Nat Geo Adventure's 14 Survival Skills

Back when National Geographic Adventure was a magazine, and not just a website, they published a comprehensive article containing some survival tips that could prove very helpful if you were ever unfortunate enough to be in a situation requiring such skills.

As the article lead-in reads:

Most survival guides fail to consider some very useful tools: an individual’s character, wits, and worldview. The tips assembled here will change the way you approach each and every day — and help you survive a particularly bad one.

Some of the things the article discusses to help in a survival situation include doing the next right thing, denying denial, thinking positive, and to trust your instincts.

There's some really great advice in this piece. Please click here to read the full article.


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Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

The 50 Best American Adventures

National Geographic recently posted their "50 Best American Adventures". After scanning the list I realized that I really need to get out more. The only item on the list that I can technically check off is Number 23: Hike the Roan Highlands.

It seems the list is a little biased against the east. Only five of the top adventures that made the list are in the east, with the Roan Highlands being the only item in the Southern Appalachians.

I guess you could say that I've had a couple of "near" adventures. I once did a sailing excursion along Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior (10). I also once drove from Durango to Moab (16), shouldn't that count?

I've been to Ouray, Colorado (18) several times, and have done quite a bit of hiking around the small mountain town (Little Switzerland) in the San Juans. I've even hiked and biked a couple of short sections of the Colorado Trail (26). Now I know this is really stretching it, but I actually know someone who's done the California Death Ride (29).

Although I've never done any climbing in Red River Gorge (37), I have spent a lot of time camping and hiking there. And although I never had the guts to raft the Gauley River in West Virginia (38), I've twice rafted the New River - which flows into the Gauley!

Here are the top 5:

1. Biking the Continental Divide Trail: Multistate
2. Kayaking Lake Yellowstone: Wyoming
3. Rowing Down the Grand Canyon: Arizona
4. Climbing Mount Rainier: Washington
5. Canoeing the Adirondacks: New York

To check out Nat'l Geo's full list, please click here.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Brand New Trails Illustrated Maps for the Smokies

National Geographic now has two separate Trails Illustrated Maps for the Great Smoky Mountains - in addition to the old map. National Geographic has divided the Park in two, thus allowing each map to show much greater detail. The original map, which covered the entire Park, had a scale 1:70,000. The two new maps now have a scale of 1:40,000 (1” = .6 miles) and provide much greater detail such as backcountry campsites, footbridges, fords and stream crossings, nature/interpretive trails, as well as detailed trail mileages.

The map for the western section of the Park includes the Cades Cove and Elkmont areas. The map for the eastern section includes Clingmans Dome, Mt. LeConte and the Cataloochee areas.

Coverage Highlights Areas and places featured in this map series include: the Appalachian Trail, Benton Mackaye Trail, and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. The maps also include scenic overlooks and roadside pull-outs.

Of course you can still purchase the original map that includes the entire Park.

Thanks to the blog reader that was kind enough to drop me an email informing me of these new items.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.