NW Indian Canoe Journey

Indian Country Today reports on the American Indian Canoe Journey celebrating northwest native culture in the Pacific Northwest.

While the Canoe Journey [this was the 21st annual] initially involved canoe cultures from the Salish Sea, its sphere of influence continues to grow. Joining Northwest Coast canoe families were Ainu from Japan, Inuit from Alaska and Greenland, and Maori from New Zealand.

The Canoe Journey is also a major tourism draw in the host nations and surrounding communities. Elwha Klallam, the second to last stop on the Peninsula before Makah, served 4,000 people – canoe pullers, families and visitors – at breakfast and dinner for two days. It was quite a feat of coordination.

Read the full story: Canoe Journey builds bridges between cultures

Photo by Molly Neely-Walker

Is diversionary feeding of wild bears helpful or not

Discovery News' Larry O'Hanlon questions whether diversionary feeding of wild bears is good or bad.

All home break-ins, tent raids and many other bear incidents are by bears who are suffering from forests damaged by fires, drought or other factors that have reduced their food supply, said Montana bear biologist Lynn Rogers of the Wildlife Research Institute in Minnesota. This intensifies when bears enter their "hyperphagic," heavy eating stage in the fall, before hibernation.

"It's food that they are after," explains U.S. Geological Survey biologist Chuck Schwartz, who is the leader of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team. He said the same applies to all bears, from grizzlies to black bears.

"These bears are in this state when they need this food to make it through the winter."

So why not scatter leftover orchard fruit in the woods for bears to forage on? Well for one thing, such "diversionary feeding" can be against the law. That was the case at Lake Tahoe, Calif., where the Bear League tried it a few years ago and claim they saw an immediate halt to bear break-ins.

Read the full story: Should we feed wild bears?

Photo from iStock via Discovery News

Mt Rainier trail washed out by 2006 flooding to open again

The Seattle Times reports that the popular trail around Mt Rainier washed out by at 2006 flood has been rerouted and will be open for hikers.

This week, park officials hope to open the lower, mile-long section of the new Glacier Basin trail, improved and rerouted.

Much of the original Glacier Basin trail, once a straightforward dirt path, was wiped out by about 18 inches of rain that poured down in 36 hours and raged through the White River Valley in November 2006.

The Inter Fork River overtook the trail, where it still flows. For the past four years, hikers and mountaineers have been forced to the river's side, where they scramble up loose rock fields or precariously hop from stone to log to cross the river.

While the first 5,000 feet of trail was expected to open this week, work has just begun on the next 1,500-foot section — which is slated to be ready for hikers early next spring.

Read the full story: Popular Mount Rainier National Park trail is restored, rerouted

Photo from Greg Gilbert / The Seattle Times

10 Gulf oil spill animals could go extinct

Mother Nature Network has a slide show of 10 animals they say are "at risk for extinction" from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

For a handful of species, however, the spill may be the final nail in the coffin. The situation is so dire that one major online gambling site has begun allowing bets on which Gulf animals are most likely to be declared extinct first.

Among the list are:

- Great Lakes Piping Plover (picture): their foraging areas are coastlines that washed up oil now covers.

- Smalltooth and Largetooth Sawfish: while the largetooth "may already be extinct in the region," the smalltooth nursery areas are in the oil spill's path.

- Manatees: the oil is spilling into these endangered animals' summer habitat off Florida which could prompt a "massive" rescue and removal effort.

Read the full story: 10 animals at risk of extinction from Gulf oil spill

Photo from Steven Senne / AP

Georgia's eco-island where bats control mosquitoes

Mother Nature Network's Destination of the Week is Little St. Simmons Island, Georgia.

This private island off-grid resort only allows 32 overnight guests.

As one of only two Green Globe 21 Benchmarked properties in the U.S., LSSI’s commitment to low-impact lodging exceeds standard leave-your-bath-towel-on-the-floor-if-you-want-it-laundered practices:

- Three of the guest houses, Tom House, Cedar House and River Lodge, feature geothermal HVAC systems.

- Rain barrels are a common site throughout the island.

- The recycling/composting program is comprehensive.

- You won’t find a single plastic water bottle on the entire island since guests are provided with their own Camelback reusable bottles.

- To keep a somewhat notorious bug population at bay, the island has instituted an eco-friendly, larvicide-based mosquito control program. However, if you’re skittish around bats take heed: There are bat houses in place to help keep the mosquito population in check.

Read the full story: Little St. Simmons Island, Georgia

Photo by Matt Hickman

Explore underwater paradise with the whole family

The Star-Telegram reports on five global snorkeling spots where exploring the beauty of underwater paradise is a family-friendly affair.

Along with three places in the Caribbean, Alaska and Florida are also mentioned.

Ketchikan, Alaska. Zip on your head-to-toe wet suit and explore the colorful and diverse marine life in the chilly waters of southeastern Alaska. Local water temperatures reach 65 degrees in midsummer. Participants must weigh at least 90 pounds. Waters are calm; some tidal pools are shallow. Later, join a half-day boat tour from Ketchikan Outdoors and cruise to a remote island for a picnic among wildlife.

Read the full story: Seaside getaways

Photo from Getty Images / Thinkstock

Oil-affected sea turtles won't be "incinerated alive"; BP, enviro groups, US Coast Guard

Reuters reports that an agreement between BP, environmental groups and the U.S. Coast Guard to burn off oil in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill won't burn sea turtles caught up in the oil.

Under the accord reached in talks on Thursday evening and Friday morning, the parties agreed to a plan allowing biologists or other trained wildlife observers to accompany oil-incineration vessels at sea to remove as many turtles as possible from designated areas before burning starts.

Private boat captains chartered for wildlife rescue missions in the Gulf said in affidavits filed with the lawsuit that young sea turtles tend to congregate among oil blobs floating in the water, apparently unable to distinguish between the oil and mats of seaweed that provide natural shelter on the surface of the Gulf.

The turtles are then presumably swept up and unable to escape when shrimp boats contracted for cleanup operations are used to drag fire-resistant booms to encircle the floating oil before it is set ablaze.

Read the full story: Deal struck to save turtles from Gulf oil burns

Photo from Tour de Turtles

More July 4th travelers than last year

USA Today reports that more people than last year will be "hitting the road" this July Fourth holiday because of their bursting need to get away.

About 34.9 million will take a trip at least 50 miles from home, up 17.1% from 2009, and 90% of them will travel by car, AAA projects.

"Some Americans are feeling more confident about their personal financial situation compared to a year ago," says Troy Green, AAA's national spokesman. Also, he sees "pent-up demand," because many Americans stayed home last year, which had the least number of Fourth of July travelers this decade.

Read the full story: 'Pent-up demand' for travel erupts over July 4th holiday

Photo by Keith Srakocic / AP

Interstate to trees near St. Louis arch

USA Today reports on the plans to green-up the interstate highway near the St. Louis, Missouri arch.

An environmental group wants to remove Interstate 70 from the downtown area and create a tree-lined boulevard according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

For years, civic leaders, including former Republican Sen. John Danforth, have sought to find a way to connect downtown with the Arch grounds and the river. Right now, the interstate makes it difficult to move freely from downtown. Bridges cross above the interstate, but traffic is heavy and walking can be dangerous.

The National Park Service, which operates the Arch and its grounds, launched the international competition to redesign the grounds.

Read the full story: Big changes in store for area around St. Louis arch

Photo from SLANAC

New Mexico launches ecotourism programs

USA Today reports on the new ecotourism projects New Mexico is launching this summer.

Tourism is New Mexico's No. 2 industry, behind oil and gas production, and brings in an estimated $5.7 billion annually. And if ecotourism can be fairly described as nature-based specialty travel or wilderness experiences that enrich and educate, the state thinks it has something to offer.

Visitors are attracted by "that sense of place we have here in New Mexico," said Deputy Tourism Secretary Jennifer Hobson, who oversees the initiative. "They want to go someplace where they can learn something, have a story to tell, meet the local people."

Read the full story: New Mexico embraces ecotourism efforts

Photo from New Mexico Tourism Department via AP

Some Zion NP trails and canyons closed through Fall

National Parks Traveler reports that road work will impact access to some of Zion National Park's hiking trails and canyons.

Trails and canyons along the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway will be closed off during the week when the road work commences on Monday June 7. Closures will continue through to October.

Under the current plan, you won't be able to drive the highway Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. From 4 p.m. to 9 a.m. there will be access, but under traffic control. On weekends and holidays the road should be open round-the-clock, though there could be traffic control at times that could delay you.

Trails affected by the construction are the Canyon Overlook and East Rim. The Canyon Overlook will not be accessible at any time Monday through Friday. Parking is not available Monday through Friday at the East Rim trailhead. The East Rim trail is accessible from the Stave Spring Trailhead, Weeping Rock Trailhead, and the East Mesa Trailhead.

Canyons affected include Pine Creek, Spry and Keyhole. These canyons will not be accessible at any time Monday through Friday. All hikes and canyons will be available on weekends if no work is occurring. Visitors should check the park website ahead of time to make sure there is no construction affecting the area they wish to visit.

Read the full story: Road work in Zion NP will impact hiking and canyoneering access

Photo from NPS

SC to develop bicycle-only community

The State reports that Lexington County, South Carolina is planning to develop a bicycle-only subdivision near Gaston.

It will have no asphalt. It will have miles of trails and ponds for boating. It will have eco-friendly homes. And residents and their visitors will have to park their cars outside the community and bike — or walk — to their homes.

Developers have spent nearly $1 million to buy 140 acres about 15 miles south of Columbia, according to land records. They also have hired community designer Ozzie Nagler, planner of Harbison and the Three Rivers Greenway.

“It could become an eco-tourism destination,” said Joe Mellett, a Cincinnati-based Internet marketer and one of the developers.

Read the full story:Developers plan to build bicycle-only community

Photo from The State

Glacier NP 100 years old but glacier free soon?

Associated Press via MSNBC reports that 100-year-old Glacier National Park could be glacier free by 2020.

The forests are drier and disease-ridden, leading to bigger wildfires. Climate change is forcing animals that feed off plants to adapt.

Many experts consider Glacier Park a harbinger of Earth's future, a laboratory where changes in the environment will likely show up first.

The chance to see the glaciers that are now disappearing is what lures many visitors to the remote park.

Read the full story: Age has been unkind to Glacier National Park

Photo by Michael Albans / AP

Epic and global train trips

Orange County Register via The Wichita Eagle reports on epic train journeys around the world.

Writer Gary A. Warner shares some of his favorite train trips

VIA Rail: Vancouver-Jasper. The route from Vancouver to Jasper in the Canadian Rockies is called "the ski train" in winter. Come summer, the 1950s dome car features views of pine forests, vast lakes and some of the tallest peaks on the continent.

The Indian-Pacific, Australia: This epic 2 1/2-day Australian rail ride from Sydney on the Pacific Ocean to Perth on the Indian Ocean covers 2,704 miles.

Rovos Rail, South Africa: A fatal accident has cast a shadow over the once exemplary record of this luxury train that operates throughout South Africa and sometimes to the north. Rovos excursions in the past include an epic trip to Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe-Zambia border and then on to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

Southwest Chief: The successor to the classic Santa Fe train roughly parallels old Route 66 from Los Angeles to Chicago.

Read the full story: Great train journeys: riding the rails around the world

Photo by Bruce C. Strong / MCT

Ride Amtrak, expect delays

The Washington Post reports that more people are riding Amtrak trains but on time arrivals are less frequent.

Though many trains do run on time, or close to it, rail passengers frequently find themselves stuck in travel purgatory, because some unforeseen situation has tripped up Amtrak: A sluggish freight train is blocking the way; the engine's power source has conked out; a ne'er-do-well cow has wandered onto the tracks; there's cleanup on Track 1. The causes are legion, the delays legendary.

"It's a love-hate situation," said Jim Wrinn, editor of Trains magazine. "There's this promise of a really nice ride and experience, but it's really not there."

Still, many starry-eyed travelers continue to harbor hope that their Amtrak trip will succeed, especially now that the other modes of transportation are failing us.

Read the full story: Amtrak ridership is up, but passengers grouse about frequent delays

Photo by Jennifer Beeson Gregory / The Washington Post

Natural wonder of Pinnacles National Monument

San Jose Mercury News reports on the natural sights at nearby Pinnacles National Monument:

The secluded 24,000-acre jewel is San Jose's nearest national wilderness. Yet it is largely unknown to the travelers on nearby Highway 101, hurling themselves toward San Francisco or Los Angeles.

"It's spectacular, and it's in our own backyard," says Jo Feeney of Los Altos, hiking with husband Hal up the steep Condor Gulch Trail along wildflowers and a waterfall. "I can't believe we've been all the way to South Africa's national parks, and have never been here."

The Pinnacles can be sampled in a single day — but visit soon. In April and May, its creeks still gurgle with water and its paths are decorated with colorful poppies, buttercups, lupines and paintbrush. By summer, temperatures reach a scorching 100 degrees.

Read the full story: Pinnacles National Monument: A Nearby Geologic Wonder

Crow management on Cape Cod Seashore

National Parks Traveler reports on the dilemma Cape Cod National Seashore officials have with managing crows that are killing endangered piping plovers.

The crows like eating the plovers' eggs which are plentiful around the March through May nesting season. One-third of all plover eggs are eaten by crows. A solution was to place wire cages around the nests (picture above), but the intelligent black birds realized that if they landed fast and loud on the top of the cages, the plovers would run out in fright thus leaving their eggs unattended.

Poisoning the crows was a plan that had been thought up but became controversial.

While seashore officials go over their shorebird management plan and continue to invite public comments on how best to deal with crows and plovers, shorebird management activities will continue as in previous years with the use of enclosures to protect nesting plovers from predators. In addition, the seashore will implement a flexible shorebird management approach this summer on several high visitation beaches.

Read the full story: Cape Cod National Seashore officials revisit plan to kill crows to help piping plovers

Photo from Sidney Maddock / NPS

Now rent-a-bike at Grand Canyon NP

USA Today reports on the new bicycle rental program at the Grand Canyon.

Visitors can rent bikes at the visitor center starting May 1 from 8am to 6pm. This will continue through fall.

Bikes can be ridden through the South Rim which is bicycle-friendly according to the Park Superintendent Steve Martin.

Read the full story: Grand Canyon National Park offers bikes for rent

Photo from Tree Hugger / Ride the Spine

Indiana Dunes local tourist boost

USA Today reports on the boost in tourism at the Indiana Dunes because more locals have opted to do "staycations."

Staycations, where you stay at home to vacation, became popular during the 2009 recession as a way to save money but still have the mentality of being on vacation.

Indiana Dunes is crediting a wave of "staycations" and improvements to the park for a record number of visitors in 2009.

A total of 1.1 million people visited the park last year, marking a 64% increase over 2005. That, in turn, boosted revenue by more than $1 million.

Read the full story: Staycations boost Indiana Dunes visitor numbers

Photo from hovercraftsales.com

Two glaciers gone in Montana NP

USA Today reports that two glaciers are gone from Glacier National Park.

Warmer temperatures have reduced the number of named glaciers in the northwestern Montana park to 25, said Dan Fagre, an ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. He warned the rest of the glaciers may be gone by the end of the decade.

The park's glaciers have been slowly melting since about 1850, when the centuries-long Little Ice Age ended. They once numbered as many as 150, and 37 of those glaciers eventually were named.

A glacier needs to be 25 acres to qualify for the title.

Read the full story: Glacier National Park loses two more glaciers

Photo from National Parks Service / AP