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Three cabins left! If you still have vacation time and $ in your budget for this year, this is a great deal. We sailed with this company in March and loved it!
Here is a first-time, introductory discount offer especially for Summit Trek & Travel friends and clients to sail the Greek isles on an exclusive luxury sailboat.
Friends!! Summit Trek & Travel has been given an opportunity to offer a Sailing Cruise on the Aegean Sea, exploring the Greek Islands, on a 98' sailing yacht!! The windjammer company is allowing me to offer it at a NICE DISCOUNT. This ship carries only 8 passengers (4 double cabins). Two cabins are already tentatively spoken for, so if you're interested, check out this link for details soon!
Here is a first-time, introductory discount offer especially for Summit Trek & Travel friends and clients to sail the Greek isles on an exclusive luxury sailboat.
This Thursday, 3/14, 6:30 at RRT. Or tune in on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. This will be fun!!
Join us for another live recording of Backcountry Banter! We're excited to have Nancy Ball with join us at RRT on 3/14 starting at 6:30p. We look forward to talking to Nancy about her mission in the outdoors, her successes in guiding, and dig into her book "How to P**p in the Woods".
Join us or listen top Backcountry Banter on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
This Thursday, 3/14, at 6:30. This will be fun!!
Join us for another live recording of Backcountry Banter! We're excited to have Nancy Ball with join us at RRT on 3/14 starting at 6:30p. We look forward to talking to Nancy about her mission in the outdoors, her successes in guiding, and dig into her book "How to P**p in the Woods".
Join us or listen top Backcountry Banter on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
I’m super excited for this! Bryan and Dalton are so much fun!!
Join us for another live recording of Backcountry Banter! We're excited to have Nancy Ball with join us at RRT on 3/14 starting at 6:30p. We look forward to talking to Nancy about her mission in the outdoors, her successes in guiding, and dig into her book "How to P**p in the Woods".
Join us or listen top Backcountry Banter on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Happy Leap Day!
This will be great!!
I will have the privilege of joining Bryan and Dalton for some fun Backcountry Banter in two weeks on March 14… Roads Rivers and Trails. Please tune in!
Leave no trace principle #4 – Leave what you find. You’ve just watched someone pick a beautiful wildflower. Yikes! How can you respond in a way that educates them with out causing them to get defensive (which clearly is not putting them in the learning zone….)
Everyone loves a campfire! (Well, almost everyone).
What’s your favorite thing about having a campfire, and how do you minimize the impact it has on your surroundings? (LNT principle #5 – “Minimize campfire impact”)
Calling all wildlife lovers, adventurers, and travel bugs… put a sticky note “HOLD” on your January 2025 calendar: OSA Peninsula, Costa Rica - Wildlife Adventure Tour.
Here’s a 6 minute highlight reel. Check it out!!
Dubbed "the most BIO-INTENSE place on the planet" by National Geographic, the Osa Peninsula is home to an astonishing number of plant and animal species... a...
But I’ve never eaten pepperoni WITH peanut butter.
You have gotten so smelly before, you've stopped noticing. You have a "nice" pair of Lone Peaks for when you want to look presentable. You own too many sporks. If this sounds like you, then congratulations: you are definitely a hiker.
From winter hiking and winter wildlife, to wild times and endangered species in the tropics, and from snowy mountain tops to warm and oceans and lush forests… if you love nature as much as we do, check out this blog. You’ll find a whole range of nature topics!
Sure Cure for the Gray Winter Blahs… BackpackingHiking in January and February can mean less crowded trails, and greater success spotting birds and other wildlife. Here’s how to be prepared. Join Our Mailing List Interested in information about our upcoming trips and events, general hints and tr...
How about some Trash Talk?
Most people are familiar with the phrase, “pack it in, pack it out”. (LNT principle #3 – “Dispose of waste properly.”) and most of us who hike a lot have run across places where this principle has not been followed! What’s the strangest thing you’ve found on the trail that someone left behind?
Sometimes here in the Midwest, January feels like it’s at least 100 days long…and February even longer! Gray skies, drizzle, freezing rain, gray landscape, cold, no sun, gray mood, GRAY GRAY GRAY… If you’re feeling this way, it’s time to get out and hike! Winter is a great time to head for a trail in the woods for a good dose of “tree aura” which will cure what ails you, including the gray winter blahs.
Hiking in January and February can mean less crowded trails, and greater success spotting birds and other wildlife. You can see more of the terrain than in warmer months when things are leafed out and blooming. And you may notice more signs of woodland creatures. If you’re really lucky, maybe it’ll snow. Whether you give in to your inner child to catch snowflakes on your tongue, make snow angels and have a snowball fight, or simply soak up the peace of a forest hushed by snowfall, there is nothing more beautiful than a snowy wood.
Unless you are underdressed for the cold, that is. It’s hard to enjoy the woods when you’re shaking like a cold chihuahua. So here are some tips to safely, and COMFORTABLY hike in the winter, even if it’s REEEE..ALY cold:
• Watch the weather. And carry extra layers because… how often is the weather forecast 100% on the money??
• Staying dry is critical. Maybe this is why we don’t swim in January, hmm?
• Dress like an onion. Wear layers. If you get warm enough to begin sweating, remove layers. Sweat is an enemy when winter hiking, precisely because its purpose is to cool you off.
• Do not wear cotton! We say, “Cotton is rotten; Wool is wonderful!” But the rangers out west say, “Cotton kills”. That’s because it retains moisture and holds it against your skin where it will pull the most heat from your body, and in the backcountry, that could be deadly.
• Think like a sheep or a duck. Wool and down are two great insulators! Thick synthetics are also good. Start with a thin wool or microfleece base layer and add one or two insulating layers of thicker wool, fleece, and/or down, followed by an outer layer that can be unzipped or removed to help regulate body temperature.
• Wear a waterproof/windproof outer layer. You know about the wind chill factor, right? Even a slight breeze will pull more heat away from your body.
• Wear a thick, warm hat, cover your neck with a scarf or gaiter, and wear warm gloves or better yet mittens… mittens are warmer than gloves. (And they are easier to stuff frozen fingers into… ask any 3 year old!)
• Your hands act like radiators. Whether you wear mittens or gloves you want something dense enough to be wind proof, or to have an outer windproof covering. Layering mittens over gloves when it’s extra cold works well, too.
• Winter is the only time I wear waterproof boots, because you want to keep your feet DRY when it’s cold out. Don’t have waterproof boots? No problem! Slip your socked feet into plastic bags before you put on your boots! Another great use for doggie p**p bags.
• Wear wool socks and make sure that your toes still have room to wiggle. If your boots are too tight because you have on too many pairs of socks, your circulation will be restricted… and could leave you feeling like you inadvertently left your toes at home.
• Invest in Yaktrax or mico-spikes. Minimize the risk of accidentally skating down an icy trail, or doing the splits on a frozen creek crossing. These traction devices are like snow chains for your boots. HERE
• Hot Hands are amazing! Stick them in your gloves and/or boots for toasty toes and fingers! HERE
• To regulate your temperature as you warm up/cool down, peel those layers on and off, and/or partially zip/unzip your jacket/insulating layers, take off/put on scarf, gloves and hat.
• On extra cold and/or windy days, protect lips and exposed facial skin with lotion, sunblock, Aquaphor or Vaseline to protect from windburn.
• Carry a small daypack to stuff extra layers in as you warm up.
I’ll take a cold February hike over a steamy August hike any time. The hiking picture at the beginning of this post was taken on a morning hike in January when the temp had just warmed up to 8 degrees Fahrenheit. Notice the big smiles!!
Check out our MeetUp for opportunities to join us! https://www.meetup.com/summit-trek-travel/
How about another LNT discussion on principle #6… (Respect wildlife)
Which of the following types of organic leftovers are OK to toss in the brush (where wildlife might have access to it):
Whole foods, like fruit
Organic, pesticide free food
Trail mix
Something else?
I love hiking in winter! Winter hiking has some unique advantages... less crowded trails, clearer views, easier to spot birds and other wildlife, and it's a great antidote to the grey winter blahs. And if it snows!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ So beautiful!
Cincinnati Nature Center has posted some good winter hiking tips here. I’d add one more - avoid cotton! Cotton is a poor insulator and holds moisture - which is your worst enemy in cold weather.
https://www.cincynature.org/blog/five-tips-for-winter-hiking/
Ready for another LNT topic? How about this one:
How do you know if you are too close to wildlife? (LNT Principle # 6, “Respect wildlife”)
One of the best National Parks post yet!
https://www.facebook.com/share/1tnBRPj9m4omCJnc/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Nobody:
Your parents describing walking to school in winter:
It was five miles in deep snow with limited wi-fi! Hiking in winter can be a beautiful thing. If you like hiking in winter. It's not for everyone and that's okay. But there's nothing like being out on a trail as a hush falls while snow blankets the landscape.
But remember, when you head outdoors you leave behind the established comforts of home: food and water; shelter from the sun, wind, and cold; and easy access to emergency services. Before heading to your favorite national park in snowy weather, keep these “parents walking to school tips” in mind.
🎿 Snowshoes and traction devices are recommended on ice and snow. In winter, some trails are not always marked or maintained. Route-finding skills are important. Don’t rely on others' tracks which can lead you astray. Think of it as peer pressure with feet.
❄️ Know your route. Snow-covered landscapes look very different than in summer. (Because they're covered in snow.) Snow can be deep once you are off trail. We're not talking philosophical snow here, but the kind that will be up your jacket and down your pants faster than you can say, "darn it." (Or other things.) Fun.
🧊 Keep off the ice. Sticking to rivers and lakes may be safer than chasing waterfalls, but they too can have thin ice and be dangerous to maneuver on and around. Always be willing to turn around. Remember, weather and trail conditions can change quickly as snow falls and melts or ice forms.
🦬 Watch for wildlife. Always keep your distance and practice safe wildlife viewing practices. Also, bison have never heard of turn signals. Figures. Only pass when it's safe.
Image: A line of bison push snow around to make a path, and then play 'follow the leader' to conserve energy at Yellowstone National Park. NPS/Jim Peaco
Here’s an important question about LNT…. When you see someone doing something counter to LNT principles, how do you educate them without shaming them and causing them to become defensive?
Look for Sierra Club at the Adventure Crew Gear Sale at Mad Tree on January 27th!
Adventure Crew is sponsoring a outdoor gear sale January 27 from 10AM to 1:30PM at Mad Tree Brewery in Oakley, and we’ll be there! The Miami Group Sierra Club will be selling gently-used outdoor clothing and gear. See something you like and you’ll not only be helping the environment by encouraging reuse, but all proceeds from sales at the Sierra Club booth support our outings and environmental programs.
For more information on how to support Adventure Crew and this great event, check out their website at https://www.adventurecrew.org/events
If you are a Sierra Club member and would like to donate you’re serviceable outdoor clothing and gear to our fund raising efforts, please contact Barry Randall ([email protected]) or Denise Tingle ([email protected]).
Here’s another Leave No Trace topic:
If you are planning a hike on a trail you haven’t been on before, how do you “plan ahead and prepare”? (LNT Principle #1)
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Gold and scarlet hillsides…tree aura… sun dappled trails… night music of crickets… good friends and a full moon…. It doesn’t get much better than this! Savage Gulf Tennessee
Looking for adventure? Wildlife? Relaxation? We've found it all in Costa Rica! Join us Jan-Feb 2024. Pura Vida!
Bhutanese traffic cop.
Greeter Falls at low water. Savage Gulf State Park, Tennessee
Summit Sisters Backpacking course - For EVERY woman!🥰
Savage Gulf with Summit Sisters! Couple of members of the 2023 Summit Sisters backpacking class. Join us in 2024, and learn what YOU can do!! https://summittrektravel.com/backpacking-school/
Approximately 52 miles of paddling + 8 miles of portaging + 6 nights of camping + 14 intrepid adventurers + vast wilderness = 1 epic adventure! Algonquin Provincial Park - Ontario.
Approximately 52 miles of paddling + 8 miles of portaging + 6 nights of camping + 14 intrepid adventurers + vast wilderness = 1 epic adventure! Algonquin Provincial Park - Ontario.
Approximately 52 miles of paddling + 8 miles of portaging + 6 nights of camping + 14 intrepid adventurers + vast wilderness = 1 epic adventure! Algonquin Provincial Park - Ontario.
After a 90 minute ride out a dirt road, with Volkswagen sized potholes, river crossings with NO bridges, we dropped off our baggage at the end of the road to be picked up by horsecart later. Then we crossed the last river on foot and walked the final 3K to La Leona Eco lodge, one of our favorite places in Costa Rica! Here is our cozy, "cabina". We are glamping here for 5 nights.
More of the baby sea turtles. 🥰🥰
What a privileged to witness the release of 43 baby sea turtles from a rescued nest! These are Olive Ridley, turtles. Another threatened species. Only 1 in a 1000 babies makes it to adulthood. ❤️😢
Summit Trek & Travel - Adventure in Costa Rica! 2 days ago we participated in a baby sea turtle rescue on the beach between Carate and La Leona eco lodge. Baby sea turtles had emerged from their nest and were being preyed upon by hawks. We shooed the hawks away to see what could be done. Tracks showed us that only 3 or 4 babies had made it to the water. There were no live babies around the nest. 😢 But, our host, Filipe, dug down in the nest and found two more that had not emerged and were alive. We took them part way down the beach and then stood guard to keep the hawks away while they made their way into the water. We waited and saw one of them make it. The other one was slow and looked kind of sleepy. We watched until it also reached the water’s edge. Filipe said it would be harder for the hawks to spot a single turtle at the waters edge, so we left him there, feeling hopeful that he will survive. In a couple of weeks, we’ll be staying for two nights at the base camp of a sea turtle rescue project. Most of the sea turtles here are endangered or threatened and one, hawksbill sea turtle, is critically endangered due to predation and habitat loss. I hope our volunteer work at the COPROT Sea Turtle project will make some small difference. ❤️💔❤️💔 Watch this video of the little baby we helped to rescue.
A little monkey business on the Osa! Summit Trek & Travel in Costa Rica.
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