Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area makes for a surprisingly adventurous destination on the Pennsylvania-New Jersey state line. Check out the story at Blue Ridge Outdoors!
Filling a Gap
Author: Mike
Biking 100 Miles Across Georgia and Alabama
A cycling adventure on the connected Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga Trails has much to offer Southern riders. Check out the story in the biking issue of Blue Ridge Outdoors!
Seven Mysteries You Can Explore in America’s National Parks
From unexplained phenomena to baffling disappearances, follow the clues while discovering our country’s treasured protected areas.
“It felt like paddling through soggy cereal. My wife and I were deep within Everglades National Park, struggling to kayak past dense mats of periphyton, a mass of algae, fungi and other organisms. Making matters worse, numerous water trail markers were missing, seemingly swept away by recent hurricanes. After several confusing detours, the sun was getting low, and we were getting worried…”
Hard-Knock Lessons in Multiday Paddling
After a long break from multiday paddling, a self-support kayak trip on the rugged Big South Fork of Cumberland River reveals tips, mistakes, and best practices for overnight kayaking and rafting trips. Check out the full article at Blue Ridge Outdoors!
Help Protect National Parks and Public Lands
UPDATE: Recent legislation to sell-off public lands in the West was defeated due to widespread public disapproval.
However, other threats continue against the national parks and public lands.
Please consider following Outdoor Alliance, whose mission is conservation powered by outdoor recreation. They post frequent updates on social media, including Instagram @outdooralliance.
They also have a helpful form for contacting your lawmakers on their website: www.outdooralliance.org.
Some recent threats have been stopped, with the help of organizations and constituent outreach, including the sale of 500,000 acres of public land in UT and NV.
Other threats continue, such as mass layoffs and budget issues within the National Park Service, the Forest Service, and other land management agencies.
You can express your concerns directly to lawmakers by…
- writing your U.S. senators via the official Senate website using www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
- writing your U.S. rep using the Find Your Representative feature on the HOR website: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
About the photo, I took this shot during summer in Doughton Park, a popular NPS hiking area on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. It’s an area that was already under construction before being hit by Hurricane Helene. Staff disruptions seem likely to further delay the recovery of this already challenged region.
Mysteries of the National Parks – new book available!
Featuring 35 puzzling true stories, my new book takes readers to every corner of our diverse and beautiful country. Learn about baffling disappearances, unexplained phenomena, and the secret history of our national parks (from Sourcebooks). For more info and sales links check out the book page here!
Passing Through Cumberland Gap
At this national historical park at the junction of three Southern states, you can explore the paths of bison, Native Americans, and Daniel Boone. With camping, hiking, and stunning views, this is a hidden outdoor gem in the Appalachian Mountains. Read the story at Blue Ridge Outdoors!
How to Avoid the Campground Trap
Campers and RVs require time-intensive maintenance and trip planning. But owning a rig doesn’t have to stifle your adventures. Here are five tips for spending more time exploring on your next camper trip. Check out the list at Blue Ridge Outdoors!
Across the Delmarva Peninsula
Exploring the Remote Eastern Shore of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. From wild Assateague Island to Harriet Tubman NHP and several state parks, there’s a lot to see on this forgotten peninsula between Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Learn more at Blue Ridge Outdoors!
Multi-Season Monongahela
Six months after our summer visit, I returned to the Monongahela area in mid-January. That’s how I learned that adventures abound in both the winter and warmer months in West Virginia’s vast national forest. Read the story at Blue Ridge Outdoors!