With the recent release of global warming reports …. and the intensifying debate on human inputs and individual hubris …. it’s time once again to visit how the ever-changing climate affects our beautiful National Parks . Here are ten climate change reports that touch the U.S. National Park system. Climate Change 101: State Parks Adopts Sustainability Blueprint A critical component is the goal to eliminate pesticides from parks, especially areas frequented by children, such ... Read Full Story

The India arm of the World Wide Fund For Nature has initiated The Green Hiker project to encourage responsible tourism throughout the entire Himalayan ecosystem. Battered by both baggage-toting tour groups and climate change, the Himalayan mountains and wetlands struggle to maintain their high altitude identity. The Green Hiker Campaign simply encourages all involved to help reduce their tourism baggage. Of course, anything brilliantly named The Green Hiker has to be eco-friendly. Photo by sw... Read Full Story

The Big Agnes Salt Creek Recycled Tent earned Backpacker Magazine “Editors’ Choice 2009 Green Award”. This 2-person, three-season tent uses 100% recycled materials (including the reflective guy lines and plastic clips). Without any toxic dyes, this green tent is a somewhat shocking white. The Salt Creek is not just some eco-friendly experiment or “paean to green”. You’ll want to pack this tent from windy Spring through chilling Fall. The Big Agnes is a 3-se... Read Full Story

Mountains Plus has a great  tent deal:  the Sierra Designs Sirius 3-person tent for $99. The only problem is that they can’t seem to keep this tent in stock. With a pack weight of just over five pounds, this Sirius tent is ideal for your overnight hikes. It’s easy to set up and maintains its integrity in the windiest conditions. You may have to back order it though. Lots of  folks are taking advantage of this great tent offer. Now Go Outdoors! Read Full Story

Hiking Trail Maps For The Oregon Coast The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has released ten hiking trails maps of their entire 382-mile Pacific coastline. All ten hiking maps are now available in two pdf printer-friendly sizes. Although the majority of the trails traverse public and private beaches, many hikes include state parks, forests, and county and city roadways. Landowners provide trail easements for portions of trails on private property. Now Go Outdoors! Read Full Story

There are great hiking trails in every corner of the U.S. Let’s peek at both the Northeast and Southwest corners. Tom Meade of the Providence Journal spotlights the 136,000 acres of forest and farmlands known as the Pawcatuck Borderlands. Waterfalls, back country roads, moose, ponds, hiking trails, and bears populate Connecticut and Rhode Island’s New England preserves. Emilie Le Beau details fantastic outdoor adventures around New Mexico’s Monuments. Many of these hikes... Read Full Story

Are you a dedicated green hiker or backpacker looking for additional eco-friendly info and insights? One place to start is Backpacker Magazine’s Green Guide. This compilation places a link list under three categories:  Featured Stories, Nature, and Gear. So … here comes Super Poison Ivy? (Under the “Nature” category.) Now Go Outdoors! Read Full Story

Our first Spring hikes are just days away. Even in Upstate New York. What follows is a quick review of hiking happenings across the U.S. Ed Parsons offers a great perspective on revisiting favorite hiking trails throughout the year. His seasonal reminiscences of New Hampshire hiking trails are perfect as we transition from Winter to Spring. The U.S. Forest Service upgraded and standardized the blazing and signage in the Chattahoochee and Oconee National forests (Georgia). Green for horse ... Read Full Story

Still haven’t strapped on your hiking snowshoes. What! You don’t own a pair. Well, the folks at ORS in Vermont produced three videos to help you match a snowshoe with hiking terrains and snow conditions. Atlas TSL MSR Tubbs Recreational Snowshoes Comparison http://www.orssnowshoesdirect.com/all_recreational_trail_adventure_snowshoes.htm An excellent general overview of snowshoes targeted for a variety of terrain and conditions including packed snow and broken trails, gently to mo... Read Full Story

Winter hikes here in Upstate New York are exhilarating. Crisp and bright. From zig-zag animal tracks to mountain top clear. But the winters are so long. There are days when a hike is a chore. Boots and snowshoes. From bitter cold cheeks to gray treetops. Sometimes you just don’t want to go …. So it’s nice to hear how others cope with winter hiking woes. Here are two paths: First, V. Hughes explores winter urban hikes escaping the “sucking mud”. Fresh air and all ... Read Full Story