#national scenic trails

[pcttrailsidereader]

NIMBY

You may have heard of this term. NIMBY is short for 'Not in my backyard'. The PCT was officially identified in 1968 but it wasn't until 1997 that the 'golden spike' marked an official completion of the trail. On paper this sounds great, doesn't it? A complete 2,650 mile ribbon of trail that stretches from the California/Mexican border north to the Canadian/Washington state border.

Well, not so fast. Even today, fifty-five years after its official designation as one of two (at the time) National Scenic Trails, sharing the spotlight with the Appalachian Trail in the east there are many miles that are very restrictive for hikers passing through.

Approximately 10 percent of the trail remains on private land with little in place to help protect the trail experience for future generations.

In a majority of cases, trail easements exist through these private parcels that allow hikers and equestrians the right to pass through. However, many of these very narrow easements are less than 30 feet wide. As a result these easements do not provide any real protection for the land adjacent to the trail. Of particular notice is that new construction and development can happen at any time on private property along the PCT.

As a result, the wildness of the trail experience is compromised every time a new road, power line or vacation home is built nearby. Often, these developments can and do push the trail onto property edges and along large fence lines if there’s no other place for it.

The PCTA continually  advocates  for increased federal funding for land protection and has been doing so since 1999. One avenue to gain access to these restricted lands has been through the Land and Water Conversation Fund (LWCF). Congress has been strongly urged to provide full funding for the LWCF. Yearly, $900 million from energy company royalties on offshore oil and gas drilling leases are put into the LWCF. This money is intended to create and support parks and waterways. Unfortunately, Congress typically designates only a small portion of this money for the intended purpose and instead diverts most of the LWCF money to other unrelated spending.

Over the past 18 years, almost $46 million in LWCF funding has been used to acquire and permanently protect just over 33,000 acres along the PCT.

LWCF dollars are essential to permanently protecting the last 10% of private lands along the PCT. While there have been many successes in recent years, thanks to the hard and devoted work of the PCTA, LWCF appropriations have not been adequate to keep up with the number of landowners willing to sell their property along the PCT. Opportunities to purchase some of these properties constantly come and go, and in some cases could be our last chance to protect critical lands.

Here's what you can do. To show your support, please take a moment to contact your congressional representatives and let them know that you support full funding for LWCF and the protection of the Pacific Crest Trail. Make the PCT the gem that it is by striving to keep it in all of our backyards.

[martyharrison]

Hiking the lakeshore

[bibliophilicwitch]

Ice Age National Scenic Trail - Table Bluff Segment, Wisconsin

[odiggity]

Hiking the Bear Gulch Cave Trail

Pinnacles National Park - Paicines, CA

[vandaliatraveler]

The High Rocks Trail along the Highland Scenic Highway offers an easy, 3 mile out-and-back hike featuring one of the best views in the Central Appalachians. Perched on a sandstone outcropping at over 4,000 feet (1,219 m) above sea level, the overlook provides sweeping views toward Virginia to the east and the Greenbrier River Valley to the south. I imagine this would be an ideal spot to do some stargazing, as there is very little light obstruction from the valley below.

From top: views from the High Rocks overlook at the end of the trail; false Solomon's seal (Maianthemum racemosum), whose plume of white flowers gives way to a cluster of waxy, gold and red-speckled berries in late summer; two of the most impressive speckled wood lilies (Clintonia umbellulata) I've ever come across in my travels; American lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majuscula), a more robust and less densely-colonizing cousin of the more familiar European species, native to the Appalachian mountains from Southwestern Pennsylvania to North Carolina and Tennessee; the gorgeous mountain angelica (Angelica triquinata), also known as filmy angelica, an Appalachian endemic that produces the most impressive compound umbels of greenish-white flowers in late summer; and a gregarious woodland fungi, perhaps sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare)?

[aisphotostuff]

South Downs Trail West Sussex.. by Adam Swaine Via Flickr: Pitts-Stop at The Cabin in West Sussex.. a café or Pitts-Stop right on the edge of a footpath or bridleway. And that’s why I was so excited to stumble into The Cabin at Berretts Farm.It’s on the side of the Downs Link (the disused railway line that is open to walkers, cyclists, and riders and runs from the North Downs to Shoreham) on the southern outskirts of Henfield.We're nestled in the middle of Henfield's glorious countryside, uniquely placed along the Downslink with breathtaking views over the southdowns.

[thorsenmark]

Itineraries in Exploring Great Basin National Park by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While walking the Bristlecone Grove Trail and a view looking to the south and up a mountainside in Great Basin National Park.

[wanderguidehub]

Unleash Your Adventurous Spirit: The Ultimate Hiking Guide to Pinnacles National Park, California

Welcome to the magnificent Pinnacles National Park, the hidden gem of California! Discover the thrill of hiking through untouched wilderness, climbing steep terrains, and immersing yourself in mesmerizing landscapes that leave you breathless. This comprehensive guide will equip you with all the information you need to make your hiking experience unforgettable. From trails that challenge seasoned…

[rabbitcruiser]

National Trails Day

The  outdoors are calling out to us, telling us this is the perfect time for  a hike — it is National Trails Day after all, which is celebrated only  on the first Saturday in June of each year, falling on June 4 this year.  Organized by the American Hiking Society, this event aims to bring  together all trail enthusiasts, young and old, while honoring those who  help maintain and preserve hiking trails for everyone to enjoy.

History of National Trails Day

The  history of National Trails Day stretches back almost 50 years. Back  then, there were no government-mandated trails for walking and other  leisure activities. This changed when President Lyndon B. Johnson made a  law, which established trails that people could use for recreation (and  tourism too). This system saw much change over the years, with local  authorities and organizations adding to the network of trails. With each  new organization dedicated to hiking and outdoor activities, more and  more incentives to expand the existing trails became available to  people.

Until now, private entities have been expanding on the  governmental law, but soon, a presidential task force concluded that  more was needed to be done to expand the trails and safeguard the  environment. This report tasked federal authorities with providing funds  to local authorities and officials to help them develop and maintain  pathways in their regions. The American Hiking Society, which by then  was a big name in the world of hiking, decided it needed to devise a  scheme to further incentivize people to take up volunteering and  activities to maintain and enjoy the country’s hiking trails, and thus,  they launched National Trails Day, which has been running ever since.

National Trails Day timeline

October 2, 1968 Trails Act Becomes a Law

President  Lyndon B. Johnson establishes an official network of trails across  America that can be used for recreation and tourism.

October 13, 1976 The American Hiking Society is Born

An  official hiking organization is created, which begins hosting meetings  and thinking up new initiatives to increase interest in hiking.

January 28, 1985 A Review of Outdoor Recreation Services

President  Ronald Reagan signs an executive order, the Presidential Commission on  Outdoor Recreation Resources Review, to conduct a thorough review of  America's outdoor recreation services.

January 28, 1987 A Call for More Commitment

The  Presidential Commission on Outdoor Recreation Resources Review, now  called the President’s Commission on Americans Outdoors, calls for more  outdoor commitment from the government for protection and funding.

1988 National Trails Agenda Project

A  cooperative venture is undertaken between the National Park Service and  American Trails to look at trail-based issues and to provide  recommendations that satisfy America's need for trails.

1991 An Idea Takes Root

The American Hiking Society comes up with a program to highlight the importance of trails and dubs it 'National Trails Day.'

1993 First National Trails Day Comes into Being!

The  American Hiking Society launches the first National Trails Day, with  hundreds of organizations participating — this day has been celebrated  ever since.

How To Celebrate National Trails Day

Participate in special events

Do more than hike

Show appreciation to volunteers

Throughout  the U.S., the American Hiking Society branches and various private  organizations host multiple events and activities to celebrate hiking  and promote awareness about the trails you can use. So grab a friend  (two- or four-legged) and set out on a little hike around your local  trail.

Hiking  trails are for more than simply hiking. These trails offer plenty of  recreational opportunities for those who don’t like hiking. They also  offer excellent opportunities for birdwatching and activities like  canoeing or paddle trips, and, of course, most trails can be used for  biking as well.

These  pristine trails and pathways have been maintained by a group of  volunteers. So let’s take a moment to appreciate their efforts. You can  even celebrate these efforts by sharing your appreciation on social  media. You would not only be honoring these volunteers but you would  also be building interest in hiking too! Another way to show your  appreciation would be to become a volunteer yourself. Check out the  Appalachian Trail Conservatory or other organizations just like it that  are responsible for maintaining hiking trails and find out if there is  anything you can do to help.

Fun Facts About National Trails Day

The 20th-anniversary rush!

There are so many trails!

There’s one standout trail

Buying a house? Look for a trail

People still love to hike

A whopping 157,000 people participated in the 20th Annual National Trails Day events on June 2, 2012, held across the U.S.

America boasts around 200,000 miles of trails all over the country.

The  Appalachian National Scenic Trail — commonly called the Appalachian  Trail or A.T. — receives about two million visits each year.

According to the American Hiking Society, in 2008, prospective home buyers looked for trial availability while buying houses.

The  National Survey on Recreation and the Environment (NSRE) trends in 2012  showed participation rates have increased in the first decade of the  21st century.

Why We Love National Trails Day

We get to explore nature

Hiking (and outdoorsy activities) are healthy

It is a great bonding activity

National  Trails Day is a great big celebration of the outdoors. In a time when  all most of us usually see is a giant corporate jungle, hiking is a  wonderful and refreshing pastime for us. We get to visit places where  nature still reigns supreme, which is a brilliant way to spend our time.

Going  on a quick (or long) hike instantly gets your blood pumping. Even if  you are not into hiking as an activity, outdoor aficionados can enjoy  many more activities in areas with hiking trails, each of which have  their own health benefits. Plus, being in nature is a giant stress  buster and good for the soul. If this isn’t enough to convince you,  spending time outdoors and in nature is a known aid for non-clinical  depression and a great way to restore mental- and physical faculties.

These  trails are truly for everyone. It offers young children a place to  safely run around outside, a breath of fresh air for anyone who needs  it, and a chance for the elderly to admire some wildflowers... There is  no competition here, no apps or distractions. It’s just you, your loved  ones, and, on some trails, your pets too. Happy bonding!

Source

[soovyclub]

10 Best Places to Walk in UK: National Parks & Nature Reserves Wandering about where to go walking in the UK? Here are some of the best places to go hiking in the United Kingdom to experience scenic views from the summits of National Parks and Nature reserves in England, Wales, and Scotland. https://www.soovy.club/blog/best-places-to-walk-in-uk-national-parks-nature-reserves

[betweenapitchandacast]

8 Spectacular Hiking Trails in the Mountains

#Mountain #hiking is like no other. It presents a rugged world full of unspoiled sights. But these spectacular hiking trail in the mountains are in a class of their own. See this list!

North America boasts stunning scenery from the west coast to the east coast. The views are truly breathtaking, including the rugged Rocky Mountains, the pristine Sierra Nevadas, and the timeless Appalachians, to name a few. Many people see mountain ranges as a place to escape and enjoy outdoor activities, while others view them as a thrilling adventure in nature’s playground. These untouched…

[justdownthecreek]

Black Creek Wilderness, near Brooklyn, MS

[bibliophilicwitch]

Ice Age Trail - Pine Line Segment, Wisconsin

[hikercarl]

Top 10 Best Hiking Trails in the USA You Must Explore

Discover America's most breathtaking hiking trails. From scenic national parks to challenging mountain treks, we've got the best hiking trails in the USA for every adventurer.

The United States is full of amazing natural beauty, perfect for hikers. From lush forests in the Pacific Northwest to the rugged Rocky Mountains, there are many great trails. This article will show you the top 10 hiking trails in the USA you must see. Whether you want beautiful views, a tough challenge, or a family-friendly hike, this guide has it all. Key Takeaways The USA offers a diverse…

[goingplacesfarandnear]

Best Road Trips for Leaf Peeping this Fall

Leaf-peeping road trips are popular getaways in fall © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com By Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com Autumn colors invite leaf-peeping by car, bike and campervan. Here are some of the best routes to steer your travels: Roadtrippers Names Six Lesser-Known All-American Roads for a Memorable Fall Road Trip There are National Scenic…

[wausaupilot]

Thru-hiking the Ice Age Trail: Why some hikers become ‘thousand-milers’ in Wisconsin

Since the 2010s, thru-hiking the Ice Age Trail has exploded in popularity. Have you ever considered it?

By Colleen Leahy | Wisconsin Public Radio When a hiker decides to go on a thru-hike on one of the Triple Crown trails — the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, or Continental Divide Trail — it’s a big undertaking. They have to pack everything they need in a backpack for the five to seven months it typically takes to hike thousands of miles across North America.   But what about a smaller trek?…