Bryce Canyon - a stunning US travel destination

Written by Felicity Walker


Continued from page 1

Inrepparttar warmer months there are plenty of trails forrepparttar 146194 visitor to explore, ranging from easy strolls to hard hikes. Some ofrepparttar 146195 best trails are located inrepparttar 146196 Bryce Amphitheatre, located nearrepparttar 146197 entry torepparttar 146198 park.

Here you can wander throughrepparttar 146199 Queen's Garden, or gaze up at Queen Victoria herself surveyingrepparttar 146200 'flowers' in her garden. Some ofrepparttar 146201 most awe inspiring lookouts are situated in this area, including Sunset Point and Inspiration Point - a must for any visitor.

Walkers can also followrepparttar 146202 Fairyland, Riggs Spring and Under-the-Rim trails, which are longer, but allow more opportunities to seerepparttar 146203 different elements ofrepparttar 146204 park at close quarters.

Summer months can cause temperatures inrepparttar 146205 base ofrepparttar 146206 canyon to soar, so it is very important to be prepared forrepparttar 146207 heat, and carry plenty of water.

In winterrepparttar 146208 roads are opened between snowfalls, allowing a totally different perspective ofrepparttar 146209 park. Snow capped pinnacles stand out sharply againstrepparttar 146210 background of white snow and dark green trees. The air is also cleaner, allowing visitors to see great distances.

Forrepparttar 146211 energetic, it is possible to cross-country ski in a number of areas inrepparttar 146212 park, and on some trails it is possible to go snowshoeing instead of hiking.

If you want a slightly different view ofrepparttar 146213 park, it is possible to explorerepparttar 146214 park in a 1930 limousine. Alternatively, you can rent a horse on an hourly basis to trek some ofrepparttar 146215 better trails.

There is plenty of interest to explore inrepparttar 146216 park, apart fromrepparttar 146217 marvellous scenery ofrepparttar 146218 'silent city', asrepparttar 146219 hoodoos are sometimes called. The park also contains a large variety of plants and wildlife, including meadows and forests.

Ground squirrels abound nearrepparttar 146220 viewing areas, and their antics are almost enough to distractrepparttar 146221 visitor's eyes fromrepparttar 146222 scenery. On quiet mornings and evenings it is also possible to see deer, elk and antelope grazing onrepparttar 146223 meadows.

Some bears and mountain lions also enterrepparttar 146224 park occasionally, but are rarely seen by tourists.

Bryce Canyon is a hidden jewel, thoroughly deserving to be as well known as its southern neighbour,repparttar 146225 Grand Canyon. Include it on your itinerary, and you definitely won't be disappointed.

In fact, you may be completely overwhelmed byrepparttar 146226 fascinating and awe inspiring beauty of Bryce Canyon, just like almost every other visitor.

Travelling the national parks in the US is one of the author's favorite things to do. Check out http://www.travelusinfozone.com or http://www.travelusinfozone.com/bryce-canyon/ for more information.




Mount Kenya - Up High at God's Mountain

Written by Andrew Muigai


Continued from page 1

The Naro Moru route approachesrepparttar mountain fromrepparttar 146193 west and is easilyrepparttar 146194 most popular. The trail is well serviced with rest huts and isrepparttar 146195 fastest way torepparttar 146196 peaks. It is howeverrepparttar 146197 steepest and climbers vulnerable to AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) may experience difficulties. The hike will take 4 days, though you may opt for an additional day atrepparttar 146198 summit. You start with a fairly steep 5-hour walk from Park Gate to Met Station (3,050 m). This is where you spendrepparttar 146199 first night and acclimatize torepparttar 146200 thinning mountain air.

The next day isrepparttar 146201 longest and you will walk, under varying terrain, for anywhere between 8 and 10 hours. You spendrepparttar 146202 night at Mackinders Camp (4,200 m), inrepparttar 146203 vicinity ofrepparttar 146204 peak area. You really should have an early night on this day. Very earlyrepparttar 146205 next morning -2.00 a.m isrepparttar 146206 usual time- you set out to attempt Point Lenana. The mountain is generally clear inrepparttar 146207 morning and stormy inrepparttar 146208 afternoon- so,repparttar 146209 idea is for you to ascend and descendrepparttar 146210 peak when you have good traction. This isrepparttar 146211 part ofrepparttar 146212 hike where some experience symptoms of altitude related ailments.

It will take you about 5 hours to reach Lenana. Here you must take some photos, to showrepparttar 146213 folks back home how you fared atrepparttar 146214 top of God's Mountain. Afterwards, you descend in 3 hours to Mackinders Camp for breakfast. Then ascending back to Teleki Valley via Camel Rocks, you reach Met Station in about 4 hours. The night rest is at Met Station, beforerepparttar 146215 final descent to Park Gate.

The Sirimon route has its base at Nanyuki torepparttar 146216 north ofrepparttar 146217 mountain. The route offers easier climbing thanrepparttar 146218 Naro Moru trail and is also more scenic. It normally takes 5 days up and downrepparttar 146219 mountain. You start with a 3-4 hours walk through rain forest to overnight at Old Moses camp (3,300 m). Next day after breakfast you hike throughrepparttar 146220 moorland andrepparttar 146221 Liki and Mackinder valleys. You reach Shipton's camp (4,200 m) after a 6-7 hour hike. You spendrepparttar 146222 night here before setting out very earlyrepparttar 146223 next morning to attempt Point Lenana.

The Chogoria route begins atrepparttar 146224 town ofrepparttar 146225 same name torepparttar 146226 west ofrepparttar 146227 mountain. This isrepparttar 146228 by far most beautiful and scenic ofrepparttar 146229 popular routes. You will enjoy dramatic views of waterfalls, valleys, tarns and rugged rock formations. Butrepparttar 146230 trail is not so popular because it is alsorepparttar 146231 longest and therefore toughest. It will take you 6 days to ascend and descendrepparttar 146232 mountain. There are no usable service huts alongrepparttar 146233 route and you must carry a tent along. Whichever route you use, you can prolong your enjoyment of these heights by taking a day to dorepparttar 146234 Summit Circuit Path.

It is important that you take enough water - about 4 to 6 litres daily- to keep dehydration at bay. Dehydration makes you more vulnerable to altitude sickness and hypothermia. Hypothermia is lowering of body temperature and symptoms include clumsiness and disorientation. Victims ofrepparttar 146235 condition need to be quickly provided with a warm and dry environment. At heights above 3,000 m, oxygen levels reduce and altitude sickness stalksrepparttar 146236 trekker. That is why a fast climb is not advised, as you have no opportunity to acclimatize. The symptoms for Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) are nausea, headache, fatigue and general malaise. You should always descend to lower altitude withrepparttar 146237 onset of symptoms.

Other more severe medical conditions that can arise are High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). The coming of HAPE is betrayed by a dry cough and difficulty in breathing. HACE is marked by slurred speech, severe headache and disoriented behaviour. HACE and HAPE are both potentially fatal and you should always descend to lower altitude and seek treatment. To reduce chances of mountain sickness, it is advisable to acclimatize by spending an extra night near Park Gate or atrepparttar 146238 mountain huts above 4,000 m. If you temper your zeal forrepparttar 146239 peaks and take a slow sensible hike you will enjoyrepparttar 146240 adventure and will be all right.

You will generally need a guide and porters so that you can concentrate onrepparttar 146241 hike. Always go for those who have high altitude experience and are accredited byrepparttar 146242 park authorities. They will knowrepparttar 146243 routes, and a good one is worth his weight in gold, in event of sickness and other contingencies. The porters shoulderrepparttar 146244 heavy stuff while you carry a daypack with essentials such warm clothing, fire making capability, some food and drinks, a flashlight and first aid kit.

The stuff you must bring along includes: warm clothing, waterproof hiking boots, rain suit, sleeping bags, flashlights, sunglasses and hand gloves. Many climbers find it expedient to buy a Mount Kenya climbing package in order to take advantage of those with local knowledge. Such a package will include transport, accommodation inrepparttar 146245 mountain huts, meals while onrepparttar 146246 climb, park entry fees, services of an experienced mountain guide and porters and cooks.

The main rainy season inrepparttar 146247 Mount Kenya region falls from late March to June, with secondary rains appearing from late October to December. You can climbrepparttar 146248 mountain at any time of year butrepparttar 146249 most comfortable climb is achieved inrepparttar 146250 dry months of January and February and from July to October.

After your climb, you can relax at some ofrepparttar 146251 excellent hotels and resorts inrepparttar 146252 Mount Kenya area. Before you leaverepparttar 146253 country, take to heartrepparttar 146254 sentiments ofrepparttar 146255 Italian climber Carlo Spinelli, who said: "I consider myself a nature lover more than a mountaineer, and for this reason Kenya hasrepparttar 146256 best of both mountain and wilderness". Take time to see wildlife on a Kenya safari in this region or in other parts ofrepparttar 146257 country.

Copyright © Africa Point

Andrew Muigai is the editor of AfricaPoint Insider online newsletter. It is part of AfricaPoint.com - the Africa travel website that has helped thousands of travelers discover Africa. You can view more info on Kenya safari and tours at the website.




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