Posts Tagged ‘nature’

5 Great Things To Do in the Mountains

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

A lot of close friends and family members book cabins for vacations and for a private get-away from the fast moving real world of everyday life. There is no better place than to get lost out in the wild for a week or two for a retreat. Get your list ready and be organized for your escape! Below are great tips that can assist you schedule an adventurous getaway!

1. Horse Back Riding – There is nothing nicer than riding high on the mountain on top of a horse. Horse back is an experience that everyone should have. Your tail might be sore the next day but you will sure have a life of memories on a horse ride. There is no better way to connect to early American culture than riding a horse through the woods!

2 Biking – Finding a cool biking trail can be tough to find and really depends on where you are. In Alabama, we are privileged to have some really awesome trails. Our state parks have done a nice job of building wonderful mountain bike paths. Bike riding is fun to do in groups or alone. Always research your trail before you set out and make sure you have the proper tools. I always bring an Allen wrench for my brakes and a container of air with a patching kit! Always wear a helmet while your cycling! A helmet can save your life if you strike a tree or a rock!

others.

4. Swimming – Getting in a cool river stream to cool off is a must if you are in the mountains. Keep in mind that some currents may be stronger than you think so be aware of water conditions. Many mountain streams are perfect to play in during the summer months when rainfall is lower. Many mountain rivers can rage during winter and spring months.

5.Snow Skiing – High Mountain areas host ski lodges and resorts that wait for winter guest to hit the slopes every year. The typical ski season lasts around 6 months in most areas and really depends on elevation and location.

Whether you’re hiking, fishing, biking, hunting, camping, skiing be sure to take many pictures. Just remember don’t become too comfortable around wild animals, many are territorial and don’t take kind to anyone invading their space.

Find a great Vacation Rental or a secluded Mountain Bed and Breakfast today!

Global Warming Quicker Than Forecast

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

An increasingly large amount of scientific research, published since the IPCC 4th Assessment Report was released in 2007, shows that climate change is occurring right now, and that it is much faster than predicted only two years ago.

The evidence for this statement comes from many areas. The most important ecosystems currently undergoing change include:

-Many physical systems, in widespread sites, are already showing evidence of global warming. Examples include the timing of plant flowering, animal breeding, and lake thawing.

-Higher ocean surface temperatures in Pacific & Atlantic hurricane-formation zones leading to stronger cyclones are definitely related to anthropogenic warming.

-Ocean acidification is occurring quickly, due to CO2 in massive amounts dissolving in salty water. This will have major impacts on marine ecosystems and subsequently food supplies for many countries.

-Probable sea-level rise over the next 100 years will be higher than that calculated in 2007. It will probably increase at least 100cm, based on newly released scientific studies.

-The increased melting of the Greenland ice sheet which began in the summer of 2004 has been definitely related to global warming.

-West Antarctica has melted at an accelerated rate since 1999 and has suffered 10 major ice shelf collapses since then. After an ice shelf collapses there is a rapid and marked acceleration of glacial flows, contributing to sea level increases.

-Sea-ice in the Arctic is disappearing much quicker than previously estimated, and it is almost a given that this area will be ice-free in summer within a few decades.

-Thawing of the boreal permafrost is proceeding much faster than previously calculated, and is expelling a lot more greenhouse gases than expected.

The warming that is now taking place is expected to go on for many centuries, after all human-sourced CO2 escape ceases. This is due to the significant delays that exist in the climate-ocean system, as well as the long half-life of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Read more at the planet’s greatest climate change blog, or learn more about accelerated sea level rise.