollars in his pocket, borrowed equipment, and my Ramen noodles in his stomach, was waiting with a smile.
The sky was a stunning blue color that you never see at lower elevations. Cotapaxi, a classic snow-covered volcano to the north, was clearly visible 70 or 80 miles away. Chimborazo's shadow fell across forty miles of land to the west. I had never seen anything like it.
Handshakes all around, and it was time to get off the mountain. I was told you don't want to be on Mount Chimborazo when she wakes up. She wakes up at nine a.m.
Paco was looking at his watch, and telling me to hurry. He got further and further ahead. Was he going to abandon me? When I caught up to him at the hut at nine a.m., I heard the rocks begin to fall out of the ice above as the sun warmed it. Now I understood. We really needed to get down to the refuge by nine. A thousand feet lower a photograph that mercifully doesn't show my shaking knees ended my Andes mountains adventure.
Being the Mountain
As I hiked up the path to the Peaceful Valley Chapel, I relished the quiet of my early morning solitude. After many years as a participant and assistant instructor at Thomas Crum's Journey To Center Program, this beautiful and energizing ten-minute hike had become a personal ritual. Each morning of each Journey to Center week, before our breathing and meditation session at 7, I always hike to the top of this small mountain to be inspired by the view of a much higher mountain range in the distance.
I stare at the 14,000-foot peaks, open my arms and breathe, inviting their energy, power, beauty and peace into my being. I contrast their stability and their "just there-ness" with my own approval-seeking energy, their effortless poise with my striving to do the right thing, and their natural and graceful essence with my desire to appear knowledgeable and beautiful and centered.
Could I possibly just BE? Like the mountain? There.
That turned out to be my practice this year - and I let the mountain be my teacher. Each time (well, most times) that I found myself in striving or approval-seeking mode, I stopped, breathed, and thought about the mountain. Thought about just BEING - like the mountain.
Each time I practiced, I felt my body come back to a relaxed stance, mind clear, my being at rest. It was as if I had been leaning forward - out of myself - looking for something, someone, to be okay. As I thought of the mountain, I came back to center.
Is there a place that helps you return to your own powerful presence? Your needs are met, you are okay just the way you are. Find it now - in your office, your home, your cubicle. Bring your mountain back into view. And have a great journey to center.
I stare at the 14,000-foot peaks, open my arms and breathe, inviting their energy, power, beauty and peace into my being. I contrast their stability and their "just there-ness" with my own approval-seeking energy, their effortless poise with my striving to do the right thing, and their natural and graceful essence with my desire to appear knowledgeable and beautiful and centered.
Could I possibly just BE? Like the mountain? There.
That turned out to be my practice this year - and I let the mountain be my teacher. Each time (well, most times) that I found myself in striving or approval-seeking mode, I stopped, breathed, and thought about the mountain. Thought about just BEING - like the mountain.
Each time I practiced, I felt my body come back to a relaxed stance, mind clear, my being at rest. It was as if I had been leaning forward - out of myself - looking for something, someone, to be okay. As I thought of the mountain, I came back to center.
Is there a place that helps you return to your own powerful presence? Your needs are met, you are okay just the way you are. Find it now - in your office, your home, your cubicle. Bring your mountain back into view. And have a great journey to center.
Aspen Nightlife – Music in the Mountains
There is always something of interest going on
in Aspen, and September is no different. During
the month of September, every year, JAS
comes to Snowmass. JAS, or Jazz Aspen
Snowmass, began in 1991 to honor the art of
Jazz in the Roaring Fork Valley. It has now
become a music attraction that lasts all
summer long, with the biggest celebration
coinciding with Labor Day weekend.
While this is a Jazz celebration, for all intents
and purposes, all types of music are
celebrated, including reggae and rock-n-roll.
Famous musicians and singers from around
the world attend the four day Music in the
Mountains celebration.
All events take place in the breathtaking
Snowmass Town Park, located on Brush
Creek Road in Snowmass. Snowmass
Village is one of the most beautiful places in
the United States, and this festival is extremely
popular. It is vital that you purchase your tickets
well in advance, and arrange lodging well in
advance also. Snowmass advises that if you
do not have a ticket, to not show up for the
festival – it will be sold out.
in Aspen, and September is no different. During
the month of September, every year, JAS
comes to Snowmass. JAS, or Jazz Aspen
Snowmass, began in 1991 to honor the art of
Jazz in the Roaring Fork Valley. It has now
become a music attraction that lasts all
summer long, with the biggest celebration
coinciding with Labor Day weekend.
While this is a Jazz celebration, for all intents
and purposes, all types of music are
celebrated, including reggae and rock-n-roll.
Famous musicians and singers from around
the world attend the four day Music in the
Mountains celebration.
All events take place in the breathtaking
Snowmass Town Park, located on Brush
Creek Road in Snowmass. Snowmass
Village is one of the most beautiful places in
the United States, and this festival is extremely
popular. It is vital that you purchase your tickets
well in advance, and arrange lodging well in
advance also. Snowmass advises that if you
do not have a ticket, to not show up for the
festival – it will be sold out.
Accessorize Your Mountain Bike
You've decided to take up the exciting and challenging sport of mountain biking. Unlike casual biking, you need much more than just a helmet to ensure that you have a safe ride as you hit the trails.
Mountain biking is such a popular sport that there is now a vast range of accessories for both men and women. Make sure you do a bit of research on each item you want to purchase to make sure you buy the best quality for the amount of money you want to spend.
Bike helmet
We may be listing the bike helmet as an 'accessory' but it really isn't. It is a necessary piece of equipment. In mountain biking, it is not a question of if you're going to fall, it's a question of when. And when you take a header over your handlebars, having a secure helmet on your head could well save your life. Although you can buy most accessories second hand if you so desire, the bike helmet is something that you want to buy brand-new, and make sure that it fits your head properly. And if you do have an accident in which any damage occurs to the helmet, the wisdom is that you should purchase another one. One accident per helmet - that's the rule.
Eye protection
Have you ever been riding on the road and been passed by a car that sends up a spurt of gravel at you? If any of that gets into your eyes, you have to stop immediately to clear your vision. If you're on a trail heading downhill at a breakneck pace, and a baleful bee takes that opportunity to hit you in the eye, the following seconds could end up being very uncomfortable. Glasses or sunglasses are one solution, but the best method is to wear goggles. Whatever you get, make sure that lenses are non-breakable.
Hydration system
It's common sense to bring a water bottle with you when you go out on a trail ride. It's very easy to get dehydrated which brings your energy right down. However, in order to drink from your water bottle you have to take your hand off one of the handles, and there are sometimes when you don't want to do that. A hydration backpack is a good solution. As a backpack you can put all kinds of necessary inside it, and when you need a drink you just reach over with your mouth to the bite valve and take a sip.
Mountain bike shorts
These days bike saddles are a lot more comfortable than they used to be. There are saddles made especially for women as well as men, and you can purchase gel-filled saddles that make the hours you spend on your bike a bit more comfortable. But you'll also want padded bike underwear and padded bike shorts, just for extra comfort.
Mountain bike gloves
If you fall off your bike (or should that be, when), your hands will probably be the first thing to hit the ground - either a paved road, a graveled road, dirt, mud, bushes...all sorts of hazards that can rip up your hands unless they're properly protected. Gloves serve another purpose as well, of course. If you're heading down the trail your hands will get sweaty which could cause problems keeping your hands on your bike grips. Wearing gloves eliminates that problem.
Mountain biking shoes
These days there's a shoe made for every sport under the sun, including that of mountain biking. The main difference in mountain bike shoes is the type of sole - designed for the different types of pedals out there: with clips or clipless. The clipless type of pedal requires that your shoes be fitted with special cleats. The shoes need to be durable and comfortable.
Trail repair kit
Regardless of what type of biking you do, it always makes sense to carry a bicycle repair kit with you. However, you can 'get away' with not carrying one if you ride on the streets of your city. You'll just be a phone call away from someone who can come and help you if you have a flat, after all. It's not that easy if you're out in the woods and your cell phone doesn't work. Always have a a multi-tool designed for bike repair, tire levers, and a patch kit for fixing flat tires. However, having a repair kit will do you little good if you don't know how to use the tools! So make sure that after you purchase your kit you familiarize with each of the tools and how to use them! It's easy once you know how.
Mountain biking is such a popular sport that there is now a vast range of accessories for both men and women. Make sure you do a bit of research on each item you want to purchase to make sure you buy the best quality for the amount of money you want to spend.
Bike helmet
We may be listing the bike helmet as an 'accessory' but it really isn't. It is a necessary piece of equipment. In mountain biking, it is not a question of if you're going to fall, it's a question of when. And when you take a header over your handlebars, having a secure helmet on your head could well save your life. Although you can buy most accessories second hand if you so desire, the bike helmet is something that you want to buy brand-new, and make sure that it fits your head properly. And if you do have an accident in which any damage occurs to the helmet, the wisdom is that you should purchase another one. One accident per helmet - that's the rule.
Eye protection
Have you ever been riding on the road and been passed by a car that sends up a spurt of gravel at you? If any of that gets into your eyes, you have to stop immediately to clear your vision. If you're on a trail heading downhill at a breakneck pace, and a baleful bee takes that opportunity to hit you in the eye, the following seconds could end up being very uncomfortable. Glasses or sunglasses are one solution, but the best method is to wear goggles. Whatever you get, make sure that lenses are non-breakable.
Hydration system
It's common sense to bring a water bottle with you when you go out on a trail ride. It's very easy to get dehydrated which brings your energy right down. However, in order to drink from your water bottle you have to take your hand off one of the handles, and there are sometimes when you don't want to do that. A hydration backpack is a good solution. As a backpack you can put all kinds of necessary inside it, and when you need a drink you just reach over with your mouth to the bite valve and take a sip.
Mountain bike shorts
These days bike saddles are a lot more comfortable than they used to be. There are saddles made especially for women as well as men, and you can purchase gel-filled saddles that make the hours you spend on your bike a bit more comfortable. But you'll also want padded bike underwear and padded bike shorts, just for extra comfort.
Mountain bike gloves
If you fall off your bike (or should that be, when), your hands will probably be the first thing to hit the ground - either a paved road, a graveled road, dirt, mud, bushes...all sorts of hazards that can rip up your hands unless they're properly protected. Gloves serve another purpose as well, of course. If you're heading down the trail your hands will get sweaty which could cause problems keeping your hands on your bike grips. Wearing gloves eliminates that problem.
Mountain biking shoes
These days there's a shoe made for every sport under the sun, including that of mountain biking. The main difference in mountain bike shoes is the type of sole - designed for the different types of pedals out there: with clips or clipless. The clipless type of pedal requires that your shoes be fitted with special cleats. The shoes need to be durable and comfortable.
Trail repair kit
Regardless of what type of biking you do, it always makes sense to carry a bicycle repair kit with you. However, you can 'get away' with not carrying one if you ride on the streets of your city. You'll just be a phone call away from someone who can come and help you if you have a flat, after all. It's not that easy if you're out in the woods and your cell phone doesn't work. Always have a a multi-tool designed for bike repair, tire levers, and a patch kit for fixing flat tires. However, having a repair kit will do you little good if you don't know how to use the tools! So make sure that after you purchase your kit you familiarize with each of the tools and how to use them! It's easy once you know how.
A Guide to North Carolina Mountain Vacations
The mountains in western North Carolina are among the most attractive in the entire United States. two mountain ranges -- the Great Smoky Mountains, the Appalachian Mountains, & the Blue Ridge Mountains -- converge in North Carolina, giving the area a charm unsurpassed in the rest of the country. These two mountain ranges provide the perfect backdrop for a fun & adventurous North Carolina mountain holiday.
there's a wide variety of attractions in the mountains of North Carolina. Visitors can go camping in the vast wilderness surrounding the mountains, stay in an historic cabin not unlike the dwellings of the area's early settlers, or stay in a modern, state of the art resort. The Appalachian Trail, Nantahala National Forest, & the Western North Carolina Nature Center are just a quantity of the exciting places to visit in this region.
Nantahala National Forest encompasses lots of of the peaks & valleys of the western North Carolina mountains. It includes the Tusquitee River. Another attraction of the Nantahala area is the river rafting. there's difficult class II & III rapids along with calmer waters more agreeable to families.
The Appalachian Trail is a footpath that stretches over 2000 miles from northern Georgia all the way to central Maine. This attractive trail winds through a number of the most stunning parts of the mountains in North Carolina. Clingmans Dome, the highest point on the trail, provides a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding area. On a clear day, visitors can see up to 100 miles away.
The Western North Carolina Nature Center offers a quantity of features for visitors. The Center has a petting zoo, gardens, a predator habitat, a nocturnal hall, & other interesting & educational attractions to lure visitors. The Center also serves as a sanctuary for injured or orphaned animals that couldn't survive in the wild.
there's a wide variety of attractions in the mountains of North Carolina. Visitors can go camping in the vast wilderness surrounding the mountains, stay in an historic cabin not unlike the dwellings of the area's early settlers, or stay in a modern, state of the art resort. The Appalachian Trail, Nantahala National Forest, & the Western North Carolina Nature Center are just a quantity of the exciting places to visit in this region.
Nantahala National Forest encompasses lots of of the peaks & valleys of the western North Carolina mountains. It includes the Tusquitee River. Another attraction of the Nantahala area is the river rafting. there's difficult class II & III rapids along with calmer waters more agreeable to families.
The Appalachian Trail is a footpath that stretches over 2000 miles from northern Georgia all the way to central Maine. This attractive trail winds through a number of the most stunning parts of the mountains in North Carolina. Clingmans Dome, the highest point on the trail, provides a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding area. On a clear day, visitors can see up to 100 miles away.
The Western North Carolina Nature Center offers a quantity of features for visitors. The Center has a petting zoo, gardens, a predator habitat, a nocturnal hall, & other interesting & educational attractions to lure visitors. The Center also serves as a sanctuary for injured or orphaned animals that couldn't survive in the wild.
Andes Mountains Adventure
My Andes mountains adventure started with a graveyard.
All the monuments near the first refuge weren't for climbers without skill. This graveyard is testament to the unpredictability of high places. Chimborazo is very high. It randomly drops large rocks or pieces of glacier on you, and has weather that changes by the minute. Hiking to the second refuge, we could hear the rocks and pieces of ice falling somewhere above.
"El Refugio Edward Whymper" is a simple, unheated, hut at 16,000 feet. It's named after the English climber who first made it to the summit of the mountain. It isn't completely unheated. When somebody feels like carrying wood up to 5000 meters, the fireplace might raise the temperature 3 degrees.
We drank "mate de coca" a tea made of coca leaves, which are also used to make another product - one that is taken up the nose. That seemed to help. We went hiking for a short while, which was the sum total of my acclimatization. Paco cooked something, and after eating I slept for at least an hour before starting the ascent at eleven that night.
Mount Chimborazo
Mount Chimborazo is in Ecuador, about 100 miles south of the Equator. At it's peak, it is the furthest point from the center of our planet. Earth bulges at the equator, making Mount Chimborazo even further out there than Everest. It's the closest point to the sun on the planet, and yet still the coldest place in Ecuador.
Paco, my guide, woke me up at ten that evening. He frowned when he saw my sleeping bag, which packed up smaller than a football, and weighed a pound. My frameless 13-ounce backpack didn't seem to impress him either. In any case, although it was below freezing in the hut, just as he said it would be, I had stayed warm - as I said I would.
Paco didn't speak a word of English, and I was just learning Spanish. Since our whole group consisted of him and me, we had some communication problems. I thought, for example, that the "night" (a few hours) in the hut was included in the $130 fee. He thought I was a mountain climber.
Actually, I had practiced once with crampons and an ice axe on a sledding hill near my house. I climbed forty feet while people walked by with their sleds, warning their kids to stay away from me.
I think Paco was telling me he didn't like the papery rainsuit I was using as a shell. He frowned at my homemade one-ounce ski mask. When he saw my insulating vest, a feathery piece of poly batting with a hole cut in it for my head, I just pretended not to understand what he was saying.
I hadn't planned to climb Chimborazo with such lightweight gear, but I had come to Ecuador on a courier flight, and could bring only carry-on luggage. I had only 12 pounds in the pack to begin with, so by the time I put on all my clothes that night, the weight on my back was irrelevant. The weight of my body, however, wasn't. Paco had to coax me up that mountain.
Glaciers Near The Equator
The glaciers start near the hut. Hiking soon became mountaineering. I put on crampons for the second time in my life. During one of my many breaks ("Demasiado" - too many, which I pretended not to understand when Paco explained in Spanish), I noticed that the thermometer I carried had bottomed out at 5 degrees fahrenheit. I wasn't cold, but I was exhausted at times - the times when I moved. When I sat still I felt like I could run right up that mountain.
We struggled (okay, I struggled) up the ice, hiking, climbing, jumping over crevasses, until I quit at 20,000 feet. I had also quit at 19,000 feet, and at 18,000 feet. Quitting had become my routine. Lying had become Paco's, so he told me straight-faced that the summit was just fifty feet higher. Maybe I wanted to believe him, or maybe the lack of oxygen had scrambled my brain. In any case, I started up the ice again.
We stumbled onto the summit at dawn. Or rather, I stumbled. Paco, who seemed somewhat frail down at the refuge, was in his element at 20,600 feet. Dirtbag Joe, a nineteen-year-old kid from California with ten dollars in his pocket, borrowed equipment, and my Ramen noodles in his stomach, was waiting with a smile.
The sky was a stunning blue color that you never see at lower elevations. Cotapaxi, a classic snow-covered volcano to the north, was clearly visible 70 or 80 miles away. Chimborazo's shadow fell across forty miles of land to the west. I had never seen anything like it.
Handshakes all around, and it was time to get off the mountain. I was told you don't want to be on Mount Chimborazo when she wakes up. She wakes up at nine a.m.
Paco was looking at his watch, and telling me to hurry. He got further and further ahead. Was he going to abandon me? When I caught up to him at the hut at nine a.m., I heard the rocks begin to fall out of the ice above as the sun warmed it. Now I understood. We really needed to get down to the refuge by nine. A thousand feet lower a photograph that mercifully doesn't show my shaking knees ended my Andes mountains adventure.
All the monuments near the first refuge weren't for climbers without skill. This graveyard is testament to the unpredictability of high places. Chimborazo is very high. It randomly drops large rocks or pieces of glacier on you, and has weather that changes by the minute. Hiking to the second refuge, we could hear the rocks and pieces of ice falling somewhere above.
"El Refugio Edward Whymper" is a simple, unheated, hut at 16,000 feet. It's named after the English climber who first made it to the summit of the mountain. It isn't completely unheated. When somebody feels like carrying wood up to 5000 meters, the fireplace might raise the temperature 3 degrees.
We drank "mate de coca" a tea made of coca leaves, which are also used to make another product - one that is taken up the nose. That seemed to help. We went hiking for a short while, which was the sum total of my acclimatization. Paco cooked something, and after eating I slept for at least an hour before starting the ascent at eleven that night.
Mount Chimborazo
Mount Chimborazo is in Ecuador, about 100 miles south of the Equator. At it's peak, it is the furthest point from the center of our planet. Earth bulges at the equator, making Mount Chimborazo even further out there than Everest. It's the closest point to the sun on the planet, and yet still the coldest place in Ecuador.
Paco, my guide, woke me up at ten that evening. He frowned when he saw my sleeping bag, which packed up smaller than a football, and weighed a pound. My frameless 13-ounce backpack didn't seem to impress him either. In any case, although it was below freezing in the hut, just as he said it would be, I had stayed warm - as I said I would.
Paco didn't speak a word of English, and I was just learning Spanish. Since our whole group consisted of him and me, we had some communication problems. I thought, for example, that the "night" (a few hours) in the hut was included in the $130 fee. He thought I was a mountain climber.
Actually, I had practiced once with crampons and an ice axe on a sledding hill near my house. I climbed forty feet while people walked by with their sleds, warning their kids to stay away from me.
I think Paco was telling me he didn't like the papery rainsuit I was using as a shell. He frowned at my homemade one-ounce ski mask. When he saw my insulating vest, a feathery piece of poly batting with a hole cut in it for my head, I just pretended not to understand what he was saying.
I hadn't planned to climb Chimborazo with such lightweight gear, but I had come to Ecuador on a courier flight, and could bring only carry-on luggage. I had only 12 pounds in the pack to begin with, so by the time I put on all my clothes that night, the weight on my back was irrelevant. The weight of my body, however, wasn't. Paco had to coax me up that mountain.
Glaciers Near The Equator
The glaciers start near the hut. Hiking soon became mountaineering. I put on crampons for the second time in my life. During one of my many breaks ("Demasiado" - too many, which I pretended not to understand when Paco explained in Spanish), I noticed that the thermometer I carried had bottomed out at 5 degrees fahrenheit. I wasn't cold, but I was exhausted at times - the times when I moved. When I sat still I felt like I could run right up that mountain.
We struggled (okay, I struggled) up the ice, hiking, climbing, jumping over crevasses, until I quit at 20,000 feet. I had also quit at 19,000 feet, and at 18,000 feet. Quitting had become my routine. Lying had become Paco's, so he told me straight-faced that the summit was just fifty feet higher. Maybe I wanted to believe him, or maybe the lack of oxygen had scrambled my brain. In any case, I started up the ice again.
We stumbled onto the summit at dawn. Or rather, I stumbled. Paco, who seemed somewhat frail down at the refuge, was in his element at 20,600 feet. Dirtbag Joe, a nineteen-year-old kid from California with ten dollars in his pocket, borrowed equipment, and my Ramen noodles in his stomach, was waiting with a smile.
The sky was a stunning blue color that you never see at lower elevations. Cotapaxi, a classic snow-covered volcano to the north, was clearly visible 70 or 80 miles away. Chimborazo's shadow fell across forty miles of land to the west. I had never seen anything like it.
Handshakes all around, and it was time to get off the mountain. I was told you don't want to be on Mount Chimborazo when she wakes up. She wakes up at nine a.m.
Paco was looking at his watch, and telling me to hurry. He got further and further ahead. Was he going to abandon me? When I caught up to him at the hut at nine a.m., I heard the rocks begin to fall out of the ice above as the sun warmed it. Now I understood. We really needed to get down to the refuge by nine. A thousand feet lower a photograph that mercifully doesn't show my shaking knees ended my Andes mountains adventure.
Adding Mountain Bike Lights To Your Bike
Both hobby cyclists and professional cyclists will find that bike lights can be very helpful. They serve a great number of functional purposes, including letting motorists know that you are on the road and showing you where you are going. You will find that there are several different bicycle lights available, so you want to choose the bike light that best fits your needs and your riding style.
You can find quite a large variety of bike lights that are both durable and dependable at online bicycle equipment stores and shops. They can help you find the right bike light that will fit your needs. The prices are comparable to brick and mortar stores and shipping is fast. You will probably get your lights within a week or so after you place your order.
Another place that you may want to look for your safety bike lights is at your local bicycle dealer. Their prices may be a little higher, but if you are not sure what you want, you may prefer seeing the lights in person so that you can make a better informed decision. The salesman at your local bike dealer can help you find the bike lights that are right for your particular bike riding and functional needs.
There are thousands of people that enjoy the thrilling, heart-pounding sport of mountain biking. Some riders enjoy riding down those mountains at night and adding bike lights can help them to make it safer and more enjoyable. One long-lasting and durable type of light that you may want to consider is the LED light. It will last you for many rides to come.
The protection of the bicyclist is the main reason that bike lights were designed. Mountain bikes can be sued for many different purposes, including transportation around time and for other recreational uses. There are some kids who even ride mountain bikes back and forth to school and the lights will help them to be safer while riding. This can keep them safe and help decrease your worry.
Due to the huge popularity in bicycle, it should not be difficult to find accessories, including bike lights, for your bike. You can find a plethora of different online shops that can offer you a varied choice in bicycle lights. This is wonderful is you have some kind of idea concerning what you need and want, but if you don’t, then you may want to stick with a local bicycle shop or email the online store so that you get some help.
There is a large price range in lights for your mountain bike. They start at around $25 for bulkier lights and the price increases the lighter and more advanced that they are up to about $500. Your functional needs and riding commitment will have a huge impact on the amount of money that you will want to spend on this accessory. If you only ride your bike casually, then you may want to choose a less expensive light, but if you ride your bike seriously, then you will want to spend a little more.
You can find quite a large variety of bike lights that are both durable and dependable at online bicycle equipment stores and shops. They can help you find the right bike light that will fit your needs. The prices are comparable to brick and mortar stores and shipping is fast. You will probably get your lights within a week or so after you place your order.
Another place that you may want to look for your safety bike lights is at your local bicycle dealer. Their prices may be a little higher, but if you are not sure what you want, you may prefer seeing the lights in person so that you can make a better informed decision. The salesman at your local bike dealer can help you find the bike lights that are right for your particular bike riding and functional needs.
There are thousands of people that enjoy the thrilling, heart-pounding sport of mountain biking. Some riders enjoy riding down those mountains at night and adding bike lights can help them to make it safer and more enjoyable. One long-lasting and durable type of light that you may want to consider is the LED light. It will last you for many rides to come.
The protection of the bicyclist is the main reason that bike lights were designed. Mountain bikes can be sued for many different purposes, including transportation around time and for other recreational uses. There are some kids who even ride mountain bikes back and forth to school and the lights will help them to be safer while riding. This can keep them safe and help decrease your worry.
Due to the huge popularity in bicycle, it should not be difficult to find accessories, including bike lights, for your bike. You can find a plethora of different online shops that can offer you a varied choice in bicycle lights. This is wonderful is you have some kind of idea concerning what you need and want, but if you don’t, then you may want to stick with a local bicycle shop or email the online store so that you get some help.
There is a large price range in lights for your mountain bike. They start at around $25 for bulkier lights and the price increases the lighter and more advanced that they are up to about $500. Your functional needs and riding commitment will have a huge impact on the amount of money that you will want to spend on this accessory. If you only ride your bike casually, then you may want to choose a less expensive light, but if you ride your bike seriously, then you will want to spend a little more.
An Introduction To Mountain Biking
Even if there are no mountains where you live, it can make sense to buy a mountain bike, just because of the security they provide, even in urban areas. And there's always the chance of a weekend ride in the country.
If you're a bicycle enthusiast, but have only tried cycling on the road, it's time you gave mountain biking a try. By mountain biking, I mean more than heading down an actual mountain - although that what most people think about when they hear the phrase "Mountain biking."
However, mountain bikes - light bikes with fat tires and front suspension - make it easy to go cross country riding as well.
So even if you live in an area that has no mountains - get yourself a mountain bike anyway! Those fat tires make for a nice ride - and as long as they're properly inflated they can go almost as fast as the thinner tires of road bikes, but you don't need to worry about going up curbs or down curbs.
There are three styles of mountain biking - the one everyone thinks of which is downhill riding, free riding, and cross country. If you're a professional cyclist or a dedicated amateur you'll want to buy a bike specifically designed for each style, but if you're a casual cyclist who'll want to try one style one weekend and a different style the next, any good mountain bike will do.
Most people will buy a brand new tool whenever they take up a brand new hobby. This is a mistake. Examine yourself. Have you done this in the past - decided on a hobby, bought all the equipment, used it once - then stored it in your garage and never used it again?
So, if possible, rent a bike first - indeed, in so doing you'll be able to try out quite a few bikes and decide on which one you'd like to buy. Make sure that the people renting you the bikes have taken proper care of them, of course, and that they're not just "beaters."
Are you a beginner?
If there's any mountain biking in your area, chances are there'll be a club or two, which will cater to beginners. The best thing to do is seek out your local bike shop. Anyone there can tell you what goes on in your area. In addition, most bike shops will have racks featuring the brochures of local clubs, and bike maps of the local trails, for free.
Practice makes perfect
If you're not in shape - you can get in shape with mountain biking... if you make a concentrated effort to do so. Set yourself goals of miles to ride each day. If you don't have the time to ride an hour or so everyday, but if you have a steep hill near your home, you can always spend ten minutes or so doing wind sprints up and down that hill. This will increase your stamina and strengthen your leg muscles no end. (Make sure you check with your doctor to make sure you have no health problems that would limit vigorous exercise.)
Don't get on a bike and then find the toughest trail and through yourself down it. Start with beginning trails and work on your skills for a while.
Staying safe
Riders fall. Face it - it's going to happen. So the most important piece of equipment you have, after a good bike - is a good helmet. Never buy a used helmet - you don't know what's happened to it. Also of use to the mountain biker are goggles or other eye protection, elbow and knee pads, and good shoes. Always carry a few dollars and some change in a pocket so you can call for help if need be, and make sure you have identification on you at all times. (That last bit of advice is good for any type of biking, or jogging, come to that!) Always be prepared for the worst to happen, and then it [probably] never will.
If you're a bicycle enthusiast, but have only tried cycling on the road, it's time you gave mountain biking a try. By mountain biking, I mean more than heading down an actual mountain - although that what most people think about when they hear the phrase "Mountain biking."
However, mountain bikes - light bikes with fat tires and front suspension - make it easy to go cross country riding as well.
So even if you live in an area that has no mountains - get yourself a mountain bike anyway! Those fat tires make for a nice ride - and as long as they're properly inflated they can go almost as fast as the thinner tires of road bikes, but you don't need to worry about going up curbs or down curbs.
There are three styles of mountain biking - the one everyone thinks of which is downhill riding, free riding, and cross country. If you're a professional cyclist or a dedicated amateur you'll want to buy a bike specifically designed for each style, but if you're a casual cyclist who'll want to try one style one weekend and a different style the next, any good mountain bike will do.
Most people will buy a brand new tool whenever they take up a brand new hobby. This is a mistake. Examine yourself. Have you done this in the past - decided on a hobby, bought all the equipment, used it once - then stored it in your garage and never used it again?
So, if possible, rent a bike first - indeed, in so doing you'll be able to try out quite a few bikes and decide on which one you'd like to buy. Make sure that the people renting you the bikes have taken proper care of them, of course, and that they're not just "beaters."
Are you a beginner?
If there's any mountain biking in your area, chances are there'll be a club or two, which will cater to beginners. The best thing to do is seek out your local bike shop. Anyone there can tell you what goes on in your area. In addition, most bike shops will have racks featuring the brochures of local clubs, and bike maps of the local trails, for free.
Practice makes perfect
If you're not in shape - you can get in shape with mountain biking... if you make a concentrated effort to do so. Set yourself goals of miles to ride each day. If you don't have the time to ride an hour or so everyday, but if you have a steep hill near your home, you can always spend ten minutes or so doing wind sprints up and down that hill. This will increase your stamina and strengthen your leg muscles no end. (Make sure you check with your doctor to make sure you have no health problems that would limit vigorous exercise.)
Don't get on a bike and then find the toughest trail and through yourself down it. Start with beginning trails and work on your skills for a while.
Staying safe
Riders fall. Face it - it's going to happen. So the most important piece of equipment you have, after a good bike - is a good helmet. Never buy a used helmet - you don't know what's happened to it. Also of use to the mountain biker are goggles or other eye protection, elbow and knee pads, and good shoes. Always carry a few dollars and some change in a pocket so you can call for help if need be, and make sure you have identification on you at all times. (That last bit of advice is good for any type of biking, or jogging, come to that!) Always be prepared for the worst to happen, and then it [probably] never will.
Why Mountain Bike Shoes?
To increase your enjoyment of mountain biking, the right shoe is essential. A shoe designed specifically for the mountain biker is the way to go.
Mountain bike shoes come in a variety of prices, from the inexpensive $70 range, up to over $400. The amount of money you pay depends entirely on whether or not you are a casual, once-a-month rider, a serious hobbyist, or someone who competes in races - either amateur or professional.
What is it about mountain bike shoes that make them a) important to have and b) so expensive?
Shoes designed specifically for cycling have stiff soles, which helps the cyclist in transferring the power from his legs and feet to the pedals and thence to the chain for greater speed. Since the road cyclist is expected to be on his or her bike at all times without having to do a great deal of walking, they normally have a protruding cleat which slots into the recess on their pedals.
A protruding cleat would be of no use to the mountain biker, who quite frequently has to get off the bike and wheel or carry it around obstacles. So mountain bike shoes have recessed cleats, that won't interfere with walking, and aren't made with a totally rigid sole, but one that will give just a little bit.
There are dozens of mountain biking shoes on the market. Men will find a wider variety of designs then women, nevertheless there are quite a few styles designed specifically for the smaller foot of the average woman.
What makes the mountain bike shoe so important?
The occasional biker usually doesn't bother with toe clips or clipless pedals....they just hop on their bike and they're away. However, the serious cyclist wants to get all the power he or she can out of a pedaling, and with the shoe firmly attached to the pedal - either with a toeclip or by a cleat, the cyclist can pull upward on the pedal as well as simultaneously pushing downward on the other pedal, which increases the speed of the bike.
What makes the mountain bike shoe so expensive?
Well, as with any shoe, the price comes down to what the shoe is made of. The lighter the shoe is, the better for the racer. But, lightness comes expensive. Carbon fiber soles are the lightest soles on the market - carbon fiber is more expensive to produce than injection-molded plastic, or plastic and fiberglass.
However, the average rider should be able to get a pair of mountain biking shoes for less than a hundred dollars.
Wyoming Boasts Natural Flatlands And Mountains
Being one of the largest states in the union, just over a half million people have chosen to call Wyoming home, making it the least populated state. Its open ranges as well as vast mountain ranges make the state diverse in it attractions.
In the northwest corner of the state, Yellowstone National Park boasts geysers and hot springs as well as many geothermal features. Old Faithful Geyser draws millions of visitors each year. The park is also home to free ranging animals such as buffalo and elk and is home to grizzly bears and wolves.
On the other side of the state, in the Black Hills in the northeast corner, a towering rock formation called Devil’s Tower draws visitors by the millions each year as well as members of several Native American tribes who return to the area for annual rituals. It came under the National Park Service in 1916. Mountain climbers began their quest for the top in the 1930’s with records of climbs kept since 1937.
The state capital of Cheyenne is located in the southeast corner of the state just off Interstate 80 with I-25 running north and south near the capital. Wyoming is an arid state receiving only about ten inches of rainfall each year. It is unique in that no water from any source in the state makes it to either ocean. The water from rain either evaporates or is absorbed into the ground. It is not a farm-friendly environment yet many ranches are established near the mountain ranges on all four sides of the state.
The ski areas in the northwestern part of the state does enjoy significant show fall with precipitation often approaching 200 inches a year in the mountainous region of the Teton Range. In order to enjoy some of the best snow skiing in the country you will have to get off the beaten path, read that interstate highways, as I-80, I-90 and I-25 carry you mostly through the eastern and southern part of the state, the mountains of the Grand Teton National Park is located in the northwest part of the state and have some of the highest peaks leading into the Rocky Mountains.
Route 287 and 189 will take you into the Bridger-Teton National Forest for some of the best natural scenery in the country, located in the western section of Wyoming and in the north central, leave I-90 on Route 14 and travel through the Big Horn National Forest. The Wind River Indian Reservation also draws visitors to view Native American life, located off Routes 134 and 26 to the west of Casper. Continue on to the northwest and pay a visit to the Shoshone National Forest for some of the best photography opportunities in the state.
Cabin Rentals Smoky Mountains - Top 3 Cabin Rental Destinations
Cabin rentals Smoky Mountains can be found in either Tennessee or North Carolina. For cabin rentals Smoky Mountains, the busiest months are the summer months as visitors enjoy the cooler mountain air and all that the Smokies area has to offer. Since it's located within a day's drive of half of the USA population, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the #1 visited park in the United States.
If you're searching for cabin rentals in the Smoky Mountains area, here are the three most popular destinations:
Gatlinburg, Tennessee - Gatlinburg has been a favorite of visitors for decades, adding more attractions every year. Located at the Tennessee entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you'll find that Gatlinburg has hundreds of cabin rentals Smoky Mountains for you to choose from. With only about 3,800 permanent residents, Gatlinburg can accomodate up to 35,000 visitors a night for all of its lodging types. Cabin rentals in Gatlinburg exist that are within walking distance of the Gatlinburg attractions, or you can choose a mountain view secluded cabin if you prefer.
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee - Pigeon Forge is located less than 10 miles from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park entrance. Pigeon Forge has more than 40 attractions on the main thoroughfare in town, including Dollywood and Dollywood Splash Country. Even though Pigeon Forge only has a few thousand permanent residents, nearly 10,000 visitors a night can find lodging. Again, you can find dozens of cabin rentals Smoky Mountains in and around Pigeon Forge.
Cherokee, North Carolina - Cherokee is the original home area of what's now called the Eastern Tribe. You can find great Cherokee cabin rentals Smoky Mountains to stay in while vacationing in this popular destination. Cherokee is about 3 miles from the North Carolina entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can enjoy many cultural and family attractions in Cherokee such as the Cherokee Heritage Museum, the Oconaluftee Indian Village and the Indian arts gallery. Another famous attraction is the outdoor drama 'Unto These Hills' which portrays events in the lives of the Cherokees during the early 1800's leading up to their forced relocation to Oklahoma and the infamous 'Trail of Tears'.
Besides all the attractions in these three popular towns, there's a host of outdoor fun activities in the Smoky Mountains area such as whitewater rafting, canoeing, tubing, kayaking, hiking, walking, mountaineering, ropeclimbing, getting around with ATV's, bicycling through the mountains, fishing, hunting, horseshoes and much more.
With all the fun you know you'll have during the day, why not add to your pleasure by spending your nights in one of the cabin rentals Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge or Cherokee? Cabin rentals Smoky Mountains are based on the number of guests that can be accommodated or number of bedrooms that are available. For example, cabin rentals are listed as 'sleeps 8', 'for 2 couples' and so on.
It's easy to check out all the fun rental cabins that you can choose from. Compared to staying in a hotel room, it's no wonder many choose to enjoy the privacy, conveniences and extra space while on vacation by staying in cabin rentals Smoky Mountains. Whether you’re visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the first time or you visit often, check out the variety to be found in cabin rentals for your next vacation stay.
If you're searching for cabin rentals in the Smoky Mountains area, here are the three most popular destinations:
Gatlinburg, Tennessee - Gatlinburg has been a favorite of visitors for decades, adding more attractions every year. Located at the Tennessee entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you'll find that Gatlinburg has hundreds of cabin rentals Smoky Mountains for you to choose from. With only about 3,800 permanent residents, Gatlinburg can accomodate up to 35,000 visitors a night for all of its lodging types. Cabin rentals in Gatlinburg exist that are within walking distance of the Gatlinburg attractions, or you can choose a mountain view secluded cabin if you prefer.
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee - Pigeon Forge is located less than 10 miles from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park entrance. Pigeon Forge has more than 40 attractions on the main thoroughfare in town, including Dollywood and Dollywood Splash Country. Even though Pigeon Forge only has a few thousand permanent residents, nearly 10,000 visitors a night can find lodging. Again, you can find dozens of cabin rentals Smoky Mountains in and around Pigeon Forge.
Cherokee, North Carolina - Cherokee is the original home area of what's now called the Eastern Tribe. You can find great Cherokee cabin rentals Smoky Mountains to stay in while vacationing in this popular destination. Cherokee is about 3 miles from the North Carolina entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You can enjoy many cultural and family attractions in Cherokee such as the Cherokee Heritage Museum, the Oconaluftee Indian Village and the Indian arts gallery. Another famous attraction is the outdoor drama 'Unto These Hills' which portrays events in the lives of the Cherokees during the early 1800's leading up to their forced relocation to Oklahoma and the infamous 'Trail of Tears'.
Besides all the attractions in these three popular towns, there's a host of outdoor fun activities in the Smoky Mountains area such as whitewater rafting, canoeing, tubing, kayaking, hiking, walking, mountaineering, ropeclimbing, getting around with ATV's, bicycling through the mountains, fishing, hunting, horseshoes and much more.
With all the fun you know you'll have during the day, why not add to your pleasure by spending your nights in one of the cabin rentals Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge or Cherokee? Cabin rentals Smoky Mountains are based on the number of guests that can be accommodated or number of bedrooms that are available. For example, cabin rentals are listed as 'sleeps 8', 'for 2 couples' and so on.
It's easy to check out all the fun rental cabins that you can choose from. Compared to staying in a hotel room, it's no wonder many choose to enjoy the privacy, conveniences and extra space while on vacation by staying in cabin rentals Smoky Mountains. Whether you’re visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the first time or you visit often, check out the variety to be found in cabin rentals for your next vacation stay.
What Clothes for the Mountain?
Mountain biking is great fun but it is also physically demanding, and if you take a tumble you’ll want to know you are protected from injury as much as possible. That’s why mountain bike clothing is designed specifically to meet the demands of this sport. If you’re a beginner or just an occasional mountain biker then a pair of comfortable tracksuit bottoms, a long sleeved t-shirt and the obligatory helmet will suffice. You might also want to put some gloves on to protect your hands. If you’re a regular mountain biker however, it might be worth investing in some proper cycling gear. Comfort, protection and strong breathable fabrics are the watch words to look out for.
These are perhaps the most familiar pieces of mountain bike clothing for most people. When you are buying this kind of mountain bike clothing you’ll find that they’re mostly made from microfleece or quick dry fabrics. Cycle shorts are usually double layered around the seat area for comfort. You’ll be glad of this feature during those bumpy cross country mountain bike rides.
These can often be an overlooked area of mountain bike clothing, but they are essential to help avoid blisters and protect your hands in the event of a fall.You’ll often find the backs of the best cycling gloves are aerated for comfort, while the palms will be double layered leather for better protection.
There’s nothing quite like splashing through muddy puddles during a downhill run on your mountain bike, but you’ll enjoy it more if your mountain bike clothing keeps at least some of the elements off you.
You might think a standard set of waterproofs would be fine for cycling, but you’ll be a lot more comfortable wearing mountain bike clothing that is specific for the job. Cycling waterproofs will be much lighter and more breathable than standard ones, and will still allow for complete freedom of movement.
The best waterproof mountain bike clothing folds and rolls down into a small light bag that can be stowed away in a backpack in case it’s needed. You’ll want to travel light when you’re mountain biking, and proper mountain bike clothing makes life a lot easier in this respect.
Finally, if you are likely to be out biking along dirt roads during the evening, you might want to invest in some reflective gear as well. Making sure you’ll be seen is an integral part of all good mountain bike clothing.
Adding Mountain Bike Lights To Your Bike
Both hobby cyclists and professional cyclists will find that bike lights can be very helpful. They serve a great number of functional purposes, including letting motorists know that you are on the road and showing you where you are going. You will find that there are several different bicycle lights available, so you want to choose the bike light that best fits your needs and your riding style.
You can find quite a large variety of bike lights that are both durable and dependable at online bicycle equipment stores and shops. They can help you find the right bike light that will fit your needs. The prices are comparable to brick and mortar stores and shipping is fast. You will probably get your lights within a week or so after you place your order.
Another place that you may want to look for your safety bike lights is at your local bicycle dealer. Their prices may be a little higher, but if you are not sure what you want, you may prefer seeing the lights in person so that you can make a better informed decision. The salesman at your local bike dealer can help you find the bike lights that are right for your particular bike riding and functional needs.
There are thousands of people that enjoy the thrilling, heart-pounding sport of mountain biking. Some riders enjoy riding down those mountains at night and adding bike lights can help them to make it safer and more enjoyable. One long-lasting and durable type of light that you may want to consider is the LED light. It will last you for many rides to come.
The protection of the bicyclist is the main reason that bike lights were designed. Mountain bikes can be sued for many different purposes, including transportation around time and for other recreational uses. There are some kids who even ride mountain bikes back and forth to school and the lights will help them to be safer while riding. This can keep them safe and help decrease your worry.
Due to the huge popularity in bicycle, it should not be difficult to find accessories, including bike lights, for your bike. You can find a plethora of different online shops that can offer you a varied choice in bicycle lights. This is wonderful is you have some kind of idea concerning what you need and want, but if you don’t, then you may want to stick with a local bicycle shop or email the online store so that you get some help.
There is a large price range in lights for your mountain bike. They start at around $25 for bulkier lights and the price increases the lighter and more advanced that they are up to about $500. Your functional needs and riding commitment will have a huge impact on the amount of money that you will want to spend on this accessory. If you only ride your bike casually, then you may want to choose a less expensive light, but if you ride your bike seriously, then you will want to spend a little more.
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