Bureau Of Land Management : Cerro Alto

The park is comprised of a big portion of America 's longest mountain range i.e. the Sierra Nevada. Mt. Whitney which is almost 14,500 feet above sea level is also a part of this historic national park. Besides this range, eleven additional mountain peaks which stands tall at more than 14,000 feet are also found along the eastern boundaries of the park.

It had looked so far away it was hard to believe I would be on top of it in a few days. Besides in the campsites, we only saw one other group of people during the entire 12 day trek and the only human sounds were our own. Each camp was an island of civilization in a great sea of wilderness, and a wonderful solace to end the day’s hike.

Year: 2015 Expedition: Free climb 914 metres on the El Capitan based in

1 The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has stepped in to provide restorative practices upon 500,000 acres of heavily degraded public grasslands. This land is suffering from severe soil erosion as well as degradation due to overgrazing. The suppression of natural fires has caused shrubs and invasive weeds to encroach upon the grasslands. A full scale assessment will take place on this land before restoration efforts begin. The first thing that would need to be assessed is the soil, for it is eroding and holding little nutrient value. Samples would be taken of this soil from various parts of the grasslands including the eroded gullies. Each soil sample would be taken from at least 1 foot below the surface, to test for carbon richness below the topsoil. These would then be tested for texture, density, water retention, and chemical composition. Typically, powerful, healthy soil will contain amounts of both Nitrogen and Phosphorous, which are essential nutrients in sustainable plant growth. These samples would also be tested for any build-up of salts, something known as soil salinization. Unhealthy, salinized soil is created over years of over-hydrating and deep plowing. Excess water will suffocate root systems of once-healthy crops, and salinized soils will reduce crop output up to 20% (Withgott &Brennan, 2011). The next assessment would be in the shrubs and invasive weed species on the land. Knowing the volume and location of these plants gives way to a better understanding of

Too bad, as the water I brought was now warm. Another trail went up to the summit. It was paved with wood at the bottom, which became wooded steps a bit further up, rather like a wooden escalator. There was a handrail on this section. At the top of the steps, about a third of the way, the trail became narrow and rocky, requiring careful footing. It was there I caught my first views of the other side of the mountain, the West Peak and one of the park’s several lakes— which I believe was Lake Lagunitas-- far below me.

There are sixteen mountains peaks that exceed 6,000 feet in elevation. Many visitors come to the park to hike. There are 850 miles of backcounty trails with 400,000 hikers annually. Some hikers come for the day and they are known as day hikers.

The West Rim Trail – Lava Point trail stretches about 14.5 miles with a 1400-ft elevation gain and situated in Springdale, UT.

They were deposited 81 millions of years ago and are above the Mancos Shale. The Point Lookout Formations are tan colored sandstones. When the Point Lookout were deposited the water in the area was shallow causing changes in “deposition from shale back to beach deposits of sandstone” (www.nps.gov). Also, Point Lookout Sandstones could form into alcoves but only small ones, so it was not used by the Ancestral Puebloans.

For anyone wondering, there is plenty of park to be explored. It’s not as crowded as it sounds or as crowded as you think it would be. For there is over 384 miles of thinly laced mountain roads that you can drive on. You can pull to the side of the road any time that you want and start walking and exploring the way you want. You’ll never explore the whole park in one day or even one week for there is eight hundred miles of hiking trails, from a half-mile to 70 miles long.

The Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are two of the most famous national parks in the Sierra Nevada Range. The Sierra Nevada range is located in California along the North American Plate. This range sits to the right of the San Andreas Fault and the Pacific Plate. Some referred to these parks as “The Land of Giants” which turns out to fit them quite well. The parks get this name due to the huge mountains, endless canyons and the world’s largest trees they are home for (“Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks,” USA Today). The Sequoia National Park was founded on September 25th, 1890, making it the second oldest park in the United States, and Kings Canyon National Park was established March 4th, 1940. The two parks are adjacent to one another and stretch over approximately 865,964 acres, which a little less than 97% is woods and wilderness. These are large tourist attractions and provide a treasured experience many people value greatly in their lives. The reason it is such a treasured experience to tourists is because of the many special aspects of the park that include the Giant Forest of Sequoias as well as Mount Whitney. Mount Whitney is known for having the highest peak south of Alaska at 14,494 feet above sea level (“Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks,” National Geographic).

From the valley, the trail is the going to follow a gentle grade, as it passes through the meadows, trees, and willow thickets. The trail then takes you to a steep rockslide climb, and then spills over to the eastern side of the Maroon Peak. Once you reach the top of the slide, turn around, and enjoy some spectacular views of the valley beneath.

Located at 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive, this national park offers breathtaking views of San Diego's skyline and harbor and a wonderful chance to explore the cultural and historic history of the area. A good starting point for your tour would be the visitor center where you can view exhibits, films and participate in ranger-guided presentations that offer a unique prospective into the history of Cabrillo.

Throughout my time learning and traveling to different places on the scavenger hunt around the bay I found the most rewarding and fun experience to be the Bay Area Discovery Site hike. From exploring abandoned buildings, spending time with friends and seeing a missile silo the hike proved to expand my knowledge of different time periods and expose me to the hidden charms of California. Hiking with friends is always and enjoyable experience and this was no exception. Starting from the parking lot the sense of nature was all around: from the quiet to the floor and trees. This hike was relatively easy, with a few confusing areas and backtracking, going through the hills. After the task of hiking up the stairs and steep inclines we made it to

The Sierra Juarez is a rage of mountains located in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is in the northwestern region of the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca. The region stretches about 1,700 Km in length. The range is named after Mexico’s only indigenous president, Benito Suarez who was born in the region in 1806 in the small village of San Pablo Guelatao. Sierra Juarez is approximately 62 kilometers from the capital city of Oaxaca. The sierras have heights ranging from 500m to 3250m, with many huge and profound ravines scattered throughout the mountain range

There are a number of climbing routes that will take you to the top of El Capitan, and none of them are easy. In fact, some are extremely dangerous.