Feb 09 2011

Janet’s Cabin Snowshoe and Nordic Ski Trail

“Whether you visit in the summer or in the winter, you will fall in love with this trail, the scenery, and the comfortable cabin.”

happy snowshoers



Thus starts the description in the latest TrailKing trail guide on the Everytrail website.


It documents a recent snowshoe trek up to one of the Tenth Mountain Division mountain huts up in the Colorado mountains. The snow was plentiful, the scenery beautiful, and the air thin. I still have trouble believing that the snowshoe trip was only 5.5 miles. It seemed more like 55. And I wasn’t even the one breaking trail. That would be the person in the front. I was the person in the back. Often way in the back.


But let’s not discuss my winter out-off-shape blues. We’re here to discuss trails, and this one was a doozy. It was well-packed on the way up since it had been a couple days since the last significant snow storm.

Janet’s Cabin

Once we got to the cabin, we found it to be warm, comfortable, and spacious. Altogether, there were 20 of us staying there with 12 in our group and a couple smaller groups. On the second day there, we took a couple exploratory side trips, both on or near the track of the great Colorado Trail. The first one, we trudged through the snow toward Vail. On that little side trip, we experienced a phenomenon called “Wompf.” I’m not sure I spelled it correctly, but it was quite the experience. Nine of us were standing around in snowshoes and, all of a sudden, “wompf,” the snow just sort of gave way beneath our feet. Fortunately, we were not on much of a slope, so we didn’t really go anywhere but straight down about a half inch. The same thing happened one more time on the trip. I guess you could say we experienced a mini-avalanche or mini-earthquake. Either way, it is an experience I won’t soon forget.

snowshoe buddies



The second side trip was in the other direction, up to a pass between two mountains. The wind was howling and the snow was blowing, but it was gorgeous in a sort of winter blizzard sort of way.


That night, it started snowing and continued throughout the rest of our journey. We had quite a powdery expedition back down the trail and had to constantly look for landmarks so as not to get off track since our earlier tracks were completely covered with cold, fresh powder snow.


If you’re interested in seeing a map of the snowshoe trip along with pictures and a more detailed written description, visit the latest Everytrail guide for Janet’s Cabin.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/02/09/janets-cabin-snowshoe-and-nordic-ski-trail/

Feb 07 2011

Snowshoe Trail Extraordinaire

I just returned, yesterday, from a snowshoe trip to Janet’s Cabin. It is one of the Tenth Mountain Division huts that is located on the Colorado Trail.

To call it a “hut” is a bit of an understatement. It is rather luxurious accommodations for a cabin that is above 11,000 feet and is accessible only by trail.

Sauna in back of Janet’s Cabin

It sleeps 20 people, and our group contributed 12 people to that 20. The cabin has a nice communal kitchen and is cozy warm, even in a February snowstorm.

I will soon be creating an Everytrail guide and then will provide you with a link to that. In the meantime, I will add a picture of the sauna… yes I said sauna.

Doesn’t it look like a make-believe gingerbread house with powdered-sugar frosting on the roof?

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/02/07/snowshoe-trail-extraordinaire/

Feb 02 2011

Trails and Greenways cost much Less per mile than roads

I have often wondered how much trails and greenways cost to build in comparison to the costs of roads. Of course, I would expect a path to cost less than a street for numerous reasons, but I wondered just how much less.

vs.

Well now I know.

The average cost, per lane mile, for a road to be built is between $500,000 and $1,000,000. (How come I’m picturing Dr. Evil with his pinky up next to his mouth right now?)

The average cost to build an asphalt trail (Asphalt is more expensive than dirt and gravel trails, but less expensive than concrete so it makes a nice average, plus roads are usually asphalt, so it also makes a good comparison.) is $25,000 to $100,000.

As I said, I expected trails to be less expensive to build, but that is considerably less expensive. And that doesn’t even factor in the most important figure… the cost of maintaining trails compared to roads. Some trails can go many years with little or no maintenance whereas roads are in a constant state of repair and disrepair.

And let’s take the tally a step further. Which is more beneficial in certain important categories:

·      Health
_ü_ trails
__­__ roads
·      Environmental benefits
_ü_ trails
__­__ roads
·      Family togetherness
_ü_ trails
__­__ roads
·      Recreation
_ü_ trails
__­__ roads
·      Relaxation
_ü_ trails
__­__ roads
·      Safety
_ü_ trails
__­__ roads

 It’s plain to see that trails cost significantly less to build and maintain than roads; and they’re much more beneficial. But who has more money to throw at congressmen,  oil lobbyists or trail lobbyists? So where do all the tax dollars go?

Once you figure it out, please let me know. I’d love to get your input on this one.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/02/02/trails-and-greenways-cost-much-less-per-mile-than-roads/

Feb 01 2011

Sign People for Bikes petition

Support bikes and bicycling. Support environmental friendliness. Support energy independence. Support recreation. Support the great outdoors. Support a healthy lifestyle. Support family togetherness. Support trails. Support safety.

Here’s your second chance to sign the People for Bikes petition that promotes a more bicycle-friendly environment with safe bike lanes and trails. They currently have over 200,000 signatures and are going for double that. Heck, I say, “Let’s go for a half million.”
This link will take you to an extremely easy online People for Bikes petition.
Thank you for your support.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/02/01/sign-people-for-bikes-petition/

Feb 01 2011

River Mountains Loop trail in Nevada

Bike trails, water trails, outdoor adventures…

These aren’t phrases that people normally associate with Nevada. But every time I go there, I find a new outdoor adventure.

One time it was a crazy downhill mountain bike course in Bootleg Canyon. Another time it was a relaxing kayak trip through the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, replete with hot springs and caves.

River Mountains Loop Trail near Las Vegas, Nevada

But most recently, I had the opportunity to ride the 34 mile River Mountains Loop trail in Boulder City, Nevada. Not far out of Las Vegas, this paved trail offered desert wildlife, views of Lake Mead, and plenty of outdoor exercise. Heck, it even offered a Vegas-style buffet within yards of the trailhead.

Of course, my trail adventures are never complete until I post them to the trailsnet website, the Everytrail guide book pages, and the trails network blog. If you’re wondering which format is the best way to view one of the many trails I’ve got posted online, here’s a quick primer:

  • The trailsnet website lists all the trails, by state. Each trail web page has a written description of the trail, numerous trail photos, a trail map, and “trail facts” sidebar for quick trail information at-a-glance.
  • The EveryTrail guides offer all of the above with a couple differences; the Everytrail guides can be downloaded to your smart-phone (iPhone, Droid…) so you can take the guide with you on a trip without having to pack along a printed version. The guides are also interactive so you can access related web-links and view the map in various forms while you’re on the trail.
  • The trails network blog gives a very general overview of trails, but also provides information about other trail and bike-related issues.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/02/01/river-mountains-loop-trail-in-nevada/

Jan 31 2011

Car-Free Lifestyle

The car-free lifestyle is starting to appeal to more and more people. Whether it is due to the high price of gas, environmental awareness, health appeal, or just because it’s a lot of fun, people all over the country/world are starting to discover the joys of a automobile-free life.

Cruise on over to a car-free festival.

And concurrently, car-free festivals are also springing up like May flowers. Here is a short list of some of the more progressive and popular festivals:

So make plans to visit one or all of these car-free festivals. And of course, leave your car at home.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/01/31/car-free-lifestyle/