Category: outdoor sports
Five Hikes That Will Test Your Endurance
In a world filled with motorcycles, sports cars and private planes, traveling on foot is unimaginable for some. But for those who are used to a life outdoors and trekking through new and unfamiliar surroundings, the fun of walking long distance trails and paths never loses its appeal.
For a hiker, life is generally simple, if you want to go places, you use the most efficient and natural transportation at your disposal: your feet. Facing the warmth of the sun or the view of snow capped mountaintops, hikers find themselves lost in the experience and unaffected by time or other discomforts. While the task can be especially daunting and back breaking, trekkers delight in knowing that with every step, they are in for new adventure.
For city folk, walking for long hours at a time is not always possible, but once you see the beauty and wonder that nature has blessed these trails and paths with, perhaps you would become more obliged to journey ahead on foot.
1. American Discovery Trail
Spanning over 6, 500 miles from the Pacific to the Atlantic ocean, the American Discover Trail is just what its name suggests: a trek across America. Spanning 15 states from Delaware to California and traversing through an array of national parks and forests, this footpath ushers in some of the most scenic and majestic views seen anywhere.
If you want to travel from coast to coast, then the American Discovery trail is the perfect destination for you.
2. Appalachian Trail
Running across 2,000 miles worth of trails, the Appalachian Trail is regarded as one of the lengthiest footpath in the world. Traversing through fourteen states along various summits and ridges, this magnificent mountain range path draws more than 3 million visitors each year, and roughly 2,000 are brave enough to trek through it.
3. Arizona Trail
Stretching from the Mexican border all the way through the Utah state line, the Arizona trail allows you to walk from coast to coast. By taking on this path, you get up close and personal with some of the world’s most breathtaking deserts, mountain ranges and local communities, giving you a unique taste of local and natural diversity.
4. Benton MacKaye Trail
More commonly called the BMT, the Benton MacKaye trail passes through Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Straddling 300 miles of hiking ground, the BMT overlaps the Appalachian Trail. Offering a more rustic view of the country side, the BMT is a throwback to the old world.
5. Bruce Trail
Canada’s oldest, longest and most admired hiking path, the Bruce trail runs between Niagara and Tobermory. With over 500 miles in its length, this track of land offers an astonishing view of a string of waterfalls that will leave anyone breathless.
Whether you are an avid hiker or an occasional walker, you will definitely find yourself drawn in by these stunning trails and unbelievable scenescapes.
As a writer for IdealFeet.com, I understand how heel pain can quickly turn a world class hike into a complete disaster. Before hitting the trail make sure that your feet are ready for the job.
Preparing for a Hike up Doi Inthanon
Well, it’s that time of year again. My wife and I have just made our annual migration south to Thailand to escape the harsh Mongolian winter, and for the next five months I’ll be locked away in our small studio apartment in Bangkok, staring blankly at a keyboard while my more fortunate wife swims, cycles and generally gets to be a lot more active than me.
It can be a tricky life, writing for a living. My office is my bedroom, and all too many days can pass without any activity beyond falling out of bed and into my chair. After just a few weeks in Bangkok my waistline has already begun its inexorable expansion, and I dread to look at myself in a mirror (good Lord, how I hate those moments when I catch my reflection in a window unexpectedly on the street).
This year, though, I refuse to bow to the calories. Next week we’re going to take a well earned break and head up north to Chiang Mai. We fell in love with the city while living there for four months last year, and while I look forward to seeing my friends there’s something else drawing me back: Doi Inthanon national park.
The park is a hiker’s paradise. Empty of tourists for much of the year; stunningly beautiful for all of it, and packed with hiking trails that take you by awe-inspiring secluded waterfalls. I just can’t wait.
Unfortunately I’m not exactly prepared for the clammy cold at the top of the mountain. Thailand is oppressively hot in most places, but the 8,000 foot peak of Doi Inthanon can be positively bracing a times.
So, yesterday I went shopping. I ignored the laptop and pressures of work to troll around the streets of Bangkok in search of an outdoor supplies shop. A couple of hundred dollars later I’m fully kitted out for a trek up the mountain.
My biggest purchase was my Berghaus Mera Peak, a lightweight GORE-TEX jacket my British friends rave about. I’d never heard of the company, but apparently they’re huge in Europe. I’ve no idea if the jacket is any good (and, for the price I paid, I suspect that mine may be fake), but it looks great and I can’t wait to get out on the mountain in it.
What I’m most excited about, though (if excited is a suitable word), is my new natural mosquito repellent. I tend to have an unpleasant reaction when I use chemical repellent that includes DEET, but it’s all I’ve been able to find so far on the trip. Yesterday I found a weird little herbal store on Sukhumvit that sells natural repellent, and by all accounts it’s pretty effective.
Anyhoo, I’ll be hitting the town tonight, intentionally visiting a bar I know to be swarming with mosquitoes. If I make it home relatively bite free I’ll be ready for the mountain. If not… well, I kinda enjoy scratching anyway.
In order to Enjoy the Outdoors More, Stay Healthy
Enjoying the outdoors is a wonderful way to spend time with your friends and family and even get a bit of exercise. Whether it means jogging, hiking, camping, or fishing, these are all wonderful ways to enjoy the beauty of nature. But it’s important for you to understand that you stay healthy aside from just going outside. There are several ways to stay healthy like eating healthier foods, doing extra workouts and exercises like the TRX training system and simply doing more workout related activities outside.
•How to eat healthy.
The best way to stay healthy is to start eating foods that help keep you fit. The best foods to eat are from Diet To Go. Diet To Go is basically a food delivery company who can help ordinary people like you lose weight quickly just by eating their nutritious food. Everything from vegetarian food to low carb foods, they’re all delivered to you so that you lose the weight you have gained. They’ve been doing this for over 20 years, so you can be sure that they can help you out. Don’t forget to take advantage of their Diet To Go coupon to save money when you buy some of their food.
•Do lots of exercise
When you exercise while being outdoors, then you are definitely getting a huge amount of overall exercise. So, try running with your dog, play tag with your young kids, or even hula hoop. These are all wonderful ways to keep you working out and exercising.
If you love the outdoors, then it’s important for you to know that it’s hard to have fun when you aren’t healthy. The best way to get the most fun is to eat healthy so that you have lots of energy when you go outside. Try eating the food from Diet To Go. They are definitely going to keep you healthy and going.
How To Prepare For Camping In The Snow With Your Dog
Many people find the winter season to be an enjoyable time to go camping. For those individuals who enjoy taking their dogs along, they may be hesitant to do so once the snow starts falling. It is good to know, however, that with the proper equipment and preventative steps, camping with dogs can be a safe and enjoyable experience for all involved. We usually go in the winter because its much more peaceful and you don’t have to worry about not finding the perfect camping spot, they are everywhere.
When planning a winter camping trip with dogs, a person must be prepared to bring the necessary equipment to protect the pet, and avoid any injury. When purchasing protective gear or pet medications before a trip, be sure to use 1800petmeds coupons to help save money. A primary concern should be the dog’s paws since most dogs hate wearing shoes or other protective gear. To protect them from the snow and ice, it would be a good idea to invest in some dog booties and get your dog used to them before the camping trip. These items can be purchased for around $20 to $40 from the larger pet stores or from online merchants who sell dog specialty items. To prevent any tears in the booties as well as in the tent itself, it’s important to clip the dog’s toenails before starting the trip. It can also be good to place a small amount of Vaseline on the dog’s paws which will provide additional insulation from the cold temperatures and keep them from getting chapped.
In the snow its important to keep track of your dog’s whereabouts at all times. Dogs can easily get lost in the snow and lose their sense of direction because of their inability to smell objects through the snow covered ground. One of the easiest ways to fix this problem is to bring a leash and collar. For additional protection, consider purchasing a special light up dog collar made from glow sticks or other glowing material. These can be found online, or they can be made less expensively at home by purchasing glow stick bracelets and attaching them to the dog’s collar.
There is no need to go winter camping and leave a beloved pet at home. With some extra effort and some additional packing, both camping enthusiasts and their dogs can enjoy a camping trip in the snow they’ll remember for a lifetime.
Outdoor Activities That are Fun and Functional
Spending time outdoors is great on so many levels. The sunlight perks up your mood and helps to combat feelings of depression along with other benefits. But you can also keep fit by taking some time to play some fun sports outside.
Staying fit by playing outside is not only for adults as people from all ages can benefit from some fun outdoor times and activities. You will enjoy and benefit as much as your kids and parents. Though each age group may prefer different activities there are some activities that overlap, being suitable for all ages.
There are quite a bit of sports you can choose from when it comes to doing things outside that are both fun and functional. Close that internet window and stop reading that flex belt review and get on outside to play one of these sports.
- Tennis
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Kayaking
- Swimming
- Diving
- Surfing
- Rafting
- Mountain Biking
- Cycling
If you have kids you may want some outdoor games that will be fun for them as well. There is also a long list of games that you and your kids can enjoy while staying fit. These include some of the above and ;
- Skateboarding
- Hop-Scotch
- Jumping Rope
- Track Races
- Tag
Spend Some Time Outdoors: It will Help Clear Up Those Fungal Nails
If you are suffering from a nail fungus infection [onychomycosis] you’re probably too embarrassed to walk around barefoot or in open toed footwear. You may even be turing down invitations to the beach or the swimming pool. In fact you’ll do anything to keep those ugly nails covered up.
Unfortunately this is only making matters worse. One of the best things you can do is let your toenails breathe and expose them to sunlight for at least a few hours each day. In other words: Head outdoors.
It’s important to get as much information about the condition as possible. I certainly did when I first noticed the ugly yellowish discoloration appearing under my nails. I investigated a wide range of research reports, discussed my condition with a number of health professionals and did a great deal of online research.
Here is a shortcut to some of the things that I discovered.
- Approximately 10% of the population has a nail fungus infection.
- In most people it’s the big toenail that is most at risk.
- The most common causative agent is a fungus belonging to the dermatophyte group.
- Dermatophytes feed off the keratinized tissue of the nail.
- The specific species of dermatophyte most commonly linked to a fungal nails is called Trichophyton rubrum. Some estimates indicate that this organism is responsible for around 90% of all infections.
- It is normally diagnosed on the basis of its appearance but other tests such as taking a scraping and applying potassium hydroxide to it are also commonly used.
- Although a wide range of oral prescription antifungals have been shown to be effective against the condition, they also are thought to cause adverse side effects.
- That’s why most people use topical antifungal drugs to treat the condition.
- Success rates vary depending on how well the antifungal drug is able to penetrate the nail to reach the fungus.
- Exposing the affected fungal nails to sunlight for a few hours each day will help speed up clearance rates.