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Hiking Around Tucson This August

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[Note: the following information was current as of August 1, 2020.]

The Bighorn Fire, named for the bighorn sheep that roam the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, began after a lightning strike hit those mountains on June 5th, 2020. Fanned by high winds and exacerbated by hot, dry weather often exceeding 100°F, the fire burned for almost 7 weeks, burning 119,978 acres (178.5 square miles) of forest. At its height, more than 1,000 firefighting personnel were involved in containing the blaze, and several helicopters and aircraft were used to dump water and fire-retardant slurry over remote areas that could not be reached by road.

Tucson Hiking book

The village of Summerhaven high on Mount Lemmon was evacuated, and many residents of homes in the Santa Catalina Foothills were also forced to leave. Fortunately, the fire crews were successful in saving the buildings and no lives were lost or major injuries reported. While some wildlife unfortunately did not survive, many animals were able to escape the fire. In fact, a herd of 14 bighorn sheep was seen strolling through a suburban neighborhood in late July.

The US Forest Service has closed all facilities in the Santa Catalinas until November 1st. With the annual monsoon rains expected through September, it is likely that the burned-out areas will not be able to absorb the rainfall and dangerous flash flooding will result. There have already been some flash floods of tarry water carrying blackened debris closing roads and potentially threatening homes. All trails have been closed until the flood danger is over and crews have inspected trails to assess if they are safe and passable.

This means that trails described in the Mount Lemmon, Sabino Canyon, and Santa Catalina Foothills sections of the book are closed. Also, Sabino Canyon and the Catalina State Park are closed until further notice. The Mount Lemmon Highway was temporarily closed during the fire but reopened on August 1st with restricted access to Summerhaven. Because parking space is limited, the road may close temporarily until space is available. Further information is available on the Pima County Sheriff’s Road Condition Report at (520) 547-7510.

Saguaro National Park is open. However, both visitor centers are closed until further notice.

I live 2 miles south of the evacuation zone in the Catalina Foothills. During most of June and into July, I could see the fire burning, huge clouds of smoke billowing, and firefighting helicopters and aircraft passing overhead. Often, I could smell the smoke. Most residents of Tucson and the surrounding communities experienced the same to a greater or lesser extent. 2020 has been an abnormal year for everyone, and Tucsonans got hit with a little bit extra.

When things improve in the fall, I will report back with details of which trails are reopened. Meanwhile, stay safe, stay hydrated, and please wear a mask in public places as mandated by Pima County and the city of Tucson.

About the Author: Rob Rachowiecki is the author of Five Star Hikes: Tucson, which focuses on 38 Spectacular Hikes around the Old Pueblo. He has authored hiking and climbing guides to Central America and the Central Andes, as well as travel guides to Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and the American Southwest.

The post Hiking Around Tucson This August appeared first on Menasha Ridge Press Blog.

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Wildflowers & Enjoying Nature

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National Wildflower Week ends this Sunday, May 10, 2020. The photos and posts being shared online with the hashtag #NationalWildflowerWeek have been a welcome window into the wild while sheltering at home (and we do hope you’re safe at home these days!).

White and yellow Dutchman’s-breeches blooming in the wild.
Dutchman’s-breeches bloom April to May and are found from Georgia to Maine.

There are many types of wildflowers and many purposes that native wildflowers serve. The shelter they provide to insects (think links in the food chain) and the diversity they bring to an area’s ecosystem are both very important. Then there is the beauty factor.

It is a surreal feeling to be out on a hike, make a turn, and be greeted with a field bursting in color. Or to emerge from a pine grove or ravine and see flowers laid out like a carpet before you. Leonard M. Adkins, author of Wildflowers of the Appalachian Trail, credits wildflowers as an inspiration for him.

“As the miles drew me northward, I could not ignore the attractive pink petals of spring beauty flowers delivering the promise of warmer days to come. It seemed everywhere I looked tiny bluets spread out in lengthy carpets along the edges of the trail, mirroring the clarity of the sky above me, while flame azalea reflected the sunsets of which I was so fond. How could I have been so ignorant of such an exquisite element of the Appalachian Trail? How could I have always been questing after the big picture, while overlooking the smaller elements that make up the whole? It was time to learn more about this natural world of which I was becoming a part.”

When I read that quote, “ignorant” is the word that resonates with me the most. Nature has a way of instructing us and showing us just how little we know and how often we’re looking at the wrong things. All the more reason to keep books nearby and measure your own adventures and outdoor experiences by the folks who have done it before.

Small purple Bluets blooming along the Appalachian Trail.
Bluets bloom April through late June and can be found from Georgia to Maine along the Appalachian Trail.

Wildflowers are a wonderfully simple reminder of the joys you can find on and around the Appalachian Trail. And, if you’re safe at home these days, the colors you’ll see while learning the varieties make for a rewarding break in the day. We hope you’re well and able to get outside soon.

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Nature Journaling Keeps Kids Excited and Outdoors

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There is something that teachers have known for a long time – journaling is a great way to get kids engaged in learning. It forces them to think critically about what they’re seeing, dealing with, and feeling. That skill sounds pretty handy right about now, doesn’t it? We hope you’re doing well and are able to stay safe at home. And if you’re at home with kids, we hope you’re able to get them outdoors (safely distanced), engaging with what nature has to teach them.

Hand holding up a perfectly shaped leaf.

It’s only a half step beyond what teachers know to see the value in putting a notebook in your children’s hands and have them log entries into a nature journal. The journal doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just a place for your kids to record what they’re seeing around them, when outside. A nature journal or nature log becomes immediately valuable to children because it’s made up of their own artwork. It’s their own record of their world. And it’s their own personally made keepsake when things go back to normal and they do finally get to go beyond the backyard.

A Nature Log Kids book demonstrating the room and space it has for drawing and notes.
The Nature Log Kids book has room for writing, sketches, and much more.

Keeping a nature log isn’t just a writing exercise. A good nature log book will include factoids, trivia questions, games to play, and a place to doodle. It helps to get your kids looking at their world from all kinds of different angles and using different ways to express what they’re seeing. It’s all about getting kids engaged with the world as they’re experiencing it. Plus, they’ll enjoy showing off their artwork and recounting what they saw to family members.

Nature Log for Kids

Cover of the spiral bound Nature Log Kids book by Adventure Publications.

One good example of the above ideas is the Nature Log Kids book by Adventure Publications. It’s a kid’s journal with space to record nature experiences. It includes nature facts, games, experiments, crafts, and ways to help the Earth. So the experience can go beyond just a writing exercise to help guard against boredom and encourage kids to take a deeper look into nature.

And once everything opens back up, think about keeping a notebook, journal, or one of the Nature Log Kids books in the car or your child’s bag, so that it’s always at hand.

We hope you and your family are well and able to get outside safely.

Practicing Light Backpacking in the Backyard

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The world is a weird place (and probably not the safest to explore) right now. We hope you’re tucked in and doing OK. Staying healthy. And staying home. But if you are (and if you’re like us around the office at Menasha Ridge Press), you’re definitely longing for a backpacking trip. To be out in the woods, alone, sounds pretty good right now, if we’re honest. And in the spirit of encouragement we’re thinking about learning some new backpacking skills, specifically in the “ultra-light category.”

This is an area that appeals to a lot of backpackers, but it can also be scary, as you don’t want to go “all in” and then find yourself on day two out on the trail, missing some crucial piece of gear. So we’re thinking. . . while we’re stuck at home, why not practice in the backyard? That way we can run inside if we need an extra layer or make adjustments so that we’re ready when all of the trails and parks open back up.

To tackle this project, let’s consult Rick Light’s Backpacking the Lightway. Rick has years of practice in this area and has a solid sense of how to help more traditional backpackers make the transition to a lighter load.

Being smart about loading your pack can make or break your trip (or back).

Modular Packing Systems

Rick is big on organization. You certainly have to be when every milligram counts. In the book, he makes the case for developing a personal modular system based around certain categories of essentials with your trip in mind. Each “system” is actually just a stuff sack with the required gear. Imagine being so organized that you could go to your gear closet and grab your Warm Weather Layers System, Medical System, Nutrition System, etc. That’s the dream, folks. And it helps take some of the questions and anxiety out of “going light.”

The nine systems Light recommends are:

  • Hiking System (things worn, not packed, like poles, boots, etc.)
  • Clothing System
  • Shelter, Sleeping, and Lighting System
  • Navigation System
  • First-Aid, Repair, and Personal-Hygiene System
  • Communication System
  • Fire System
  • Nutrition System
  • Specialty-Gear System

Even though we’re just practicing in the backyard, it’s a great exercise to think about each gear list (make sure you read through the official Leave No Trace guidelines) and what all would go into your systems, put each system together, and then . . . get it all into the pack. And not just into your pack, but balanced well (yikes!).

Because everything must go in the pack (even for our backyard practice run) it’s helpful to think about organizing around these modular systems. Learning to take some weight out of your pack isn’t always about doing without or just buying lighter, more expensive gear. It’s mainly about being smarter and prepared in a way you don’t have to be when you’re just throwing everything into the backpack.

So stay home, stay safe, and pick up some new camping skills while you’re home. Richard Light’s Backpacking the Light Way is a solid read for folks just starting to explore the world of ultra-light backpacking.

The post Practicing Light Backpacking in the Backyard appeared first on Menasha Ridge Press Blog.

BeWellBeOutdoors

Here’s Hoping You Will Be Well and Be Outdoors

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While our neighborhoods and the outdoors are strong, no one is immune to what’s currently going on around us. Things can be very tough, and there’s plenty to worry about—beyond the chance of getting sick: work, paying bills, and buying groceries. We hope you’re able to stay safe as you navigate your corner of the world today, and we here at AdventureKEEN would like to help as best we can. That is why we have been working with our authors and editors to provide some of our book content for free.

We invite you to check out BeWellBeOutdoors.com (#bewellbeoutdoors) for free resources focused on pre-K–12 education and activities. We’re even offering up an inspirational or thought-provoking quote hoping that it will bring a little spark of calm to your day.

For Families

An example of a lion activity sheet for kids to complete and color.

Every Tuesday and Thursday we are making free pages from our stellar line of activity books. Here you will find lots of coloring pages, crossword puzzles, word finds, mazes, and much more. Each page has been designed to be printed out at home or used on a tablet device. So grab a device or the crayons and find a place for the kids to sit down and work away. Hopefully it will occupy any kids you are looking after while keeping them thinking about the outdoors.

Home Lessons

These once-a-week activities are built with learning and education in mind. Our Home Lesson pages are all about getting the kids outdoors to explore whatever patch of grass, backyard, bug, or tree they can find. With these print-outs, you’ll be able to join the kids as they do things like make their own fossil imprints and go on animal track hunts. Just click to download the worksheets, print them out, and get outdoors!

Daily Calm

A John Muir quote card from the Daily Calm series of #bewellbeoutdoors.

These daily images are simple and to the point. All the images have been taken from the vast image library here at AdventureKEEN (having been in outdoor travel publishing as long as we have, we have a LOT of great images to choose from). We’re hoping the quips, sayings and insights shared will offer just a second or two of thoughtful calm during a stressful day.

You can find all of that info and more across all of our social channels using the hashtag #bewellbeoutdoors. We know the impact that being in nature can have on our spirits, emotions, and energy. We encourage you to #bewellbeoutdoors as much as you can. Steal 5 minutes on a balcony. Find a sunny seat in a lobby. Just enjoy what nature has to offer. It’s good for you.

We don’t know what lies ahead and none of the solutions seem perfect, but we hope the resources we are posting throughout each week at BeWellBeOutdoors.com will be helpful as we navigate the days ahead together.

Take care and stay safe. #bewellbeoutdoors

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Independent Bookstore Day Moves to August

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Today, the last Saturday in April, we were all supposed to be celebrating Independent Bookstore Day 2020. But due to all the stay-safe-at-home rules around the country (you are staying safe, right?), the official event has been moved to August 29, 2020. August feels a long way away, doesn’t it? We’re feeling like it is. So after you mark your calendar for August 29th, come back and read some of the tips below on how you can celebrate, shop, and love on your local indie bookstore.

Header image of a cartoon hand holding up a book.

Loving on Indie Bookstores

Things are going to have to go digital and online this month, as we wait for Independent Bookstore Day 2020. Here are three thoughts on how to celebrate the community cornerstone that is your indie bookstore.

Number 1. SHOP It’s that simple and it doesn’t have to be much. But you’re stuck at home and need something to read, right? Just search online for your local indie store and see how they’re doing things these days. Some have curbside pickup. Some have online ordering. Some are getting creative and even delivering by bike. And many are using Bookshop.org to manage online orders. Bookshop.org gives some of its profits back to the indie shops that use the service. And you don’t have to buy a book. Buy a pencil or a T-shirt to wear with your sweats while you’re self-quarantining. The goal is to help the shops stay open and take care of their staff. One day we’ll all be able to get back out and visit the indie shops in person and we’ll be glad they were able to stick around.

Number 2. IF AUDIOBOOKS ARE YOUR THING, sign up for Libro.fm. You can grab a monthly membership or buy audiobooks one at a time. The cool thing about Libro.fm is that you get to select a local bookstore as “your bookstore” when you sign up. And whenever you buy an audiobook they split the profits of the sale with your bookstore. They have lots going on right now like Virtual Bookstore Party and Socks for Binc. You can check out all of their deals, discounts, and happenings on their site.

Number 3. KEEP UP WITH ALL THE HAPPENINGS on the official Independent Bookstore Day site. Sign up for the event newsletter and follow the organization on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. They’re doing a great job keeping things moving. And be sure to interact with them. The folks behind Indie Bookstore Day are not only fun to follow, but they really want to hear from the book community.

We are passionate about indie bookstores here at AdventureKEEN. We love our indie bookstore partners and the communities they represent. We sincerely hope you make it to a local bookstore this August to show your support too.

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Spring Weather Watching and Staying Safe

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Spring weather is no joke. The temps are high. The temps are low. The sun is bright and the wind is blowing or the rain lasts a full day and the wind is howling. With most folks staying safe at home (and we here at AdventureKEEN hope you’re well and practicing smart social distancing), many are getting outside to hike, bike, or take a walk with the family. And the spring weather is certainly a factor.

Spring kicked off about a month ago and officially lasts until June 20, 2020. Which means we have a few more weeks of lingering snow, tornado season, lots of rain, and temperature swings. One of the best ways to navigate all of this is to know your clouds and understand what’s happening in the sky above you.

CUMULONIMBUS CLOUDS

A massive Cumulonimbus cloud hovering in the sky.

What Cumulonimbus clouds say about the weather: Often called towering cumulonimbus for the heights that they can reach, these clouds mean only one thing—thunderstorms. The violent updrafts that cause these storms tend to occur when the surface (or the area just above it) is warm and humid. Thunderstorms emerge from the strongest updrafts and can offer some of the most dangerous, but also the most visually captivating, of all weather scenes.

What The Clouds Look Like: Cumulonimbus clouds are likely the most famous types of nimbus clouds. A cumulonimbus cloud has a broad base because air is being drawn toward the primary updraft before being forced upwards. The strong updraft creates localized low pressure underneath the storm, which causes the storm to act like a vacuum, sucking up the warm, moist air around it, with collision and coalescence happening at the base of the cloud over a broader area than the main updraft area. At the surface, this can also lead to brisk straight-line winds, both preceding the thunderstorm and occurring again after it departs.

The Field Guide to Weather book cover by Ryan Henning.

One of the best ways to get up to speed on why the weather “does what it does” is with Ryan Henning’s Field Guide to Weather. This pocket-size book packs in a great deal of need-to-know weather information from a certified meteorologist and shows us one of the telltale signs that a thunderstorm is on its way. The author goes on to discuss government-issued watches and warnings, as well as weather safety. The simple explanations are useful in easing the mind of a frightened child, and the in-depth details help adults learn to understand and prepare for the weather ahead.

So be safe out there. Pay attention to your local weather reports, and look up in the sky for yourself. Our spring trips into the outdoors are much more meaningful if we’re aware of our surroundings and understand what’s happening in the sky above us.

The Importance of a Regional Travel Section in Your Library

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Libraries are a cornerstone of healthy and vibrant communities. They serve so many roles and meet the needs of so many people. Using data from all over California, the Panorama Project identified the state’s most requested book–that they didn’t have available–with the idea of “what are libraries and bookstores missing? What titles are their patrons really after?”

Walkabout Northern California book cover by Tom Courtney

It should come as no surprise to anyone in the local library space that the title with the most unmet demand in libraries in California over the summer was a regionally focused travel guide: Tom Courtney’s Walkabout Northern California. Library patrons are looking for local travel books. They want to get out and explore their unique communities and skip the tourist traps. These are just a couple of reasons that people seek out books like Walkabout Northern California at their local library.

Published by Wilderness Press, Walkabout Northern California describes 14 walks in the wilds of Northern California, and each entry includes “a map, mile-by-mile details of the route, logistical tips on places to stay and eat, and inspirational ideas to simplify your travel and reconnect with nature’s rhythm.” 

Wilderness Press books are available through AdventureKEEN’s full catalog, as well as through all the standard library distribution channels such as Ingram and Baker & Taylor. Wilderness Press is attending ALA and PLA this year. We are happy to help support libraries and want to make sure that our local nature and travel titles are available to everyone. 

#Optoutside 2019

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There is much to be thankful for the season. And very little of it has to do with walking around inside, elbowing through the crowds and shopping.

That’s why once again we’re locking arms with folks across the outdoor industry and shutter our online shopping cart to help encourage everyone to get outside and enjoy nature. REI kicked off the #OptOutside hashtag and efforts a few years ago and their website is a good place to start.

We hope your Thanksgiving is full of family, friends and food, and that you get to recover from all the holiday-ness outdoors.

Here are three ideas for what to do this Black Friday:

Ultimately all of the #optoutside chatter makes us thankful. Thankful for the outdoors. Thankful we get the time off to celebrate and enjoy the company of family, friends and old hiking buddies. And we’re especially thankful for you and the growing outdoors community! Happy Thanksgiving and get outside this week.

The post #Optoutside 2019 appeared first on Menasha Ridge Press Blog.

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