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Archive for 'March 2012'

Death Valley = Mars? This Weekend, a Park Festival Shows How Close It Comes

How closely does Death Valley National Park replicate Mars? Close enough that NASA and the National Park Service have teamed up for the inaugural "Mars and the Mojave Festival" this weekend. A mix of lectures, field trips and skygazing, the 3-day event includes jaunts to only-in-Death-Valley locales such as Badwater (the lowest spot in North America, 282 feet below sea level), Mars Hill and Ubehebe Crater. Maybe people will see a dust devil, such as one actually spotted on Mars Feb. 16 by ...

Posted by T.D. Wood on March 8, 2012 8:42 PM & Tagged Mars, death valley and national parks | permalink | Comments



No Excuses: The Story of an Incredible Climb of Kilimanjaro

Viewers of ESPN may have seen an Outside the Lines segment that aired Sunday on 25-year-old Kyle Maynard. If you missed it, it's worth watching. Maynard was born with a rare condition known as congenital amputation, which truncated all 4 of Maynard's limbs. In an amazing overcoming-the-odds story, this Outside the Lines mini-documentary titled "No Excuses" tells the tale of Maynard's determination to climb 19,431-foot Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Like, wow. Maynard's story gets me thinking ...

Posted by T.D. Wood on March 7, 2012 1:24 PM & Tagged Climbing, Kilimanjaro, Kyle Maynard and Travel | permalink | Comments



How Ralph A. Green Skis Past Adversity and Long Odds

If you've ever struggled with skiing adversity—bad weather or a tweaked knee, maybe—consider the story of adaptive skier Ralph A. Green. Ralph, now a member of the U.S. Paralympic Alpine Skiing National Team, was a multi-sport athlete whose life took a turn after he lost a leg following a random street shooting on a Brooklyn, New York, street corner in 1992. Strength, vision and perseverance are the words that come to mind as I speak with Ralph. Here is Ralph's story in his own words: "The ...

Posted by Myrian C on March 5, 2012 6:03 PM & Tagged National Brotherhood of Skiers, Paraylmpics, Ralph Green, adaptive skiing and skiing | permalink | Comments



In the Works: Fewer National Forest Trailheads Will Require Fees

By next year or even sooner, you may get to park fee-free at some of your favorite trailheads on national forest land in Western states. Changes are coming to the U.S. Forest Service's recreation fee program, though not until later this year or maybe 2013, USFS officials say, after public-comment periods. The most noteworthy change on the horizon: Vehicles parked at national forest trailheads that lack certain visitor amenities (restrooms, for example) will no longer be required to pay a fee or ...

Posted by T.D. Wood on March 5, 2012 6:02 PM & Tagged Forest Service, USFS, fees, parking and recreation fees | permalink | Comments



Yoga as an Olympic Sport? Not Such a Stretch to Some

It is possible that one day someone will win an Olympic gold medal for their mastery of the Half Lord of the Fishes? For the uninitiated, HLotF is a yoga pose, one that involves a twist while seated. The name may seem amusing to people unfamiliar with yoga, but lots of people take it and its claims of health benefits seriously. Seriously enough that one nonprofit organization, USA Yoga, is seeking to become the governing body of the activity and elevate yoga asana (posture yoga) to an Olympic ...

Posted by T.D. Wood on March 2, 2012 6:01 PM & Tagged Olympic Games and Yoga | permalink | Comments