Conservation
Although sometimes heart-wrenching to discover on our nature outings, the animal carcasses that we may come across play an important role in the functioning of healthy ecosystems. The animal remains not only provide food for many carrion-eating species, their nutrients also contribute to the significantly increased growth of surrounding plants.
Asia & The Pacific
When it comes to the world’s waters, I’m more of a river person than a lake person. Rivers always seem to me to be on an urgent mission; they go places. They “run” downstream, “charge” over cliffs—creating thunderous waterfalls—and riffle over boulders to manufacture rapids. Lakes, in my opinion, kind of just stay there.
U.S. National Parks
The Earth’s surface has so many different colors, features and forms that it’s not hard to understand why early scientists found it difficult to determine what was responsible for creating the natural landscapes that surround us.
Latin America
Patagonia is one of those places that pulls on your heart as it slowly seeps into your veins. For me, it is achingly desolate, solitary and beautiful in its aloneness.
Conservation
For thousands of years, dogs have been our best friends, our sources of comfort and happiness, and even our aids in helping to save threatened species. But now, they’re finding new employment opportunities in another sector of meaningful work.
Conservation
It was barely dawn. We huddled amongst hard, orange rocks of Zion National Park, listening carefully to the trickle of water of that once carved its way through the canyon. Peter, as usual, took a long look through his lens before taking the picture.
Galapagos Islands
Conservationists are breathing a collective sigh of relief this week in response to the news that the Galapagos pink land iguana, one of the world’s rarest and most endangered reptiles, seems to have survived the recent violent eruptions of Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island.
Nature & Wildlife
Tomorrow, September 3, 2014, will mark the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. In 1964, the bill that created the act passed the Senate by a vote of 73–12 and the House by 373–1.
Travel Tips
It’s less than a week before Christmas, and I’ll bet by now you’re beginning to feel “gadgeted out,” tired of being bombarded with all of the e-mail, internet and TV ads for nifty electronics, smartphones, e-readers and apps. I think nature lovers, in particular, feel the commercialization of the holidays even more than others.
Travel Tips
I still vividly recall the dream, even though I couldn’t have been more than six or seven years old when I had it. I was flying, low—without a plane, mind you—over Alaska. I soared above waving fields of purple flowers and gurgling, ribbon-like, blue rivers.
Travel Tips
You’ve probably got one in the bathroom, bedroom or basement or perhaps tucked away in a closet. It’s that piece of exercise equipment, such as a treadmill or foldable “home gym,” that you thought would be the quickest route to a healthier you.
News & More
I’m going to have to ask for your forbearance right up front on this one, because I’m going to do a little bragging here. Not too long ago, my hometown of Madison, Wisconsin, was named one of the Top 100 Adventure Towns in the nation by National Geographic Magazine.
