Hiking Backpack Zone

Posts Tagged ‘forests’

The Amazon rain forest is a spectacle of a place. This dense tropical jungle with its complete lack of any modern amenities is home to an abundance of majestic plants and creatures that you will not find anywhere else on this planet of ours.

It is thought that there are roughly 300 different species of plants in this rainforest but there are probably quite a few more that have remained undiscovered by the many scientists that have ventured here. The river that flows through the forest is the mighty Amazon and the water flow is said to be about one fifth of the whole planets water. This has given rise to the Amazon being known as the water basin of the Earth.

The local natives that live in the Amazon are a mixed race of local indigenous tribes and Europeans and are part of the Mestizo clan. These people tend to live off the local food in order to survive. Occasionally they may trek into the nearest town for supplies but mainly keep to their own land.

The rain forest is absolutely breathtaking and has atmosphere all of its very own. The dampness that surrounds the place is mainly down to the fact that it can often record up to nine feet of rainfall in a single year.

If you hike through the rain forest you will see wondrous sights such as the mighty waterfalls that seem to drive the water from a great height as though it is coming straight from the sky.

The fantastic green lush vegetation shows us how nature intended the earth to be before it was spoilt by many civilizations.

You would be forgiven for not realizing that the temperatures around the area exceed 100 degrees as you are nearly always sheltered by the throng of trees that just reach right up into the sky.

This place is so beautiful that even the finest videos or photographs still struggle to do it justice.

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Sleeping in the open is very enticing. All one need is a cozy bed, blankets, bed sheets and a pillow. But while going camping, lugging all of them is a nightmare. But this is easily solved with a sleeping bag. Sleeping bag resembles a zipped up bed. It provides insulation, comfort and the warmth. The main attraction is that this is something that anyone can take along while traveling. It prevents the chill from creeping in. It protects from the wind. It protects the user from the outside. It is easily transportable along with your backpack. Sleeping bags are made of insulating materials such as synthetic fill such as PrimaLoft, or down, cotton or wool. Campers usually prefer the synthetic or down sleeping bag. The insulation is good and water absorption is minimal. It can be folded. The down fill bag can be compressed and retain heat better, but synthetic bags are cheaper.

Sleeping bags come in two shapes. They are the rectangular shaped and the mummy shaped. The rectangular shaped sleeping bag looks like a folded blanket closed at its sides with a zipper. The bag can be easily folded and tied together tight with cords or straps. The mummy bags, as the name indicates, resembles a mummy. They are broad at the shoulder end and tapers down closing at the bottom. The heat is retained better in this type. But this has to be rolled up unlike the rectangular sleeping bag which can be folded easily.

There are a number of reputed firms that produces and sells sleeping bags. Marmot, a firm that sells sleeping bags, also manufactures Marmot tents, backpacks and clothing. It manufactures both Synthetic Bags and Down Sleeping Bags as well. The synthetic sleeping bags of Marmot includes Marmot EcoPro 30 sleeping bag, Marmot Pounder sleeping bag, Marmot EcoPro 40 sleeping bag, Marmot Trestles 15 sleeping bag and Marmot Trestles 30 sleeping bag. The down sleeping Bags consists of Marmot CWM sleeping bag, Marmot Helium EQ sleeping bag, Marmot Never Winter sleeping bag, Marmot Col EQ sleeping bag, Marmot Synthetic Yurt sleeping bag, Marmot Down Yurt sleeping bag, Marmot Atom sleeping bag, Marmot Lithium sleeping bag an Marmot Arroyo sleeping bag, besides others.

The decision on which sleeping bag to buy has to be based on a number of factors in which the primary concern will be the cost of the bag and your budget. Most sleeping bags suit both the hot and the cold weather. When it is colder, one can zip up the bag fully and open it up more when warmer. But you need to go in fro sleeping bags made specifically to withstand sub-freezing temperature if that is the situation. When it is wet, the synthetic fill bag is better than the down bag. The down bag is better under dry weather conditions.

When you go camping out, make sure to always bring Marmot manufactured sleeping bags. They are the best and you’ll surely get what your money’s worth.

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Camping holds a distinctive place amongst recreational activities. As a leisure time activity, camping does give pleasure to the campers. Much more than that is its impact on the well being of the body and mind. Over and above this, there is this important role of camping providing a possibility of establishing a symbiotic bond with nature. Nature has taken a heavy toll in the name of human progress. Pollution has spread wild over the land, air and water. The forests, rivers and valleys have been destroyed for development and progress. It is now asserted that this cannot go on indefinitely. Species survival, including human survival, is only possible if we change to ecologically sustainable development.

There are a number of essential things that require to be taken along for camping such as camping tent, sleeping bag, jacket, flashlight, first aid kit, matches, knife, food and water. If the camp site has no basic facilities, they you may need camping chair, camp table, hammock, fishing pole, camp stove or grill, towels, small backpack for day hikes and swimsuits. A sweatshirt with a hood, cap, jacket, sleeping bag line and gloves would be useful in case the weather is cold. If it is hot, then a sunscreen, extra water, large hat to fend off the sun rays, a small battery powered fan and canopy for shade will be useful.

Camping tent is probably the most important in terms of creating a temporary living abode. Camping tents are varied according to the climate. The one-season tent is used in summer. It can endure light summer rains. The three-season tent can endure heavy rains as well as light snow. This tent is used in spring, summer and autumn and can also offer ventilation, and protection from insects, moderate rain and wind. However, it will not be able to withstand heavy snow. The four season tent is heavier and can withstand winter and heavy snow but is difficult if the climate is hot. There are four season tents that can be converted to three season tents by unzipping a roof panel or removing pole sections. Bibler Ahwahnee for instance is a four-season tent.

Camping is an activity that has within it the potential of reconnecting with nature. This reconnection, it is hoped, will make people more sensitive about how we behave towards nature.

Camping out is a nice way to spend time with nature and if you want to do so, you should always come prepared. One of the things you should prepare is an Ahwahnee tent so you could have a good night sleep while camping out.

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Garajonay National Park on the island of La Gomera offers some of the best hiking in the Canary Islands. Here you won’t find the razzle dazzle of Tenerife but a wonderful oasis of greenery shrouded in a cloak of swirling mist.

The World Heritage site of Garajonay National Park sits on top of this “orange squeezer” shaped island which rises to 1500m above sea level. The segments divided up by deep ravines. http://reddeparquesnacionales.mma.es/parques/garajonay/index.htm

The Park is located in the centre of the island which rises to 5000 ft above sea level and consists of Laurisilva - or Laurel rainforest. Much of Europe was once covered by this fauna but over time it was destroyed by climate change and pollution. Garajonay remains one of the few locations in the world where this type of forest still survives.

You have to take a car or bus to reach the summit and once the hairpin bends have been successfully negotiated you are rewarded with a wonderful view of Mount Teide some 40 miles way on Tenerife. The top is often shrouded in a tree hugging mist and as you descend into the forest by foot a tangle of green branches beckons.

The light fades the deeper you go in as does the temperature - so make sure to bring a light coat or top. That said, its great to escape from the heat of summer which can reach 43deg.

A stream is reached after about 60 minutes or so. It is surprising to find running water on such a sun drenched island which does not get much rainfall but the secret of it’s source lies in the horizontal rain or mist that envelopes the forest.

Further along a village is reached that surprisingly doesn’t belong to some forgotten civilisation. A warm welcome is guaranteed at the one and only restaurant where local produce and dishes are on offer. Why not try the soup with Gofio (ground maize) to thicken it?

A short walk away you will find a secret tunnel that leads to the next valley. Make sure to light a candle as the passageway is long, dark and wet! A great way to round off your walk in Garajonay National Park.