Travel Ideas

A Quick Guide To Climbing Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

by: E-borneo.com

The majestic and awe-inspiring Mount Kinabalu is one of the premier destinations for thousands of visitors to Sabah, Malaysian Borneo each year. Kinabalu National Park, a designated World Heritage Site, boasts an estimated 4,500 species of plants which includes 1,500 species of orchids, 77 of which are endemic to Kinabalu, Nepenthes pitcher plants, and the Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world. The Park also supports 289 species of birds and 290 different types of butterflies.
Besides being the highest peak in Borneo and the whole of South East Asia (between Irian Jaya and the Himalayas to be exact), and the youngest non-volcanic mountain in the world, Mount Kinabalu is extremely climber-friendly and compared to other much lower mountains around the world, Mount Kinabalu is an ideal first mountain for novice mountain trekkers to conquer.
The standard climb up Mount Kinabalu is via the Kinabalu Summit Trail at Kinabalu National Park (~1,560m above sea level). The first ascent is from the starting point at Timpohon Gate, about 4km or 30 minutes drive from the Kinabalu National Park Headquarter.
If you prefer to start the ascent on Day 1, it is advisable to arrive at the Park late morning the latest or else, depending on the weather, the Park may not allow you to do the first ascent due to hazardous condition (i.e., the fog may be too thick by late evening causing visibility problems and/or the trail may be extremely slippery).
Most climbers prefer to stay overnight at Kinabalu National Park upon arrival to not only acclimatize to the altitude but also to enjoy the magnificent flora and fauna at the Park before the ?assault? on the next day/morning.
The first ascent is from Timpohon Gate just after the Power Station up to the mid-summit Laban Rata Resthouse (or more popularly known as the 11,000 ft or ~3,873m). You will first follow the crest of a narrow ridge that dips down onto the main slopes of Mount Kinabalu itself. A little further on, you will reach a scenic waterfall known as Carson’s Falls, named after the first Warden of the Park. Don’t forget to take a sip and fill your water bottles with the fresh natural mountain water.
Conservatively, it should take a normal fit person an average 5-6 hours to reach Laban Rata. Participants at the annual Mount Kinabalu Climbathon competition went all the way up to 13,400ft (4092.5m above sea level) and back in 2 hours. But it is not really about how fast you can reach the top. It is about the experience of trekking pass different vegetation zones from Oak and Chestnut to mossy and eventually to alpine type of vegetations, and observing the rare and exotic flora and fauna on the way up.
Besides the heated Laban Rata Resthouse, the other option for climbers is to stay at the unheated mountain huts. There is actually another accommodation option at the so-called VIP Lodge, which is more expensive compared to the others and also, more difficult to secure (i.e., only two such units available).
After a short night rest to recharge your battery, the second and more grueling phase will commence early morning on Day 2, at about 2 am to 3 am. The second ascent will be from the mid-summit all the way to the summit, which is called Low’s Peak, named after the British colonial officer Sir Hugh Low, supposedly, the first person to conquer Mt. Kinabalu.
The ascent should normally take a few hours but it is much more challenging than the initial ascent due to the thinner air near the summit. But near the peak on the granite portion of the ascent, there will be a thick nylon rope laid down to mark the route so that climbers will not get lost in the fog. You can use this rope to pull your tired body up.
Although, to reach the summit is already an achievement, it is best to target, if possible, to reach the summit just before sunrise to catch the awesome sight. If you reached too early, it will be too freezing cold to wait too long for the sunrise. On a good clear weather, the sky seemingly turns from black to red then orange and finally gold as the sun appears. When daylight breaks, you will truly feel that you are standing on top of the world. You can see as far as Kudat and even Sandakan if the weather permits.
One important tip is to make reservation early. Given the popularity of the Mount Kinabalu climb nowadays, it is advisable to book at least 3-4 months in advance (or even much earlier during the peak season usually around mid-year) to avoid any disappointment.
This is mainly due to the limited accommodation at the mid-summit (i.e., Laban Rata Resthouse, Mountain Huts or the VIP Lodge). In the event that there is no accommodation at the mid-summit, the climb will not be possible as strictly stipulated in the National Park’s rules and regulations. Additionally, a mountain guide is compulsory.
In essence, Mount Kinabalu is relatively an easy mountain to climb. There is not much risk of acute mountain sickness at the first phase of climbing. Given climber-friendliness of the mountain, conquering the mountain must be high in your list of “activities to do” if you were to visit Sabah. For the average fit person, a visit to Borneo will not be complete without conquering Mount Kinabalu.

About The Author

e-borneo.com is a Borneo travel gateway, trip advisor, and tour intermediary for the best and cost-effective custom/full-package Borneo holiday deals to Malaysia Borneo and Brunei. Check out one of the Mount Kinabalu tour itineraries at http://www.e-borneo.com/travel/tours/eb-kk14.html or visit http://www.e-borneo.com/ for more tour options.
rich_adz@yahoo.com

Scenic Train Rides

by: Steve Gillman

I’m not sure why on scenic train rides you can have a beer, but you can’t on a bus. In any case, this is one of the reasons to take a train ride. Another reason is that they go where the roads don’t, so you’ll see scenery you miss when driving. Trains don’t have to stop at traffic lights, and you can get up and walk around. Finally, trains are relaxing for all the reasons above AND the rythym of the rails.
Amtrak has scenic sections, and there are also numerous dinner trains operating around the United States now. However, the most scenic train rides are the classics. Below are a few to whet your appetite.
The Silverton-Durango Narrow Gage
I first caught this train far from any road. I was in the Weminuche Wilderness Area, next to a footbridge over the Animas river, where they stop if backpackers there flag them down. More recently, my wife and I took the train from Silverton to Durango. Wherever you catch this train, it will be an experience you won’t forget.
It is a classic steam locomotive that goes through Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, along the Animas river. At times you’ll look out the window, over the edge, to the water hundreds of feet below. In Silverton you can eat good food, buy souvenirs, and see an old-west mining town that hasn’t much with time.
La Nariz Del Diablo
Train rides on this line, which goes from Riobamba to Alausi, Ecuador, are scenic and adventurous. On our recent trip, my wife stayed inside, but I rode on the roof for the first half of the ride. Despite the occasional rain, there were twenty other travelers up there. I highly recommend you pay the dollar to rent a pillow to sit on. Your final destination is a valley with a view of a rock formation high above, called “La Nariz Del Diablo,” or “The Devil’s Nose.”
Be careful of tree branches if you’re on the roof, and be prepared for a five-hour ride. It starts in downtown Riobamba, in the highlands of the central Andes Mountains. You’ll travel through “cloud forests” and finally down to a much warmer climate. Interestingly, the train descends some streches of track caboose-first. There’s a lunch stop in one of the small mountain towns. When we took the train (May 2004), it was limited to 40 passengers, and tickets sold out quickly.
Agawa Canyon Railroad
One of the more scenic train rides in the north, starts and ends in Sault Saint Marie, Ontario, Canada, just over the border from Sault Saint Marie, Michigan. It’s an all-day trip that goes through a rocky and heavily-wooded wilderness, along the Agawa River, to Agawa Canyon. At the canyon, you can have a picnic in a beautiful meadow, or just relax and enjoy the scenery, before reboarding for the return trip.
Autumn, when the maples have all changed color, is the most beautiful time to take the train. It’s also the most difficult time to get tickets, so plan far ahead. The route is also run as the scenic “Snow Train,” in winter.
The Thunder Mountain Line
Thunder Mountain Line has scenic train rides that take several routes in Idaho, starting from Horseshoe Bend and Cascade. Depending on the route you choose, you’ll travel through dramatic narrow canyons, sagebrush-covered hills, mountain meadows, or pristine evergreen forests. The tracks follow the mountain trails settlers used a hundred years before. You may see deer, fox, elk, blue herons, osprey, and bald eagles. Rides vary from three to five hours, depending on the route.
Amtrak’s Scenic Train Rides
The California Zephyr, Amtrak’s train from Chicago to San Francisco, passes through the Rocky Mountains and the more beautiful (in my opinion) Sierra Nevadas. The Coast Starlight goes from Seattle to Los Angeles, with views of snow-covered mountains, thick forests, and long stretches of Pacific Ocean shoreline. Amtrak’s Auto Train is a unique scenic train ride that allows you to take your car with you from Lorton, Viginia, to Florida.

About The Author

Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. To read their stories, tips and travel information, visit: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com.

by: Steve Gillman

The climb up the glaciers to the summit of Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador isn’t considered highly technical. Technically, it is mountaineering, but how hard could it be, considering that I went to 20,600 feet the first time I used crampons and an ice axe? Okay, I had used them once for practice, on a sledding hill near my house. I climbed almost forty feet while people walked by with their sleds, warning their kids to stay away from me.
Driving Up Mount Chimborazo
It is easier to climb a mountain when the guide drives you to 15,000 feet. Don’t get me wrong. Climbing that last 5,600 feet was one of the most difficult things I’ve done, but not for the skill required. The fact that the air was missing half of its oxygen is what had me quitting twenty or thirty times on the way up Chimborazo. It just gets difficult to move up there.
The Graveyard
The little monuments near the first refuge weren’t for climbers without skill. The graveyard is a testament to the unpredictability of all high places. Chimborazo is very high, it randomly drops large rocks on you, and has weather that changes by the minute. Even as we were hiking to the second refuge, we could hear the rocks and pieces of ice falling somewhere above.
El Refugio Edward Whymper is a simple, unheated hut at 16,000 feet, named after the English climber who first made it to the summit of the mountain. Okay, it isn’t entirely unheated. There is a fireplace, and when somebody feels like carrying wood up to 5000 meters, the fire might raise the temperature in the hut by 3 degrees.
We had “mate de coca” a tea made of coca leaves, which are also known for another product made from them–one that is taken up the nose. Then we went hiking for a short while. That was my acclimatization. We ate, and I slept for at least an hour before starting the ascent at eleven that night.
A Little About Mount Chimborazo
Chimborazo is in Ecuador, not far from the Equator (100 miles south). The elevation in the center of the country, and the moderating effect of the Humboldt Current, which runs along the west side of South America, gives the country near perfect weather. A bit hot along the coast and lowlands, but spring–like in Quito (the capital) , with daily highs in the sixties to low seventies year–round. Wonderful weather almost everywhere–until you get high enough.
Chimborazo, at it’s peak, is the furthest point from the center of the Earth. Our planet bulges at the equator, making Mount Chimborazo even futher out there than Everest. It has the distinction of being the closest point to the sun on the planet, and yet still the coldest place in Ecuador.
Climbing Chimborazo
Paco, my guide, didn’t like the lightweight part of this mountain climbing adventure. He frowned when he saw my sleeping bag, which packed up smaller than a football, and weighed a pound. My frameless backpack didn’t seem to impress him either (13 ounces). In any case, although it did get below freezing in the hut, just as he said it would, I stayed warm–as I said I would. No problems so far.
Unfortunately, Paco didn’t speak a word of English, and I was just learning Spanish. Since our whole group consisted of him and me, we did have some communication problems. I thought, for example, that the $11 fee for the “night” (a few hours) in the hut was included in the $130 guide fee. He thought that I was a mountain climber.
I think he was saying that he didn’t like the papery rainsuit I was using as a shell, and he frowned at my homemade 1–ounce ski mask. When he saw me putting on my insulating vest, a feathery piece of poly batting with a hole cut in it for my head…well, I just pretended not to understand what he was saying.
I hadn’t intended to go climb up Mount Chimborazo with such lightweight gear, but I had come to Ecuador on a courier flight, and could bring only carry-on luggage. Since I had only 12 pounds in the pack to begin with, by the time I put on all my clothes that night, the weight on my back was irrelevant. The weight of my body, however, wasn’t irrelevant. Paco had to coax me up that mountain.
Hiking On Glaciers
The glaciers start a short walk from the hut, and hiking soon became mountaineering. I put on crampons for the second time in my life (there was that sledding hill). During one of my many breaks (”Demasiado” - too many, which I pretended not to understand when Paco explained in Spanish), I noticed that the tiny, cheap thermometer I carried had bottomed out at 5 degrees fahrenheit. I wasn’t cold, but I was exhausted at times–the times when I moved. When I sat still I felt like I could run right up that mountain.
We struggled (okay, I struggled) up Mount Chimborazo, hiking, climbing, jumping over crevasses, until I finally quit at 20,000 feet. Of course I had quit at 19,000 feet, and at 18,000 feet. Quitting had become my routine. Lying had become Paco’s, so he told me straight–faced that the summit was just fifty feet higher. Maybe I wanted to believe him, or maybe the lack of oxygen had scrambled my brain. In any case, I started up the ice again.
On Top Of Mount Chimborazo
We stumbled onto the summit at dawn. Well, okay, I stumbled. Paco, who seemed somewhat frail down at the refuge, was in his element at 20,600 feet. Dirtbag Joe, the nineteen-year-old kid from California with ten dollars in his pocket, borrowed equipment, and my Ramen noodles in his stomach, was waiting for us with a smile.
The sky was a stunning shade of blue that you actually can never see at lower elevations. Cotapaxi, a classic snow-covered volcano to the north, was clearly visible 70 or 80 miles away. Handshakes all around, and it was time to get off the mountain. I was told you don’t want to be on Mount Chimborazo when she wakes up. She wakes up at nine a.m.
Paco kept looking at his watch and frowning. He told me to hurry, then he got further and further ahead. I thought he was going to abandon me on the mountain. When I finally caught up to him at the hut at nine a.m., I began to hear the rocks fall out of the ice above as the sun warmed it. Now I understood his concern with time. We really did need to get down to the refuge by nine. A thousand feet lower and my mountain climbing adventure ended with a photograph that mercifully doesn’t show my shaking knees.
NOTES:
If you want to climb Mount Chimborazo, it is cheapest to wait until you get to Ecuador to make arrangements. Talk to almost any hotel owner or manager in Riobamba, and he or she will find a guide for you. It will be cheaper if you are part of a group, of course.
For more information and stories about Ecuador, you can visit the pages, “Information On Ecuador,” and “Banos Ecuador” on the website http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com

About The Author

Steve Gillman first hit the road on his own when at sixteen, and traveled alone across the United States and Mexico at 17. Now 40, he continues to travel and backpack with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. Many of his stories, plus tips and information on travel and lightweight backpacking, can be found on his websites, http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com, and http://www.TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com.

by: Dominic Ferrara

The most frequently visited man-made attractions in Colorado Springs is the U.S. Air Force Academy, which is very interesting. Its tries to develop young men and women into brave Air Force Officers. You can find it in a beautiful area of Colorado, just outside Colorado Springs. The campus is an inspiring place. The part that is the most impressive is the Cadet Chapel. There is a nature trail that leads there, and it is a great piece of architecture. The exterior is formed of 17 spires that rise up towards the heavens. Inside the building, there are several different chapels for different denominations, and each is designed and decorated accordingly.
Another wonderful destination is the Pikes Peak, which was named for Zebulon Pike, an early explorer who discovered the area, and the peak, in 1806. The US Signal Service built a telegraph station, in 1873, at the summit of the mountain with the help of which they monitor the weather in the area. This led to an increase in the mountain traffic. More people needed and wanted to reach the summit, and they did that on foot, horse, mule or burro.
Nowadays, visitors reach the top with the help of the Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway, founded by Zalmon Simmons. The founder of the Simmons Mattress Company first visited the summit in the late 1880s. He went to the telegraph station in order to see a new insulator he had invented for telegraph wires in function. He went up and down the mountain on a mule. While he was at his hotel, he complained to a hotel proprietor that there should be a better way of travelling up the peak. Someone from the hotel suggested a railroad. Simmons remembered the idea. He got the necessary money, and the first passenger train went up the mountain in 1891.

About The Author

Dominic is the author of this article. This article may be reproduced on websites subject to credit being given to the author, and a link to this website. If you would like more information go to http://www.whatsupcoloradosprings.com.

by: Ed Williams

Are we still living in Georgia, or has our state somehow changed into Brazil or Mexico?
I mean it, I?m genuinely starting to wonder, and I?ll tell y?all why. Just this past weekend I made a trip over to Jekyll Island because I had a little business to attend to there. Thusly, I slipped away from work Thursday afternoon and started the drive down. I was feeling loose and relaxed, George Thorogood and the Destroyers were singing ?One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer? on the radio, and I was eating cashews and washin? em down with a Diet Mountain Dew - my two favorite road trip food items. Life was goin? pretty good until I got just outside of McCrae, and that?s when I saw it……
?It? was an armadillo. A real armadillo, the only thing of note was that it was a very dead armadillo, an armadillo who appeared to have lost a bout with a car. Needless to say, my appetite for cashews went south as I gazed upon this very mashed armadillo. Frankly, it took me a good three or four miles until I could even start to sip on my Diet Mountain Dew again. Amazingly, though, this initial mashed armadillo was only one of three dead ones that I saw on the way down to Jekyll! It puzzles me, I didn?t even think armadillos came from around here, I always thought they lived over in Texas or Mexico and were certainly not a member of Georgia?s animal population. I?m not even sure what species an armadillo is, is it part lizard, part anteater, or is it kin to the turtle family? Whatever it is, it?s not something you typically see out on a Georgia highway. Three extremely dead armadillos viewed on one trip to the Golden Isles is a first for me, and I?m a genetic, lifelong resident of Georgia.
I arrived in Jekyll late Friday evening, and on Saturday morning I found myself playing a little golf tournament. Well, actually I participated in it more than I played as it?s been years since I?ve swung a golf club. Fortunately, I was playing in a scramble, and after buying lots of beer for our team I found that my golfing skills were accepted and well respected within our foursome.
We?d played five or six holes, and then walked up to one that had a little creek running through the middle of the fairway. I teed off first, and actually hit a drive straight down the middle, landing only about fifteen feet or so behind said creek. After the other three members of my team hit, we got in our carts and stopped about twenty yards or so behind the creek. I jumped out, and noticed that there was a big log right in front of my ball, and as I walked up to it I was trying to figure out how I was going to clear it with my next shot. Imagine my surprise when the log suddenly moved and hissed!
Turned out it wasn?t a log, but an alligator! Let me tell you, I downloaded every personal bodily fluid that I possessed and then shagged heiny very quickly away from Mr. Gator! It was huge, and didn?t seem to be happy at all that I had approached it. Needless to say, the members of my foursome very much enjoyed watching me impersonate an Olympic class sprinter, cheering every gasping step of my mad dash away from harm. After it was over, I decided to stay inside the cart for the rest of the round for reasons that I can?t go into here, and don?t even email me to find out cause I ain?t tellin.?
Alligators and armadillos in Georgia? What in the devil is going on? Well, maybe those gators are tired of being around all those retired old yankees down in Florida and are wanting to live around regular Southerners like us. Or maybe these armadillos know that job opportunities are much better here than in Mexico, if you get my drift. Bottom line, I haven?t a clue as to why all this is going on, but animal wise my beloved state of Georgia is changing in a marked way. It almost makes you wonder what?s gonna be next, Perry Como singing ?Georgia On My Mind? at the Stone Mountain Laser Show?

About The Author

Ed?s latest book, ?Rough As A Cob,? can be ordered by calling River City Publishing toll-free at: 877-408-7078. He?s also a popular after dinner speaker, and his column runs in a number of Southeastern publications. You can contact him via email at: ed3@ed-williams.com, or through his web site address at: www.ed-williams.com.

Unforgettable White Mountains Vacations ? The Most Scenic 100 Miles in New England

by: Cliff Calderwood

This amazing drive through the White Mountains of New Hampshire has a gorgeous vista at every turn, oodles and oodles of family vacation fun, and a visit to the home of the world wind speed record. Just keep reading to discover a remarkable trip on your White Mountains vacation.
The White Mountain National Forest is about a 4-hour drive north of Boston, Massachusetts. Deep in New Hampshire, the mountains are part of the Appalachian Mountain system that covers the Eastern United States. Within the forest park is the White Mountains Trail, and it?s a drive that?s arguably the most scenic 100 miles in New England. And so you?re in for a real treat. Let?s get started?
White Mountain National Forest Visitor Center?
Most people begin the drive from the White Mountains Visitor Center in North Woodstock on route 112 and head out on route 3N to the Franconia Notch area.
If you?re traveling with kids then you?ll want to pencil dates back in this area at the Clark?s Trading Post, and The Whale?s Tale attractions — both in Lincoln on route 3N. At Clark?s you can see Bears, ride a steam train, climb towers, and generally keep the young ones happy. The Whale?s Tale is a water park with a wave pool, picnic areas, changing areas, and live entertainment.
Back on the road head north towards Franconia Notch. This is a good stretch of road to have your camera at the ready. I can?t list all the stops you can make, but I?ll mention just two of my favorites in this area of the White Mountains.
The Flume Gorge was formed over 200 million years ago when the White Mountains were molten rock. It just so happens in this area when it cooled quickly, softer material was forced into the fractures that formed. These fractures wore down with natural erosion much quicker that the surrounding granite rock — leaving the gorge. And so now you get to enjoy a geological wonder at the base of beautiful Mount Liberty.
The Gorge has a visitor center where your tour starts and ends. And don?t forget to check out the covered bridge which crosses the Pemigewasset River — it?s one of the oldest on the White Mountains Trail.
The famous attraction you can?t see anymore?
You?re probably thinking why would I mention something you can?t see anymore? Well, the truth is… you can see some of it? but you?ll have to imagine the rest.
The Old Man of the Mountain was a jagged rock profile formed over 10,000 years ago during the last Ice Age.
On May 3, 2003, admirers of the White Mountains region around the world were devastated, when this world famous monument to nature crumbled and crashed to the bottom of Cannon Mountain. How could this be everybody asked? Aren?t rocks and mountains… forever? Well, this incident proves they aren?t. Despite years of gargantuan efforts by many people to preserve it, centuries of the harsh winter climate found in the White Mountains, finally took its toll. It?s worth a stop as you journey on the White Mountains Trail to look and wonder at what once was. To me it?s a reminder that nature doesn?t play favorites.
Continue to head north on Route 3 until it joins Route 302 and follow 302 towards Bretton Woods. Here the mountains get taller and taller until eventually you see the grand daddy of them all — Mount Washington at 6,288 feet.
The Roof of the White Mountain National Forest?
Depending on time available, you?ve got four options for experiencing this gift in the White Mountain National Forest. Just stare — hey, there?s nothing wrong with that. Take the Cog Railway train ride to the top. Drive the auto road to the summit — the quickest way. And of course you can hike if you?re well prepared. But just promise me you won’t hike to the top unless you are in great condition and with somebody. This mountain claims lives every year as conditions in this area can deteriorate dramatically within minutes.
Is it worth getting to the summit?
All I?ll say here is? the view is stunning. Visit the museum at the top and learn about the day in 1934 when the highest wind speed ever recorded on earth was taken — 231 MPH. You?ll learn why its unique geographic position provides the mountain with the worst weather on earth.
Now get back onto Route 302 and head south to the town of North Conway.
The North Conway Scenic Area?
Schedule enough time to take the scenic train, which you board in North Conway. The station is an authentic Victorian style — it’s hard to miss and smack in the town center.
The train rides are ambles and chugs along the scenic valleys and notches in the surrounding area. And as you wind through the rolling Mount Washington valley and squeeze through the notches under the gentle clatter of steel against steel, consider this was once the main form of transportation to the area, from Boston. Most of the trains they run are diesel locomotives now, but on special weekends and during fall they use their popular steam locomotive.
The valley train is a 55-minute roundtrip, and the Notch train is 5 hours. Both have a first-class car if you want to have a different experience. The notch train has a dome car as well, where you get magnificent views of the steep ravines and sheer bluffs. I?m not sure my kids have the patience for a 5-hour train ride so we?ve always taken the shorter excursion. But as I love trains — especially steam trains — one day?
The trains usually run from mid-June until mid-October. These scenic trains are very popular throughout the season and they accept advanced reservations for the Notch train and dinning cars on both trains.
This area of the White Mountains is full of shopping outlets, and also has plenty for the kids to do. Story Land and Heritage-New Hampshire, are right next to each other on route 16 in Glen. You and the kids will enjoy themed rides, live shows, play areas, and meeting storyboard characters.
The Kancamagus Highway?
Let?s finish up our White Mountains Trail tour by joining back up with route 112 at Conway and driving back to the White Mountain National Forest Visitor Center.
This part of the trail is known as the Kancamagus highway. There are just numerous photo shoot opportunities along this highway. In fact, your challenge is having enough daylight left in this trip so you can take pictures.
But you can always come back tomorrow, right? No prizes for doing and seeing everything in one day. You are booking your White Mountains vacation for at least a week… aren?t you?

About The Author

Cliff Calderwood is the owner and contributing writer of www.New-England-Vacations-Guide.com. This is an excerpt from a longer article on the White Mountain National Forest, and you can read the full article and get a free downloadable copy of his complete travel guide at http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com/.

by: Theresa Gabriel

The Zugspitze is a dramatic mountain above the town of Garmisch- Partenkirchen in Southern Bavaria, Germany. I enjoyed walking mountain trails were I lived three hours away, and inquired about the trails to the top of the Zugspitze. In Germany hiking isn’t much of an extreme sport. The trails are well developed and Gasthauses (restaurants) dot the sides of the mountains, so one can practically count on a bier and a schnitzel at or near each peak.
I found that the Zugspitze hike takes two days, and that I could hook up with a guide. I was considering it, when my husband and I had an opportunity to visit a friend in Garmisch. I wouldn’t have time to do the hike, but our friend suggested taking the cable car to the top of the mountain. Of course I couldn’t pass up the chance to inspect the mountain and to enjoy the view.
The ride up in the 10 passenger cable car was breathtaking. We passed through clouds and between mountain peaks during the 20 minute ride. Once on top, we donned our coats and headed out for a look. We saw several mountain peaks rising above the clouds below, and we had fun taking and posing for pictures out on the rocks.
I could see the trail below, winding its way up the mountain side, dotted with people on their way up. Through the binoculars, I followed the trail to a sheer cliff, and looked closer, not quite believing what I saw. Along the cliff face, a row of iron rods stuck out from the vertical rock face, creating a horizontal path. People were walking on those rods, hundreds of feet from the ground below! I could see that they were wearing belts which clipped onto hooks on the side of the cliff. I watched as one person walked along the rods, then stopped to change her safety clip to the next hook. I was flabbergasted that the Germans, who normally tamed the trails so well, would build such a thing.
After walking around a bit and exploring, I went inside the gasthaus to have a cup of hot chocolate and once again considered hiking the trail. I realized that the reason I hike is: for the fun, the beauty and the peacefulness of the mountains. I really am not interested in the dangerous thrill of an exciting sport.
I never climbed the Zugspitze because I drew a line that I didn’t want to cross. There are other things I simply won’t do, like lend money to relatives, walk the dog when it?s below zero and host Pampered Chef parties. I love my relatives, the dog and Pampered Chef, but there has to be a line. The line protects my integrity and distinguishes my identity. Thoreau said ?The true cost of a thing is the amount of what I call ?life? which is required to be exchanged for it immediately or in the long run.?
I gladly accept all the flack I get from my decisions. Saying no to some things allows me to do what is more suited to me. I gladly give up dangerous sports, lending money that I’ll never see again, freezing my butt, and being a perfect hostess. In return, I am able to lead women on beautiful and easy hikes, be a personal coach, enjoy reading great novels and lead children?s ministry projects at my church. I live my own life, not all lives.

About The Author

Paths began to beckon Theresa when she was 12, visiting the Bridger Wilderness in Wyoming. Walking, dancing, and movement are a part of her, nourished by John Denver’s musical challenge for her to ‘fly.’ Join her ‘walking with women’ Life Discovery Tours.
Learn more about Theresa Gabriel: Women Summit LLC http://www.womensummit.com Life Discovery Tours - Women’s Retreats

by: Maria Estarellas

Do you know you can go on a 7-day cruise for half the price?
Or visit Europe for 15 days for only $2,000 per person including airfare, hotels, car rental and meals?
If you follow these steps, you can save more up to 50% in travel expenses.
1. Travel during low season.
Choosing to go on vacation during low season, will save you a great deal of money on airfare, hotels, cruises, car rental and more.
The best dates to travel are between:

February - May

September - the week before Thanksgiving

December 1 - 15
For example, a 7-day cruise in the Caribbean can cost around $1,000 during summer and winter but it can cost $495 in November.
A ticket to Europe can cost between $800-$1,200 during high season but you can buy it at $395 roundtrip during low season.
2. Hotels
The same applies to hotel rates.
When it comes to hotels, you should look for 3-star hotels that will offer most amenities you need at a lower price than 4 or more star hotels. You should keep in mind, that 3-star hotels are smaller, but you can find very good hotels for a great price.
Keep in mind that hotels that are very near local attractions will be more expensive than hotels located 2 or 3 blocks away.
3. Attractions and Places to Visit
Make a list of the places and attractions you want to visit and do some research. Find out about the schedules, locations, special events, etc. You’ll find out that there are certain dates during the year that they will have discounts and even free admission.
4. Restaurants
Don’t visit tourist-oriented restaurants.
Instead, ask locals to recommend family-owned or small restaurants. Not only will you pay less but the food, quality and service will be much better.
Two years ago, I visited Monaco, France and we went to a small restaurant on a side street and we only paid $100 (for 4 people) for appetizers, great pasta, drinks and dessert (including tip). Not a bad price considering that Monaco is very expensive.
5. Metro vs. Taxi
In most places, there is a metro or train system which will be a lot cheaper than traveling by taxi. All you need to do is get a map and trace the route you’re going to visit and find out the train or metro numbers you need to get on to.
By planning your vacation in advance, choosing the best dates to travel (low season), doing research about places and attractions to visit, going to local restaurants versus tourist-oriented ones, and using the metro or train system instead of taxis, will save you a great deal of money and allow you to go on vacation at least twice a year.

About The Author

Maria Estarellas is the webmaster for http://meg2.citymaker.com. The Complete Website For The Whole Family
meg2@bspr.com