For example, some might be fearful of the wildlife that exists in this vast wilderness but, in reality, it's rare to see so much as a mountain lion and unlikely that a hiker would run into a bear. Hikers should consider more the event of a sudden thunderstorm during which lightning is a concern, as well bees that might defend their territory. Rattlesnake sightings are more common, which means hikers should always be alert and aw

The first person to successfully complete a thru-hike of the 2,190 mile Appalachian Trail was Earl Shaffer in 1948. He viewed the challenge as a way to leave his war experiences behind, documenting his travels in great detail in a journal that's on display at the Smithsonian. It took him 4 months and one pair of bo

On average, it will take a typical hiker anywhere from four to six months, according to Backpacker , to hike the entire PCT. Therefore, it's so important to determine a personal timeline ahead of time; this is not to say that there won't be amendments along the way, but having a goal and staying on track is help

The dense, old-growth forests in the Enchanted Valley are just that- enchanting. The abundance of ferns makes the area feel almost prehistoric. Though the hike typically takes 3 days, several people comment how much longer they could spend admiring the countless beautiful sights along the

Initially, the idea for the Appalachian Trail was nothing of what exists today. The man responsible for the brainchild went by the name of Benton MacKaye, who hadn't originally suggested a thru-hike. Rather, it was his idea to create what The Trek referred to as a 'utopian ideal' that would feature self-owning community camps. The idea was to set up these camps near the trail, and they would be entirely reliant on their own agricultural means of living. Eventually, the idea was to allow people to appreciate authentic mountain living while having the support of a like-minded commun

Another South Rim option is Grand Canyon Apache Stables . While their website may be little more than a single page, they are a great option for short tours on the South Rim if one can't book with Grand Canyon Lod

Two companies offering horse and mule rides on the South Rim are the Grand Canyon Lodges and Apache Stables. There is another company - Grand Canyon Mule Rides - that offers rides in the North Rim. If one is in a hurry, see here for how to see the Grand Canyon in a d

While horses may be more iconic of the American West, the humble mule is the animal of choice for such a trek. In fact, the iconic painting by Jacques-Louis David of Napoleon crossing the Alps on a noble white horse was propaganda. Napoleon actually crossed on a mule. Mules combine sure-footedness with the strength of a ho

The Pacific Crest Trail, Nature Hiking Game Missions|Https://Naturetrailinsight.Com/ also known as the PCT, is the second-longest continuous trail in the country. The trail encompasses the entire west coast similar to the way in which the Appalachian Trail stretches through the east, starting from Mexico and ending at Canada's border. The landscapes that hikers will see are similar to that which the early pioneers of the country's west saw during their first exploration of the land; many of which were photographed by famed photographer Ansel Adams in all their natural glo

Ordinarily, they offer a guided one-hour campfire trail ride that ventures to the wagon ride at the campfire, everyone returns by wagon. The horse-wagon ride takes riders to the campfire and back by wagon. Bring one's own food (none is provid

Work continued through the decades and most recently, in 2014, the trail became part of federal lands after Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Trails System Act back in 1968. After nearly a decade - 91 years, to be exact - the Appalachian Trail was finally recognized, and protected as federal land. Today, it continues to see thousands of thru-hikers each year who complete it over the course of four to six mon

Additionally, members of the American Automobile Association can benefit from two packages: AAA Rails to the Rim and AAA Rails to the Rim Platinum. These offers will save them from 25% to 50% on roundtrip train tickets and include meals, overnight accommodations, and a $25 gift certific

The biome of Zion National Park is rather unique in the sense that it experiences a wide range of temperatures and weather patterns depending on the time of the year. During the summer and winter months, the region experiences extremes of both seasons - with summers being extraordinarily hot and winters being cold enough to bring snow. The park also has a monsoon season and during the months of January, February, and March, there are typically anywhere from seven to eight days of full precipitation which can cause flash flooding, according to Wildland Trekking . These weather conditions apply to both Zion Canyon and Kolob Canyon so it's always better to check the weather report prior to heading