Skip to main content

Tagged With "Bristlecone pine"

Comment

Re: Ancients in the White Mountains: Searching for Methuselah

DrFumblefinger ·
The search for the oldest tree in the world! That's quite an adventure, Tim! Thanks for sharing.
Comment

Re: Ancients in the White Mountains: Searching for Methuselah

Travel Rob ·
Incredible Tim! Welcome to TG. I hope we see a lot more from you in the future!
Comment

Re: May 4, 2016: The Pend Oreille River Valley, Washington

DrFumblefinger ·
If I'd been 10 seconds faster, PHeymont, that top photo would have had a bald eagle sitting on the tip of the pine tree to the left. Just flew away as I put the camera to my eye. But maybe that would have been too perfect.... Northeastern Washington state and the Idaho panhandle are really beautiful and not that visited.
Comment

Re: A visit to Great Basin National Park

Travel Luver ·
Never been anywhere in Nevada except Vegas. Didn't know they had beautiful places like this. Can you get there from Vegas as a day trip? Was it hot?
Comment

Re: A visit to Great Basin National Park

DrFumblefinger ·
Well, for a start, make sure you visit Reno, Travel Luver. It's a much small town than Vegas but still has all the casinos, restaurants, etc that you'd expect from a Nevada City. From here it's easy to do a day trip to Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, or down to Carson City. Reno is actually the closest major city to Great Basin National Park, say about a 3-4 hour drive. Vegas is 6-7 hour drive away. Salt Lake City is closer to Great Basin than Vegas. But you really can't do it as...
Comment

Re: A visit to Great Basin National Park

PortMoresby ·
A friend who was a park planner for the National Park Service said his favorite park was Big Bend in Texas. He's a lover of desert landscapes, wide-open spaces and, in the case of this park too, almost no visitors. Another orphan, no doubt. http://www.nps.gov/bibe/index.htm
Comment

Re: A visit to Great Basin National Park

DrFumblefinger ·
Thanks for the note, PortMoresby. I've visited a lot of the US parks, but Big Bend is still on my "to do" list. They do white water rafting trips there, which appeals to me. One of the things that a lot of folks enjoy about these "orphans" is that they are so sparsely peopled, with few tourists. I think the US Parks system is the USA's biggest tourist asset. I'm certainly a huge fan. Seems whenever I'm in a US Park, more German is spoken than English. The German folks certainly are aware of...
Comment

Re: A visit to Great Basin National Park

Paul Heymont ·
The comments on "orphan parks" made for some interesting thoughts. How do we (as a society) choose what to save for parks? When you consider urban parkland, the point is obvious: people who have no land of their own need areas for public recreation. In other cases, individuals with wealth and influence have created parks in areas important to them personally (think of Acadia and the Rockefellers, Palisades Interstate Park and Morgan partners). But setting aside and maintaining areas like...
Comment

Re: A visit to Great Basin National Park

PortMoresby ·
Pheymont, you speak as if budget cuts are in the future when in fact the Park Service has been functioning with less and less for years now. The Service has a mission to which they're dedicated but less funding has meant "deferred" maintenance on buildings, trails, you name it. And when features of a park are deemed unsafe or there isn't personnel to oversee visitors then parts are closed. I've experienced that myself recently when a trail I've visited in years past was closed. I have no...
Comment

Re: A visit to Great Basin National Park

DrFumblefinger ·
Costs for the existing parks is mostly maintenance and salary. In the face of a broke federal government, I would favor increased user fees. $10-20 for a family to visit a national park for a week is the greatest bargain out there. People who love the parks would happily pay twice as much and I don't think the extra cost would be a deterent. Also, it's reasonable for those with concessions to pay up more than they are. They are given a monopoly and some of those profits should go back to the...
Comment

Re: A visit to Great Basin National Park

Paul Heymont ·
No, I'm painfully aware of the past and present cuts...but I see more ahead. My concern is that there are loud voices (my own included) to speak out against cuts to parks that have a big "fan base," including Gateway here in the NY area. Because so many speak out for those parks, I fear that NPS will increasingly "hide the damage" by even more drastic cuts to others--perhaps even outright abandonment. And that's not so far-fetched an idea. For some 20 or more years here in New York, Prospect...
Comment

Re: A visit to Great Basin National Park

DrFumblefinger ·
PHeymont, I don't believe we disagree. I think the problem is that the park system relies on "federal handouts" and when a government is broke, there's less to hand out. As I said, I sort of favor them being self-funded by their user and concession fees. That's a lot of money already (if it was all kept in the parks) and people would be willing to pay more IF they knew the money stayed in the parks and didn't get diverted back into the Washington's general budget. Orphan parks would be...
Blog Post

Gumbo's Pic of the Day, December 11, 2014: Jeffery Pine, Sentinel Dome

DrFumblefinger ·
    Yosemite National Park is one of my favorite places.  A remarkable and grand landscape of granite mountains, sheer valleys carved by glaciers, thunderous waterfalls plunging thousands of feet and several groves of majestic Sequoia...
Blog Post

Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 23, 2013: Sunset, Banff National Park, Alberta

DrFumblefinger ·
(Sunset over Mt. Rundle and Canmore, Banff National Park)  It's sweet to be in just the right place at just the right time!   The Canadian Rockies are known for their beautiful rugged peaks, hanging glaciers, turquoise lakes and...
Blog Post

Colorado National Monument

DrFumblefinger ·
  While many of the units of the US National Park system are frequently visited and very busy, there are also a few less crowded places.   Colorado National Monument (known to locals as " The Monument" ) falls into the latter category....
Blog Post

Road Trip, Day 2: Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden

PortMoresby ·
    March 10, 2015   I woke the first morning of my visit along the Northern California coast at a friend’s house in the village of Elk.  I was alone, the kitchen toasty warm from the fire Jane had made for me before leaving...
Blog Post

Visiting Sicily: An introductory overview

DrFumblefinger ·
    Travel guru Rick Steves likes to say (and I'm paraphrasing) that Italy either gets better or worse as you head south from Rome, depending on what you like.  If you like a quieter people, trains running almost on time, etc. head...
Blog Post

Alhambra's night-owl visitors to have a hoot

Paul Heymont ·
Night (human) visitors to Granada's famous palace and gardens will soon be joined by owls.
Blog Post

Finding Nature in England: Holkham National Reserve

Kirsten Hines ·
Kirsten Hines continues her voyage of natural discovery in England, this week with a stop at Holkham National Nature Reserve.
Blog Post

Red Squirrels

Ian Cook ·
Ian Cook shares some great photos and a detailed natural history of the charming Red squirrel, whose population is declining.
Blog Post

Genoa airport waives liquid limit for pesto

Paul Heymont ·
When it comes to pesto, Genoese are passionate, and willing to make an exception to the rules.
Blog Post

Dispatches from Ikaria: Part 4

Professorabe ·
Professor Abe's fun and insightful series on visiting Ikaria concludes this week. Be sure to check out the great story and accompanying photos
Blog Post

Luray Valley Museum, Virginia

George G. ·
George G takes us on a tour of the museum that was the site for last week's Where In The World puzzle.
Blog Post

Trabzon, Turkey: Ancient History, Modern Life

Lestertheinvestor ·
Lester shares a visit to the ancient city of Trabzon, exploring its history and sights.
Blog Post

Surprising Destination: Batumi, Georgia

Lestertheinvestor ·
LestertheInvestor visits a Black Sea resort city popular with Russians and filled with unusual art and buildings.
Blog Post

January 1, 2020: Arderne Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa

Professorabe ·
Professor Abe views some of the most impressive trees in South Africa at the Arderne Gardens.
Blog Post

Vilnius Airport's 'Bah, Humbug!' Tree

Paul Heymont ·
A careful assemblage of confiscated goods is this year's grim holiday tree in Lithuania's capital.
Blog Post

Dec. 8, 2019: Pine Ridge Cemetery, Manitoba

DrFumblefinger ·
DrFumblefinger visits a small pioneer cemetery in an area not far from Winnipeg that has now become incorporated into a provincial park.
Blog Post

Huntingdon, Pennsylvania: Peaceful Holiday Getaway

Stephanie Kalina-Metzger ·
Stephanie explores the historic treasures of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, including fantastic car and antique collections.
Blog Post

March 20. 2020: Fresh Snow, Victoria Beach, Manitoba

DrFumblefinger ·
DrFumblefinger visits the beach resort of Victoria Beach in Manitoba, after a fall of fresh snow.
Blog Post

Gumbo's Pic of the Day, August 9, 2015: Peter Pine Daze, Yahk, B.C.

DrFumblefinger ·
Situated a few miles north of the USA - Canada border, above the Idaho Panhandle, is the small town of Yahk, British Columbia.  And I mean small -- few hundred residents at most.  At the southern end of Yahk is an unusual building I've...
Blog Post

Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone National Park (Where Gumbo was #126)

DrFumblefinger ·
    Gumbo was visiting the Old Faithful Inn , a historic lodge in Yellowstone National Park (one of the USA's UNESCO World Heritage Sites).  Described by some as the world's largest log cabin, the Inn is situated immediately adjoining...
Blog Post

Anatomy of a Trip (Mezcal for the Uninitiated)

PortMoresby ·
  from:  PortMoresby to:  Al vin Starkman date:  Sat, Jun 6, 2015 at 2:45 PM subject:  Mezcal for the Uninitiated.     Greetings Alvin -   I'm going to be in Oaxaca for 3 weeks, beginning in late...
Blog Post

Exploring the Baltic Coast. 1) Poland

Linguists on the Loose ·
  If you want to escape the crowded cities of Western Europe (and spend less money) head east! Eastern Europe has much to offer backpackers; cheap lodging, with ever more boutique hostels popping up in major cities, low transport costs, great...
Blog Post

Tenerife - Your Exotic Relaxation Place

GokyB ·
The largest island of the  Canary archipelago , Tenerife is a unique sight to behold. This volcanic island attracts 10 million tourists every year with its stunning beaches, forests and breathtaking landscape. Sandy beach and amazing turquoise...
Blog Post

Fishing for wild boar in Italian waters

Paul Heymont ·
Yes, that's what the headline says, and what it meant. A group of Italian fishermen were startled to find a wild boar swimming alongside, 6 km off the coast of Puglia in southern Italy.   After filming the video above (who would believe them...
Blog Post

Exploring the Baltic Coast. 2) Riga, Latvia

Linguists on the Loose ·
  Riga was our second destination in the Baltic; we spent a week in Riga in mid-June, arriving the week of the Janus festival celebrations. It was a fantastic week to be in Riga; there were pop-up art and cultural exhibits, concerts and Latvians...
Blog Post

Exploring the Baltic Coast. 3) Tallinn, Estonia

Linguists on the Loose ·
  Our final Baltic destination was Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. We spent the week wandering around the old town, admiring the medieval architecture, haggling with vendors at the Russian market, wading in the cool clear waters of the Baltic,...
Topic

Experience bliss at these nature-blessed destinations in Kerala

Rekha Bisht ·
Kerala is titled ‘God’s Own Country’ and that is not without reason. Blessed by nature in every form, it is truly one of the known paradise on Earth. Imagine lush greenery, endless blues, golden beaches, roaring waterfalls, navigable network of waters, wildlife inhabited jungles and bliss of every kind. When the Gods themselves have favoured this land, then it is not quite easy to make a list of the most beautiful places in Kerala, as every corner of the state is blessed in its own way. Here...
Blog Post

A Land of Hoodoos — Bryce Canyon National Park

DrFumblefinger ·
We visit the beautiful colors and eroded hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park.
Blog Post

January 25, 2018: Red Grouse, Fremington Edge, North Yorkshire.

Ian Cook ·
Ian Cook shares photos and a bit of the natural history of the lovely red grouse.
Topic

Enjoy Your Big Bear Stay In Fully Functional, Clean Yet Innovative Cabins

Big Bear Escapes ·
Summer is the most appealing time of the year when everyone tries to get away from the regular grind. Schools are closed and kids are out for the vacation, but where one should go with his whole family to enjoy? There is one destination where being with the crowd is pleasure in itself. It is Big Bear, California; its high altitude makes it cooler than the low lying areas, moreover makes it a wonderful place for a family to get away from their monotonous life. Apart from the natural and...
Blog Post

July 31, 2018: Making a Sweetgrass Basket

Marilyn Jones ·
Marilyn Jones shares a lesson in the South Carolina Lowcountry art of basket weaving.
Blog Post

Gold Country, California: The Empire Mine

PortMoresby ·
  The owner’s house, Empire Cottage, looks English for a reason.  William Bourn, Jr. was a student at Cambridge University when his father, San Francisco businessman William Bourne, Sr. died in 1879 and 22 year old William, Jr. was...
Blog Post

A journey around Iceland: 4) North Iceland

DrFumblefinger ·
(Godafoss waterfall, northern Iceland) Our journey around the Ring Road continued as we headed north on the eastern shore of the island towards northern Iceland.  (I've again chosen to describe our experiences here in sequential...
Blog Post

Hiking Boulder's Flatirons Vista Loop Trail

DrFumblefinger ·
    One of my favorite regions to hike is anywhere near the transition between the great Central Plains and the Rocky Mountains.  The region offers opportunity to explore several ecosystems and to enjoy grand panoramic views of the...
Blog Post

A fall visit to Highwood Pass and hike in the alpine meadow of Ptarmigan Cirque

DrFumblefinger ·
  Kananaskis country  is one of the lesser traveled gems of the Alberta Rockies.  Locals know this area well but it’s off the radar for most tourists who selectively go to such highly worthwhile (but much busier) locations like...
Blog Post

Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 11, 2014: Highway 395

PortMoresby ·
    My favorite stretch of lonely road in the world is the 200 miles of Highway 395 south from Topaz Lake, where it enters California from Nevada, where these pictures were taken, south through Bridgeport and the turnoff to Bodie , past Mono...
Blog Post

El Morro National Monument - a hike to early american graffiti

Jonathan L ·
El Morro National Monument  On a drive from Taos to LA I was able to stop at El Morro National Monument ....
Blog Post

Wawona Hotel, Yosemite National Park, California: Where Gumbo Was #60

DrFumblefinger ·
This puzzle had a rather short shelf life.  Congratulations to Lynn Millar who quickly recognized the fountain in front of the historic Wawona hotel in Yosemite National Park.  You can see the relationship of the fountain to the Wawona in...
 
×
×
×
×