This past weekend, I took a trip up to the Poudre Canyon, a winding front range canyon carved out by the seventy mile long Cache La Poudre river.  This canyon is all things recreation to residents and visitors of Fort Collins, CO.  I have only been up here twice, both times to splitboard up at the Diamond Peaks near Cameron Pass in the winter time.  This canyon is incredibly long; it takes almost two hours to travel the winding highway from Ft. Collins to the top of Cameron Pass.  However, the abundant recreation all along the highway are well worth it.

For this trip, we traveled less than a quarter up the canyon, to camp at the Narrows Campground.  This is a developed National Forest campground, with about eight pads strictly for tent camping.  There is a toilet, trash, and water on site.  In addition, the campground is short walking …

Pike’s Peak at 14,110 feet is a pink granite beacon in the midst of the Colorado Rockies. Eons ago, dinosaurs roamed the area while it was in its infancy. Native Americans followed simple paths as they crisscrossed around it, and people now challenge themselves by climbing to the top in various ways: by foot, bike, car, or the Manitou and Pike’s Peak Railway. I, too, had spent a part of my life hoping to someday climb to its summit, not only to see the vast beauty surrounding the mountain, but also to say I had done it. But it was years before it became reality.

The first time I saw the pink mountain I was about eight while on vacation out west. As my dad drove past, he related the story of Zebulon Pike, the man who once called it the “Great Peak”. In mid-November of 1806, Pike and his …

If you have not yet downloaded Google Earth maybe this is a good time to try it. Chances are you have already used Google Maps or Yahoo Maps. Google Earth is different as it brings in navigation tools that the maps don’t necessarily have plus a growing three dimensional manipulation of the maps and satellite images to give them realistic properties that are enjoyable to look at. On Google Earth you can travel around the Earth and tour most of the famous spots that have been given three dimensional topology. It does not take long to download. There is a new upgraded version that is available. Caution-read the fine print as you download it because Google tries to also get you to download their Google Chrome Browser which you may or many not want to download on your computer. You don’t need Google Chrome to use Google Earth. Google sort …

Grand Rapids, Michigan is home to a number of indoor rock climbing venues. Venues such as Higher Ground, Inside Moves, and the Kentwood Climbing Center offer a variety of climbing options for the numerous rock climbers living in Grand Rapids.

But what do rock climbers do if they want to climb outdoors? Unfortunately, most have to leave town to get their fill of outdoor rock climbing. The Grand Rapids area doesn’t have any outdoor rock climbing spots, but thankfully, the Lower Peninsula’s primary rock climbing spot is only a day trip away. For additional outdoor rock climbing spots, Grand Rapids area residents have to plan longer trips to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The best outdoor rock climbing spots in Michigan are:

The City of Grand Ledge’s Oak Park – Grand Ledge’s Oak Park is the only place in lower Michigan that has climbable rock faces. As such, it is an incredibly …

Rock climbing is an extremely dangerous sport, but there are those who enjoy the rush of climbing up a tall cliff. Rock climbing will test your strength on all levels, considering that climbing involves you supporting your own weight. Making sure you check for trespassing signs or signs that say no climbing, is very important, not only for your safety, but for your wallet. But, if you are one of those adrenalin pushers who can’t wait to find the highest rock cliff to climb, and are out for anything, then check out these spots. They are all located in Northeast Ohio.

Whipps Ledges

Whipps Ledges offers rock climbers over 1100 feet high cliffs, and is located in Medina Ohio. You can do top rope, bouldering, and there are some gear routes on their 19 sections. You must have a permit to climb here.
If you need information on how to …

If you have ever been caught out in a thick pea-soup fog, you will know how easy it is to be lost, even within a few yards of your own front door in a street that you know like the back of your hand. On the mountains mist and cloud is never of a thick green constituency, it is white or grey. Unless it is night or snowing hard it is always possible to see fifty yards or so. But mountains have few signposts or name-plates on them, and if you wish to return home safely and on time, then you will have to learn to use and trust the map and compass.

They never give you wrong advice and are better than a ‘hunch’ when you are in doubt. Mountains look entirely different in mist and cloud, and, just as in a city fog, it is possible to be …

If you’ve got a weekend to spare and you’re in a romantic relationship with a rock climber, there’s no better way to say, “I love you” than with a quick climbing vacation. However, if that weekend happens to be during late fall or winter, picking a U.S. rock climbing destination with good weather is challenging. By choosing one of the climbing areas below, you can almost guarantee a successful trip, even if the weather’s bad.

Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas, Nevada Weekend Getaway

On the outskirts of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area provides perhaps the country’s finest cold-season romantic vacation option for rock climbers. Red Rocks presents fantastically diverse rock climbing opportunities for climbers of all ability levels, including sport climbing, bouldering, and classic multi-pitch routes, plus plenty of local guide services if you want professional supervision.

Clean up from climbing at one of those cheap Vegas …

If you want to have roses all summer long, choose a climber. A climber will bloom all summer long, usually from June to October. If you choose a rambling rose it will bloom only once during the year for about four to six weeks. However, when the rambler blooms it makes a very dramatic impact on your garden.

What I have done to solve this problem is to have one rambler and one climber. The trick is the pruning. The climber only blooms from the new season’s growth, so it requires pruning back to the main frame.

On ramblers, flowers are produced on second year wood. Any pruning you do on a rambler is to shape it and not to stimulate flowers.

Rambler is a tall fast growing rose and will spread sideways. A Climber is much shorter and will do exactly as it’s trained to do.

For a spectacular …

One of the most popular pastimes in Boulder, Colorado is undoubtedly rock climbing. The beautiful mountains and plentiful rock formations make getting out and climbing easy and fun in the warm months. But what happens when the weather turns cold? For that, try turning to one of Boulder’s great indoor rock gyms.

Spot Bouldering Gym: the Spot Bouldering Gym (www.thespotgym.com) is considered the best rock gym dedicated to bouldering in the world, as well as one of the largest at 10,000 square feet. This gym has freestanding structures reaching up to 18 feet high. The rock textures and forms range from Hueco to Fontaineblue to Yosimite. For those who prefer lead climbing, the Spot offers a 25-foot rope wall. As usual, a variety of climbing classes are offered. The only down side to the Spot is that membership buys not only access to a great gym, but also a perceived …

No pressure, U.S. skiers, but you’re coming off the nation’s best performance in Olympic history four years ago at Vancover without your top gun on the women’s side and a 36-year-old on the men’s side who’s trying to grab the gusto one last time.

No problem, right? Certainly expectations aren’t as great for the U.S. as they were in 2010, but this U.S. team might have a good mix of veterans and emerging standouts who could reach the podium stand when the Winter Olympics begin in Sochi, Russia.

Although Lindsey Vonn, the first U.S. woman to win Olympic gold in the downhill, will be stateside tending to her surgically repaired knee, and Bode Miller, who will become the oldest American to participate in alpine skiing when the Olympics begin, is trying to race Father Time, all isn’t lost. The U.S. has medal possibilities when the Olympic downhill begins Feb. 9 …