Rescue services are complaining that a new generation of GPS tracking devices are leading hikers and trackers to take risks they are unprepared for. Matt Scharper, who coordinates Search and Rescue operations for the state of California, offers his insight.Rescue services are complaining that a new generation of GPS tracking devices are... more
Prentice Cooper State Forest is blanketed with bright orange, yellow, red, and violet colors and still some green left as well.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is brimming with fall colors.
At the highest elevations, the colors are now near peak.
At the lower and middle elevations, tuliptree, birch, and sourwood are creating a patchwork of brilliant red, yellow and orange. The color is expected to peak below 4,000 feet near the end of October.
Bears, chipmunks, and squirrels, are busily gathering acorns, walnuts, and other wild foods.
Suggested scenic drives are: Foothills Parkway East and West, Cataloochee Valley,and Lakeview Drive
Every trail in the park is perfect for hiking right now. Fall foliage and abundant late wildflowers await discovery around every bend.
In Southeast Tennessee, touches of color are beginning show in the valleys and lower elevations. The color changes are moving rapidly on the Cherohala Skyway. This week provided a rare occurrence of ice & snow at 4,000 feet with fall colors peeping through the winter blanket.
Middle and West Tennessee are just beginning to see splashes of color across the landscape with predictions of peak color to occur the first and second weeks of November.Prentice Cooper State Forest is blanketed with bright orange, yellow, red, and violet... more
Each year, nearly ten thousand tourists travel to Tanzanias Kilimanjaro National Park to summit the worlds tallest freestanding mountain. The journey from the base to the summit can take up to a week of navigating dangerous conditions, from rock slides to freezing temperatures and altitude sickness. There are no facilities on the mountain, so each climbing team is responsible for supplying its own food, shelter, and safety equipment. As most climbers on Kilimanjaro are amateurs, the National Parks mandates that each climber is accompanied by at least one porter to help carry these essentials. It also has guidelines for a minimum daily wage, the maximum weight each porter can carry, and the type of equipment each porter should be outfitted with.
Porters are primarily local villagers from the slopes of Kilimanjaro who can earn a living wage working on the mountain. However, because they are usually uneducated and have little or no other means to earn a living, they are regularly exploited by the tour operators who employ them. The porters are often poorly fed, given no warm or waterproof clothing, and according to National Parks guidelines, are grossly underpaid and made to carry loads far heavier than is regulated. Porters are regularly injured due to the poor working conditions and each year porters die working on the mountain.
In most cases, tourists interact solely with their climbing guides and have little to no interaction with the porters themselves. Therefore, they are almost completely unaware of these exploitations even whilst on the mountain. 'Porters of Kilimanjaro' hopes to directly improve the living and working conditions of the porters who help thousands of tourists summit Kilimanjaro each year by empowering tourists to make an informed decision when choosing a tour operator. Porters are employed by an unregulated group of tour operators, of which only a handful practice proper porter treatment as mandated by Kilimanjaro National Parks.
Directed, Filmed and Edited by:
Ryan Miller and Jessica Reynolds
Composer:
Kerry Muzzey
Audio Mix:
Hobo Audio
Color Correct:
Juantxo Royo
With many thanks to:
Tanzania Journeys
Marangu Hotel
Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project
John Pallangyo
Philip MbiseEach year, nearly ten thousand tourists travel to Tanzanias Kilimanjaro National Park... more
Each year, nearly ten thousand tourists travel to Tanzanias Kilimanjaro National Park to summit the worlds tallest freestanding mountain. The journey from the base to the summit can take up to a week of navigating dangerous conditions, from rock slides to freezing temperatures and altitude sickness. There are no facilities on the mountain, so each climbing team is responsible for supplying its own food, shelter, and safety equipment. As most climbers on Kilimanjaro are amateurs, the National Parks mandates that each climber is accompanied by at least one porter to help carry these essentials. It also has guidelines for a minimum daily wage, the maximum weight each porter can carry, and the type of equipment each porter should be outfitted with.
Porters are primarily local villagers from the slopes of Kilimanjaro who can earn a living wage working on the mountain. However, because they are usually uneducated and have little or no other means to earn a living, they are regularly exploited by the tour operators who employ them. The porters are often poorly fed, given no warm or waterproof clothing, and according to National Parks guidelines, are grossly underpaid and made to carry loads far heavier than is regulated. Porters are regularly injured due to the poor working conditions and each year porters die working on the mountain.
In most cases, tourists interact solely with their climbing guides and have little to no interaction with the porters themselves. Therefore, they are almost completely unaware of these exploitations even whilst on the mountain. 'Porters of Kilimanjaro' hopes to directly improve the living and working conditions of the porters who help thousands of tourists summit Kilimanjaro each year by empowering tourists to make an informed decision when choosing a tour operator. Porters are employed by an unregulated group of tour operators, of which only a handful practice proper porter treatment as mandated by Kilimanjaro National Parks.
Directed, Filmed and Edited by:
Ryan Miller and Jessica Reynolds
Composer:
Kerry Muzzey
Audio Mix:
Hobo Audio
Color Correct:
Juantxo Royo
With many thanks to:
Tanzania Journeys
Marangu Hotel
Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project
John Pallangyo
Philip MbiseEach year, nearly ten thousand tourists travel to Tanzanias Kilimanjaro National Park... more
This beautiful little song bird lands in the crab apple tree and lets his voice be heard as he lifts up his head to the sky and sings to the world. I kept the video going as long as he wanted to stay put and sing. It is a beautiful little bird and I am not sure of what kind he is. The markings are not those of the common sparrow, but he may be some kin to one. Enjoy this lovely tune from this beautiful little bird.This beautiful little song bird lands in the crab apple tree and lets his voice be... more
I have been adding photos to an album I named "Colors of Fall". I have now made this video to bring the photos to life and have named it "Living Colors of Fall". This video was made in the Prentice Cooper State Forest atop Suck Creek Mountain only 8 miles from Hwy 27 at the Signal Mountain Blvd exit in Chattanooga, Tn. Prentice Cooper has alot of recreational activities to offer such as hiking, kayaking, swimming, horse back riding, and also ATV riding is allowed in most areas.
How do you get here?
Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=prentice+cooper+state+forest+map&ie=UTF8&hl=en&sll=35.142755,
Nude hikers in Germany have a new place to indulge their hobby. One keen naturalist has announced the opening of a hiking trail exclusively for those who enjoy walking in the buff.
18-kilometers!!!!Nude hikers in Germany have a new place to indulge their hobby. One keen naturalist... more
I had laid out some sunflower seeds and peanuts in this area to attract birds, however when I came back there was this little chipmunk gathering seeds. I attempted to video him and he was spooked and ran off. In just a few minutes the air conditioning unit came on and was running loud and the chipmunk reappeared and I was making my video of him hurriedly gathering as many seeds as he could, however, when the motor of the air conditioning unit goes off, he is scared and runs away in a flash.I had laid out some sunflower seeds and peanuts in this area to attract birds, however... more
Walking down the Suck Creek Mountain Road in Prentice Cooper State Forest, I was on my way to the see kayaking, but I never made it. However, I took some time to enjoy some of God's beautiful nature. I have seen this little hole in the side of this rock more than a hundred times, but never got in it, so today I did. I like the scenery and the way the trees enclose you with all of the leaves still on them is kind of neat.Walking down the Suck Creek Mountain Road in Prentice Cooper State Forest, I was on my... more
From the rain that falls out of the clouds, upon the ground , into the stream, out of the stream into the creek, into the river, out the river into the ocean, out of the ocean and back into the clouds.From the rain that falls out of the clouds, upon the ground , into the stream, out of... more
It has been raining for two weeks now and more rain to come on this 21st day of September, 2009.
Here is a video of a most attractive male cardinal within the Prentice Cooper State Forest in Chattanooga, Tn
There is a very large variety of wildlife and birds within this area.
It is September 18, 2009 and the leaves are beginning to change in the Prentice Cooper State Forest and Wildlife Management Area atop Suck Creek Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I have begun my 2009 fall photo album and have entitled it "Colors of Fall". As fall comes upon us I will continue to add to my photo album and collect all of the beautiful colors that I see.
I am making a request to everyone to begin their fall photo albums and join our group. Display your albums within this group and lets enjoy sharing all of our beautiful "Colors of Fall" to the world.It is September 18, 2009 and the leaves are beginning to change in the Prentice Cooper... more
Special Note: Link above photo will open my Wild Birds photo album.
I live within the Prentice Cooper State Forest atop Suck Creek Mountain in Chattanooga, Tn. I have added 200 photos of wild birds that populate this area. I must say that some of these photos were not easily obtained. It has taken hours of commitment to being at the right place at the right time as well as being steady and influenced by an artistic eye. I hope everyone will take the time to look at my photos and make remarks or give me a thumbs up for my effort. Thank you for your patronage to my Wild Birds photo album.
Two beautiful blue jays sit atop this tree within the Prentice Cooper State Forest in Chattanooga,Tennessee overlooking the mountain. There are a variety of birds that live here in the forest and I went on a bird photo hunt this morning and found several to capture on my camera. I saw a large red-headed woodpecker, but could not get set quickly enough, but I will get him the next time.
Here is a link to my photo album: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=107256&id=730049720&l=16b2c40d77Two beautiful blue jays sit atop this tree within the Prentice Cooper State Forest in... more
I would like to say at the time of this video recording, I was not aware of current.com. Now, everything I am working on is toward posting on current.
This is an introduction to a hike I went on today, September 4, 2009 and I am hoping to present to everyone what a beautiful place this is atop the Suck Creek Mountain in Prentice Cooper State Forest and Wildlife Management Area.
The following from : http://www.outdoorchattanooga.com/505.htm
Prentice Cooper State Forest
12,000 acres with approximately 100 miles of dirt roads/trails. Multi-use trails open to motor vehicles, ATV’s, hiking, horseback riding. Roads/trails can be a mix of dirt, gravel, or rocks. Terrain varies from very easy to very steep.
Address: Marion County, TN
Related activities: trail riding, hiking, kayaking and canoeing
Distance from Outdoor Chattanooga HQ: 45 minutes
Map(s) and directions:
From Chattanooga, take Hwy 27 to Signal Mountain exit. Turn right onto Signal Mountain Rd. Turn left onto Hwy 27 (Suck Creek Rd.) Do not go up the mountain on Hwy 127. Continue on Hwy 27 for approximately 8 miles (into Marion County). Watch for sign of your left that says Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area. Turn left at that sign. Bear to left again at junction, and turn left at next road. Small sign says Prentice Cooper WMA. Go about one mile to check-in station on your left. Park at check-in station.
Maps available through Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, (800) 262-6704
Prentice Cooper Region 3 office: (931) 484-9571
Prentice Cooper manager’s office: (423) 658-0298
Activity type: easy to difficult
Dates/Hours: dawn to dusk. Closed during managed hunts. Camping at check-in station lot or Davis Pond.
Estimated time: variesI would like to say at the time of this video recording, I was not aware of... more
Here we are at Suck Creek Mountain within the Prentice Cooper State Forest and Wildlife Management Area in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We are at the foot of this climb and about to begin our trek upwards. These are my first steps into the hike. I hope you will take the time to observe and enjoy this video as I am wanting everyone to see what a beautiful place this is.Here we are at Suck Creek Mountain within the Prentice Cooper State Forest and... more
Now I begin my ascension to the top of this steep hill atop Suck Creek Mountain within the Prentice Cooper State Forest. This is part three of my hike.Now I begin my ascension to the top of this steep hill atop Suck Creek Mountain... more
This is part 4 of my hike and I see some interesting things along the way. I see a couple of interesting mushrooms that I have never seen in my life. Very neat! Also, I see some interesting moss and enjoy the overhang.This is part 4 of my hike and I see some interesting things along the way. I see a... more
We have finished our hike to the top of the overlook atop Suck Creek Mountain on Waldens Ridge within the Prentice Cooper State Forest and Wildlife Management Area in Chattanooga, Tennessee and now we are headed back down. Hold on!We have finished our hike to the top of the overlook atop Suck Creek Mountain on... more
