The Trailmix.Net Blog

We are happy to announce that the Trailmix.Net Yosemite National Park Scavenger Hunt is now available in the Trailmix.Net Store. For those who are just joining the conversation, or who might not yet have subscribed to The Trail Guide (our quarterly newsletter), here is a rundown on what it is and why you might want one ...

What is the Trailmix.Net Yosemite National Park Scavenger Hunt Kit?The Trailmix.Net scavenger hunt helps parents create memorable educational experiences with their children while visiting the park. The kit consists of a booklet of riddles, and online tools and information. The scavenger hunt leads families to seven locations in Yosemite valley.  At each location, the family is presented with a riddle. When all of the riddles are solved, a unique code is generated that can be uploaded later at the Trailmix.Net website.  Uploading the code triggers shipment of a collectible prize.

Why go on a Scavenger Hunt in Yosemite National Park?The Trailmix.Net Yosemite National Park scavenger hunt is the best way to introduce your children to the Yosemite Valley. While working through the hunt, children learn about the geology of Yosemite, about plants found in the Sierra Nevada Region, about Yosemite Falls, the history of the National Parks System, how to identify wildlife in Yosemite, and how to shoot a postcard perfect photograph. 

Go to the park, solve the riddles, upload the code, and we send you a prize!  Learn more here...

Have you ever had the desire to exchange your day to day routine for one of extended travel?  Do the words "Road Trip" conjure up magical images of National Park hopping, sunsets, and long stretches of time to reflect? 

For most of us, there is a gap between the utopia of extended, uninterrupted world exploration and our actual day to day routine.  The dream of the open road is brought back to reality when faced with the responsibilities of feeding the dogs, PTA meetings, and paying the bills.  As with most big ideas, the key to actually doing something of this magnitude lies in proper planning and goal setting. 

 Photo By DennisSylvesterHurd

If a major road trip is your goal, Live Your Road Trip Dream should be on your reading list.

Live Your Road Trip Dream is the work of Phil and Carol White.  They're experts on the topic of yearlong travel.  After careers in business they "opted for the road less traveled", so to speak.  After a significant amount of research and planning, they packed the essentials into a 19 Foot Chevy Class B van and hit the open road for a year.  In their travels they drove from the West Coast to the East Coast, and everywhere in between including more than 35 National Parks.    

Live Your Road Trip Dream is both a blueprint that explains how to plan an extended road trip, as well as a chronicle of their trip.

How they did it.

The first half of the book focuses heavily on planning.  They systematically consider the logistics of financing an extended trip, transferring important responsibilities, constructing a realistic budget, and planning an itinerary.  As they dissect these topics, they share their approach and specifics about how they solved each problem. In addition to discussing things and places, they also spend a fair amount of time exploring the "people" element such as breaking the news to family members, missing important events, and, of course, the obvious issue of getting along with a traveling companion 24-7-365. One of the most valuable elements of the book, in my opinion, is the detailed planning worksheets that are found in the appendix.  These include sample budgets, to-do lists, a list of supplies, and even a primer for RV systems. 

Their Trip

The White's make a point early in the first chapter that the purpose of the book is to help the reader build a plan for their own adventure.  The second half of the book, a journal of the White's trip, is offered as a guide to spark the imagination.  Although I appreciated the planning techniques, it was the journal that I enjoyed the most. 

Since they started their trip in the Pacific Northwest and immediately started working their way south to Yosemite, most of the journal entries early in the second half are places that I am very familiar with.  I enjoyed seeing these places through their eyes.  Our family recently drove through Eureka California, a topic in one of the "Phil-osophies" sections of the book.  Although Phil's story about a summer job in Eureka is only a couple of paragraphs long, it seems like this could easily be the topic of a prequel novel.  The journal entries were also the subject matter of a column in their local newspaper called "On the Road with the Whites".  As their adventures began to unfold, it quickly became the most popular column in the paper.  I can see why.

Setting a big audacious goal always carries an element of risk.  The proper response to risk is to make a plan.  When you have a big goal and proper planning, wonderful things can happen. At its core, Live Your Road Trip Dream is a book about doing just that:  Turning a dream into a plan, and turning that plan into reality.  If your big goal involves a long road trip, Live Your Road Trip Dream should be on your reading list.  You can pick up a copy of LYRTD at Amazon.com or you can buy directly from Phil and Carol White by visiting their website at http://www.roadtripdream.com/.  

I love nature photography.  I love to look at and shoot photos of plants, animals, mountains and seascapes.  This week I have been practicing sunset photography on the Oregon Coast.  As I tend to do when I am having fun with a hobby, I was completely immersed in the moment and in this case was searching for the right light to silhouette my subject, Haystack Rock.  A very big mistake, I would learn a short five minutes later. 

The sunset last night was alright.  It wasn't bad, but it didn't have the strawberry cotton candy pinks that I was hoping for.  At one moment I heard some excitement from the people behind me.  I was fumbling with my camera settings and completely focused on the reflection from the water that I ignored the movement on my left. 

When I finally got around to looking at the disturbance, I was just in time to watch a bald eagle take flight..... on Cannon Beach.....  at sunset......  with Haystack rock as a backdrop....  Less than 150 feet away... And my camera was attached to a tripod pointed in the wrong direction. 

I think that I could have pulled this shot off.  The light was intense and it is possible that this magnificent bird would have been washed out from the intense sun, but I am pretty sure that minimally I could have caught a silhouette shortly after take off.  Instead I left with a big fish story about the one that got away.

Lesson learned: 
Don't get so focused on shooting one subject that you miss the obvious.   One thing that I love about nature photography is that, like fishing, you can have good days and bad days.  Some days you won't return home with anything remarkable and other days you will not believe how lucky you are.  But once in a great while you will be presented with a rare opportunity and to capture something spectacular.  And as they say about fishing, a bad day shooting sunsets is always better than a good day at work.

Have you been wanting to take up the sport of Geocaching but were intimidated by the terms, jargon, and technology?  Check out our new free seminar:  Geocaching 101- Caching with Kids.    

As readers of this blog and long time subscribers to the Trail Guide know, we discovered Geocaching while doing research for Trailmix.Net.   That was over a year ago and in that time we have developed a love for the sport.  Because of its suitability for children and sometimes technical jargon, it made perfect sense to add an introductory geocaching seminar to our portfolio of outdoor e-learning courses for parents.

This e-learning seminar is divided into three sections:  what to do before you find a cache, when you find a cache, and when you return from your hunt.   

Before You Go

The Before You Go section of the seminar covers how to prioritize the selection of technology, how to set up your Geocaching.com account and profile, and provides some guidance on how to identify and load your first Geocache into your GPSr.

What to do when you Find a Geocache

The What To Do When You Find a Cache section of the seminar provides some guidance on finding your first cache in the field.  This section provides a couple of tips for parents who are planning to Geocache with their kids including setting expectations for fair trade, what to do when you are looking for a cache, and where (or where not) to look for your first find. 

When You Return

This section covers the art of signing the log, uploading photos, and provides some guidance on managing trackable items such as geocoins or travelbugs. 

If you are a first time Geocacher and are planning to Geocache with kids, this seminar will provide an orientation to the sport.

Download Geocaching 101:  Caching with Kids for free here.

Kid Friendly Activities

We discovered geocaching while we were doing research for Trailmix.Net and have always found the sport to be well suited for children.  The largest Geocaching community event in the world was no different.  After spending five minutes at GeoWoodstock VI it was obvious that great care and an enormous amount of planning had gone into making sure that there were activities that would appeal to younger age groups. 

Our kids spent much of the day panning for gold, petting farm animals, riding a train, exploring barns and playhouses, and listening to music.  In fact, we were having so much fun we missed the magic show. 

Seminars and Demonstrations

For parents and older kids there were a set of seminars and demonstrations.  This alone was worth the trip in and cost of admission (free).  Topics included compass and map navigation, using GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army Knife), tips and tricks for using Google maps, GPS basics, and managing risk on hikes.

One really interesting display was of an original can of beans that was included in the first geocache.  To me, the reverence during the unveiling of the OCB is a perfect snapshot of the fun and usually quirky atmosphere you will find in the Geocaching Community.

  <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/bhAXAmTwnx4">http://www.youtube.com/v/bhAXAmTwnx4</a></p>

View original media here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=bhAXAmTwnx4

Youtube video of the revealing of the OCB (Original Can of Beans)  

Geocaching Online has a great post with more about the seminars and demonstrations.

Geocaching

Obviously, no world class Geocaching convention would be complete without a healthy dose of geocaching.  A number of cache runs were coordinated through the event and there were countless informal cache runs.  People were caching 24/7.  We actually met a group from Denmark that found over 300 caches in a marathon midnight-to-midnight caching extravaganza. They weren't the only ones geocaching into the late evening.  One of our in Roseville caches was found 1-3 times an hour all night long until the event started. 

GeoCoins, and Travelbugs

Near the entrance was the largest gathering of travelbugs that I have ever seen.  There were trackable bugs, trackable dogs, even trackable people.  A tent and several tables were dedicated just to managing the drop off and pick up area. We were able to log a new favorite:  "Jenny", the green Volkswagen bus the Old Hippy and Granny drive from event to event.  

Once the main event was wrapped up, a secondary event broke out in a nearby hotel.  I was amazed by the number of travelbugs at Geowoodstock VI, but the number of geocoins at the Geocoin Swap Meet event after Geowoodstock VI really blew me away.  People came out of the woodwork and completely took over the conference area, lobby, and patio.  It was amazing.  About 150 people brought their own collections in boxes, albums, and fishing tackle boxes.   Several custom coins were also on display.  Geocaching mayhem.

GeoWoodstock VII, Bell Buckle Tennessee 

Next year, Geowoodstock will be held in Bell Buckle Tennessee.  We are going to make every effort to attend.  If you are a geocacher, have kids, and have the opportunity, we highly recommend a GeoWoodstock event.  This was an adventure that our kids will remember for a long time.

The year was 1852 and Augustus T. Dowd was tracking a grizzly bear that he had wounded.  As he walked through the unfamiliar forest he was stunned to find a tree larger than any he had ever seen.  He returned to his mining camp and told his tale.  After a fair amount of ridicule he was able to convince others to come to the giant trees that he had found.  One hundred and fifty years later you too can visit the grove of trees that Dowd discovered.

For those of you who might be reading this blog for the first time, our family likes to track down giant trees.  It was a hike to Merced Grove in Yosemite National Park that we sparked the idea of creating Educational Expeditions.  This was a follow up visit to continue our exploration of sequoia groves and development into amateur botanists.

The North Grove Trail:  Distance and Trail Conditions

While in Calaveras Big Tree State Park, we hiked the gentle 1.5 mile North Grove trail.  This trail has minimal elevation gain and is perfect for families with young children.  In fact if you are in the process of calibrating the hiking capabilities of your kids, this is a near perfect starting point (click here for a tutorial on setting realistic expectations when hiking with kids).

The trail begins at the parking area.  For $0.50 you can pick up a booklet that identifies a number of trees by name and provides an excellent orientation to the sights you will see along the way including illustrations of other trees such as sugar pine, incense cedar, and dogwood.  Alternatively, you can order this guide by mail from the Calaveras Big Trees Association.

After a short walk from the parking lot, you will find The Big Stump.  This is the remains of that first tree that Dowd discovered.  Unfortunately, there are a couple of examples along the North Grove Trail where a complete lack of foresight by our ancestors resulted in the destruction of truly amazing specimens.  The big stump is the first.

The conditions of the North Grove trail are excellent.  If you have a jogging stroller, you should have no trouble getting around.

Go here for an overview of other trails in the park.

Action Scenery:

Whenever you select a hike for kids, you want to orient them to the local action scenery.  Action scenery can include waterfalls, wildlife, or other points of interest.  Unfortunately, trees don't move nearly as much as waterfalls.  Luckily, since each of the trail notes on the $0.50 park guide are clearly numbered along the way, younger children will have fun racing ahead to find the next sequentially marked sign.

Getting There: 

From SF Bay Area
Take I-580 eastbound over Altamont Pass to I-205 toward Manteca, to US 99 North. Take the exit for State Hwy 4 Eastbound (Angel's Camp) to the Park Entrance. Hwy 4 makes a jog to the right in Angel's Camp along State Hwy 49, then jogs left just before leaving town. Calaveras Big Trees is about 35 minutes driving from Angel's Camp.

From Southern California
Take either I-5 or US 99 North. From I-5 you can cross to the other side of Stockton on State Hwy 4 to 99/4 South a few miles, then follow Hwy 4 towards and beyond Farmington to the Park. Hwy 4 makes a jog right in Angel's Camp, then jogs left just before leaving town. Calaveras Big Trees is about 35 minutes driving time from Angel's Camp.

From Sacramento
Take US 99 South to Stockton, turning off onto State Hwy 4 towards and beyond Farmington to the Park (through Angel's Camp). Driving time to the Park from Stockton is approx. 1 hour and 30 minutes. An alternate route is to take State Hwy 16 southeast to State Hwy 49 South through the goldrush towns to Angel's Camp, making a left turn on the far side of town on State Hwy 4 to the Park. Driving time from Angel's Camp is approximately 35 minutes.

From Nevada
Take US 395 to State Hwy 89 West to the terminus of State Hwy 4, up over Ebbett's Pass to the Park. The road is closed in Winter. It's very scenic, but so steep and tortuous that trailers and large motorhomes are ill-advised to use it.

Reference:  Calaveras Big Tree State Park website.

Looking for a new spin on an educational expedition?  How about whale watching?  Here is a brief tutorial on how to get started, resources, locations, citizen science projects, and some other special topics for kids.

View original media here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YVsELR7Q48

I have blogged periodically about bird and other animal watching with kids, but one subject that I haven't written about yet is whale watching.  The primary reason for this lapse in blogging is because... well.... I don't know much about it.  Using the magic of the World Wide Web I was able to contact some people who actually know quite a bit about the subject (credits below). 

The product of that discussion is here for all to enjoy.

Whale Watching:  Background and Getting Started.

Whale watching as an organized activity began in the early 1950's in San Diego when people began to visit Cabrillo National Monument to observe the migration of Gray Whales.  In New England, organized whale watching gained traction in the mid 1980's but instead of the Grey Whale (extinct in the Atlantic), the Humpback whales are a focus of attention.  To find out what species are near your geographical location, go here.

Where the Whales are:  Whale Watching Locations

Humpbacks feed in the Gulf of Main from late April to September.  In the winter months they travel south to the Caribbean to feed and calf.

Gray Whales travel north to south between October and January.  They are usually seen in California around mid-December to early January.  They begin to return North in March to mid April.

A simple Google search for whale watching at an east or west coast location will pull up numerous commercial whale watching tours.  If you do decide to charter a boat, find a reputable company associated with organizations like WWF, or groups actively engaged in research such as CRESLI or Allied Whale.

While there are some places where you can watch whales from shore in New England, a boat tour that will carry you out to the banks and ledges where the whales feed is recommended.  If you plan to watch whales from shore in California, here are some recommended locations:

MacKerricher State Park
Bodega Head

Point Reyes National Seashore

Chimney Rock

Muir Beach Overlook

Point Bonita

Julia Pfiefer Burns State Park

San Simeon State Park

Point Dume State Beach

Cabrillo National Monument

Resources for Whale Watching:

On the web:

Journey North:  Gray Whale tracking.

Center For Coastal Studies:  A research group from Provincetown Mass.

Whale Center of New England:  A humpback research group.

Allied Whale:  Holds the catalogue for whale identification.

Gray Whale Census:  Surveying the northbound migration of gray whales  

The Marine Mammal Center:  Marine Mammal Information

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute:  Underwater maps of Monterey Bay.

Ocean Alliance:  Videos, audio, and scientific reports.

It is a good idea to read up on the whales you are watching.  Here are some guidebooks to get you started:

On the trail of the whale

Whale Watcher:  A Global Guide to Watching Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises, in the Wild

Citizen Science Whale Watching Projects:

The term citizen science is a used to describe a research project where volunteers help scientists collect data.  Citizen science projects are an almost perfect complement to any educational expedition.  If you are planning to watch humpback whales and have a camera, the Flickr.com humpbackflukes group uses photos uploaded to Flickr to build a catalogue of humpback whales and track their activity. 

Special Tips for Whale Watching with Kids:

Dress right, wear warm clothes in layers, bring sunscreen, and if you are going to be on a boat wear some rubber or slip proof shoes. 

"The perfect whale-watcher, we decided has 360 degree vision (since the whales can appear anywhere, even if you see them dive, they can change direction under water), 3 legs (for stability on a rocking boat) and 4 arms (two to hold your camera steady, one to hold on to the rail of the boat, and one to hold your hat on when the wind picks up!"

-Tim Ellis

If you aren't watching whales from shore, be prepared for motion sickness.  Stay out on deck, sit in the center of the boat and focus on the horizon, and bring a supply of Dramamine.  There are also some alternative cures for seasickness that include pressure point bracelets, ginger pills, and or ginger ale.

Special Credits: 

As I mentioned earlier, I got a lot of help with this post from the people at the All Whales Discussion forum on Flickr.com.  Specifically, Yeimaya, Tim Ellis, and Nikki and Jason.  If you like, you can read the full thread here.

In this weeks roundup we have a Digital Photography course for shooting sunrise or sunset photos, a plug for a new film of Yosemite National Park set to premier on the Travel Channel, and a podcast from the University of Minnesota about curing Nature Deficit Disorder.

<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/MesymjGwuHo">http://www.youtube.com/v/MesymjGwuHo</a></p>

View original media here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MesymjGwuHo&feature=related

Digital Photography Tips for Shooting Sunsets

We have an extensive collection of sunset photos.  There is something awe inspiring about watching the sun on the horizon and taking in the colors that are produced.  In this six minute video, photographer Rick Sammon provides some tips for taking your sunrise or sunset photos to the next level.

Yosemite in HD

The film "Yosemite - Americas Treasure" is going debut on the Travel Channel this Sunday (April 13th, 2008) at 7:00 PM ET/PT.  The film is one hour long and will be broadcast in HD.

I understand that I have been a critic of watching television about National Parks rather than visiting national parks and have even been motivated to write an e-book on trading cable documentaries for real family expeditions... but I've always advocated balance.... And it's Yosemite.... on Sunday night.... And in HD....

More Information

Yubanet
National Parks Traveller

The Cure for Nature Deficit Disorder

Here is a one minute podcast published by the University of Minnesota that advocates a "green hour" to relieve the symptoms of "Nature Deficit Disorder", a term coined by Richard Louv in the book Last Child in the Woods:

In lives filled with cartoon characters wearing square pants, video games and shrinking backyards, many American children are suffering from "nature deficit disorder," a condition associated with kids who spend less time outdoors. Marti Erickson, director of the Harris Programs at the University of Minnesota, says connecting kids and the outdoors has a positive impact from head to toe.

You can learn more about Nature Deficit Disorder here.

Writing and developing a scavenger hunt in Yosemite National Park has provided our family with a number of opportunities to visit and explore the valley over the last couple of years.  If you are planning a visit and have children in tow, here are five quick tips to maximize the fun.

Photo Credit:  James Gordon

1. Do Some Research Before You Go
   One of the first steps that we recommend when developing an Educational Expedition is to create a vision of your expedition project.  Usually this involves gathering the kids and talking about what you plan to see, photograph, or visit.  If you are planning a trip to Yosemite, here are some great links to review before you leave:
   
   The Flickr Yosemite Photo Pool
   The Flickr Yosemite National Park Photo Pool
   Yosemite Blog
   The NPS Kids Site

2. Utilize the Free Yosemite Shuttle System
   Riding the free shuttle is something that we avoided for a long time, irrationally it turns out.  We associated the shuttle with crowds and our agoraphobia kept us away.  Once we had kids and couldn't walk and/or carry them to all of the places that we needed to go we bit the bullet and jumped on board.  We haven't looked back.
   
   The shuttles are timely, clean, and filled with pleasant people.  If you are pushing a stroller you may need to fold it up, so be prepared at the stop.  Other than this, the free shuttle system is a great way to move around the park with children. 
   
   Here is a link to the shuttle map and schedule in PDF format.
   
   
3. Stamp the National Parks Passport
   Most of the tips in this post are free, but the NPS Passport Book will cost you a few bucks upfront.  Once you buy the book, your up-front costs are paid and it's well worth it.  The e-parks National Parks Passport is a passport booklet that contains a list of all of the national parks sites.  When you visit a National Park Visitors Center, you have access to a cancellation station where your kids can stamp the page of their passport that corresponds to that particular park.  It is a great way to track your visits.  The book costs $7.95 and should last a lifetime.
   
   
   
   
4. Keep Your Eyes Open for Animals
   Even in the valley, busy as it may be, we have seen a number of different species of wildlife including deer, bear, bobcat, and various birds including woodpeckers and stellars jay.  Animal watching is a fun and educational activity and in our experience the highlight of the trip.  If you are new to animal watching, here are some tips and safety guidelines on Animal Watching with Kids and an excellent post on responsible wildlife photography.
   
   
5. If You Have The Opportunity, Visit the Yosemite Valley in the Off Season
   The Valley has a reputation for extraordinary beauty, but it can also draw traffic and crowds.  We made more than a few visits this winter and were amazed at how easy it was to access the areas that we were interested in.  In fact, in our opinion, fall and winter are the best times to visit the park.  

New subscribers to the Trail Guide, the Trailmix.Net quarterly newsletter, have access to our e-book: Educational Expeditions.  The book is a collection of ideas that Trailmix.Net is being built upon.  One of the ideas in the e-book, and an idea that I would like to break down further here, is the concept of converting a day hike or other outdoor activity into an imaginative wilderness expedition.  In this blog post, we will look at the simple idea of the Educational Expedition and its implications.

Outdoor Activities for Kids:  The Educational Expedition
The idea of building an Educational Expedition originally began with an article that was written at SFgate.com by Peter Fimrite.  I wrote on the Trailmix.Net blog about a very interesting statement made about schoolwork and the pursuit of an education.  Specifically, one of the families interviewed by Fimrite identified the pursuit of an education as the biggest obstacle to taking the time (three hour drive from the SF Bay area) to visit Yosemite National Park.    

National Parks and Education
To me, the irony of this statement was that the park is an abundant source of learning opportunity for children.  In fact, I truly believe that it is impossible to visit Yosemite without learning something about geology, the Miwok (Native Americans who originally lived in Yosemite), the history of conservation, the origination of the National Parks System, wildlife biology, and any number of other topics.  It was in this post that the fundamental concept of the Educational Expedition began.

An expedition is a journey or voyage made for some specific exploratory purpose. Watch any program on one of the Learning or Discovery channels and you will see the same story unfold over and over. It is a simple formula: there is an identified vision for a research, adventure, or a learning topic, some sort of antagonist, challenge, or unknown that needs to be solved, and the attainment of specific goals in order to achieve the vision.

It occurred to us on a subsequent visit to Yosemite that with a little planning (you can find a template in the e-book), it is easy to convert a day hike or visit to an outdoor place like this into a family expedition of your own that rivals those broadcast by the cable channels.

Less Television, More Outdoor Recreation
That's the basic idea, here are the implications.  First, with a little planning your family can build expeditions that are better than any you see on television.  Obviously, they are better because you and your family get to experience them first hand.  It's like traveling vs. watching the travel channel.  It isn't hard to do and requires a little bit of vision and goal setting.  Once you know what you want to do and set the goals to get there, you are on your way.

Outdoor Based Learning and Education
Second, and this gets back to the original article that spawned the idea, the educational value of building your own expedition is enormous.  Think of it as high yield learning.  Rather than the structured question and answer that is provided in formal education system, an educational expedition is by definition loosely structured and requires broad use of problem solving skills to answer a real world (and if you build it right, engaging) question.

In this weeks roundup:  The grand opening of the new and improved splash zone at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a product that introduces your kids to the science of an owl's digestive processes, and flying boulders in Hawaii.

Photo Credit:  Brian Scott 

Monterey Bay Aquarium Opens the New Splash Zone

For our Northern California audience:  Monterey Bay Aquarium opened the new and improved splash zone on Monday of this week.  If you are planning to design an educational expedition that involves exploration of tide pools or a trip to the coast, this is a great element to include as a goal.

With a walk-through kelp forest and a forty foot touch pool that includes sea stars, sea urchins, hermit crab, cow's tongue, kelp, kelp crab, and many other creatures, the splash zone is well worth a visit.  What impressed me the most were the docents that staff the touch pool, who are top notch.  They do a fantastic job helping the kids handle and learn about the animals and I was totally impressed with their ability to adjust their answers to the age of the children.  Highly recommended, if you have the opportunity.

Owl Puke

This isn't really breaking news, but I was on amazon browsing for books and stumbled on this little gem:

Description:
"... The Owl Puke Book and Owl Pellet brings the best of those two worlds together in a unique package... What is an owl pellet? It's the football-shaped object regurgitated twice a day by owls, which contains the skeleton of at least one owl meal, be it a mouse, vole, shrew, or small bird. Used in elementary schools to teach the food web--but virtually unavailable at retail--a professionally collected, heat-sterilized owl pellet is now married to a lively, two-color illustrated book filled with facts and related activities about these most amazing birds. And what a story the Owl Puke Book tells--of the food chain, animal anatomy, life in the forest; of a bird that could read the bottom line of an eye chart from one mile away; and of a fierce hunter that swallows its prey headfirst and digests everything but the bones, which it spits back up in a pellet. As for the story the pellet tells, kids need only a toothpick to find out. The package includes a tray to hold the bones and a chart to help identify the pellet's contents."

It's a hoot.

If anybody does end up purchasing Owl Puke, please, please, please leave a product review in the comments section of this blog!

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Volcano Hurls Boulders

The USGS is reporting that an explosion at th Halema‘uma‘u Crater scattered debris over 75 acres.

"In addition to damaging the overlook, explosive debris covers the trail to the overlook, the Halema‘uma‘u parking area, and the portion of Crater Rim Drive adjacent to the parking area. On Crater Rim Drive the debris was up to 2 centimeters in size, with the size and thickness of debris increasing toward the overlook. The largest observed block ejected during the explosion was about 1 cubic meter (35 cubic feet) and must have been propelled from the vent located more than 70 m (230 feet) below the crater rim. Small impact craters from 30 cm (1 foot) blocks are abundant in the Halema‘uma‘u overlook area. Rock debris also extends halfway across the floor of Halema‘uma‘u Crater. The debris is composed of rock fragments that were derived from the walls of Halema‘uma‘u Crater."

Probably not a good day for an expedition to study the volcanoes.

Have you ever tried to enter multiple data points into your GPS receiver?  You can avoid self inflicted repetitive motion injuries by managing this type of data in the GPX file format.

Photo Credit:  Jimmie Joe via Flickr

What is GPX?

GPX is an abbreviation for the GPS data exchange format, a file format that allows GPS data to be shared between programs that manage GPS information.  Imagine two software programs that don't "talk" to each other.  They have different manufacturers and may even be running off of different operating systems.  One strategy that enables communication between the two is to have one program export data in a standard text format that another program can import. 

The programs don't "talk" directly to each other, but since both programs recognize the standard intermediate format, they can easily share data.  This is a powerful idea that simplifies the sharing of data.

For example, let's say you visited a website that provides GPS waypoint information such as Geocaching.com.  You want the information on the website (the list of geocaches) to populate TOPO (your mapping software) as well as your handheld GPS receiver.  The painful way of getting to your endpoint is to enter each waypoint into each application by hand.  However, by downloading a set of waypoints in the GPX file format you import the data into both applications in just a couple of steps.  It's actually very simple, once you get the hang of it.

How can I use GPX files?

If your mapping software supports importing or exporting GPX files directly, you have a ready-to-go method of cross software communication. 

Not all GPS receivers allow direct import of GPX files.  If you have a Garmin, Magellan, or Lowrence GPSr, you can download a free copy of Easy GPS that will allow you to manipulate GPX data and upload it to your GPSr.  You can read a tutorial here:

How to Upload Multiple Geocache Waypoints to your GPS receiver using easyGPS

What Software Applications support the GPX format?

More and more software applications are supporting GPX.  Here is a list of software that uses the GPX file format.

Although it takes a little practice, managing map data in the GPX format is much easier than managing the data by hand.  In the end, you will save yourself time, headaches, and perhaps avoid carpal tunnel surgical procedure down the road.

If you live in Southern California and are looking for an opportunity to get outside with the kids, here's a site that should be in your RSS reader:  modernhiker.com.  Modern Hiker uses a well written blog, digital photography, and Google Maps to track trail descriptions and conditions for a number of hikes in the Los Angeles area. 

We caught up with Casey Schreiner, the author of modernhiker.com, and asked some questions about how parents hiking with kids in LA might benefit from the information that he posts. He was happy to provide some tips and tricks for using modernhiker.com to plan a family outing.

1)  You have built up quite a list of hikes in the LA area and differentiated them with a red - green - blue color scheme. Is there any additional advice would you give to parents hiking with children when they use your map system?

I'm a mostly-solo hiker, so I'll assume that parents hiking with
their kids already know how to keep track of the little ones on the
trail. Depending on their age and enthusiasm, I would recommend
sticking to the green and blue labeled hikes. Greens are pretty short
and easy, almost like 'nature walks,' while the blues can get a bit
more strenuous.

I try to give as much information about the trails as I can on my
write-ups, so that people can see if there's something in particular
that interests them - like waterfalls or historic areas - or would
steer them away, like thick brush and ticks. If you're taking your
kids out into the wilderness, it's your responsibility to be informed
about where you're going. It's a good habit that will hopefully rub
off on the little ones when they venture out for hikes of their own.

2)  If you were going to go on one of the hikes that you have blogged about with kids, where would you take them and why?

If I were taking kids out on a hike, I'd want to bring them
somewhere that could get them into nature, but also provide some
colorful local history. A shortened version of the Mount Lowe hike
gets to some really fascinating remnants of an old resort hotel built by
America's first military aviator (a hot air balloon pilot from the Civil War).
San Gabriel Peak is a short trail that gives some great views of the mountains,
as well as an old Nike Missile site. And another shortened version of
Santa Anita Canyon is like a trip back in time to the turn of the century.
Also, there's a big ol' waterfall.

If the kids are a bit older (and hardier), I'd take them down the East
Fork to the Bridge to Nowhere It's got a ton of river crossings to splash
through, and seeing a giant bridge by itself in the middle of a canyon is
fascinating, no matter how old you are.

3)  What is your favorite thing about modernhiker.com that we might not know?

Other than the fact that it's a one-man, spare-time, labor-of-love
operation, everything is pretty much right there on Modern Hiker. I'm
familiar with web design, but by no means a designer. There are a lot
of things I'd still like to do with the site that I just don't quite
know how to do yet. Maybe one of these days I'll spring for a
bonafide web designer to spruce everything up ... but for now, I'm
just focusing on content.

4)  You mentioned in a recent post that you used to hike on  the Freedom Trail in Boston. It's a bit outside the parameters of the map, but would you mind giving us the modernhiker.com report?

I went to school in Boston, and long before I developed a love of
the outdoors, I'd been developing the History Nerd aspect of my
personality. Growing up in New England, you're never more than a mile
or two away from some significant historical site, and Boston's
Freedom Trail gives you all that historic goodness through some of the
most picturesque neighborhoods of Beantown. It's a 2.5 mile trek,
marked by a red brick pathway, that takes you from the oldest public
park in the nation to the oldest active warship in the nation. Along
the way, it passes historic graves, homesteads, markets, political
hotspots, and plenty of Dunkin' Donuts shops.

I used to walk to the trail down Commonwealth Avenue's branch of the
"Emerald Necklace," an innovative city-wide park system designed by
Frederick Law Olmstead, which added a bit of green to the day. Now
that it's just about done, the Big Dig has chipped in an additional
300 acres of parkland to the North End of Boston.

So in just a few miles, you get some great American History, some
historic parkland, and the biggest civil engineering project ever
undertaken in the U.S. There's a little something for everyone!

Modernhiker.com is a great blog that we have been following for a few months now.  If you are planning a hike in or around Los Angeles, or just like well written outdoor blogs, this site is worth a visit.  Thanks Casey! 

In this weeks Roundup, we learn 10 tips for better travel photography, find out why the Grand Canyon is flooding, take a look at an expedition that is absolutely amazing in vision and scope, and find out what all the fuss is about with these wolverines in Tahoe.

<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/TBpi-O_ixUM">http://www.youtube.com/v/TBpi-O_ixUM</a></p>

View original media here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBpi-O_ixUM

This is a video of 10 top tips for travel photography from What Digital Camera magazine

Grand Canyon Flooding:

National Geographic has a great report on the recent flooding of the Grand Canyon.  If you weren't aware, more than 300,000 gallons of water per second were release from Lake Powell into the Grand Canyon to simulate flood conditions, raising the water up to 15 feet in some areas.  The flooding helps create sandbars and beaches required for wildlife habitat.

Daren Wendell Sets out to Walk Around the World

Speaking of expeditions, we have been doing some writing about expedition design.  For an example of spectacular vision and scope look no further than Darrell Wendell who is setting out to walk around the world carrying only 38 pounds in his backpack.  That's not a misprint.. around-the-world. 

He is doing it to raise awareness for bloodwatermission.com, a clean water and AIDS relief effort founded by one of my favorite bands, Jars of Clay.  He will walk 18000 miles over three years.

The following is a list of thoughts from his website.  Absolutely amazing:

• Legacy: I dont have any children, in fact I havent dated for about a year because of the expedition, but there will be a day when I am gone and my children will say "My father gave back to this world instead of just taking from it, he saved lives, and he was a voice for the voiceless" I cant think of a better legacy
• One of my biggest fears is to look back on my life and wished I would have lived it differently. Therefore I refuse to live a life of mediocrity. I meet so many people who have lost sight of their dreams and ambitions and settle for something else. I feel like I have been given this gift of life and I want to live it to the fullest.
• I also want to raise awareness and move people to action when it comes to the Water Crisis and Aids Pandemic that ishitting Africa by advocating for http://www.bloodwatermission.com/
• I want to inspire people to follow dreams and help figure out why they are on this earth. I feel If you miss out on that then they will miss the reason they were created.
• I am fiercly wild at heart. I love adventure, change, new people, cultures, mental challenges, languages physical challenges, spiritual challenges.
• I am sure that I will discover a lot more of the why as I walk. But for now... I stick with just "Life to the fullest"

"Dream no small dreams.  They have no power to stir the souls of men." 

You can track him on a map by following this link:

http://skyshield.positionlogic.com/Login.aspx

User Name:  earthexpedition

Password:  earthexpedition

Wolverines, Thought to Be Extinct, Discovered in CA

A few years ago, I was amazed that a new waterfall was discovered in a California National Park.  About that time, a World War II era airplane wreck was discovered in the Sierra's.  It never ceases to amaze me the treasures and discoveries that California holds to explorers willing to venture into road-less places.

The most recent discovery was of a wolverine in the Tahoe National Forest.  Thought to be extinct, this is said to be the first sighting in more than 75 years.  The discovery occurred when an automated camera, placed by a graduate student to photograph a different species, caught the wolverine investigating the bait.

Are you looking for a way provide your children with outdoor opportunities that educate and build confidence?  Look no further, we just put the finishing touches on Educational Expeditions, the new Trailmix.Net e-book.

The e-book is a blueprint for developing a family outdoor recreation plan.  It teaches the reader to use basic project management skills and a model of development to set healthy recreation and leisure goals.

Learn how to:

• Coach your children using a model of continuous learning
• Guide your children into challenges that build confidence
• Discover a new way to look at outdoor recreation with kids
• Set Recreation and Leisure goals
• Create a fun packed recreation and learning plan

Educational Expeditions is free to Trail Guide subscribers and has a flexible license for those who would like to share the ideas and concepts with others.  It's the perfect thing for parents who want to begin hiking, biking, or any other outdoor activity with kids.

You can download your copy here.

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