Tags
Alum Cave Trail, Bright Angel Trail, Deer Brook Trail, Highline Trail, Jenny Lake Bridges, Mariposa Grove, New East Rim Trail
Travelers will find a number of improvements to their favorite national parks as the National Park Service celebrates its centennial.
The National Park Service turns 100 on Aug. 25, and to celebrate, the parks and a number of organizations have partnered to rebuild trails, improve vistas, and create new youth programs.
Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove
Among the most significant changes will come to the popular Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias at Yosemite National Park. The $5.2 million project includes reconfiguring the Mariposa Grove Road near the South Entrance, adding two miles of trails, and installing 21 new parking spaces. Restoration work will continue through the year at the grove, which includes such famous sights as the 29-story Columbia Tree, the 1900-year-old Grizzly Giant tree, and the California Tunnel Tree.
Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Trail
Another major project rehabilitates the opening mile of the 8.5-mile Bright Angel Trail at Grand Canyon National Park. The segment of the trail to the Mile-and-a-half Resthouse, which descends 1063 feet into the canyon, is a popular day hike despite the steep route. Cost of the improvement is $1.3 million.
Great Smoky’s Alum Cave Trail
Youth crews this past year repaired two damaged sections of this popular trail off of Newfound Gap Road (U.S. Hwy 441), the major highway through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail boasts log bridges in an old-growth forest and reaches a narrow tunnel of Arch Rock in a 4.6-mile round trip. The project ran $231,000.
Grand Teton’s Jenny Lake bridges
The Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point Bridges on Grand Teton National Park’s Jenny Lake Trail are slated for replacement. The national park’s most visited destination, the trail at the base of the mountains heads to a 200-foot waterfall and a stunning vista at 7200 feet elevation.
Cuyahoga Valley’s new East Rim Trail
Nearly 10 miles of off-road single track bike and hike trails are planned for the areas of Cuyahoga Valley National Park flanking the areas north and south of Interstate 80. The routes will head through dense woodlands and open meadows. About 2.3 miles of trail already are complete with the rest under construction through 2017; it’s the park’s first mountain bike trail.
Glacier’s Highline Trail
Glacier National Park plans to improve the first mile of the popular Highline Trail beginning at its Logan Pass trailhead. The trail, accessible from the Going-to-the-Sun Road, offers incredible vistas as it follows the Continental Divide along a high rock cliff known as the Garden Wall.
Acadia’s Deer Brook Trail
The Deer Brook Trail, which heads up Penobscot Mountain at Acadia National Park, will receive new tread and drainage improvements to keep the route from washing out. Resurfacing also is planned for other historic trails and carriage roads, including the Ocean Path, Jordan Pond Path and the Ship Harbor trails.
Mount Rainier trails
Those visiting the Washington national park will find improvements on several trails, including the Skyline, Pebble Creek, Golden Gate, Glacier Vista, and Dead Horse Creek trails. Many of those trails offer great views of Mount Rainier, which is the fourth highest peak in the United States.
Voyageurs’ Cruiser Lake Trail
Located at the top of Minnesota, the Cruiser Lake Trail heads over scenic ridges, passing lakes and a beaver pond on its way to the Canadian border. The project improves the trail’s tread, repairs rock stairway surfaces, and removes brush.
Rob Bignell is the author of several hiking books, including the bestselling “Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks.”
Since the holes were in the very top of the tank, they would have been hard to detect had we not performed a thorough pre-delivery inspection (PDI). We had to remove and replace the black water holding tank. I often tell technicians about this event when discussing the importance of thorough PDI work. But it’s also a reminder for owners to make sure that both used and new coaches are properly inspected and maintained.
What are the most romantic places in the world? Paris? Hawaii? Italy?
For many, vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains rank among the nation’s most beautiful natural scenery. The 4-mile hike up to the summit of Old Rag Mountain via the Ridge Trail at Shenandoah National Park is challenging, but the 360 degree view from the top is unparalleled, as nearly 200,000 acres of wilderness stretch below you. Twirl your beloved around in a dance so that the entire scene spins before her eyes.
Among the first places in America to see the sunrise is the top of Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park. As the sun ascends over the Atlantic Ocean below the summit, it colors the waters in an incredible light show. Bring a breakfast picnic, and as the new day begins, propose marriage (or “renew” your vows), for the sunrise symbolizes the dawning of your life together. Since you can drive to the summit, after she says “Yes,” together hike one of the trails along the mountain top (Either the South Ridge Trail or the Gorge Path are beautiful.).
Cheese dip on the grill?! Who would have ever thought, but what a great idea! This delicious appetizer will be gone in minutes so you might want to double the recipe.
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Unfortunately, one of the things that seems to be common to all new and experienced RV owners alike is that we’ve all fallen victim to bad smells emanating from the holding tanks of at least one of our coaches. In addition to it seemingly being a rite of passage for some new RV owners, it can also be caused by insufficient tank maintenance, an inherent problem with the RV plumbing system, or a clog, leak, or blockage. In this two-part article, I will discuss some ways to identify and eliminate or reduce RV sewer odor.
The first thing I recommend to new owners of pre-loved (ie: used) coaches is to thoroughly flush the holding tanks. Fill the black tank to flood level (above the level of the toilet seal). Leave the tank flooded for several hours, then recheck the level to ensure there are no leaks. Next, open the dump valve and with the valve still open, use a tank flushing wand or external tank flush connection to thoroughly flush the tank. Allow the tank to fully drain and ensure the tank level gauge shows the tank as empty. If not, continue the flushing process until the level sensors accurately show empty. If you are unable to achieve this, take the coach to an RV shop for assistance. Sometimes incorrect dumping procedures result in solid waste collecting in the black tank, causing odor and possible tank level errors. Remember to never leave the black tank dump valve open at a campsite, always wait until the black tank is at least 2/3 full before dumping, and dump the black water first, followed by the gray water.
I recommend replacing standard tank vent caps with toppers that utilize Bernoulli effect to suck odor out of the tank. One such device is the 360 Siphon, from 360 products. Active vent caps are often the single best way to eliminate tank odors. These vent caps are frequently so effective that you don’t need to use chemical in the tank. I suggest you try without chemicals first, and if you continue to experience odor, add chemical. When using tank chemical, always use natural product without formaldehyde and other nasty ingredients.
It’s time to celebrate! The National Park Service turns 100 on August 25, 2016. In honor of this amazing year, we are launching a 12-part series dedicated to the enjoyment and beauty of our glorious national parks. Stay tuned each month as we continue the celebration with park highlights, destination ideas, and general good-to-know information.
The Act of March 1, 1872 established Yellowstone National Park as a public park. This founding created a worldwide park movement. Following the establishment of Yellowstone, the United States authorized additional national parks and monuments. Some were administered by the Department of the Interior while others were administered by the War Department and the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture. But, no single agency managed the various par
The National Park System receives over 280,000,000 visits each year and visitation is continuing to grow. According to the 2014 Annual Park Ranking Report for Recreation Visitors, the ten most visited areas of the National Park Service handle 28% of the visits to the 400+ park areas. The #1 ranked national park is the Golden Gate National Recreation Area with over 15 million, followed in 2nd by the 
Use the brush and standard automotive washing soap to wash the sides and back of the RV. You may choose to place a wash mitt over the brush for a softer touch. Pay particular attention to seams and interfaces such as lights, fixtures, trim, moldings, etc., as these are areas where dirt tends to accumulate. Scrub hard enough to get the dirt off, but not hard enough to damage the silicone sealant. Don’t use high-pressure water or cleansers containing solvents for washing or rinsing, as this can damage graphics, gel coats, and seals. Avoid spraying water directly at the fridge, water heater, or furnace vents.
The undercarriage, wheels, suspension, etc., can be cleaned using a pressure washer and/or stiff brush. You can use a wire brush and touch-up paint on rusted areas. Finish with an application of dry lubricant, especially on the slide-out and step mechanisms. Tires can be treated with a UV protectant and mags with metal polish. Clean the glass and condition window, door, and slide-out seals with a seal lubricant.
Ensure that the towing vehicle has the appropriate weight rating and power for the fifth-wheel trailer. Dealerships are obligated to ensure your towing vehicle is adequately rated, but it is always a good idea to do your homework.
When hitching a travel trailer, it is best to have a spotter assist with lining up the trailer hitch with the tow vehicle hitch ball. Make sure the trailer tongue is raised enough so the hitch just clears the hitch ball. Establish clear hand signals and/or voice commands with the spotter and have them guide the towing vehicle slowly and carefully to position the hitch ball under the trailer hitch. Lower the trailer fully onto the tow vehicle and lock the hitch onto the ball. Raise the trailer tongue again to ensure the hitch is properly locked onto the ball. Fully raise the tongue jack and connect the safety chains.
When I was younger, I acquired my commercial drivers license (CDL) and air-brake endorsement in order to put myself through university. I purchased my own tractor-trailer and went to work as an over-the-road truck driver. In order to earn my CDL I had to take extensive truck driver training and attend classroom instruction, including an exam, for the air-brake endorsement. Although not all states and provinces require an air-brake endorsement in order to attain a CDL, British Columbia does. The air-brake course provided much-needed education on a very important component of heavy vehicles. The reason I bring this up is because fifth-wheels, large motorhomes, and travel trailers are simply small versions of heavy trucks. Many owners of large RV’s have never had professional experience driving large vehicles, and some only drive their units for a short period each year.
A frequently misused term is “tank”. By definition, propane tanks are those permanently mounted on an RV such as a motorhome. If the container is temporarily mounted such that it can be removed for filling, it is referred to as a cylinder (refer to figures 1 and 2). Therefore, the generic term is “container”,which applies to both tanks and cylinders.
