Beldames’ Saloon

Skiing in South America? What kind of strange holiday is that? Is not South America primarily about jungles than about snowboarding? Actually no. South America embodies a continent which reaches from the equator down to Southern Chile not far from the northernmost of Antarctica. By the spine of S.America are found the Andes Mountains. They are one of the highest mountain range in the globe and still as the mountain range passes through the tropical zone, the heights are still snowcapped.

S. America’s best ski places are to be found in Argentina and Chile with good skiing deals. In the centre of of Chile and Argentiuna one can find many ski fields. The most celebrated snowboarding destination in S.America is named by some Little Suisse and if you travel there you will imagine that you are in Switzerland with the fine looking Swiss cottages. The skiing mountain has catered chalets, a sports centre, discos, and everything to provide a awesome skiing holiday. The largest snowboarding resort in S America is in Chile. Situated hardly 38 m from the Santiago International Airport you will be able to reach it with a fast trip having flown in non-stop from many major cities among them Stockholm, Geneva, Paris, New York and London.

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Camping outdoors has received huge recognition over years to be a complete alternative from your usual chaotic life. Some days away from chaotic timetable offers much fun & amusement selection than any other vacation plan. If you plan to have a camping vocation this winter then it is recommended that you try and find the best of camping equipment to carry with for the best pleasant camping experience.

Outdoor camping gear usually come in the shape of camping tables camping lights camping clothing and many more. As the camping places chosen are often diverse so are the camping tools that are needed for certain jobs. A large number of people like to camp in the plains, some go in the mountain areas, some in fields and some in woods. This means that the camping gear used will in the end depend on the location you have chosen to camp in.

To enjoy the fun and excitement totally, it?s vital to carry camping accessories that you will need during your camping holiday. There are various hikers & campers who love to camp & find out the most extreme parts of the world. Hence the camping requirements fluctuate from person to person. Find superb deals on camping lanterns.

As a result before going camping outdoors it is important that you acquire the accessories that you will require. To locate the best camping equipment its better to search for a cheap camping equipment e-tailer and request the equipment you need to carry along. The light weight tents, transportable camping stoves, handy weightless chairs, disposable utensils, sleeping bags, hiking shoes light fabric weightless clothes & other camping accessories can be bought online at the highest discount rates. It is vital to carry camping tools that weighs as least as possible so as to provide you as much liberty while trekking and hiking.

Numerous sorts of camping tools are not cheap to acquire and can be afforded only when you have a huge budget. Hence you ought to make a list of items that you cannot do without while camping. Depending upon how regularly you go for camping, renting camping kit is a great option. Otherwise if you are a camping freak then having a stock of your own camping equipment is worth. Have a fantastic camping experience this spring by keeping all your camping needs toned up.

Related topics of interest include: Formula 1 Merchandise & Toys Online.

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Making clothes? If you enjoy backpacking AND sewing, go for it. As for myself, I started buying gear again after the first hundred tedious hours of sewing . Then I discovered that there are some backpacking clothes you can make cheaply and quickly.

Making Hand Warmers

Stick your hands inside a pair of socks and mark where your fingertips and thumb-tip are, using a pen or marker. Then cut holes where the marks are. You now have hand warmers that leave your fingers free. Mine weigh about an ounce, but this depends on the socks that you use. You can use these under other gloves or mittens in colder weather, and when you remove your mittens to tie your shoes, you won’t totally expose your hands.

Instant Insulated Vest

Buy 1/2″ poly batting at any fabric store. I bought mine at Walmart. This is the stuff that is used to make pillows, stuffed animals and quilts. It comes as a big sheet, rolled up in a bag, usually for less than ten dollars.

Open it up it and cut a piece out, roughly two by four feet. Cut a hole in this for your head, and wear it like a tunic, but under your jacket. Making clothes doesn’t get any easier than this, and the vest will be among the lightest backpacking clothes you own. My own weighs just four ounces.

My vest, along with my homemade balaclava, kept me warm as I went over glaciers, to the top of 20,600-foot Chimborazo, in Ecuador. It also went to the top of Mount Shasta in California, and on other trips. Originally, I made it as a disposable vest, but it’s held together for years now. Wear two for extra warmth (always under a wind-breaking layer) and you’ll have more insulation than a sweater would give you, for half the weight.

Making A Ski Mask From Old Clothes

Use any old thermal underwear top or bottom, preferably made of polypropylene. Just cut off a leg or a sleeve, then pull it over your head. Mark where your eyes and mouth are with a pen or marker, cut the holes and cut off the extra length. You just made a balaclava.

I used a sleeve from a very stretchy polypropylene top for mine. It weighs less than an ounce, lighter than anything I can buy. You can sew the top shut, as I did, or just pin it shut with a safety pin. Making backpacking clothes doesn’t get much simpler than this.

I collect ideas for backpacking clothes or equipment that can be made at home, but if it can’t be explained in a paragraph, it’s probably too complex and time consuming for me. I prefer backpacking to sewing. When it’s as easy as the three items here, though, even I will start making clothes.

Steve Gillman is a long-time advocate of lightweight backpacking. His tips, photos, gear recommendations and a free book can be found at http://www.TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com

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The main reason for visiting the remote and seldom traveled to town of Kigoma in West Tanzania - is to visit the legendary Gombe Stream National Park. This primate sanctuary was made famous by Jane van Lawick Goodall in her African classic, “In The Shadow Of Man.” This is a laidback and fairly attractive little town, located at the foot of a hill and characterized by grove after grove of mango trees. It is perhaps best known as one of the major ferry ports on Lake Tanganyika.

It was to Kigoma that the legendary steamer, the MV Liemba, was brought by rail by the Germans during World War I, assembled there, and used as a military expedition ship against the British forces in what is today Zambia. It still does the twice weekly lake run, leaving Kigoma on Wednesdays and Sundays, war and weather permitting. A lake steamer trip is one of the ultimate African experiences for intrepid travelers.

To get to this remote region of Tanzania is easy if you have a budget to fly. However, many people do not want to lay out so much of their budget on the flights to get to Kigoma. If your budget is tight and you are open to some adventure then travel by train. This particular service is notoriously unreliable. So, be patient, enjoy the adventure and be prepared to be late by up to 48 hours. When we talk late with this service we are talking days rather than hours.

If your time is flexible and you are prepared to rough it then give this a try. Otherwise steer clear and fly - which is the recommended way to get to Kigoma.

Dar Es Salaam the train departs [knowing these can change at any time] 17h00 and arrives in Kigoma [hopefully] 36 hours latter. Prices and timetables will vary - prices are payable in local currency so check prices before you start your journey for the Tanzania Railway Web Site http://www.trctz.com/tariffa.htm

Customer Information Center
Tanzania Railways Corporation
P.O Box 468
Dar es Salaam
Tel/Fax 255-22-2117833
Email:ccm_cserv@trctz.com

The site http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk has useful information and links for the above article and http://www.betheladventure.co.uk has many timetables and prices for travel in Tanzania. Use responsible tourism to make a difference.

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Well, here we go again. Every year during springtime we sneak a peek at our calendars and dread the rapidly approaching summer. Summer in central and southern Arizona is unlike summer anywhere else. I’m actually starting to get hot just thinking about it. There are all sorts of experts with sage advice on how to successfully survive summer when midday temperatures approach several hundred degrees. I’m not one of these experts, but I do have a few “cool” ideas I’d like to share with you.

First thing to do is stop using the Fahrenheit temperature scale. It is just too depressing for me. I prefer the Celsius scale because it sounds much cooler. For example, what sounds better to you 115 degrees or 46 degrees? I’ll take the 46 every day!

Another one of my keep cool techniques is to leave town. You will have to travel at least 60 miles north of Phoenix to get any relief at all. I recommend traveling 600 miles north. This would place you roughly at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. If you cannot leave town, find a picture of Jackson Hole and look at it until you figure out how to get there.

Thirdly, I would suggest that anytime you hear someone say, “it sure is hot out today but thank God it’s a dry heat” take their hand and place it on your sweaty neck and ask them “does it really feel dry to you?” You might not feel much cooler if you do this, but eventually we can stop people from saying “but it’s a dry heat.” And that would be “Way Cool!”

On a more serious note, there are several things you can do to keep cool. No real secrets here, you’ve heard it all before. Drink more water than you think you need and drink it before you need it. Wear long sleeves, a hat, sun block and lip balm. Limit your time in the direct sunlight. Grab an ice cream cone. Hike, bird watch, swim, fish, walk or ride your bike at sunrise or sunset instead of during the hottest parts of the day. This is all common sense, isn’t it?

The summer heat should not keep you from enjoying your outdoor life. But be smart about it and take care of yourself and your companions. Summertime offers many great outdoor adventures and you will notice that our parks and trails are not as crowded when it’s hot out. Now that’s the cool part. Get Outdoors!

Chuck Fitzgerald, The Outdoor Guy, has written a beginner’s guide to bird watching call “Learning to Bird.” Visit http://www.birdwatchingebook.com to see just how easy and how much fun Bird Watching really is. Chuck is the owner of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online store helping you to have fun in the great outdoors. To get maximum enjoyment out of your outdoor life, visit http://www.BackCountryToys.com where you’ll find great gear and the Tips & Tales e-newsletter, “FreshAir.” (800) 316-9055.

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Malibu isn’t just a beach; it’s practically a whole coastline. Stretching for roughly 27 miles, Malibu comprises about a dozen beaches from Decker Rd. (Hwy. 23) in the west, to Topanga Canyon Blvd. in the east. At this part of the California coast, the beaches face mostly rather than west, except for Westward Beach near Pt. Dume.

The Malibu beaches lie along the base of the Santa Monica Mountains, which are so often subjected to the vicious circle of fires, floods and mudslides. The Pacific Coast Highway, or PCH, is squeezed between the beach and the cliffs much of the way. The ocean side is lined with highway hugging houses of the mostly rich and/or famous.

The beaches themselves range from wide and sandy to so narrow that the waterline comes up directly under someone’s deck. Rocky coves and tide pools are also plentiful.

Malibu itself does not have a cohesive downtown section. Restaurants are spread out, as are a few shopping centers sprinkled with chain stores mixed with specialty shops. Residential sections vary from small, crowded beachfront houses to mountaintop mansions.

GETTING TO MALIBU BEACH CALIFORNIA

You can take the I-10 west through Santa Monica, then veer north onto PCH (Hwy 1) as it hits the coast. Keep driving, and you’ll soon be in Malibu.

Alternatively, from Highway 101 in the San Fernando Valley, you can take a 15-20 minute winding drive through the Santa Monica Mountains along Topanga Canyon Blvd., Malibu Canyon Rd. (Los Virgenes exit), Kanan Dume Rd., or Decker Road. All of these drop down into some part of the Malibu coast, with Malibu Canyon Road taking you the closest to the pier, lagoon, Surfrider Beach and shopping areas.

THE MALIBU BEACHES

Starting at the Ventura County line and heading east towards Santa Monica, there’s Leo Carrillo State Beach, which has camping, tide pools, trails and interesting rock formations. Then comes Nicholas Canyon County Beach, where you park on the bluff and hike down to surf or dive.

The next three beaches are scenic coves with more unusual rock formations. El Pescador State Beach at the end of Decker Rd. has a narrow sandy beach and picnic tables on the bluff above. La Piedra State Beach is similar, only further east.

El Matador State Beach is larger, with a larger pay parking lot and a trail and stairway down to the beach. It also has stunning sea stacks, which attract cormorants and other sea birds.

Broad Beach Road goes through a residential neighborhood between Pacific Coast Highway and the beach. there are a couple of beach access points that go between the houses. You can enjoy the beach at the end of the path or steps, but be careful not to trespass onto private property.

In marked contrast, Zuma Beach County Park is a wide sandy beach with lots of facilities, including restrooms, showers, dressing rooms, snack stands, volleyball, swings and a large pay parking lot.

Point Dume State Beach is next to the Point Dume Headlands, which has some trails. The beach has tide pools and sandstone cliffs. Westward Beach is the section towards the Point, which faces west.

Paradise Cove is a small but lovely beach with expensive parking. No surfing is allowed. Escondido Beach can be found near Malibu Cove Colony Drive. The access point is next to a blue and white trash can. This is a diving spot. Corral State Beach/Solstice Beach is a narrow sandy beach with street parking.

Where Malibu Road veers off PCH through another neighborhood, there are several public stairways next to telltale blue and white trash cans. These paths or stairways go between private homes, so take care not to disturb the residents or trespass. Once on the beach, you must stay a certain distance away from the rear of the houses; below the high tide line should be safe enough.

Malibu Bluffs County Park is off of Pacific Coast Highway, at the end of Malibu Canyon Road, across from Pepperdine University. While not a beach itself, you can park there, use the restrooms and hike down a one and a half mile trail down through the bluffs with magnificent views to Malibu Road and the beach access points mentioned previously. Exhilarating! (But don’t forget you have to hike back
up later.)

Malibu Lagoon State Beach bears an estuary, the Malibu Lagoon, the historic Adamson House and museum, the Malibu Pier, and popular Surfrider Beach which has great waves for surfing.

East of the pier along PCH, are more public stairways to the beach between houses, marked by the blue and white trash cans. Las Tunas State Beach is narrow, sandy and rocky in places. Be careful of rusted metal groins under the water if you swim there.

Topanga State Beach lies at the end of Topanga Canyon Boulevard. It is a narrow sandy beach with rocky parts. There is a pay parking lot, but people also park up along Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

Malibu is a beautiful place to visit and is sure to have a beach to suit just about everyone.

Laura Eggers is a beach lover with a website. http://www.southern-california-beaches-vacation-guide.com offers visitors a plethora of information about the different beach areas to help with planning their beach vacation in sunny Southern California.

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Have you ever heard of an Overlanding expedition?

Overlanding in Africa is by far the best way to really experience the diversity of Africa. Let’s face it; you can only really experience Africa if you truly become part of it. You need to breathe its air, walk on its ground and hear its sounds.

Overlanding shortly defined involves travelling in small groups and by a specific route to remote territories - places that are off the beaten track. This is what makes these trips all that exciting, as not many people have the opportunity to visit such areas. These trips are definitely not ordinary. They are for the fun loving, excited and adventurous at heart.
Tours can last anything between 4 days to 6 months and usually includes visiting more than one country. Group sizes are small varying from 10 to 25.

Overlanding is a very budget style of travel and accommodation, transport, National Park entry fees and most meals are included in prices. The idea behind an overlanding trip is to escape the busy City life and just become part of nature.

These trips are nothing boring; as it includes all levels of adventurous activities and is suitable for all persons with average to good fitness and good health. Tours are carefully planned so that each tour has its own optional activities. These activities can range anything from extreme adventure - like bungee jumping - to more fun adventure activities like elephant back safaris, scuba diving, white water rafting, fishing, horse riding …and the list just continues.
The great thing about optional activities is that you do not have to pay for anything you cannot afford or would not like to do.
You will however be expected to participate in limited amount of general duties on tour like washing your dishes, keeping the vehicle clean, setting up your camp and getting all muddy should the truck get stuck. This ensures that everything on tour runs as smoothly as possible and mostly so that there’s not a dull moment. All the more excitement!

Overlanding vehicles are generally specially designed trucks suited for the roads travelled on and can range anything from “rough-it overlanding” trucks to more luxury spacious trucks with comfortable seats.
The accommodation on tour can range anything from plain camping to budget National Park style bungalows or safari tents.

Local payments may be levied from tour participants in certain African countries. This is a very common on overlanding tours. Local Payments are essential in order to transfer the foreign currencies of the countries visited in order to operate the tours.
Your tour itinerary should state if a local payment will be necessary for the countries you will visit.
A good tip is to always carry US$ cash on you when on tour as US dollars are widely accepted throughout Africa.

Air fares to Africa are usually excluded in the tour price, but overlanding companies or booking agents are mostly able to arrange it on your behalf.
Travel insurance is very important and compulsory on overlanding trips. You must ensure that you take out adequate travel insurance to cover the type of activities you may be interested in. Certain overlanding booking agents or companies will even be able to arrange travel insurance for you.

What makes an overlanding tour so unique is that you meet great people, you experience so much about other cultures, and because you travel in a group, you have experienced guides by your side who will be able to explain all the inns and outs on tour - wherever you are off to.

So, my advice to you, if you are looking for an experience of a lifetime, pack your bag of enthusiasm, excitement and sense of humour and you are ready to head off to an African overlanding adventure of a lifetime.

Alta van Wyk - Holds a degree in Tourism Management and is the Co Owner of Wild Expeditions, a company specialising in quality overlanding trips and safaris in South Africa and parts of Africa. See http://www.wildexpeditions.co.za for great tours to Africa.

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Before you head out to buy a new sleeping bag, make sure you know exactly what you are looking for. When you answer these questions, you’ll be better prepared to pick out the sleeping bag that is just right for you.

* How will you be using your sleeping bag? Will you be backpacking or hiking? Or do you just need a bag for a family camping trip?

* What time of year will you be camping? Will you be doing summer camping, spring through fall excursions, or rough winter camping?

* Consider your budget. How much do you want to spend? Can you save money by getting a higher quality sleeping bag on discount?

* Where will you be using it? Will you be sleeping in a tent? Out in the open? In a lodge or cabin? What areas will you be using the sleeping bag? Will it be in wet areas, dry deserts, mountains?

* What comfort level do you want? If weight isn’t a consideration, do you prefer a roomier, softer, more comfortable sleeping bag? Are you accustomed to the cold night air or do you chill easily?

* Is the weight and compatibility important? Will you be carrying it for a long distance? Do you have limited space?

* How long do you want it to last? Would you prefer to get a cheaper one and replace it later? Or do you want a higher quality sleeping bag that will last many years?

* Is flexibility important? Do you need one bag to meet all your needs, summer through winter?

* How often do you intend to use it? Is this a once a year camping trip? Or will you be using it very frequently?

* Who will be using the bag? Man, woman, or child? What is their body shape?

* How much extra room do you like? Do you sleep still at night or do you tend to toss and turn a lot?

Be sure you consider all these aspects before you buy your sleeping bag. Then your new sleeping bag will be just perfect for you and your needs.

Copyright 2004 Camp Spot all rights reserved. Republished with permission from author.

About Author: Maria is the editor of http://www.My-Favorite-Camping-Store.com, an excellent resource for campers. Visit her site for more fun camping tips and articles. Get ready for your next camping vacation by learning about camping tents, sleeping bags, and other supplies.
http://www.my-favorite-camping-store.com/camping-kits.html

**Publishing guidelines:
Publication is permitted so long as the resource information at the end of the article remains intact, and links are live and intact with no redirect.

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Yosemite National Park has many wonderful attractions and a beauty that cannot be compared to any other on earth. People from all over the world come to Yosemite to vacation, camp, and to enjoy some adventurous rock climbing.

If you love camping then you will really enjoy the camping sites that abound throughout Yosemite. Yosemite camping reservations can be booked at thirteen different campgrounds with seven of these campgrounds taking reservations up to five months in advance of your trip. You may choose from the following campgrounds for your Yosemite camping reservations, Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines, Camp 4, which are all located in the Valley, Wawona, Bridalveil Creek, Hodgdon Meadow, Crane Flat, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat, and Tuolumne Meadows. It would be best to call Yosemite to learn more about Yosemite camping reservations as not all campgrounds are open year round. Some campgrounds offer RV sites and tent sites, while others only offer tent sites. No matter which type of site you prefer you will love your camping experience at Yosemite National Park.

If you are seeking, a more modern and less woodsy type camping experience there is another type of Yosemite lodging that you will enjoy. The High Sierra Camps have canvas tent cabins available that offer a dormitory style steel frame beds with mattresses, wool blankets, pillows, and comforters for the beds. They also have hot showers, restrooms and soap. You must however bring your own sheets, sleeping bags and towels. You can purchase sleeping bags and towels through the concession services provided by Yosemite. Many people enjoy this style of camping and are in high demand so the reservations are accepted in a lottery style. They only accept applications from October 15 to November 30 each year.

Yosemite National Park offers many things for the entire family to do such as backpacking, biking bird watching, rock climbing, fishing, horseback riding, ice-skating, rafting, skiing, snowshoeing, swimming, stargazing and of course enjoying the great outdoors. There are also many tours available that help you enjoy your vacation at Yosemite and show you all that the national park has to offer. Many of these activities have guided instructors that can give you all kinds of pointers as to the type of foliage and fauna, animals, and birds that frequent the area.

Other wonderful things to see in Yosemite national park include the many falls, which include, Yosemite Falls, the Bridalveil Fall, the Vernal Fall, the Nevada Fall, the Ribbon Fall, the Horsetail Fall, and the Staircase Falls. Rock formations are another awesome attraction that everyone enjoys; some of the most popular rock formations in Yosemite include Half Dome, El Capitan, Cathedral Rocks and Spires, The Three Brothers, Sentinel Rock, Yosemite Point, and Glacier Point.

As you can see, Yosemite National Park is a breath-taking world that you must see to appreciate.

Courtesy of Anita from Write4u.info.

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There are so many selections available when it comes to paintball guns that choosing one can be overwhelming.

The most important thing is to make sure that you have done research on the guns that you are interested in buying. Research them on the Internet and ask the more experienced players for their opinions on the guns in question. Make an initial trip to the store, or webpage, to look over the guns and make a list of the ones that you are interested in purchasing. Then do your research.

You want to make sure that the gun is constructed well. The parts should work, fit right, and be durable. Paintball guns take quite a bit of abuse, so your gun must be durable. Remember that metal is stronger than plastic. Depending on the playing environment that you will use the majority of the time, you may not want a flashy, colorful gun. These will stand out and make you a target. Choose black or dark colors.

The weight of the gun matters. Keep in mind that you will be carrying the gun, and even running with it. If it is too heavy for you, do not buy it. Walk around with the gun for several minutes in the store to get a feel for it if possible.

Is the gun simple to operate? If not, you may not want that gun. You want a gun that is easily maintained and easy to operate. Make sure the gun is upgradeable. You may want to add more features to your gun later.

When a new gun comes on the market, do not rush out to buy it. Give it some time and see what the reviews and opinions from the players who did rush out to buy it are. If you are new to the game, you should rent the gun and other equipment for a while. This will give you the opportunity to see what you like in a gun before you spend your money.

Make sure that the gun has a safety device on it. This protects you, and those around you. Also, check the warranty on the gun. A one-year warranty is typical. Finally, look at the price. There are some expensive guns out there. However, a higher price does not mean higher quality. Just know exactly what you want from a gun, do your research, and then find one that meets your specifications in your price range.

Chirstopher Reeve is the owner and operator of PaintBall-Tips.com (http://www.paintball-tips.com) where he discusses on how to get started in playing paintball and advance strategies.

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