Hiking Trails Mt. Washington Valley NH – Trekking trails USA
Hiking Trails Mt. Washington Valley NH - Trekking trails USA
Mt. Washington Valley Trails & Mt Washington - NHThe highest mountain in the northeast state of New Hampshire, at 6288 feet, Mt. Washington (or Agiocochook as it was then called) was first climbed in 1642 by Darby Field and two native guides but it wasn't until 1853 that the first summit house was built. A year later, Tip Top House was built, which survies to this day. For the less hardy, the Carriage Road and a 3 mile cog railway were built; feats of engineering which would be deemed difficult even in these modern times! The cog railroad runs to the summit from the west and the road road from the east.South of the peak is the AMC's Lakes of the Clouds hut. At the base of the east side is the AMC's Pinkham Notch Visitors Center.The summit is covered with several buildings, including the Sherman Adams Visitor's Center, TV and radio antennas, the Yankee Building and the Mt Washington Observatory.The highest surface wind ever recorded on earth was at the observatory on the summit of Mt. Washington; 231 MPH on April 12, 1934. It is known for having the worst weather in the world, especially bad in the winter. There are many monuments to hikers who've died on the mountain, including one to Lizzie Bourne, who died while trying to walk up to the top, dressed in typical Victorian clothing. During the summer months, there is a cafeteria, museum, payphone, gift shop, and even a post office in operation. In winter, there is no access to any of the buildings. The Observatory is staffed year-round by weather observers.There have been several hotels on the summit. The original Tip-Top House was a simple stone building with a wooden extension. Later, a fancy wooden hotel was built, directly connected to the Railroad. It burned down and a new simpler hotel was built in the early 1900's. In recent years the wooden extension of the Tip-Top House was removed. You can tour the inside of Tip Top House during the summer months.On the east side of the mountain are three major ravines;The Great Gulf, said to be the greatest of the glacial errosion cirques in the Presidential Range, with awe inspiring cliffs!Tuckerman - which is famous for its late spring skiing.Huntington - a rock and ice climber's playground.On the west side, the Ammoonosuc Ravine dominates. Just south of
Lakes of the Clouds, is Mt Monroe, and just north is Mt Clay, with a bit further on, Mt Jefferson.Hiking trails Mt. Washington ValleyThere are many options for hiking to the summit of Mt Washington. The most popular routes start at Pinkham Notch, on the east side of the mountain. Climbing from the east means that you are sheltered from the usual strong winds out of north and west for the majority of the hike. The main route is up the Tuckerman Ravine trail (4.1 miles) which goes straight from Pinkham to the summit.On the south side of the ravine is the Boott Spur trail (5.4 miles) and the north side has the Lion Head trail (4.5 miles). Both are slightly longer than Tuckerman Ravine but also easier on the knees. The Huntington Ravine trail (5.1 miles) branches off the Tuckerman Ravine trail and climbs the bare slabs of Huntington Ravine. This is probably the most difficult trail
in the White Mountains, and should not be attempt in bad weather or used for descent. From there, people usually take the Alpine Garden trail to Tuckerman Junction and continue to the top from there.From the west side of the mountain, starting near the Marshfield Station of the Cog Railroad, there are two routes:The Ammonoosuc Ravine trail (3.9 miles) starts at a parking area just below the Cog parking lot and climbs up the Lakes of the Clouds hut. Hikers continue up on the Crawford Path to the summit.The Jewel trail (4.6 miles) leaves from the far side of the Cog Railroad parking lot (park at the Ammonoosuc Ravine trailhead) and climbs up to the ridge where it joins the Gulfside trail.Trailheads.Pinkham Notch Visitors Center - Take Rt 16 north from North Conway, located about 10 miles north of Jackson. Parking in the main lot does not require a WMNF parking pass, parking in the overflow lots does. There are bathrooms, coin operated showers, food, some gear, and pay phones. Lodging is available with reservations.Ammonoosuc Ravine - From Rt 302 in Bretton Woods, take the Base
Road 6 miles to the trailhead parking area on the right, just before the Cog Railroad. A WMNF Parking Pass is required.Before even starting off on your hike, I recommend you take at a look at the Mt. Washington Observatory Daily Weather report
for an up-to-date report from the top. For some simple tips on how to prepare for your trip, please visit our safety tips page below. Althought there are references to UK routes, the basic info still applies!Have fun, test your stamina but be safe!One of Mike's passions in Life is long-distance hiking, a spin-off from which is a growing interest in organic food supplements, sports nutrition, human physiology & psychology. We are what we eat!http://www.trekking-hiking-outdoors.co.uk/Trekking-Trails-USA.htmlSafety Tips http://www.trekking-hiking-outdoors.co.uk/article-6-Map-food-torch-compass-whistle-mobi.htmlFood for Potential Energy http://www.trekking-hiking-outdoors.co.uk/article-3-food-for-potential-energy.html
Money Trails for Writers
Money Trails for Writers
I'm willing to bet that quite a number of you once had to debate (or discuss) the saying: "The pen is mightier than the sword." If you were arguing 'for', you would have been able to come up with many examples of how words triumphed over muscles.The fact is, words can triumph over just about anything. Even if you acknowledge the occasional truth of another saying, "A picture paints a thousand words", any picture has its limitations. If the viewer is not certain what the picture is about, it takes words to explain. It also takes words to theorize about what led up to the picture, what happened after the picture was taken, drawn or painted, and the many reactions that the picture might prompt.Visualize a website you've visited recently. Imagine it without pictures. Could you still find out what you wanted to know - or order the product you were after? The likely answer is 'yes'. Now imagine it without words. What's the situation this time? You'd be floundering.What has this got to do with your writing career?Everything.If you can use words well, you can find a way to make money in many, many different arenas. Really, a competent wordsmith is spoiled for choice. Quite a number of writers (myself included) have found themselves in the happy situation of having to decide which trail to follow - because the load is too great if you try to do everything. In my case, I had achieved success in writing short stories, writing articles, writing books for children, writing promotional material (copywriting) and ghostwriting. I was working far too many hours a week... something had to give.In the short term I focused on writing books for children, but this eventually gave way to writing 'how to' material and website copy. Now, I run an internet business and specialize in e-books and multi-media products. Words are still my business, but in many different ways. I have proved beyond doubt that there are endless opportunities out there for writers.Money Trails: Where Your Writing Skills Can LeadHere are just a few of the options for a skilled writer:
Writing articles - for magazines, websites and ezinesGhostwriting - write for others who are either too busy or don't have the skills (or both)Copywriting - website copy, advertisements, promotional material, catalogues and much moreWriting books (fiction) - for children or adults. There are countless genres - crime, mystery, romance, adventure, fantasy, thriller, suspense, science fiction, westerns, historical and many more.Writing non-fiction books. This is a huge field, both online and offline. Write for adults or children or in-between. Note: E-books are easy to produce and easy to sell, once you've learned the basics of selling online. Thousands of people are searching for 'how to' advice every day.Creative pursuits - greeting cards, hand-made cards, hand-made books, decorative scrolls etcScriptwriting - plays and film scripts, for adults or children. Not easy to break in, but can be very, very lucrative.Editing and Proofreading - if you have a strong background in English style and grammar, there's ongoing work here. You need to establish a track record before you advertise, and be ready to produce samples of your work. There are a number of courses available to give you formal qualifications in this field.Critique Service - if you already have writing credits, or a strong record in critiquing the work of published writers, you can establish a critique service. Set up a website and you'll contact many more people.Resumes - There's a steady stream of people looking for organized, reliable writers to translate their work experience into an impressive resume.Family histories - this is a specialized niche worth exploring. Set up some templates on your computer, obtain some basic equipment to scan photos/documents, and you can help others to organize their family stories. A good digital voice recorder is useful too.Column Writing - If you are an expert in a certain subject, or have a great sense of humour and a whimsical 'take' on everyday life, explore the possibility of writing a regular column for your local newspaper or a specialist magazine. This can lead to bigger things later.
These 12 suggestions barely scratch the surface of career options available to writers. It's one of the most flexible and portable careers available. Why not think hard about where your skill with words may lead? Finally, here are a few questions to help direct your thinking:
What do I most like to read? (Fiction or non-fiction? Romances or thrillers? Biographies or 'how to'?)What do I like to watch on TV? (Reality shows? Cop shows? Soap operas? The Discovery Channel? History?)What kind of writing makes the hours at the keyboard fly past?What is the best 'fit' with my life now - short stories, articles, a novel, 'how to'...?
Once you start thinking about what you really want to write, you might be surprised to find yourself going in an entirely different direction. The only thing for certain is this: there are many trails that a writer can follow - and a number of them have the potential to bring in a very comfortable income.(c) Copyright Marg McAlister 2004 Marg McAlister has published magazine articles, short stories, books for children, ezines, promotional material, sales letters and web content. She has written 5 distance education courses on writing, and her online help for writers is popular all over the world. Sign up for her regular writers' tipsheet at http://www.writing4success.com/ and if you want more money-making ideas for writers, get your f-r-e-e copy of Hidden Writing Opportunities here: http://www.writing4successclub.com/writing_opportunities.htm