Dear Sundog: Floating down Desolation Canyon in Utah on a private trip, pulling the oars against the upstream wind, we were passed by commercial rafts lashed together buzzing their motors to snag the primo camps. I know itā€™s bad form for parties to send a boat ahead to steal a camp, but this situation just demanded some sort of justice. Is it OK to break the rules to combat the commercial guide domination? ā€”Perplexed Rower Offended by Boating Ethics

Dear PROBE: As your letter notes, the practice of splitting up a river group to ā€œcamp runā€ downriver is morally murky. It breeds cutthroat competition, with boaters racing each other for a shady beach instead of chilling the F out while floating lazily down the current the way the Creator intended. On many permitted river sections, the practice is explicitly banned, enforced with the threat of a ticket written up by river rangersā€”what Sundog used to call ā€œpaddle pigs.ā€ Whatā€™s more, itā€™s downright foolhardy: if someone in the upstream group has a medical emergency, a blown valve, or simply canā€™t hack the wind, then some of the group may spend the night separated from food, groovers, and first-aid kits.

Yet Sundogā€™s area of expertise is not legality or foolhardinessā€”itā€™s ethicsā€”and the fact of some activity being forbidden and stupid doesnā€™t make it unethical.

PROBE, these are desperate times trying to get to the river. The COVID recreation boom, combined with the online ease of applying for permits, has made it nigh impossible to win the ā€œlotteryā€ and float the big rivers. Perhaps this onerous process before the launch is what ratchets up the battle for the best camps. The behavior you describe by the commercial guides is, though not illegal, extremely irritating. Motoring past hard-working rowers and paddlers all but guarantees that the loudest polluters get the best camp. Ethical guides would cut their goddamn Evinrudes, and call out, ā€œHey, which camp were you hoping to reach tonight. Weā€™ll be happy to skip that one so you can have it.ā€

Likely ainā€™t gonna happen. So weā€™re left with deciding how we can best behave. On canyons like the Gates of Lodore where sites are limited, boaters are required to sign up for camps and stick to that itinerary. Sundog finds this a Draconian fix, as it takes away from the sense of spontaneity and timeless drift that attracts him to rivers in the first place.

On the Salmon River, all parties are required to talk it out, perhaps hug, and decide who will camp where on which night. Itā€™s a good idea. Sundog is aware of at least one instance in which commercial guides welched on their word and stole a camp from a private party, who made a pointā€”justified, Iā€™d sayā€”of repaying them in kind the following night. However these shenanigans are precisely what motivates the paddle pigs to write more rules and regulations.

In your case, PROBE, the best practice would be to flag down the motor-rig and have a conversation to try to avoid the steal in the first place. If that fails, and your camp is taken, I suppose it is ethical to break the rules in order to fight what is otherwise a losing battle. But itā€™s a slippery slope, because when you set out to grab a camp from an outfitter, youā€™re just as likely grabbing it from another private party in front of you, which makes you the jerk.

Your question does raise another issue, which is why are motors allowed on a stretch of river in a designated wilderness that for at least a portion is labeled Wild and Scenic. The most obvious answer is the first 25 miles of windy flatwater. Difficult, sure, but boaters without motors have made their way through for over a century now. The longer answer is that motors allow outfitters to sell the 86-mile canyon as a 5-day trip, while muscle-powered expeditions take a few days longer. There is some rich irony in the well-intentioned leave-no-tracers straining their dishwater to avoid contaminating the river while a few yards from shore outboard motors spew oil and gas directly into the fishesā€™ living room.

In a column about being a surfing tourist in Mexico, Sundog suggested re-examining our beliefs about globalization. A reader, Stan Weig, responded:

I was intrigued by your recent column on ā€œYankee Imperialismā€ and Mexico travel, as I just returned from a five week drive to Cabo San Lucas and back. I have traveled to Baja since the ā€˜60s, in everything from a pickup camper to a really nice motorhome. And a 747.

While I respect the need to be nice to the subscribers that write in, I suggest your ā€œmiddle-of-the-roadā€ was too soft on the self-centered Rich White Yankee Surfer guilt trip of your advice seeker.Ā 

Not everybody likes the huge condos, raucous tourist bars and t-shirt shops of Caboā€”I donā€™tā€”and if your reader doesnā€™t like it, donā€™t go. But itā€™s more about preferences than an ethical quandary about globalization. I donā€™t particularly care for Miami Beach either. However, San Juan de Cabo is just to the north of Cabo and has a very different vibe and a well preserved old townā€”go there and rest easy.Ā 

Tourists are a cash crop, and the folks running the sushi restaurant that she deplores, renting the beach chairs, and driving her around in a rental car made in Mexico and owned by Mexicans, are local entrepreneurs raising and harvesting that crop. Indeed, one could argue that in the good old days when we traveled from the high ground of Yankee prosperity down to ā€œunspoiledā€ poverty of Mexico we were taking advantage as well.

Your advice to research and support local business was right on. If she doesnā€™t want to support globalist capitalists, she ought to be doing that here at home too. By the way, the reader may not know that while development along the beach may have been built with expat dollars, the ownership is required to be at least 51 percent Mexican. And she may not be aware of the government mandated efforts to ensure that local interests are at least somewhat protected during development. For example, perhaps the nicest beach in the Cabo area for sunning, swimming, and snorkeling is Chileno Beach. Right next to it is a huge new (and expensive!) resortā€”but access to the beach is free, there are nice restrooms, showers, and a lifeguard; and any of the locals that want to can take their kids and a cooler down to the beach for the day.

When we visited Todos Santos 35 years ago, the fabled Hotel California was shabby and in disrepair and all the side streets were pot holed dirt. Now the hotel is nice, locally run restaurants abound, local artists successfully compete with Made in China souvenir shops, and the streets are pavedā€”so maybe tourism ainā€™t so bad.

Got a question of your own? Send it toĀ sundogsalmanac@hotmail.com.

Mark Sundeen, aka Sundog, worked as a river guide for 11 years. These days he thinks young guides have a bit of attitude that they own the whole river, and he is happy to poach their campsites if the situation warrants it.

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When Katie Arnold and her husband Steve were invited to run the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, it was a lifelong dream come true. But then disaster struck in the opening moments of the trip, and the couple faced two daunting tasksā€”survive the river, and then fix their marriage.

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Dear Sundog: Decades ago I worked with a close friend as a river guide and we were both complete dirtbags, living in our cars during raft season then traveling around during the winter. Since then, Iā€™ve become financially successful and have a garage filled with rafts, kayaks, trailers, oars, paddles, and SUPs to prove it. My friend has worked as a freelancer and has always been candid about how difficult it is to pay his mortgage and make ends meet. At least once a year he asks to borrow a raft for a multi-day river trip (sometimes with me, sometimes not) and Iā€™ve always been happy to lend it to him. He takes good care of my equipment and repairs or replaces anything that gets damaged. I love to see him taking his children out on the river.

Recently after a few beers around the campfire, he revealed to me that for two decades he and his wife had each been socking away $6,000 each year into their IRAs and investing in tech stocks, and now have a portfolio valued at half a million dollars. Now I feel a bit tricked, like he had the cash to buy his own boat years ago but chose instead to save, and Iā€™d be a dupe for continuing to lend him mine. What should I do? ā€”Loaner

Dear Loaner, I fully understand why you feel duped. You thought you were helping a poor relation; turns out he had been hoarding his dollars all along. While your friendā€™s behavior may have perplexed or even hurt you, I donā€™t think he was unethical. He was living frugally and within his means. In a country without a safety net, we know that we likely wonā€™t be able to live off of Social Security, and we have to do our own saving and planning. Ditto that if weā€™d like to send our kids to college. And letā€™s face it, whitewater boatsā€”and for that matter, all outdoor gearā€”is expensive. Former dirtbag guides like Sundog and you and your friend came to believe that the rafts, oars, trucks, and trailers sort of grew on trees: they arrived at the ramp each morning ready for us to use all day. It came as a shock to Sundog to learn that, after ā€œretirementā€ from guiding, he couldnā€™t even afford to get back on the river! It would seem that your friend did the responsible thing and did not buy things out of his budget.

Whatā€™s more, there seems something inherently virtuous about borrowing in our world of over-consumption and ecological crisis. Rafts are manufactured from a toxic cocktail of chemicals; it’s hard to justify purchasing one that is going to sit in a garage 50 weeks out of the year.

Lastly, was your friend obliged to keep you posted on the status of his retirement investments over the year? I think not.

And yet. You not only chose to invest in fun and adventureā€”you freely lent your toys to someone in need. It doesnā€™t seem fair. Loaner, you would be perfectly within your rights to simply tell your friend in the future that youā€™d prefer not to lend your boat anymore. You donā€™t even need to supply a reason.

Before you do, Iā€™d recommend that you think deeply about why you have been so generous in the past. Was it because you simply wanted your friend to enjoy the river? Or were there murkier waters? For example, did you enjoy the regular reminder that you were more financially successful than your friend? Hereā€™s a useful thought experiment: what if a similar friend who lived close to the bone asked to borrow your gear, and yet you knew that he had a massive trust fund. Would it feel wrong to give to someone who clearly did not need it? Charity is slippery. Sometimes we give out of true empathy, but sometimes we give to feel good about ourselves, or even simply to give others the impression that we are generous. After all what is more benevolent: a tycoon who gives a million dollars which is a small fraction of his fortune, or a homeless person who gives you his last dollar?

Iā€™d say that whatā€™s more important than the boat here is the friendship, and you donā€™t want the oar frame to become a proxy battleground for unspoken resentments. Probably whatā€™s bestā€”though not easiestā€”is before the next spring runoff is that you take your friend for a beer or a walk, and talk this through, not so much the specifics of the loaning, but your deeper values around money, spending, and savings. There is a good reason that people are reluctant to talk about moneyā€”thereā€™s a lot of shame both in having too much and having too little. Talking about it will likely make the friendship stronger.

In a recent column, Sundog weighed in on collecting rocks on public lands. One experienced reader suggested that we consider what it is that the rocks want, a position so unexpected and delightful that Sundog wishes heā€™d come up with it first:

As a field biologist who would like to be a geologist in another life, I enjoyed your reflection. Whenever I have traveledā€”like your wifeā€”I return with a rock. Well, perhaps more than one. And my garden is littered with these rocks. There are flakes from Vegas mixed with flakes from the Rift Valley. Maybe I thought they could have a conversation.

I too covet rocks. So now, before I take, I ask the rock: ā€œAre you doing a job?ā€ Ā I am always answered. ā€œMy job is to be a part of this hillsideā€ or ā€œMy job is to make a striking statement for those who will pass by.ā€ Or ā€œI am here to be found by a child and painted.ā€ Ā But sometimes they will say, ā€œI am not doing any meaningful work and have no special purpose, in fact I just find myself with nothing to do that is good for any creature, any rock, or rock bank.ā€ I take those to the rock wall I am building. And they are appreciated regularly. Not that they need that. But I am grateful that they are part of my world and there is something to be said for gratitude.

Still, when my husband and I travel we say to each other: just one! Last trip resulted in one very small piece of bubbly chalcedony. ā€”Robbin

Mark Sundeen, aka Sundog, has been borrowing other peopleā€™s rafts since as far back as the 90s. When doing so, itā€™s a good idea to pay forward the generosity.

Got a question of your own? Mad as hell about something Sundog wrote? Send a note to: sundogsalmanac@hotmail.com.

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The zigzagging route to the top of the South Peak of Seneca Rocksā€”the high point on a 900-foot-tall ridge of Tuscarora quartzite shaped like fins on a dragonā€™s backā€”was the most challenging climb I have ever done. Vertical rock faces were interspersed by grassy traverses where we had to coil and half-carry our ropes, and I was building anchors and setting protection for the first time.

Though moderate in difficulty, the four-pitch route demanded a repertoire of skills. And we were way, way up in the air.

Guess where I was? West Virginia. Iā€™ve long come to the Mountain State to push myself, where you’ll find some of the best adventures east of the Mississippi, holding its own with better-known Eastern destinations such as Vermont and North Carolina for scenery, trails, and general badassery.

From to the big rapids of the Gauley River to the World Cup downhill-mountain-bike course at Snowshoe Mountain Resort, West Virginia is a wonderful and largely underappreciated outdoor destination. Over the last 20 years, Iā€™ve climbed on sandstone cliffs, skied powder dumps, and gotten lost on my mountain bike more times here than I should admit.

Now I’m going to share with you all the ways you can enjoy it, too.

What to Know Before Visiting West Virginia

West Virginia is transitioning out of an extraction-based economy and into one based on outdoor adventure and recreation. Coal was the leading industry in the state for decades; before that, it was timber. Now, itā€™s tourism. According to the stateā€™s 2023 , tourism contributed more than $7 billion to local economies, employing more than 59,000 people.

What many people don’t realize is how much public land there is in West Virginia, which boasts 36 state parks, nine state forests, one national park, and the 920,000-acre Monongahela National Forest. The vast majority of that land is concentrated in the Allegheny Mountains, which define the eastern side of the state. The mountains arenā€™t especially high (Spruce Knob is the tallest, at 4,863 feet), but they are steep and wild, loaded with sandstone outcroppings and dense hardwood and spruce forests.

The state is within a dayā€™s drive of many large regional cities (Washington, D.C. is about 177 miles east; Baltimore 210 miles east; and Cincinnati 365 miles west), so the most popular spots can be crowded on weekends. If youā€™re looking to raft in New River Gorge National Park during the summer or to ski at Snowshoe Mountain Resort in winter, book your trips a couple of months in advance. Otherwise you probably wonā€™t find too many visitors, at least not compared to other outdoor destinations in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic.

The Best ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶųs in West Virginia

Mountain Biking

I was first lured into West Virginia for its mountain biking, and the trails seem to get better every year. Seventy miles southeast of Morgantown, in the high-elevation and ring of surrounding mountains, more than 100 miles of single track pass through an array of public lands, from state parks to wildlife refuges and national forest. Much of the trail system is connected, so you can create big, all-day rides around the central town of .

The eight-mile point-to-point runs through the heart of the valley, with numerous connections for potential loops. Itā€™s a technical mix of rocks and bogsā€”classic old-school West Virginia mountain biking. The mile-long , east of downtown Davis, is fun and flowy for beginners and can become part of a longer ride when added to local favorites like Splash Down and , with its unusually long rock garden. in Davis has beta, bike rentals (from $50 a day), and shuttles (contact the shop for prices).

, 90 miles south of the Canaan Valley, has an extensive bike park and one of the largest trail systems in the East, combining lift-served terrain and backcountry single track. The has hosted UCI World Cup events, so even top mountain bikers can find a challenge, but the 40-trail package also contains plenty of green-level berms and rollers (lift tickets from $45).

If youā€™re not looking for gnarly single track, consider the , an old railroad bed converted into an essentially flat, 78-mile linear park from Cass to Lewisburg, with a crushed-limestone path hugging the side of the stream. Thanks to 14 trailside campsites, you can tackle the route over several days. can help with logistics (from $85).

Hiking

West Virginia recently introduced the , where you can chase 43 different cascades scattered around the state. Some of the waterfalls come at the end of long hikes, while others only require short jaunts from the trailhead. Download the mobile passport for details on different falls, and check in as you find eachā€”20 visits gets you a T-shirt; see all the falls, and you receive a limited-edition letterpress print. , which drops 57 feet in a curtain over a sandstone cliff in Blackwater River Canyon, is one of the trail highlights.

The 18,000-acre , 17 miles northeast of Canaan Valley, protects a high-elevation plateau with rocky outcroppings, remote creeks, and flora such as red spruce and heath barrensā€”plant life more typical of southern Canada than southern Appalachia. Itā€™s a bucket-list romp for backpackers and day hikers. is the classic Dolly Sods summer adventure, a 12.3-mile out-and-back full of sandstone boulders, swimming holes, and meadows that in August are loaded with blueberries.

The , a 25-mile point-to-point that traces the craggy ridge of North Fork Mountain within the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, offers nearly continuous views of the pastoral valley below. I once hiked it during the winter and was mesmerized watching peregrine falcons circling just off the pinnacles. You donā€™t have to hike the whole trail to enjoy it, though. From the northern trailhead, hike the 5.2-mile out-and-back to Chimney Top, a large sandstone outcropping that juts out from the ridge with a view of North Fork Mountainā€™s silhouette.

, near Morgantown, has 50 miles of trails through boulder fields that offer the occasional view of the Cheat River Gorge below. The 1.4-mile is an easy walk through rhododendron tunnels to a moss-covered rocky field. For the big river view, hike the 2.4-mile out-and-back to Ravens Rock Overlook, where you can stare straight down into the heart of the gorge.

New River Gorge National Park is best known for its climbing and whitewater rafting, but donā€™t miss the hiking. is a three-mile out-and-back through a hardwood forest to an overlook with the best view anywhere of the New River Gorge Bridge. The five-mile out-and-back Endless Wall Trail is a bit more involved, crossing a small creek (narrow enough to hop over) and then traversing the canyon rim for 2.5 miles. Youā€™ll pop in and out of the woods, with views of the river 1,000 feet below from the cliffā€™s edge. You may see climbers working their way up the rock walls. For something a little shorter and still plenty great, an outcropping named has an incredible view of the gorge and makes for a good two-mile out-and-back from Fern Creek Trailhead.

Skiing

is the biggest such operation in the state, with 244 skiable acres, mostly accessed from a mountaintop village. The skiing is legit, thanks to the 1,500-foot vertical drop and consistent snow every winter. Shayā€™s Revenge and Cupp Run are twin black-diamond runs that drop off the western face of the mountain; expect steep pitches and lots of bumps.

Canaan Valley is home to two downhill resorts (one also named Canaan Valley) and a cross-country ski center. Canaan gets most of its powder from lake-effect storms, and the consistent snow has encouraged a vibrant ski culture. is the bigger of the local lift-served options, with steep fall-line groomers and hidden stashes of glades. A six-person chair facilitates fast top-to-bottom laps, or stick to the mid-mountain quad for its glade runs. The aprĆØs scene is the best in the state.

No trip to Canaan Valley is complete without a cross-country day at . More than 50 kilometers of groomed trails meander up and around Weiss Knob, West Virginiaā€™s first ski hill (established 1959). There is a nice skate-skiing track, but cross-country skiing here is mainly about going up and down, finding tree stashes, and making the most of the 1,200 vertical feet of gain.

Rock Climbing

The New River Gorge is one of the top climbing destinations in the East, with thousands of established routes throughout the canyon. Its hard sandstone cliffs rise 40 to 150 feet, and youā€™ll find everything from beginner-friendly top-rope options to multi-pitch lines and sport test pieces. Head to Bridge Buttress for mellow top-rope routes like , a 5.7 up a dihedral (corner), the perfect introduction to climbing in the area.

Iā€™ve taken climbing courses and gone on guided climbs with , and its staff always put me on good routes for my ability and goals.

Some 150 miles north is Seneca Rocks, loaded with multi-pitch routes that take on an adventurous flare with scrambling and hiking between roped sections. During World War II, the famous Tenth Mountain Division trained at Seneca Rocks for deployment in the mountains of Italy. (5.4) is a two-pitch classic that finishes on the very exposed fin of the South Peak with 360-degree views of the valley and greater Seneca Rocks-Spruce Knob National Recreation Area.

If you really want to learn the art of climbing, check out the three-day traditional climbing clinic with . I took this course several years ago, and learned everything from tying the standard figure-eight knot to setting my own anchors.

Rafting

West Virginia has a trio of rivers that offer big-water rafting, with high-volume runs similar to what youā€™ll find in the western U.S. The New River is the most accessible, thanks to the bevy of raft guides operating out of Fayetteville and the family-friendly Class IIIā€“IV rapids. The eight-plus-mile has the most action, with countless wave trains, various Class III drops, and two Class IV+ rapids.

The Cheat River has a thrilling through a deep canyon that drops 50 feet per mile, juicing the experience with more than 40 Class IIIā€“V rapids. The river is not dammed, so the run is dependent on precipitation and usually only viable in the spring.

The ultimate whitewater adventure is running the Gauley, a dam-controlled river in central West Virginia, during Gauley Season. Over the course of six weekends every autumnā€”this year starting September 6ā€”controlled releases create a choice 24-mile stretch of whitewater that draws pro kayakers and recreational boaters alike.

The gathering grounds are in the area, just north of the put-in, which maintains a festival-like atmosphere, and at nearby campgrounds. The 11-mile is considered one of the most high-adrenaline commercial rafting trips in the country, with one rapid stretching for a continuous mile and five Class Vā€™s, including a 14-foot waterfall. The 13-mile Lower Gauley also has its share of Class V water, but with calm stretches between the action, and most of its whitewater rolls along as relatively carefree wave trains.

Lake Activities

Summersville Lake, 20 miles north of Fayetteville, spans 2,700 acres and is the stateā€™s largest body of water. Itā€™s been dubbed Little Bahamas for its clear blue water. Sandstone cliffs encircle much of the lake, making it a particularly beautiful place to boat or fish for smallmouth bass. Around the area are various excellent cliffs for climbing.

Paddle the mile from the Salmon Run Boat Launch to Pirateā€™s Cove, an inlet hemmed in by overhanging sandstone cliffs, where a waterfall tumbles directly into the water. has paddleboard rentals and guided trips (from $65 for two hours). Or check out the new Summersville Lake State Park, which occupies 177 acres on the northern shore. Eventual infrastructure will include campsites, cabins, and a robust trail system for hiking and biking. Right now you can hike a 0.7-mile trail to the Pirateā€™s Cove area.

The Best ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Towns in West Virginia

Fayetteville

Located on the outskirts of the New River Gorge, the historic city of Fayetteville has attracted climbers and paddlers for decades. Now that the New has been designated a national park, the rest of the world has discovered the magnificence of this little town. The downtown is laid out in a square, with a picturesque courthouse surrounded by shops and restaurants. has the gear and beta you need to make the most of your rec time in the gorge. Grab breakfast or lunch to go at , located in a small former church. In the evening, you can find pizza, salad, and beer at the lively .

Davis

Davis, in Canaan Valley, might be the perfect small mountain town. Itā€™s only a few blocks wide, but full of good food, and it has a bike shop and immediate access to mountain-biking and hiking trails. Blackwater Falls State Park is on the edge of town, and Canaan Valley State Park is just ten miles south. Both downhill skiing and cross-country skiing are also only ten miles away. Get the Gendarme burrito at and pizza and beer at .

Morgantown

Home to West Virginia University, Morgantown has a fun college-town vibe, but itā€™s also a great base camp for exploring Coopers Rock State Forest and the Cheat River Canyon. The wide, slow Monongahela River passes through town, with five miles of along its banks. is the go-to outdoor shop, with gear and accessories for all adventures, and makes some of my favorite beers in West Virginia. Its Almost Heaven Amber goes down easy after a day on the trails.

Where to Stay in West Virginia

Snowshoe Mountain Resort has all sorts of on-and-off mountain lodging to fit almost any budget (management has even let me sleep in my trailer in the parking lot behind the affordable Snowshoe Mountain Inn). has the nicest digs, and rooms are across the street from the expert terrain of the ski areaā€™s Western Territory (from $99).

To explore Davis and the Canaan Valley, book into the ten-room , which has a retro vibe and a happening evening cocktail hour (from $100).

, a complex just outside Fayetteville, has everything from inexpensive tent sites to luxury cabins. Most accommodations are scattered around a 350-acre campus complete with restaurants, lawn games, a swimming pool, and views of the New River Gorge (covered platform tent sites from $49).

And donā€™t overlook West Virginiaā€™s entire state-parks system; a $200 million renovation project is wrapping up that has improved every single . The is particularly enticing, with just 54 rooms and a back patio that stares straight down into the river gorge below (from $156).

Best Time to Visit West Virginia

Spring

Spring is the sleeper season. Temperatures can still be chilly in March and April, but the crowds are thin, so you can get good deals on lodging and guided trips to popular destinations like New River Gorge National Park. If you show up in early March, you could still enjoy lift skiing at Snowshoe, which typically has the latest closing date among resorts in the state. Hardwood leaves will bud in early April, and the forest typically reaches a full, lush canopy by the middle of the month. May is a great month to hit the state because the temperature is rising but school is still in session so families arenā€™t traveling yet. The leaves are fully back and, after the gray and leafless winter, everything is green again.

Summer

I think summer is the best time to visit West Virginia, but Iā€™m a sucker for swimming holes, lakes, and whitewater rapids. Youā€™ll be cooler in the mountains than on the flats, though even there it can get hot and muggy. New River Gorge National Park will be crowded in summer, but you could have most of the other destinations in this article to yourself.

Fall

Aside from some stands of evergreens scattered throughout its highest peaks, for the most part, the mountains of West Virginia are covered in hardwoods, which means autumn is spectacular. Look for the groves of maple trees, which locals . Fall is also the famous , when, for six consecutive weekends, water from Summersville Lake is released into the Gauley River, creating one of the countryā€™s most beloved annual events for whitewater enthusiasts. Keep an eye out for , on October 19 this year, when thousands of people converge on Fayetteville to watch BASE jumpers leap from the New River Gorge Bridge, the third-highest bridge in the U.S. at 876 feet.

Winter

You might not expect a vibrant snow-sports scene in the southern Appalachians, but West Virginia isnā€™t called the Mountain State for nothing. Storms generated to the north on the Great Lakes deliver plenty of powder (annual snowfall at Snowshoe Mountain Resort averages over 150 inches a year), and five downhill resorts and one cross-country ski center soak it up. Those centers are located across a band of mountains in Pocahontas and Tucker Counties, along the eastern edge of the state.

The rest of West Virginia experiences pretty mild winters, without much snow at all. New River Gorge National Park has temperate winters with reduced crowds, making it an ideal time to bike and hike.

Graham Averill is ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų magazineā€™s national parks columnist. He considers moving to West Virginia permanently after every trip.

For more by this author, see:

The 10 Best National Parks in Canada

The Ultimate Guide to Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway

The 9 Most Fun ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Lodges in North America

The post The Best Ways to Get ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų in West Virginia appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

Dear Sundog: A few years ago I bought a groover for river trips, thinking it a necessary bit of group gear. My river friends didnā€™t own one, and we always had to scramble to borrow/rent/steal one for each trip. It was expensive, like $400, once I got the accompanying seat and rocket boxes that fit into my rowing frame, but I didnā€™t mind as I thought it would make me the ā€œgood guyā€ who supplied something essential for our trips.

But now that Iā€™m the proud owner of a self-contained portable toilet, I find that Iā€™m just expected to carry it on my raft, unload and set it up each night, then break it down and load it back onto my boat each morning. In the past, when we rented a groover, we all took turns setting it up and carrying it. Itā€™s not that big of a deal, but then, they start to stink after a few days, and now itā€™s a feature of EVERY trip I do.

Whatā€™s more, at the end of the trips, no one has ever offered to empty/clean it for me, so now Iā€™m always stuck with that delightful bit of scrubbery at the Maverick truck stop. The thing feels like an albatross and Iā€™m tired of hauling all my friendsā€™ shit. Should I just tell them I donā€™t have it anymore and let them figure it out on their own? ā€”Antagonized Shit ServantĀ 

Dear A.S.S.: As a retired Water Sports Team Associate (aka ā€œriver guideā€) I can see at least two sides of this conundrum. On the one, having dumped and scrubbed dozens of boxes of human excrement in my day, I can attest that itā€™s really not as bad as it sounds. As with most jobs, once you accept it as your lot in life, it becomes kind of … normal. On the other hand, any chore done with the esprit de corps of an expedition, with everyone pulling their own weight, devolves to a bummer when youā€™re the one stuck doing it every time. Your generous purchase for your friendsā€™ enjoyment seems to prove the adage that no good deed goes unpunished.

Youā€™ll have to take a hard line with your buds: request some volunteers to deal with the mess before the trip begins. If no one steps up, then your groover can call in sick, and the group can scramble to rent something. In this heady age of technological wonders one after the next gleefully promising to make your life easier, there is not yet, to Sundogā€™s knowledge an app or a bot that solves the age-old dilemma of disposing of feces. However with the surge of COVID-era newcomers to the sport of rafting (if you can call all-day bouts of beer drinking a ā€œsportā€) there has emerged a new service that Sundog has sampled and hardily recommend: toilet rentals which include the cleaning. In this new-fangled scenario, all party members pitch in 20 bucks or so, people share the duties, and at the end you just drop the hot pot on someone elseā€™s doorstep.

Readers respond: Should a woman go on a river trip with a guy she didn’t want to sleep with?

As one of the early female outdoor adventurers, I would tell her this: If you are not already sleeping with a fellow adventurer, always bring your own tent and make it clear from the beginning that is where you are sleeping alone. Always. It sends a clear signal from the beginning. Itā€™s easier to move in if you become interested than it is to move out. If itā€™s an adventure worth going on, you need the sleep. And if you are competent to go on an adventure, you can carry your own damn tent.

Maybe it is just where I live. It’s expected here to have sex after meeting for a hot tea at White Castle fast food restaurant. I can’t imagine being with a guy for 14 nights without sex being demanded. To watch football at friendā€™s house, I had to bring my own drink or have sex. Another guy would not make eye contact at Starbucks because he was mad I would not leave and have sex. I have not tried dating anywhere else.

Readers respond: Should a father teach his son to knock down cairns?

Hey Sundog, that guy who goes around destroying cairns is a selfish asshole! What if he kicks down a cairn, and someone gets lost and dies. You need to gow some balls and call that idiot exactly what he is, a totally self absorbed asshole!!

I so appreciated your comments on the wilderness fantasy in your cairn piece. I literally went to grad school to study history of the American West (after reading Mark David Spence’s ) just to wrap my smooth brain around the quagmire of myth and reality that is nature in America. In just a few sentences, you explained the whole sitch soĀ clearly and purposefully. I have always been a fan of your column and now am even more so!

Truth over purity.

We have thousands of Cairns here in PA and there purpose is not 100% clear. Some speculate they are some form of native American marker or maybe placed by our first settlers, or both. If it is not your property, you likely shouldn’t be modifying it one way or the other, or as little as possible with the allowed use of it.

I volunteer on an officially sanctioned trail crew in the Gila National Forest, including in the Gila wilderness along the Gila River alternate of the Continental Divide Trail. I must say that there are marked trails in the National Forest, including in wilderness areas, and in some cases we use rock cairns because traditional signs won’t work in some spots due to terrain.

In your article it sounded like you were saying it is OK to knock down cairns in National Forest or wilderness areas. I disagree. These cairns may serve the same purpose as they do in a National Park and can really help to keep people on the main trail.

In fact, in our area, where I hike extensively, I don’t recall ever seeing cairns that were not intended to mark a main trail or trail junction.

Sometimes they are a spiritual expression of presence.

Got a question of your own? Send it toĀ sundogsalmanac@hotmail.com

The post My Friends Wonā€™t Clean My Groover. Should I Stop Bringing It? appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

Government-sponsored time off only comes around a few days a year. Labor Day weekend is an opportunity to get outside, hike a lot, see some friends, hear some music,Ģżand then sleep in on Monday, to hell with Slack. Festivals are a great way to cram a lot into these three sacred, carefree days.

Iā€™ve covered dozens of festivals over the past decade, and rounded up some of the best, all with great outdoor access, to help you make the most of your long weekend.

1. Bumbershoot, Seattle, Washington

As large corporations gobble up major festivals, itā€™s not easy to maintain an event as art-forward, experimental, and strident as , but the Seattle institution hopes it has finally found the right formula. After a four-year hiatus, the decades-old Bumbershoot is relaunching with a lineup of local starsā€”like Sleater Kinney, Band of Horses, and Dave Bā€”whoā€™ve made it big. The new fest promises a return to its early creativity and chaos: you will be able to pole dance, roller skate, wrestle, extreme pogo-stick, and explore immersive art.

Bumbershoot is an urban festival, but Seattle is spitting distance from Snow Lake, Mount Si, and the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Both Snow Lake and Mount Si have trails through jagged mountain peaks and tall pines, while the six-mile out-and-back wraps around a lake. For a more kid-friendly or relaxing outing, walk along the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk, a four-mile elevated path that crosses over the top of Nisquallyā€™s tidal flats, allowing seals, sea ducks, salmon, otters and minks to live peacefully underneath.

2. U.S. National Whitewater Center Labor Day Celebration, Charlotte, North Carolina

The is a one-stop shop for outdoor adventure. On the schedule are a 5K and a 15K trail race, stand-up paddleboard yoga, and a Dry Tri with mountain biking, trail running, and kayaking or paddleboarding on the Catawba River. For $75, you can buy an All Access Activity Pass that gets you into the U.S. National Whitewater Centerā€™s renowned river rapids as well as onto the parkā€™s climbing walls, bouldering routes, and ropes courses.

Evenings bring performances by Amanda Anne Platt, and one of my personal favorite indie Americana bands, The Lone Bellow. (The bandā€™s earnest 2013 ballad ā€œBleeding Outā€ got me through high-school drama.)

Not many hikes on the Whitewater Centerā€™s 1,300 acres are longer than a few miles, but Crowders Mountain State Park offers more. Head up to Kingā€™s Pinnacle, one of the two summits in the parkā€™s 5,200 acres, via the four-mile Pinnacle Trail, which involves some rock scrambling.

3. Southern Decadence, New Orleans, Louisiana

, a raucous parade that rolls through the French Quarter, is one of New Orleansā€™ biggest pride events. Think Mardi Gras but with a little more drag and a lot more leather. I like to watch it all unfold on Frenchman Street, home to some of the cityā€™s great music clubs and close to its LGBTQ+ bars.

New Orleans, however, is not just an overblown party destination. Walk even half a mile out of the French Quarter and youā€™ll see flowering vines engulfing buildings and oak-lined avenues leading to stellar parks, the biggest of which is City Park. Just 15 minutes from downtown is the Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge, the countryā€™s largest urban National Wildlife refuge. Its marshland is excellent for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and, with over 340 species of birds, birdwatching. The Joe Madere Marsh Overlook has a picnic pavilion and a boat launch.

4. Marshall County Blueberry Festival, Plymouth, Indiana

Half a million people turn out for the to celebrate what happens to be my favorite trail snack. About two hours from both Chicago and Indianapolis, hundreds of craft and food booths fill the townā€™s Centennial Park with blueberry everythingā€”ice cream, cheesecake, smoothies, sausage, and multiple varieties of blueberry beer. (The blueberry donuts are, reportedly, a fan favorite.) This is the most classic Labor Day celebration on our list, with a parade, a carnival, and recreational sports tournaments including pickleball and tractor pulling. It also has fun runs, a bike cruise, and a benefit lake swim.

Plymouth is only an hour from Indiana Dunes National Park, on the banks of Lake Michigan. The parkā€™s best-known hike is probably its 3 Dune Challenge: 552 feet of vertical gain over just 1.5 miles, all in the sand. If youā€™d rather be able to walk the next day, try the . At nearly six miles, itā€™s longer, but far less steep, and includes a nice walk along the beach.

5. Mount Snow Brewers Festival, Dover, Vermont

If there is anything I learned working as a ski instructor in Vermont, itā€™s that the best days here involve going to the top of a mountain, coming back down, and then drinking beer as the sun sets. (Well, I prefer cider, but you get the idea.) The serves a smattering of craft beers from the famous Vermont and New England craft-brewing scenes.

Local bands will supply music, and local restaurants will serve beer-appropriate foods. The festival puts you at the base of Mount Snow, a ski area whose trails are busy hiking and mountain-biking paths in the summer. You can easily spend the afternoon before the festival hiking to the top of 3,600-foot Mount Snow, with its view of Snow Lake.

6. Dancefestopia, La Cygne, Kansas

In most ways, Dancefestopia is your standard EDM festival. It has a whimsical, Wizard of Oz theme, big-name DJs, and dizzying lights and lasers. But it takes place at what is otherwise a lakeside outdoor-education camp, with all of the log cabins and activities thereof. An activity pass buys you access to the campā€™s climbing wall as well as fishing and canoeing.

For more of that tree-lined Kansas beauty, check out the further shores of La Cygne Lake and the Marais des Cygne Wildlife Area. You can pick up a fishing license at the

7. Austin Free Day of Yoga, Austin, Texas

In 2019, ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų magazine declared Austin one of the ā€œWorldā€™s Dreamiest Spots for Outdoor Yoga.ā€ On Labor Day, you can live that dream for . A coalition of local studios and instructors will offer over 30 free classes, both indoors and out, across the city. Thereā€™s Qigong at the Austin Bouldering Project, Kundalini at the Waterloo Greenway, and at least one class billed as a party, the Sukha revival.

With the rest of your time, this Texan (I grew up in the greater Houston area) encourages you to indulge in a little Texas cliche. Order some Tex-Mex, or maybe a burger at Clarkā€™s, then head to one of the area’s swimming holes.

8. The Best in the West Nugget Rib Cookoff, Sparks, Nevada

Let me save you some confusion. Contrary to what the name suggests, Nugget is not a type of a rib, but the name of the casino sponsoring this extravagant barbecue competition. is a big deal in the rib world, and 250,000 pounds of meat will be seasoned and sauced in pursuit of festival glory.

Build up an appetite before you go with a visit to the Truckee River Whitewater Park, where you can kayak over class two and three rapids in the middle of Sparks. Or leave the city and drive 45 minutes south to Lake Tahoe. You can get on a section of the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail at the Tahoe Meadows Trailhead, near Incline Village. Another popular trail is the wheelchair-accessible 1.3-mile Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Loop through the wildflower-laden Tahoe Meadows.

9. Caveman Music Festival, Weston, Colorado

Camping at music festivals usually falls somewhere between the glamping of Coachella; the dusty, trippy party tents of Burning Man; and sleeping in your car. , on the other hand, has real tent camping on its shores and fields. It all goes down at Coloradoā€™s Monument Lake Resort, where you can fish for trout, kayak, canoe, and hike in between performances. The music here is Americana, headlined by JJ Grey & Mofro, Shane Smith & The Saints, and Dawes.

The resort is in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, with a multitude of beautiful hikes. Seasoned hikers can ascend the eight-mile near La Veta, Colorado, for some of the best views in the region. Find out about more trails

Emily Carmichael is a writer, editor, and former ski instructor based in Brooklyn who has covered music festivals since her college days in New Orleans.

The post 9 Great Outdoor Labor Day Festivals for Music and Fun appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

Alex Kim told his story to producer Lucy Little for an episode of The Daily Rally podcast. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Essentially someone was telling me that their privilege has led them to where they are today. It’s hard to hear that from someone when you’re like, “Hey, I just wanted to know, what did you do to get to where you are?” And someone’s response is like, “It took 15 years, took a master’s degree. It took me being at summer camp and doing all these things.” And I was like, “You know, it’s crazy because when you were at summer camp, I had to stay at home and translate papers for my parents because they didn’t speak English.” We had different ways of growing up, and this person just couldn’t see that.

My pronouns are he/him. Some of my passions include being outside and just not doing any activities, just sitting on some grass or on some rocks and just looking around.

I focus a lot of my time on photography and representation of people, all types of people, and if I’m not outside, just hanging out, I’m normally in the kitchen cooking food. One of my favorite foods to make is kimchi jjigae.

I’m located in Missoula, Montana. I am the founder and director of Here Montana, an outdoor program focused on joy, community, education, and engagement for the BIPOC community in the state of Montana.

We work with youth and adults year round. We do everything from backpacking, climbing, to snowboarding, skiing, bike packing, and rafting. We make sure that there’s representation in every level.

We just want to make sure that people feel not only that they’re seen, but that they have someone that they can relate to. We want people to experience the outdoors in a way where they feel empowered and like they have the tools necessary to get out there on their own, and to celebrate their identities and communities, however they would like to do that.

I grew up in Maryland. I would say my outdoor experience as a child was very minimal. When I was really young, I think I played outside as much as I could, but it really looked like city parks and running around this sand pit that they used for salting the roads. They would have these huge sand dunes, and we would go back there and run around and try to jump our bikes and just be outside.

My parents are from Korea. Being immigrants, they really wanted me to focus on creating a life for myself, and in that lens of my parents, that was really focusing on education. Off the bat, I was a terrible student, just had a really hard time focusing.

But where I thrived was being outside. I was calm, I felt very connected. I felt like all the million things that were going through my head really settled down. Some days, I just was like, “I’m not gonna go today because it’s not working for me, but you know what is working for me is wandering around in the trees somewhere.”

One of the bigger hardships that I faced was my own acceptance of myself and my own duality and identity of like, What am I doing? Am I going to go back to like what my culture and social norms of my family are encouraging me to do? Or am I gonna completely flip over and do something else? And I was already flipped over, I was already doing something else.

I wanted to ground myself again, just like I did as a kid. And where I felt the most comfortable was being outside. And so after working for a couple years, I left on this road trip. I headed down South to Florida, and then cut over West. I didn’t know it was gonna take nine months.

I arrived in Montana in December. It was the winter, I had never seen snow like that before in my life. I remember seeing kids line up at the school bus line and there was two feet of snow. So all I saw was just like these beanies. I remember growing up in Maryland when it’s like two inches of snow and school is closed, and I was like, These people are hardcore out here.

And when I got out there, the adversity was just immediate, just with the weather itself. So I was like, What does it take to thrive living in a place like Montana?

I think one of the things that really stuck with me when I arrived in Missoula was visually not seeing a lot of people that look like myself, or that look like people that I could really connect with. Especially through the lens of being an Asian American and growing up somewhere where it was super diverse, and I was very connected to the Korean-American community, I felt very alone. I felt like I didn’t have support systems. And not having that really made me recognize how lonely it can be living in certain parts of the country.

The outdoors is very centric to our identities as Montanans. But yet, when it comes to marketing and opportunities, I think we really see a lack of effort in inviting people of different backgrounds to join the conversation or to be a part of a sport.

Here Montana was something that I thought would be really fun to do, back in late 2018, 2019. In Montana, the conversation of diversity was not necessarily around. I think a big challenge that I faced was validating why it was important to have a space for people of color living in rural states.

The city government wanted to support us, but I think the infrastructure and the leadership just didn’t have the lens to have that understanding. We still don’t have a lot of diversity in our city government. And if we don’t see that representation, then the laws and policies that are passed are not aligning with people that need those changes to be made, because there’s no one in power that can relate. So why should they care?

The pushback was just all the way through. I had asked someone, “Hey, how do you get to become where you’re at? Running these programs for the city, you’re doing all this work. How did you do that?” And the response I got was, “You didn’t get to do this when you were 14 years old like me, so you won’t be able to do this, you’re not gonna be here.” My jaw dropped because, as a leader, that’s not a great way to lead people.

That really impacted me in a deep way of A) wanting to prove them wrong, and B) it’s not about the time, it’s just more about if you can be the person that you need to be and get the training that you need to just do it. My interaction with that person really encouraged me to be better and to do better for my community.

One of the most impactful moments I’ve had working with Here Montana is on a rafting trip.We had three boats, there were people from all over our community, and I had this boat with a kid and his dad and his brother. And I remember telling this kid, “Hey, do you want to jump up and row the boat a little bit and see what it feels like?” And he jumped up there and rode the boat and was like, “This is really cool.” And I remember him looking at his dad and saying, “I don’t want to go to school if this is a job. I just want to do this for work.”

And there was something in me that just connected with this kid from when I was that age. And I’d wish that I had had that opportunity and I feel even better that I was able to help facilitate something that’s thought provoking for this kid, to recognize that the opportunities for him are endless.

What was even more amazing was, his dad looked over to me and was like, “This is your job, you’re doing this?” And I was like, “Yeah, this is my job. This is what I do.” And he just looked at his kid and he was like, “Yeah, you don’t have to go to school. If you work hard, you can do something like this and just be outside all day.” And his kid was stoked and was like, “Whoa, I could do this.”

I felt like, Oh, wow, I remember feeling like I had nothing to look forward to in my life, and then just being outside one day and I was like, This looks like a place that I could thrive and be at. I felt so much joy from that family, but also just a lot of internal joy myself of just feeling like all this work and working through these different things, impacting someone like that and hopefully changing how they perceive the outdoorsā€¦it was magical for sure.

We choose to let joy be the gateway to people being outside. Having a place where people can experience joy, unconditional joy, it’s just become such an important factor for this program. The reason why a lot of people come is because they don’t have to worry about being in a situation they might feel uncomfortable in, they can do it together as a community. Or if they don’t know something and they want to learn from someone that may have relatable experiences, they can find that there.

The name Here Montana came from just wanting people to understand that there have always been communities of color here and there always will be. Just taking our stake here, just saying that we’re here, we live here, we’re a part of this community,
We exist and it’s important that we’re here.

Alex Kim is an adventurer outdoor leader, photographer, and the founder and director of . Check them out on social media . You can see Alex’s photography on Instagram .

You can followĀ The Daily RallyĢż“Ē²ŌĢż,Ģż, or wherever you like to listen. and to be featured on the show.

The post Alex Kim Wants Montana to Know Heā€™s Here appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

Your dog loves to do stuff with you. But there are some adventures you simply ²õ³ó“Ē³Ü±ō»å²Ōā€™t do with your pup. Hereā€™s how to make the tough decision to leave your furry friend behind, and how to ensure they have the best experience when theyā€™re not able to come along.

ā€œI tell people youā€™ve got to learn [to speak] dog,ā€ explains , a prominent dog behavior scientist and author. Bekoffā€™s latest book, , turns cutting edge science into practical information readers can use to create a better relationship with their best friends. ā€œBecome fluent in dog,ā€ Bekoff continues. ā€œLearning what their behavior patterns and body language mean is key to being a good owner.ā€

Here are six adventure-driven situations Bekoff says you should never put your dog in outside. Plus, the best possible alternative, if you need to switch to plan B. (And here’s the ultimate dog first-aid kit every pup owner should have on hand, just in case.)

Extreme Temperatures

Dogā€™s arenā€™t able to cool themselves as efficiently as humans. So, even temperatures that you may find comfortable could be putting your dogā€™s safety at risk.

A found that on average, over the course of a 24 hour period, the temperatures experienced by dogs were 1.3 degrees warmer than those experienced by their owners. The study suggests that environmental factors tend to expose dogs to more heat than is experienced by humans. Clothing, shade, and other comforts we take for granted may not be as accessible to our canine friends, even when we share the same spaces.

Itā€™s hard to put an exact number on the ambient temperature where risks begin. Environmental conditions like humidity, direct sun exposure, and the types of surface a dog walks on all play a role, as do the dogā€™s size, age, physical condition, coat, and ability to breathe. One veterinary practice in the United Kingdom says threats to very old, sick, or brachycephalic breeds begin at . are currently en vogue, and the French Bulldog is the .

Owners of healthy dogs should also exercise caution, even in moderate temperatures. If exposed to direct sunlight for several hours, pavement can reach temperatures of 125 degrees even if itā€™s only 75 degrees out. Thatā€™s .

The risk all of us are hopefully aware is, of course, hot cars. Again in 75 degree temperatures, a carā€™s interior can reach deadly temperatures in as little as half an hour. When itā€™s even hotter out, a carā€™s interior or a pickupā€™s capped bed can become deadly hot in just a few minutes.

A dog enters heat stroke when its internal temperature reaches 105.8 degrees. Mild cases may result in lethargy and weakness, while more serious effects can be seizure, coma, organ failure, brain damage, and death.

Monitor your dog for signs of hot skin, excessive panting, disorientation, bright red gums, vomiting, or diarrhea. If you believe your dog may be overheating, move them to a cool indoor space, provide access to cool water, and wet them with a wet towel or hose. Do not rely only on fans or shade. Since dogā€™s donā€™t sweat like we do, theyā€™re unable to cool themselves through evaporation. If your dogā€™s condition does not improve immediately, get them to a vet.

All of these risks can compound outdoors, where air-conditioned indoor spaces and water may not be immediately accessible.

Cold temperatures also bring hazards, and can be hard to define a safe limit for. A short coated brachycephalic, old, or sick dog may become uncomfortable in above freezing temperatures. A healthy husky, or similar cold-adapted breed, may feel right at home in sub-zero conditions.

Monitor your dog for shivering, weakness, stiffness, difficulty walking, pale gums, confusion, shallow breathing, and unconsciousness. Be aware that exposed extremities, even on dogs with thick coats, may be subject to frostbite.

Insulated dog coats and booties can help. In addition to outright levels of insulation, itā€™s important that any clothing covers as much of the dogā€™s body as possible, and that it fits snugly.

And like heat, cold is not simply a number on a thermometer. A variety of additional factors can effect a dogā€™s comfort and safety. My Siberian husky-German shepherd mix for instance, who normally loves sub-zero temperatures, encountered sticky snow this winter that immediately caused painful ice build up between his toes, making him to lay down and refuse to continue a short walk. I had to carry him back to the cabin. Had I not been there to help him, the situation could’ve turned out badly.

When in doubt about how your dog may respond to either hot or cold temperatures, it may be safest just to leave them inside, or take them for short, leashed walks only.

“If you think itā€™s too hot or too cold for your dog, it is,ā€ Bekoff says simply.

Avalanches

Thereā€™s a couple obvious problems with bringing your dog along on a ski tour.

While you may be trained in judging avalanche risk, and travel equipped with a slope angle map, your dog has neither. And an athletic dog can quickly run onto dangerous terrain, possibly triggering an avalanche, getting themselves buried by one you avoided through careful decision making, or causing you to chase them into a place youā€™d otherwise steer clear of.

In the event that your dog is buried in snow, it may seem practical to equip them with an avalanche beacon. But, once buried, thereā€™s no way for rescuers to tell which signal may be coming from a dog or human, and that could put the life of humans at risk. Never put an avalanche beacon on your dog.

ā€œIf you think itā€™s too dangerous, then it probably is,ā€ says Bekoff. ā€œDonā€™t put your dog or yourself in danger.”

Whitewater

Just like with avalanches, taking your dog on the water can jeopardize your own safety. In the even of an accident, having to rescue your dog can cause you to engage in risky behavior.

Putting a life jacket on your dog can help. ā€œFreeing owners of the need to worry about their dogs in the water actually makes it easier for them to save their own lives,ā€ explained Mustang Survivalā€™s Lili Colby in an article ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų published last month.

But life jackets cannot eliminate risk, especially in whitewater. No matter how strong of a swimmer a dog is, large rapids may submerge a dog, and they can also become ensnared in rocks or fallen trees or strainers. Some owners tether dogs to boats to prevent them from falling out. This risks trapping them underwater in the event that craft capsizes.

ā€œJust because your dog will do it, it doesnā€™t mean theyā€™re enjoying it,ā€ says Bekoff. ā€œDogs are not adrenaline junkies.ā€ The researcher explains that dogs donā€™t necessarily enjoy engaging in risky behavior like many outdoorsy humans do. ā€œA lot of what you think brings them joy is actually scaring them.ā€

Dangerous (or Endangered) Animals

Taking your dog into the outdoors means taking it into the habitat of wild animals. Much of the time, conflict can be avoided by simply keeping your dog in control, and on leash or close to a trail or campsite. But, there are places in which your dogā€™s simple presence can have negative impacts on wildlife.

Dogs may be viewed as prey, or rivals, by predators like bears, wolves, coyotes, and all types of wild cat. Those animals may be drawn to the scent or sound of your dog, or its movements, putting the pup at risk of predation, and creating conflict with you, its human caretaker.

Dogs may also act as predators for vulnerable animals like babies of any species. And even if theyā€™re not catching and consuming something like, say, an adult deer, the deerā€™s perception of the dog as a predator may alter its behavior in potentially harmful ways. Those risks to wildlife increase in winter, when wild animals are existing on the edge of survival, and any additional calorie expenditure or exposure to conditions could be deadly.

ā€œYouā€™ve gotta respect that youā€™re living or recreating in an area thatā€™s the animalsā€™ home,ā€ says Bekoff. ā€œDonā€™t let your dogs out at night, when animals are most active. Train them to come, reliably.ā€

Bekoff also explains that the mere presence of dogs can alter animal behavior in ways that arenā€™t always obvious. ā€œDogs can change the travel patterns of these animals, which can then lead to conflict that wouldnā€™t otherwise occur,ā€ he says. That can bring wild animals into unexpected contact with each other, with humans, or prevent them from accessing food sources.

While you should always maintain control of your dog outdoors, us dog owners also need to acknowledge that there are places where itā€™s inappropriate to take a dog at all. Areas with dense predator populations, nesting grounds, and especially winter habitat, should be avoided entirely.

Long Distances

ā€œPeople think that dogs can just run and run, day in and day out,ā€ describes Bekoff. ā€œBut look at wolves, with which dogs share a common ancestor. Wolves donā€™t run all day every day, they spend most of the time resting so that theyā€™ll have enough energy when the time comes to catch food or defend their homes.ā€

While dogs can be incredible athletes, not all of them have the endurance of a sled dog. And this can be particularly true of younger dogs, which may appear to have endless amounts of energy, but can also be damaged if forced to run too far, for too long.

ā€œEspecially with young dogs that are really active, you get pad damage, nail damage, and skeletal damage,ā€ explains Bekoff.

His formula for determining an appropriate duration? ā€œIf a dog is lagging behind, or your have to urge your dog to keep up, then it’s tired,ā€ he says.

Any Situation Where Your Dog Is Unsupervised

Risks a dog faces, even in relatively mundane environments, abound. Some of them include stuff weā€™ve already covered like hot and cold weather, and wild animals. Others may include poison or choking hazards. Dogs can also easily become trapped or ensnared by fences and other infrastructure, get into fights with other dogs, or run into conflict with unfamiliar humans.

ā€œYour dog is depending on you to keep them safe,ā€ says Bekoff. ā€œIf you think you ²õ³ó“Ē³Ü±ō»å²Ōā€™t leave your dog, donā€™t leave it.ā€

Boarding for Dogs: Tips to Leave Your Pup Behind

Both Bekoff and I agree that, as much fun as it can be to take your dog along on outdoor adventures, sometimes itā€™s best to leave them behind. And often that will mean boarding your dog at a kennel.

Finding a good kennel isnā€™t as easy as getting a recommendation or reading reviews though. Your dogā€™s personality and needs are unique. So while it may require a little forward planning and action, the best way to find the right kennel for your dog is to visit several well in advance of any travel, and find one where your dog seems happiest. Any quality boarding facility will offer, if not require, an assessment, in which you and your dog get to meet the staff, tour the facilities, and interact with other guests. During this time, youā€™ll be able to determine if the kennel is adequately safe for your dog, and provides the appropriate level of activity and stimulus. The types of play and size of yard that are appropriate for a healthy, active, large dog, may not be the right fit for an old, sick, small, or brachycephalic breed.

Once you have a relationship with a good boarding facility, there are then steps you can take to make your dogā€™s stay more comfortable and less stressful.

> Bring Familiar Objects: If your dog has a favorite bed or blanket at home, take that to the kennel for any stays. Check with staff ahead of time to make sure this is allowed.

> Maintain Their Regular Feeding Schedule: Keep food and feeding routines similar to what your dog follows at home. I carefully prep my dogsā€™ unique raw diets ahead of any travel, and seal each meal inside a vacuum bag so they can easily fit in the kennelā€™s freezer, and create as little work as possible for the staff. Communicate to them your pup’s normal feeding times.

> Be Cautious About Grooming: If your dog doesnā€™t respond well to nail trimmings and bathing, do those at home before any kennel stay.

> Prioritize Exercise Pre and Post Kennel: Give your dog ample exercise before and after boarding. This will help ease entry to any stay, and relieve boredom after.

> Board Your Dogs As Housemates: If you have multiple pups, you can ask that they stay together in a shared room rather than a cage for a small additional fee.

Optimize the Drop-Off

Bekoff also says the drop-off is the most crucial part of ensuring a stress-free experience. ā€œTransportation to the place is critical,ā€ he says. ā€œGet them there as calmly as possible, and make sure theyā€™re comfortable and settled in before you leave.ā€

The post 6 Risky Outdoor Situations Dog Owners Should Avoid At All Costs appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

Itā€™s going to be a huge big-water season here in California, thanks to the snowpack, and Iā€™m excited to try river rafting with my friends. We already have a weekend trip planned to the Kern in June, but I feel like there are so many fun essentials to buy beforehand that I canā€™t find on Googleā€™s packing lists. Help?
ā€”Aspiring River Runner

Dear Aspiring: River rafting is one of the most exhilarating activities you can do, right up there with bobbing for apples, but it can also be dangerous, like shooting heroin. Iā€™ll get to the good stuff in due courseā€”but first, letā€™s have the obligatory SAFETY WARNING.

Who are you going with? Do your friends actually know what theyā€™re doing, or are they college-age hooligans, as I suspect? Or maybe youā€™ve hired a guide? Thatā€™s not a bad idea, because the Kern serves up whitewater thatā€™s as serious as it gets, so you donā€™t want to be in over your head.

Your chances of dying increase exponentially if youā€™re not wearing a life jacket. So buy a U.S. Coast Guardā€“approved Class III or V personal flotation device suitable for your weight. A legit local shop will set you right. And when youā€™re on the river, wear it. A whopping 84 percent of drownings occur because the person wasnā€™t wearing a life jacket, according to that same Coast Guard. You can still have a good time while wearing a PFD, but it canā€™t save you if you donā€™t have it on.

OK, now back to the fun stuff!

Wait, noā€”a few more safety points. The number of sunburned folks you will spot at a busy river take-out rivals the beaches of CancĆŗn, Mexico, during spring break. Skin cancer is no joke, people! News flash: getting splashed with water all day might mean you need to reapply sunscreen several times. Please donā€™t be like that roasted Boston College bro I once saw whose inner thighs were literally peeling offā€”use a lot of high-SPF sunscreen (preferably with zinc, for staying power) and reapply it every two hours.

It also helps to cover up. Those wide-brim straw hats are de rigueur with river guides because theyā€™re cheap and they work. Look for one with a string to secure under your chin. Remember: youā€™ll be outdoors, where the wind tends to blow. And speaking of retention, donā€™t forget a pair of shades, along with some means of holding them to your headā€”most sunglasses donā€™t float.

I also recommend a UPF-rated hoodie, so you donā€™t have to slather your whole body with lotion; if you canā€™t afford one, a thrift-store Hawaiian shirt will at least help you cover up, and it looks steezy. And if itā€™s hot, cotton holds water better than polyester and will keep you cool.

Footwear is also crucial. What type of highly stylish sandals are you going to choose? As long as they strap to your feet (no flip-flops!), you should be good to go. Bedrock, Chaco, Keen, and Teva all make solid footwear with soles designed to provide grip on wet rocks.

But rafting isnā€™t all sunshine and rainbows. Just like the wind, precipitation tends to rear its head, even in sunny months. So itā€™s wise to pack a thin, synthetic midlayer, in case you catch a chill (fleece is great here), and a solid rain jacket or poncho.

As for the fun part: get out there and go raftingā€”just please donā€™t drown!

Send your questions to deargear@outsideinc.com.

The post What Do I Pack for River Rafting? appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

Weā€™ll be talking about the winter of 2022ā€“23 for years. Epic snowfall blanketed much of the western U.S., creating the best ski season in memory. So far that snowpack is delivering one of the best spring rafting seasons in decades.

But all that precipitation and increased snowpack also left a lot of destruction in its path, including damage to the infrastructure in some of our national parks, with projected flooding from the spring thaw prompting temporary closures in others. For example, in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, in Californiaā€™s Sierra Nevada, the record snowfall and heavy rains led to rockfall and road damage, causing closures throughout the park.

ā€œIt was an intense winter for us, and weā€™re still plowing snow and working hard on road construction,ā€ says Sintia Kawasaki-Yee, chief of communications with Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. ā€œItā€™s going to be a different spring [than usual], with some areas closed.ā€

Other major events include the closure of the famous Narrows hike in Zion, flood warnings in Yosemite, and campgrounds still under snow at Grand Canyon.

ā€œItā€™s been challenging, but I donā€™t want people to think they ²õ³ó“Ē³Ü±ō»å²Ōā€™t come to the parks,ā€ Kawasaki-Yee says of Sequoia and Kings Canyon. ā€œThere are still things to do. They just need to be prepared and aware of certain closures.ā€

All of that snowpack means water tables are replenished to some degree, and more water is flowing through the Westā€™s parched river basins. Lake Mead and Lake Powell, both of which sit on the Colorado River, are already seeing a rise in lake levels. And park employees are working diligently to clear the snow, repair road damage and get things open.

Here are seven national-park delays and closures that are a direct result of extreme weather, as well as our advice for how to deal and find alternatives.

Great Basin National Park, Nevada

Record-setting snowfall has delayed the spring opening date of Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, Wheeler Peak Campground, and popular hikes like the Alpine Lakes Loop inside Great Basin National Park, as portions of the park are still buried. The roads, campgrounds and trailheads within the higher elevations of the park typically open at the end of May, but the park service expects a delay until July 1. Park management also says hikers should be cautious of flash-flood conditions as temperatures warm. Get current conditions

Our advice: Wheeler Peak Campground might be closed, but Baker Creek and the Upper and Lower Lehman Creek Campgrounds are open on schedule. If you canā€™t hike the high terrain, consider going undergroundā€” are operating as usual.

Yosemite National Park, California

In Yosemite, Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) is closed from the park boundary to the Merced Grove while crews repair cracks in the roadway up to four feet deep and 200 feet long from recent storms. The park expects the road to be closed until mid-June and possibly into July, which means visitors coming from the west will have to take an alternate route to access Yosemite Valley. The Mariposa Grove Road is also closed due to storm damage through May and into June. Visitors wanting to reach Mariposa Grove will have to hike two miles each way, with a 500-foot elevation gain. The park is also closing Lower and North Pine Campgrounds starting May 15 due to potential flooding from snowmelt. Thereā€™s no current timeline for the campgrounds to reopen. See conditions

Our advice: If you want to explore the Valley, Highways 140 and 41 are still open from the west. If youā€™re looking to camp in the Valley, Camp 4 campground is open, first-come, first-served until May 21, at which point youā€™ll need advance reservations. Upper Pines Campground is also still open and requires reservations.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Grand Canyon has had to delay the opening of the North Rim until June because of record snowfall. The North Rim saw more than 250 inches of snow this winter, burying the Grand Canyon Lodge, necessitating plowing and facility repair. The North Rim campground will open June 9, while the North Kaibab Trail will be closed until June 1 for trail reconstruction due to rockfall and landslides. Current conditions

Our advice: Youā€™ll have to be patient if youā€™re set on exploring the North Rim. Until the park service can clear the snow, the South Rim is your destination, with plenty of options for hiking and camping. We say bring your bike and pedal Hermit Road, which has more than half a dozen scenic overlooks, and is closed to all vehicles (except park shuttles) from March 1 to November 30.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California

Roads inside Sequoia National Park suffered damage from the winter storms, closing all but six miles of the Generals Highway, the main access road, within the park and preventing access to the giant sequoias at this time. The Giant Forest, Wolverton Snowplay Area, Lodgepole, Wuksachi and Moro Rock Areas are closed until at least June 9, while Crystal Cave and Mineral King Road will be closed throughout the summer because of road damage. Cedar Grove, inside Kings Canyon, is also closed due to severe road damage on Highway 180. Management doesnā€™t expect the road to reopen until fall. The park service updates road closures frequently and maintains a map of current road status within the park. Check conditions

Our advice: The Foothills Area of Sequoia, which is accessed by the first six miles of Generals Highway, is open, and has its own system of hiking trails and camping at Potwisha Campground (reservations required). The wildflowers are going off in this section of the park this spring, but there are no large trees. Park management is recommending visitors go to Grant Grove, in Kings Canyon National Park, to see the giant trees.

Zion National Park, Utah

In Zion, the popular Narrows hike, through a slot canyon along the Virgin River, is closed indefinitely due to the unusually high snowmelt and the flow levels in the Virgin River. The park service closes access to the Narrows any time flow levels exceed 150 cfs, and this spring levels have not dipped below 600 cfs. Emergency responders have already had to rescue one woman from the Virgin Riverā€™s Grotto area, in April.

Meanwhile, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive has been reduced to one lane because of road damage caused by rockfall, which caused a fissure in the road, and Kolob Canyons Road is closed beyond the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center for the same reason. See updates

Our advice: The shuttle is still operating on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, so your hiking plans are still intact. While you wait for the Narrows to reopen, try to score a to hike the Subway, a strenuous 9-mile round trip hike through a slot canyon on the Left Fork of North Creek.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah and Arizona

Hereā€™s some good news: The winterā€™s snowfall and subsequent melt is raising the water level of Lake Powell, inside Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. As water levels have receded on the lake during the last 20 years, park management has had to close a number of boat ramps, severely limiting boater access. But this spring, the opposite is happening; Glen Canyon recently announced the Bullfrog North Boat Ramp, in north Lake Powell, is operable again for houseboats and larger vessels. More than a dozen ramps and access points remain inoperable because of low water levels, but spring runoff has already raised the lake level by 10 feet. Check for updates

Our advice: Take advantage of the higher water while you can. Launching on Lake Powell can be easier at the higher water and you can paddle deeper into narrow gorges like Antelope Canyon and Lone Canyon.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Arizona and Nevada

While all that snow in the mountains is helping replenish Lake Meadā€™s coffers (lake levels had risen by three feet as of May 1 and could rise several more by the end of July), the summer heat is expected to put a crimp on hiking plans in the recreation area. Lake Mead has already announced seasonal closures to strenuous areas and trails from May 15 to September 30, citing a sharp increase in medical-emergency calls each summer. To prevent potential distress and tragedies, the park service is closing the following areas: Goldstrike Canyon, White Rock Canyon ad White Rock Canyon Trail, Arizona Hot Springs and Arizona Hot Springs Trail, Liberty Arch Trail, Lone Palm Trail, Sugar Loaf Trail and the Lone Palm and Sugar Loaf surrounding areas. See updates

Our advice: Take to the water. While the Goldstrike Canyon and White Rock Canyon Trails are closed this summer, the hot springs at the end of those trails are not. In fact, theyā€™re accessible by boat from Lake Mohave. Just limit your soak time. You know, because itā€™s hot outside.

Graham Averill is ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų magazineā€™s national parks columnist. He continues to be fascinated by how this winterā€™s epic snowfall is impacting outdoor recreation well beyond the last of the flurries.

The post National Parks Close Roads and Campgrounds and Delay Summer Openings appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.