Civil War Toy Soldiers

Idaho does have rather harsh winters, and the spring tends to be rather wet, as well, so the ideal time to go biking in Idaho is during the summer or beginning fall months, from about May through October. While the season is somewhat limited, the mountains, rivers, and gorgeous views in the state make up for the short biking season. And with more than 19,000 miles of trails statewide-with trails for riders at all levels of skill and experience-Idaho is a great place to go biking!

The Mink Creek Recreation Area near Pocatello has an 11-mile loop called the Valve or Pump House trail. This is a great place for beginners to hone their skills. Theres nothing too technical here, but it will test your endurance. Bring plenty of water.

Near Stanley, intermediate riders will enjoy the 12-mile loop called Elk Mountain. This trail is initially a pretty easy uphill climb and it provides a fantastic view of the Saw Tooth Mountains, but the descent is pretty rocky all the way down to Elk Meadows. You get to cross a few streams, too. All along this trail, the scenery is incredible.

Goose Creek Falls is the perfect ride for the nature lover. You dont have to too experienced to enjoy this ride. Its a 12-mile track near McCall that takes you back to 45-foot waterfall. You will have to actually cross Goose Creek a couple of times either by a bridge, a log crossing, or on foot. Other than that, theres not too much complexity about the trail. You can even camp nearby.

The Schweitzer Mountain Resort has a fantastic network of trails that are very well maintained. You can climb up yourself or get a ride to enjoy a technically advanced descent. Turns with berms, bridges, and more is what you can expect from the 25 miles of trails here. Experience levels range from intermediate to advanced.

The Bald Mountain Downhill trail is an incredible ride for speed lovers! It is a 10-mile loop near Ketchum that has an elevation gain of 3,000-4,000 feet! Youll need a bike with full suspension and definitely bring along a repair kit and extra tubes just in case. If you want to avoid the grueling climb up, you can always ride a chairlift for $15. Then you can enjoy the downhill race over and over again all day long. Watch out for other bikers and hikers as well.

The Bear Pete trail near McCall is another burning-kick-in-the-seat-of-the-pants ride! It is approximately 19 miles, but you are rewarded with a hot springs resort at the end and a lot of gorgeous views along the way. The best time to go is in late summer or early fall, when its fairly dry. You will pass through a boggy area and during the wet season it could be practically impassable. Theres a pretty steep climb followed by a tricky descent, but once you get to the top you can see all the way to Oregon and the Saw Tooth Mountains!

Idaho is primarily mountainous, which means that for every mountain there is probably a valley and river, and maybe even a waterfall. This kind of environment is perfect for the adventurous rider. Enjoy this rugged state in all its natural beauty and have a spectacular time riding while you do!

Technorati Tags: bikes, cycling, fitness, Health, Sports & Recreation

Tags: bikes, cycling, fitness, Health, Sports & Recreation

Y.E. Yang shocked the world and probably himself by beating the world's best golfer, and maybe the greatest golfer of all time, Tiger Woods, by coming back from 2 strokes down Sunday to win the PGA Championship. Yang is the first Asian player to win a Major, the first player to beat Tiger Woods when Woods was tied or all alone in the lead after 54 holes of golf. Golf enthusiasts cheered, David took down Goliath, 12 never struck for Cinderella, No. 110 took down No. 1.

While fans were excited by the turn of events today, this really can't be good for golf. The PGA can't be happy about this, nor could any of Tiger's major endorsers. Without a major in 2009, people are beginning to write off Tiger Woods, thinking that he may very well be past his prime.

Woods hasn't regressed as much as people like to think. He's still won a very impressive five tourneys in 2009, and has staged some remarkable comebacks this year. Only the more serious fans realize this, but the media will be all about Tiger's lack of a major in 2009.

For the short-term, Yang's victory makes for an interesting story and may feed the media with some fuel for now. But the 2009 PGA season is devoid of stories. A lack of a Tiger win, and Tom Watson's falling short at the British Open both make for some major disappointments compared to what could have been.

Yet, this pushes it to another level. You're talking about the greatest golfer on Earth, losing to some no-name from South Korea who probably won't win another major. If Tiger had won, it would've given hope to next year, a hope maybe he finally does what he was destined to do, win all the major in the same year and pass Jack Nicklaus for the most Major wins ever.

While there are a few more months of golf left, there are no majors, and only serious golf enthusiasts will track these events. Fringe fans will go back to watching other sports, and will be far from enthused about the 2010 golf season.

We need the Tiger, the best golfer, to be well, the best golfer. He needs to hold leads on Sunday. He needs people to be scared on the last few holes with Tiger on the prowl. We need Tiger Woods to dominate everybody and ask questions later. If he's labeled the best, he needs to start performing in the biggest and best events.

Here's to hoping that 2010 brings us a Tiger resurgence, and most notably, a major or two. The sport really needs it.

Technorati Tags: golf, hobbies, leisure, pga, recreation, sports, Sports & Recreation, tiger woods

Tags: golf, hobbies, leisure, pga, recreation, sports, Sports & Recreation, tiger woods

Whether you will be dayhiking or doing a multi-day backpacking trip, these items will insure a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience.

First recommendation is to obtain a map of the area that you will be hiking. You don't want to become lost, so pick up a map at the visitor center, ranger station or download one at www.usgs.gov. If you suffer an injury, you can use the map to aid rescuers in locating you.

Get yourself a good map reading compass. Using the map and compass together, you can orient your map to your direction and surroundings, choose the correct path and keep yourself on course.

Two, one liter bottles of water so that you stay hydrated. This is your minimum required intake per day, but since hiking is physically demanding you will drink more, especially in warmer climates. You can survive for a month without food, but only two or three days without water. You should have some sort of water treatment with you. I carry Aqua-Mira, which is a liquid purifying agent.

Have extra food with you. Enough so that you could get through another day if necessary. Some companies produce compressed whole food bars that serve as complete meal replacements. My favorite is called the Pro Bar. Taking a few of these with will extend your energy levels if you need them.

Having a few additional clothing layers will help you stay warm and dry. Depending on the season, temperatures can fall quickly around sunset. It's a good idea to outfit with synthetic clothing. That way, if you get wet they will dry faster. Wet clothing in cold temperatures is a recipe for disaster.

Pack some sort of light source like a headlamp or flashlight. If you are forced to make camp or hike out in the dark, you will be able to see trail debris an obstacles that could cause danger.

Having an accident or injury in the backcountry is no fun. Bring a small first aid kit with you. You can create one out of household supplies but don't forget hiking needs like moleskin or blister treatment. I recommend taking a basic wilderness medicine course.

On rare occasion one must light a fire in the backcountry as a matter of survival. I've been on a kayak trip where someone overturned and they were soaked just as the temperature started to drop. Do not light a fire unless absolutely necessary. Bring matches and a lighter in a waterproof case and use caution to avoid wildfires.

Carry a knife with you. Mine has come in handy so many times. If you use a folding knife, make sure that it has a locking blade. Non-locking knives have closed on fingers!

Ultraviolet protection is really important. The suns rays can be damaging to eyes and skin, so bring a good pair of sunglasses, a small tube of sunblock and perhaps a wide brimmed hat.

Technorati Tags: adventure travel, backpacking, Camping, fitness, Health, health and well being, hiking, outdoor adventure, outdoors, Sports & Recreation

Tags: adventure travel, backpacking, Camping, fitness, Health, health and well being, hiking, outdoor adventure, outdoors, Sports & Recreation