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Mountains (Alabama)

Mountains, aka North Alabama, is a region at the southern edge of the Appalachian Mountains known for its abundant natural beauty, including many caves, lakes, and waterfalls.

Cities

 * - the "chicken stew capital of the world."
 * - home of the Ave Maria Grotto
 * - home of Belle Cheve Cheese
 * - home of Marshall Space Flight Center
 * - Alabama's Music capitol
 * - Helen Keller's home
 * - home of the Ave Maria Grotto
 * - home of Belle Cheve Cheese
 * - home of Marshall Space Flight Center
 * - Alabama's Music capitol
 * - Helen Keller's home
 * - home of Marshall Space Flight Center
 * - Alabama's Music capitol
 * - Helen Keller's home
 * - home of Marshall Space Flight Center
 * - Alabama's Music capitol
 * - Helen Keller's home
 * - Helen Keller's home
 * - Helen Keller's home
 * - Helen Keller's home
 * - Helen Keller's home

Get in
Huntsville International Airport (HSV) has direct flights from Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Washington DC, on American; Atlanta and Detroit on Delta; and Chicago, Denver, Houston, and Washington DC on United. Frontier Airlines started nonstop service from Huntsville to Denver and Orlando in October 2018. Silver Airways operates flights from Orlando. Other options include Northwest Alabama Regional Airport.

Huntsville was once notorious for having some of the highest average fares in the United States. While the affordability of flying Huntsville has improved greatly, the reputation remains, and many locals and visitors still use the Nashville (BNA) or Birmingham (BHM) airport whenever flying into or out of North Alabama. Both airports are roughly 1½ hours away from Huntsville.

Get around
As with much of the United States, access to a car is absolutely necessary to get around when visiting North Alabama. Huntsville's public bus system is not very extensive, and waits between buses have been known to reach up to an hour.

Despite the stereotypes surrounding Appalachia and the South in general, most roads in this part of the country are well maintained. Dirt roads are hard to find in the modern day, although unpaved gravel roads are somewhat more common. Due to the mountainous terrain in the northeast part of the state, a high clearance and/or 4-wheel drive vehicle may come in handy if visiting more rural areas.

Do

 * The winds approximately 26 miles (40 km) along the backbone of the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. The drive climbs to Cheaha Mountain and Cheaha State Park, the highest point in Alabama. In autumn, this drive bursts with color as the oak, maple, hickory, and persimmon change color. In spring, the dogwood and redbud are equally beautiful.
 * The winds approximately 26 miles (40 km) along the backbone of the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains. The drive climbs to Cheaha Mountain and Cheaha State Park, the highest point in Alabama. In autumn, this drive bursts with color as the oak, maple, hickory, and persimmon change color. In spring, the dogwood and redbud are equally beautiful.

Drink
Huntsville has a fast-growing craft beer industry.

Stay safe
Huntsville has a very high crime rate for a city of its size. However, crime is highly concentrated in the areas of the city north of University Dr and west of I-565, areas which the average visitor has little reason to visit.

Venomous snakes such as the copperhead are present in the area, so be aware when hiking during the warmer months.

title: Mountains (Alabama)


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Mountains and Lakes Country

The Mountains and Lakes Country region is in West Virginia.

Cities

 * — home of the original pepperoni roll
 * — home of the original pepperoni roll
 * — home of the original pepperoni roll
 * — home of the original pepperoni roll
 * — home of the original pepperoni roll

See
on route 26 near Tunnelton, are a pair of railroad tunnels, dug by hand between 1850 and 1853. On their completion, at 4,100 feet long, they were the longest in the world, and were crucial during the Civil War.

Our Lady of the Pines, on US-219 near Silver Lake, bills itself as the "smallest church in 48 states", although at 24 by 12 feet, it has a lot of competition for the title! Nevertheless, it's a pretty little church in a scenic area, and can be rented for weddings. Nearby are a wishing well and the "smallest mailing office".

Do
, near Kingwood, is a 133-acre ancient hemlock forest and the only stand of mixed virgin timber left in West Virginia.

Big Bear Lake, east of Morgantown, is a 35-acre lake for swimming, fishing or sunbathing on the beach. 24 miles of mountain bike and hiking trails, lakeside waterslide, 18-hole miniature golf, game room, tennis courts, volleyball courts, baseball field, country-western dances. Cabins available.

on the Maryland border, near Kingwood, has 1600 acres of wet bog preserve. Several trails, including a quarter-mile boardwalk over the swamp. Carnivorous sundew plants, bog cranberry, sphagnum moss, and several species of endangered plants and animals can be seen throughout the wetlands.

Collect fossils at. Brachiopods can be found in the road cut across from Hebron Church in the unincorporated community of Hebron.

Eat
Buckwheat is produced in Bruceton Mills, and is available in local stores from mid-September through December.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Mountains and Lakes Country


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Mountains to Sound Greenway

The stretch of Interstate 90 in the state of Washington is unique in the Interstate Highway system in the US, in that it is a designated National Scenic Byway. The Mountains to Sound Greenway trust has acted to protect the route of I-90 from Seattle at the Puget Sound to Ellensburg, which is the portion of I-90 through the Cascade Mountain Range. Many scenic and unique places in the Cascades can be easily accessed from the Seattle through the I-90 and its branch roads. For example, Snoqualmie Pass is only a one hour drive from downtown Seattle (weather permitting).

Understand
The Greenway has seen extensive human activity for the past 200 years. Logging has occurred throughout the region since the 1880s and a major lumber mill operated in the town of Snoqualmie from 1917 to 2003. Coal mining became a major industry east of the mountains in Roslyn and Cle Elum and Alaska's gold run in 1897 poured Seattle full of adventurers looking for supplies before heading north. East of the mountains, Native Americans, part of the Yakima Tribe used to grow native crops. Once white settlers came, they displaced the native people and began growing their own crops and well as creating cattle ranches. The Snoqualmie Valley used to be well known for its crops of hops in the 1880s and is still considered to be very fertile land.

Transportation
Trails have existed over Snoqualmie Pass for centuries, but it was not until I-90 was built that crossing the pass was relatively easy. Every year millions of vehicles go over the pass and allow for simple transportation across the country from the West to East Coast.

Prepare
By and large, the Mountain and Sound Greenway is best traveled in any season other than winter. You may not wish to climb mountains in winter and early spring, the trails are treacherous, slippery, snowy and often stormy like the rest of western Washington. Summer is the best time to do this itinerary; even then the chance of rain at the Cascades is higher than in the lowlands. Take cover in case of rain, and crouch to safety during a thunderstorm.

To visit the Washington State Parks, you must purchase a Discover Pass for $10 per day, $30 per year, $10/car/day. It is possible to get it for free if you volunteer for 24 hours of any combination of state parks or fish & wildlife lands. A pass is also required for US Forest Service Trailheads for $5/car/day, $30 per year for lands at Washington & Oregon, $80 per year for the whole country.

Get in
I-90 is the main corridor through the Greenway. Seattle is accessible from air through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and from sea through the many harbors at the waterfront, depending on what ship you were on. Interstate 90 begins next to Safeco Field.

Get around
Make sure you have tire chains and basic emergency travel supplies in winter! I-90 is often closed during storms, and has even experienced landslides in the last few years! The westbound lanes from the Pass down about 3 miles are on elevated roadway that ices over easily.

Do
As stated above, I-90 is the main thoroughfare through the Mountains to Sound Greenway, but there are lots of activities to do along the way. There are a number of hiking, camping, fishing, and skiing sites found throughout.

 * Skiing and Snowboarding If planning to snowboard, bring the proper clothing as it gets quite cold during the winter. Also a helmet is very highly recommended. Do not go backcountry skiing unless you understand the risks and are an experienced skier or snowboarder.

 * Hiking Follow basic safety tips if planning to go hiking. Many people every year go off trails and get lost. Follow the guide, pack for a week of hiking, to be well prepared for serious hiking adventures.

Stay safe
People every year get injured or killed performing activities in the Greenway. Following basic safety tips and common sense for activities will make sure your time in the Greenway is a pleasant one.

Go next
I-90 is also the main corridor leaving the Greenway. There are also chartered buses that go in between Seattle and Snoqualmie Pass at times, usually to access the Summit at Snoqualmie during the winter.

title: Mountains to Sound Greenway


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Mountain View

There is more than one place called Mountain View:

United States of America

 * Mountain View (Arkansas) — a town in Arkansas
 * Mountain View (California) — a city in the Bay Area of California
 * Mountain View (Missouri) — a town in Missouri

title: Mountain View


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Mountain View (Arkansas)

Mountain View is in the Ozarks region of Arkansas. Its location in the scenic Ozark Mountains of North Central Arkansas makes it a worthwhile destination and many visitors return time & time again. Being known as the "Folk Music Capital of the World" is likely Mountain View's biggest claim to fame, but many have discovered the numerous outdoor activities in the area and the close proximity to the Ozark Folk Center, the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest, and Blanchard Springs Caverns.

Get in
All of the roads leading into Mountain View are Arkansas state highways - specifically, Arkansas 5, 9, 14, 66, and 87. You will need an Arkansas highway map to plan your journey. Be aware that most of the roads leading in curve and twist due to the geology of the region.

If you need to fly to get to Mountain View, your best bet may be Little Rock. From there, take Interstate 40 to Conway, then US 65 to Clinton, and finally Arkansas 9 to Mountain View.

Get around
Mountain View is a small town with little or no transportation issues. A car is probably the best way to get around, but you can also tour the town by bicycle or on foot.

See
Mountain View centers around a lively Court Square which features a majestic limestone Courthouse and the same cut stone on buildings clustered around the square. Music rings from every corner of the downtown courtsquare as visitors stroll between impromptu gatherings of musicians. Banjos, dulcimers, guitars, fiddles and other acoustic instruments play the tunes of century old folk songs just about every night of the week during the season. Those who come to listen are invited to bring their lawn chairs and wander from group to group listening to the offerings of traditional hill music, folk music and the occasional bluegrass or gospel group.

Radiating out in all directions from the Courtsquare are scenic drives which lead to awesome caverns, crystal clear streams, rivers teeming with fish, world class mountain bike trails and some of the prettiest hillsides you've ever seen. Yet, Mountain View has most everything a person needs to carry on daily life, including a top notch hospital, a fine school system, numerous banks, grocery stores and a variety of locally owned shops of all sorts.

Do
Mountain View is nestled into the hills and valleys of the beautiful Arkansas Ozark Mountains. Touched by the White River and several year-round creeks and springs, the area around Mountain View offers breathtaking scenery and a variety of outdoor activities especially suited to families with kids. Come catch a trout, camp, take a hike, mountain bike, ride a horse, drive a boat, explore a cave, or float a canoe through the natural beauty of this scenic area in north central Arkansas. You will even find one of the few remaining drive-in movie theaters in the state that still shows first run movies.

Everywhere you go, the area rings with the sound of Mountain, Folk and Bluegrass music. Musicians gather nightly during the season to play on the Historic Courthouse Square, along with offering a variety of music theaters and "pickin' barns". Celebrate April in the Ozarks at the Arkansas Folk Festival and savor beautiful fall color in October during the BeanFest & Championship Outhouse Races. Enjoy spending the day at the Ozark Folk Center, which is dedicated to the preservation of the music and crafts of this culture.

Buy
Visit Mountain View and you might take home a mountain dulcimer, a hand forged iron fireplace tool, or hand-thrown pottery. Shops housed in picturesque limestone buildings brim with antiques, music instruments, collectables of all types and arts & crafts hand crafted in Arkansas. Our shopkeepers are known for their friendly manner and can help direct you towards fun activities throughout Stone County.

Crafts are an integral part of life in Mountain View, as they were the pioneer skills of yesterday. Pottery, basketry, broommaking, weaving, quilting, blacksmithing, and candlery were necessary skills in a culture that was isolated and self-sufficient at one time. Today, beautiful arts & crafts made by local artisans are found in gift & antique shops located throughout the area. The Arkansas Craft Guild is a craft cooperative supporting traditional craft skills in north central Arkansas and maintains a gallery in Mountain View. A perfect opportunity to tour area artists studios and watch them creating their art is during the "Off the Beaten Path" Studio Tour, the 3rd weekend in September.

Eat
Discovering new favorite dining spots is one of the great joys of traveling the Ozarks. Enjoy the down-home tastes of fried catfish, savory barbeque, and succulent steaks. Don't miss old fashioned beans & cornbread and homemade pies. One is apt to see folks gathered at outdoor dining tables on the Courtsquare enjoying a sandwich, salad or cone of ice cream, while listening to area musicians play the old time tunes.

Drink
Mountain View and Stone County are "dry" counties, so those who plan a trip to the area and enjoy having a glass of wine or a beer in the evening must plan accordingly.

Sleep
After a day of exploring the beautiful Arkansas Ozarks, a traveler needs to rest and recharge for the many activities available in the Mountain View area. Whether you prefer a bed & breakfast, cabin or cottage, guest house, motel, resort or RV park; Mountain View has it all. A variety of accommodations can be found in town near the action on the Courtsquare, close to shops, restaurants and music.

Or hang your hat at one of the on the many resorts, motels or cabins on the scenic White River or Sylamore Creek. You will be right in the heart of world class trout fishing, challenging mountain bike trails and hiking & horseback trails for the entire family.

Go next
Mountain View is the gateway to Blanchard Springs Caverns, known popularly in a Life magazine article as "the cave find of the century". There are two main ranger-guided tours.

Mountain View and the surrounding Stone County area offers a relaxed lifestyle, mild climate, plentiful outdoor opportunities, and a moderate cost of living. No wonder that so many come for a visit and stay for a lifetime!

title: Mountain View (Arkansas)


text:
Mountain View (California)

Mountain View in California is located in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Mountain View is one of the major cities that make up Silicon Valley, and has many notable Silicon Valley companies either headquartered there or with a large presence.

Understand
Mountain View is a mid-size city at the heart of Silicon Valley, hosting offices of a number of notable tech companies--Google, Microsoft, Intuit, LinkedIn, among others.

Shockley Semiconductor, the first high-tech company to establish itself the region, began research and manufacturing operations in Mountain View in 1956. For this reason, Mountain View is often considered the 'Birthplace of Silicon Valley.'

Mountain View's history prior to the mid-20th century is dominated by agriculture; in fact, much of the city's infrastructure (roads, parks, etc.) bears the names of wealthy families who owned farms and orchards throughout the now-densely urbanized city.

Silicon Graphics, one of the early pioneers in the graphical processing hardware industry, was headquartered in Mountain View before it was sold and later relocated in the early 2000s.

Once a small startup with a nondescript office along Charleston Blvd., Google has since grown to dominate Mountain View's corporate ecosystem. Google tests many of its experimental technologies within the city limits, and self-driving cars maneuvering about on test drives are a common sight along city streets.

By train
Caltrain service connects Mountain View to San Francisco, San Jose, and Gilroy. Almost all Caltrains stop at the on Castro Street, including all local and limited-stop trains, and most Baby Bullet trains. All local trains and some limited-stop trains also service the, near the border of Mountain View and Palo Alto.

To get to Amtrak trains from Mountain View, connect at the San Jose Diridon or Santa Clara stations via Caltrain.

The VTA light rail service, also located in the downtown station, connects riders to several suburban locations within the South Bay as well as San Jose. There are three ways to get to Mountain View through the light rail:

 * 1) Take the orange line ("Mountain View - Alum Rock") straight to Mountain View. It's the final destination going westbound.
 * 2) Take the blue line ("Baypointe - Santa Teresa"), get off at Baypointe Station, and switch to the orange line.
 * 3) Take the green line ("Old Ironsides - Winchester"), get off at Old Ironsides Station, and switch to the orange line.

The light rail can also be used to connect to the Amtrak Capitol Corridor train (to Sacramento) in Santa Clara. The rates for fares vary by intention, but a standard single ride is $2.50 and can be paid with cash or Clipper card.

By air
Mountain View is reachable from all three Bay Area airports:
 * San Francisco International Airport : The BART train has a stop directly at the airport, which you can ride to the Millbrae transit center. From Millbrae, leave BART and take Caltrain southbound service. If you are taking a taxi, note that San Francisco-based taxis may charge 150% of the normal fare when going more than 15 miles outside the city limit, and the fare is likely to be over $100. Uber/Lyft is usually under half the price.
 * San Jose : Take a free shuttle to Caltrain's Santa Clara station and then take the northbound train service. Also, you can take a free shuttle to the VTA Metro/Airport station and take the VTA light rail. Taxi fare is likely to be in the $35-45 range.
 * Oakland : Take a shuttle van service. This is the most distant of the three area airports. You can take BART from the new Oakland Airport BART extension, ride to Millbrae station, then connect at Millbrae to Caltrain southbound. Taxi fare from OAK is likely to be about $100.

Get around
For travel within Mountain View itself and the neighboring area, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) operates bus and light rail service. The Caltrain, which runs all the way from San Francisco to Gilroy stops in Mountain View as well. Caltrain also provides relatively easy access to both San Francisco and San Jose Airport, via BART or bus connections. There are also free shuttles operated by Mountain View Community Shuttle that operate during the daytime connecting residential areas to downtown. While major points of interest may be accessible by bus from downtown, coverage in other areas is limited and service is infrequent. It is recommended to travel around by car or by bike. Mountain View is good for cycling: many streets have bike lanes or are wide enough to comfortably support bike traffic.

The downtown area is walkable. The downtown blocks of Castro street nearest to the train station are closed off to vehicle traffic.

Buy
Mountain View has many big-box stores including Costco and ROSS near the Hwy 101 Rengstorff exit. And Walmart, Target, Kohl's, and Safeway are in the San Antonio shopping center. There's an excellent Japanese Market, Nijiya Market, in the Grant Plaza shopping center.

Eat
Castro Street is the main street in the downtown area with many restaurants and bars. East and South Asian food is available in abundance, but it is by no means the only choice. Watch the hours of operation; most restaurants in Mountain View are not open very late. There are some wonderful Mexican restaurants in the area serving Poblano style food.

Sleep
The nearest campgrounds are in the hills to the southwest. In 2021, the city banned people from parking large vehicles (22' or longer) on "narrow" roads, which was about 85% of them. If you rent an RV to visit Mountain View, you'll have to do some research to figure out where you can legally park.

title: Mountain View (California)


text:
Mountain Zebra National Park

The Mountain Zebra National Park is one of the smaller national parks in South Africa, but has a special, intimate atmosphere.

Understand
It is home to the very rare and endangered mountain zebra. A few decades ago fewer than 20 individuals of this zebra species existed, but since then their numbers have recovered and as of 2021 there are around 1000 of them in the Mountain Zebra National Park.

There is not much vegetation because the MZNP is close to the semi-desert Karoo Heartland.

Climate
Summer temperatures can reach into the upper 30°C and occasionally exceed 40°C. Sometimes snow can fall on the higher parts of the park during winter.

Get in
By car, 14 km north-west of Cradock on the way to Middelburg.

From October to April the park gates are opened at 7AM and closed at 7PM, from May to September the hours are 7AM to 6PM.

Fees
Valid until 31 October 2017:
 * South African citizens and residents (with ID): R44 per adult, R22 per child per day
 * SADC nationals (with passport): R88 per adult, R44 per child per day
 * Foreigners: R176 per adult, R88 per child per day
 * Children under 2 years have free entry.

Get around
You may use your own car to drive around and spot some animals.

There are also very nice hiking trails, which will allow you to experience wildlife and nature from very close. The trails start at the camp. Ask at the reception to get a small map and some advice on the trails. There is no danger when walking the trails, as there are no dangerous animals like lion in the park, but it is not uncommon to see fighting baboons or relaxing kudus and zebras in the distance during a walk.

See
The main attraction of the Mountain Zebra NP are the mountain zebras. But there are also other interesting animals, like the many antelopes that live in the park.

At the camp (way up to the pool) is a big colony of rock dassies. They hide between the stones and elsewhere. They can become very naughty, but are normally shy. You will surely spot more and more, if you stop for a second and stand still.

Do
All activities start from the main rest camp. (Prices valid until 31 October 2017.)
 * Morning or evening drive: R212.20 per adult, R106.05 per child
 * Sunset drive: R282.80 per adult, R140.40 per child
 * San cave paintings: R202.00 per adult, R101.00 per child
 * Morning walk:	R303.00 per person
 * Salpeterkop hike: R358.55 per person
 * Cheetah tracking: R363.60 per person
 * Short walking trails (no fees, but do sign in at the reception first):
 * Imbila trail (1 km, 20 min)
 * Black Eagle trail (3 km, 2 hr)
 * Idwala hiking trail (10 km, 6hr) passes the famous Big Rock.
 * There are also 2 4x4 trails in the park (no fees)

Eat
There is a restaurant in the camp, which offers some interesting meals, like Springbok Carpaccio.

For evenings after a long day, a braai (South African word for barbeque) is recommended. All chalets have braai facilities and meat and wood can be bought in the camp's shop.

Drink
Do not forget to drink enough, especially in the summer months of December and January. Take enough water on a game drive, unless you want to spoil your wildlife experience, because you are thirsty and have to return to the camp.

Water and other drinks (also alcohol) can be bought in the camp's shop.

Sleep
There is a small camp in the park and a camping site and chalets allow visitors to stay overnight. (Prices valid until 31 October 2017.)

 * Camping with power point: R275-330 (2 persons, maximum 6 persons, additional rate per adult R88, per child R44)
 * Family Cottage: R1075-1235 (2 persons, maximum 4 persons, additional rate per adult R260, per child R130)
 * Doornhoek Guest House R3100-3750 (4 persons, maximum 6 persons, additional rate per adult R580, per child R290). The guest house is on a former farm, away from the main camp.
 * Mountain Cottage: R885-1000 (2 persons, maximum 10 persons, additional rate per adult R190, per child R95)

Go next

 * Good place to start for a day-tour to Graaff-Reinet, one of the oldest towns in South Africa, with some wonderful Victorian houses and a beautiful old town centre.
 * Go to the Addo Elephant National Park or Port Elizabeth from here.
 * Drive towards Bloemfontein in the north.

title: Mountain Zebra National Park


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Mount Airy

There is more than one place called Mount Airy:

United States of America

 * Mount Airy (Georgia) - A town in Georgia (state)
 * Mount Airy (North Carolina) - A town in the state of North Carolina
 * Philadelphia/Mount Airy - A district in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

title: Mount Airy


text:
Mount Airy (North Carolina)

Mount Airy is in North Carolina, famous as the home of actor Andy Griffith and the inspiration for the town of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show.

By bus
PART (Piedmont Authority for Regional Transit) buses are available from Pilot Mountain, King, and Winston-Salem, with connections to other cities.

Get around
Car, Bus, The Barney police man tour

See
Mayberry from the Andy Griffith show. See Andy Griffiths house and downtown Mount Airy.

title: Mount Airy (North Carolina)


text:
Mount Apo

Mount Apo is a large stratovolcano in the island of Mindanao, the highest mountain in the Philippines. It is solfataric, well provided with vents emitting sulphurous fumes, and has a number of hot springs.

Understand
With an altitude of 2,954 m (9,692 ft), Mt. Apo is the highest mountain in the country and is located between Davao City, Davao del Sur province and Cotabato province.

The peak overlooks Davao City 40 km (25 mi) to the northeast, Digos City 25 km (16 mi) to the southeast, and Kidapawan City 20 km (12 mi) to the west.

On May 9, 1936, Mount Apo was declared a national park by President Manuel L. Quezon.

History
The first two attempts to reach Mt. Apo’s summit ended in failure: that of Jose Oyanguren (1852) and Señor Real (1870). The first recorded successful expedition was led by Don Joaquin Rajal in October 10, 1880. Prior to the climb, Rajal had to secure the permission of the Bagobo chieftain, Datu Manig. It is said that the Datu demanded that human sacrifice be made to please to god Mandarangan. The datu agreed to waive this demand, and the climb commenced on October 6, 1880, succeeding five days later. Since then, numerous expeditions followed. These and more are described in colorful narrations by Fr. Miguel Bernad, S.J.

On May 9, 1936, Mount Apo was declared a national park by President Manuel L. Quezon.

A note on the etymologies: Mt. Apo is said to be named after a nobleman named Apong, who was killed while mediating the battle between two suitors of his daughter Saribu. Another proposed origin of the name is from the word Apo itself, which in Filipino tongues means “master” or “grandfather”.

People
Six indigenous peoples consider Mt. Apo as their ancestral domain and home, namely: Manobos, Bagobo, Ubos, Atas and the Tagakaolo. Since time immemorial, these tribes have lives around the mountain that they also consider as sacred ground. Mt. Apo is their place of worship and the burial ground of Apo Sandawa, their great-grandparent. The mountain is the source of their continual supply of food and medicine, but more so, the foundation of their spiritual and cultural way of life.

Flora and fauna

A total of 227 vertebrates species belonging to 69 families of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals have been recorded in Mt. Apo. Likewise, 118 species of butterflies belonging to 69 families are recorded in the area. Of these, the most notable is the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jeffreyi) - one of the world's largest eagles and the country's national bird.

The mountain is considered by the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as the center of endemism in Mindanao. It has one of the highest land-based biological diversity in terms of flora and fauna per unit area. It has three distinct forest formations, from lowland tropical rainforest, to mid-mountain forests, and finally to high mountain forests.

Get in
The most convenient way to climb Mt. Apo is by contacting adventure providers such as Trail Adventours (info@trailadventours.com). Run by mountaineers, the service can help visitors arrange a trip to Mt. Apo, and secure all other necessities such as hiking permits, English-speaking guides, porters and even tents and food.

Get around
Mt. Apo, as the highest mountain in the Philippines, attracts a lot of attention from hikers all over the world.

The Kidapawan-Magpet trail, though one of many trails, is the easiest. The trail will first lead to Lake Agko. From there, hikers will have to cross Marbel River by walking on coconut logs without anything to hold for support. The threat of sudden flashfloods, emphasized by the strong flow of water, will remind the intrepid hiker that they are not climbing any ordinary mountain.

After three hours of river crossing, the first campsite will be reached - the Mainit Hot Springs. Here, hikers can take a dip in a hot and soothing pool. This first campsite must be reached before 3PM, because the next campsite, Lake Venado, is 5-6 hours away.

Between the two campsites is a thick forest. There, two "killer trails" will be encountered: the "87-degree" and the "90-degree" trail. Each taking around 15 minutes, these trails are known to have taken their toll on climbers. As of 2006, ropes are in place in the ‘90’ trail to make it a little bit safer.

After the difficult ascent, the next landscape is the swamp that heralds the proximity of Lake Venado. This is where many Mt. Apo trails intersect. The peripheral areas can be used for camping. During summer, Bagobo tribesfolk would also camp here and put up stalls. Hikers can choose to camp here, or proceed to the summit.

From Lake Venado, the summit is still 3 hours of trekking. This time, the environment changes into a cogon grassland. Then, the otherworldly summit area is reached. It is rocky, with wild berries, and temperate plants. Beneath is the old crater of Mt. Apo. The beauty of the summit, the highest point in the Philippines, has captivated countless climbers.

Going down, the Magpet trail is suggested, even though climbers typically do a traverse to the Davao (south) side. The Magpet trail, said to be easiest of all trails to Mt. Apo, will lead to what is called the Bobbong campsite, and from there, a beautiful waterfalls will be reached, called the Bongolanon Falls. It appears as if the water curves and bends, before descending. Weary hikers can swim in the pools beneath, and it is perfect refreshment after a grand Mt. Apo experience!

See

Mt. Apo possesses a formidable array of landscapes, from craggy rockscapes to virgin forests; from mossy swamps to volcanic structures. The mountain possesses the widest spectrum of environments, and provides an experience for mountaineers that lives up to their expectations from the country’s highest.

Buy
During summer, Bagobo tribesfolk would also set up camp in Lake Venado and put up stalls.

Eat
Unless it is summer with Bagobo tribesmen present, hikers will have to bring their own food.

Drink
Water sources are abundant throughout Mt. Apo, particularly in campsites and the summit.

Lodging
There are no lodging facilities in Mt. Apo.

Camping
The first campsite is the Mainit Hot Springs, where hikers can dip in a small, hot pool. This campsite should be reached while the sun is still out because the next campsite is 5-6 hours away.

The second campsite is at Lake Venado, where the many trails intersect. It is very cold, and also very serene, surrounded by pines on the north, and the peak of Mt. Apo from the south.

Stay safe
The water level in Lake Venado may swell, decreasing the size of the campsite. The weather in Mt. Apo is very unpredictable; strong rains may just come. Rely on local knowledge on whether to pursue river crossings in bad weather.

Go next

 * Mount Pulag

title: Mount Apo


text:
Mount Aso

Mount Aso (阿蘇山 Aso-san), in Kyushu's Kumamoto prefecture, is an active volcano that has one of the largest calderas in the world.

Understand
The active volcano of Aso brings a lot of tourists to the small town of Aso.

You can find Aso Tourist Information in Aso station or at Michi No Eki Aso (road rest area; the building on the left when you get of the train station).

Check www.aso.ne.jp/~volcano/eng/ before setting out to see if the Nakadake crater is accessible to its rim, or whether noxious or poisonous fumes are rendering it inaccessible.

Get in
Aso is on the JR Hohi line, 1 hour and 40 minutes from Kumamoto by local train (¥1080, change of trains may be required). There is also a limited express, the Kyushu Odan Express (九州横断特急), which makes 4 daily round trips with no change of trains required (65 minutes; ¥2180).

Kumamoto connects to Hakata in Fukuoka via the Relay Tsubame and Ariake limited express trains, and to Kagoshima via the Relay Tsubame and the Kyushu Shinkansen.

From Beppu you can get there in about 2 hours by train (¥3740)

The bus connecting Kumamoto and Beppu stops at the Aso JR station, and often at Aso Nishi cable car station. From Kumamoto, it takes 2 hours (¥1760) to reach the cable car, et 2:30 (¥3350) for the JR station. From Beppu, the two morning bus services reach the cable car in 3 hr 30 min (¥2950) and the JR station in 4 hours (¥3450). Timetables: Kumamoto-Beppu, Beppu-Kumamoto, Fares.

There are helicopter tours to mount Aso from the nearby Aso Cuddly Dominion, 2164 Kurokawa, Aso (around US$160 per trip for three persons).

There are luggage lockers at Aso Station.

See

The mountain spews sulphurous gases from the crater of Mt. Nakadake. Sometimes, when the winds blow from the crater towards the crowds, the cable car lines are shut down, so you might not be able to reach the summit. They will start operating again when the winds turn - sometimes you will only have to wait half an hour or so. If you want to check before starting your hike, the owner of the youth hostel is able to tell whether everything is in operation.

 * If you have extra cash to spare or you want to have an aerial view of Mount Aso, you can take the helicopter ride, which is not far from the Mount Aso Museum. It costs ¥5000 for an adult, ¥4500 for a child per person for a 4-minute ride, but the view is astonishing!

Do

 * Various hiking trails around Aso-san can provide you anything from a nice afternoon walk to a good days hiking. The landscape is full of greenery in summer, while in autumn the mountains turn orange. If you're interested, be sure to pickup a hiking map (don't expect a detailed map, it will probably be just an illustrative map) from the friendly Aso youth hostel or from the Aso Tourist Information. Besides - the routes just around the Mt. Nakadake are marked very well, you get a small map with routes and 'You are here' mark every 15-20 minutes of hiking. If you are in front of the crater, walk along it to the right (south) to join the actual trail. Allow two good hours (photos breaks included) if you want to climb the mountain (200 m up) and enjoy beautiful views on the crater and the whole area, and a bit less for the way back down. Even if you cannot/don't want to spend so much time, it worth strolling on this path (which does not start to climb seriously before the foot of the mountain) and then turn back (which will take you as much time).
 * There are also several hot spring resorts around Aso. Contact Aso tourist information office for more information.

Buy
Just next to the train station, at Michi No Eki Aso, various local products are on sale. You can find fresh fruits and vegetables, rice, milk, handmade lunchboxes, sweets and so on. Everything here is cultivated or produced in Aso city.

Besides the usual tourist trinkets you can buy from the Aso Nishi cable car station, there's not much shopping to do around here. Your usual supermarket is a couple blocks south from the Aso station.

Eat

There are some restaurants and a noodle bar near the station. In Aso Heights, there is a delicious cheese cake. Japanese lunch box can be bought at Michi No Eki Aso just next to the station. The aso noodles are amazing.

Go next

 * Ubayama
 * Minamioguni
 * Oguni
 * Kikuchi
 * Minamiaso
 * Ozu
 * Takamori
 * Taketa
 * Bungoono
 * Bungoono

title: Mount Aso


text:
Mount Aspiring National Park

Mount Aspiring National Park is a national park that lies in the Southern Alps of New Zealand's South Island, in the headwaters of Lake Wanaka. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of South West New Zealand, or Te Wahipounamu, which includes Fiordland National Park (to the south), Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park and Westland Tai Poutini National Park (both to the north).

Understand
Mount Aspiring National Park was established in 1964. It is named after the highest mountain in the park, Mount Aspiring/Tititea, which at  is also the highest mountain in New Zealand outside Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park.

The park spans three of the South Island's regions: West Coast, Otago and Southland. The DoC categorises it as part of Otago but Wikivoyage chooses to categorise it under West Coast.

History
Mount Aspiring National Park was founded in 1964 and now makes up oart of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. It is New Zealand's 10th national park and has evolved into making itself as New Zealand's most iconic "remote destination", which is true – you can't get any further than Mount Aspiring National Park without going off-road.

It contains the location of the Haast Pass, which was used as a crossing by Maori and then by European settlers to get between what is now the Otago and West Coast (Westland) regions. Today, it is the only road that connects the two regions together.

The park was later expanded in 2005 when the Nature Heritage Fund had purchased some land in the Landsborough River area, which serves as the latest and only expansion to the park. As of 2023, the park sits at.

In 2006, there was a proposal to bore an underground bus tunnel between Glenorchy and Hollyford Valley in Fiordland National Park to reduce travel times between Queenstown and Milford Sound from 10 hours return to a fraction of the previous time. This proposal, however, was shot down by the New Zealand Conservation Authority due to its significant environmental impacts it would bring (which is why if you've been on a bus trip between Queenstown and Milford Sound, the trip takes an eternity), especially considering it's a.

In 2009, there were proposals to start mining in the area but this too was shot for similar reasons.

Today, the park remains one of the country's most remote tourism drawcards with the main icons of the park being the Blue Pools, Thunder Creek Falls, and unsurprisingly, Mount Aspiring / Tititea.

Landscape
Much of the park's landscape is characterised by tall mountains and large river valleys. The park is in the same mountain range as Mount Cook and is part of the Southern Alps.

Flora and fauna
In November 2013, contributors to the respected journal Science chose Te Wahipounamu as one of only 78 protected areas around the globe as the most critical for preventing the extinction of mammals, birds and amphibians.

Mount Aspiring National Park was home to the takahe and kakapo, now sadly both extinct in this area, but the rowi, the rarest species of kiwi, lingers on.

Climate
The park's climate is consistently cool during the summer and regularly drops below freezing in the winter, even in the valleys. Bring some cold clothes with you and refer to Wikivoyage's advice on cold weather.

If the cold wasn't enough, the park is also very rainy – the West Coast being one of the rainiest locations on Earth, with areas having around 7 metres of rainfall a year. Make sure to also prepare for the rain by bringing a good quality rainjacket.

Visitor centres
There are two visitor centres that serve the park, one in Wanaka and the other in Haast.

Websites

 * DOC website
 * Park brochure

Get in
How to get in the park depends on the section of the park you want to visit. For the points of interest on the Haast Highway, simply follow State Highway 6 east from Haast, or north from Wanaka. The road is a little windy but is entirely sealed, has minimal potholes and with the standard speed limit of 100 km/h.

To get to the Mount Aspiring / Tititea area of the park, which primarily has Mount Aspiring and Rob Roy Glacier, the carpark to this section is a 2-hour drive (but only 54 km) from Wānaka via the Wānaka-Mount Aspiring Road. However, this road is unsealed for a large portion of the section and is only advisable in a 4WD or a car that can withstand gravel roads for long distances (at least 50+ km).

Getting to the southernmost road-accessible area is also tricky but is much shorter. From Glenorchy, use Glenorchy-Paradise Rd northeast then follow Glenorchy-Routeburn Rd then Routeburn Rd across the Dart River. It only takes about 30 minutes, but the route is only 22 km. Again, driving on this road is only advisable in a 4WD or a car that can withstand gravel roads.

Fees and permits
Like all New Zealand national parks, Mount Aspiring National Park is free to enter. There are also no additional parking fees.

Get around
Your two options are to either drive or walk. Drive where there's a road, and walk where there's a trail, but don't venture from a marked path. The distances are few and far between so it is more convenient to drive if an attraction is road-accessible. Occasionally, you might encounter some people cycling but finding bicycle parking is akin to February 30 occurring.

Along the Haast Highway
One gem of Mount Aspiring National Park is that everything about it feels remote with few tourists, vehicles and trails of human destruction. Yet, most of the park's attractions are along the Haast Hwy or State Highway 6, a single-digit state highway (which are of national significance) with few if any deviations. The road is almost always in good condition, with a speed limit of 100 km/h with the bends tolerable.

The Department of Conservation has an offline brochure which can be found here. Save it or print it as there is next-to-no mobile coverage along the highway.

The following have been ordered from south to north (i.e. from Wanaka to Haast).

Elsehwere

 * Climb Mount Aspiring or the other peaks in the area.

Tramping

 * Walk Rees-Dart Track.
 * The northern parts of Routeburn Track passes through the park coming from Fiordland National Park.

 * Cascade Saddle Route – a 4–5-day alpine crossing hike.

Buy, eat and drink
There are no shops in the park. You will need to bring all adequate supplies with you.

Lodging
Lodging is available in the nearest settlements to the park: Haast, Makarora, Glenorchy and, with the most variety and abundance, Wanaka. However, there is no lodging within the park.

Camping
Mount Aspiring National Park contains four non-backcountry campsites, with the fifth campsite being a backcountry campsite. Out of the four campsites, three of them are accessible by car/campervan.

Stay safe
This is about as remote as you can get in New Zealand, without getting off-road. Make sure your fuel tank is full and your vehicle in good working order.

Temperatures regularly drop below freezing – make sure to bring protective clothing.

Go next
The nearest settlements to the park are:
 * Haast
 * Makarora
 * Wanaka
 * Glenorchy

title: Mount Aspiring National Park


text:
Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park

Mount Assiniboine Park is in a BC provincial park in the East Kootenays region of British Columbia.

This is one of a group of Canadian Rocky Mountain parks that are collectively on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Understand
Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park covers 39,013 hectares - a bit bigger than the Isle of Wight. It is a place of lakes, glaciers, mountain peaks, and alpine meadows. Mount Assiniboine, at an elevation of 3,618 meters, is on the continental divide near the southeast corner of the park.

No roads penetrate this unspoiled wilderness, with trails providing the only land access. Camping, hiking, mountain climbing and viewing spectacular mountain scenery are the main activities here, as well as fishing, horseback riding, and ski touring in winter.

The park is roughly triangular. The apex of this triangle is at the junction of the boundaries of Banff National Park, which forms the eastern boundary, and Kootenay National Park, which marks the boundary to the west. The southern boundary follows the height of land above Daer Creek and Extension Creek from Kootenay National Park to the Mitchell River, then easterly to Banff National Park and the Continental Divide.

Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park lies within the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa or Kootenai First Nations people.

History
This area was well known to the Indigenous peoples of the foothill and mountain country. Occasionally interrupted by wars, there was much trading between the tribes from the different sides of the Rockies. The Peigans, the Assiniboines, the Blackfoot and the Kootenai traveled the routes over many mountains passes through the Rockies.

G.M. Dawson, of the Geological Survey of Canada, named Mt. Assiniboine in honor of the Assiniboine people when he visited the area during the summer of 1899. Assiniboine means “stone boiler” a name that comes from the Aboriginal practice of putting hot rocks into animal paunches or holes filled with water to cook food.

Upon the urging of the Alpine Club of Canada, British Columbia set aside 5,120 hectares of the area on February 6, 1922, as Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, the seventh in a fledgling park system. In 1973, the parking area was increased sevenfold to its present size of 39,050 hectares

Flora and fauna
The park aims to protect a large variety of species. Eighty-four species of birds inhabit the park environs, based on sightings. Columbian ground squirrels are very common in the core area of the park. Ten species of carnivore including wolves, black bears, grizzly bears, weasel, cougar, lynx inhabit the park. Six species of ungulates: elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, moose, mountain goat, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep roam within park boundaries.

Boreal forests of spruce, intermixed with stands of alpine fir and lodgepole pine, cover the lower elevations. In more open areas, scattered patches of false azalea, buffalo berries, twin berries, white rhododendrons and, occasionally, a red elder may be found. Between the elevations of 2,100 and 2,400 meters, open stands of alpine larch occur alongside alpine fir and Engelmann spruce, with a ground cover of red and white heather and grouse berries. Dense thickets of various species of low-growing willows associated with bog birch can be found along mountain streams and in boggy areas.

Large areas of rocky slopes and ridges are covered by stonecrop, white flowering avens, moss campion, cinquefoil, arctic willows and several species of saxifrage. Alpine meadows blaze with color thanks to an abundance of western anemones, alpine arnica, columbine, Indian paintbrush, spring beauty, alpine fleabane, mountain daisies, and hundreds of other species of wildflowers during the midsummer blossoming period.

Get in
Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park is west of the British Columbia-Alberta border 48 km southwest of Banff.

Fees and permits
There are no fees for day use. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate license.

Do
The following recreational activities are available: backcountry camping and hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and ski touring, fishing, and hunting. There are also climbing opportunities.

 * Hiking: The most popular hiking trails to the core area of the park start from Kootenay National Park to the west, and from Spray Lakes via Bryant Creek (Banff National Park) south of Canmore, from Sunshine Meadows west of the Banff townsite, in Banff National Park, Alberta.
 * Fishing: Angling in the glacial lakes and waterways of Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park is unpredictable. Rock Isle, Larix, and Grizzly Lakes are closed to angling. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate license.
 * Climbing: Mount Assiniboine is a world-class mountaineering destination, and several neighboring peaks, faces, and ridges are worthwhile challenges as well. In 2015, the rappel stations on the Classic Mount Assiniboine North Ridge Route were upgraded to permanent fixed (2 bolt + chain) anchors.
 * Horseback riding: Riders are required to obtain and carry with them a letter of permission from BC Parks. An online should be generated and printed at least 7 days before entering the park. Horse access is not permitted to Assiniboine Lodge, the Naiset Cabins, Wonder Pass, or Citadel Pass.

Buy, eat, and drink
See Banff (Alberta) or Radium Hot Springs (British Columbia).

Sleep
Existing facilities include: 10 camping areas (75 campsites), including the main camp at Magog; 6 roofed accommodation sites (60 beds), including Mt. Assiniboine Lodge; day-use facilities at Rock Isle basin, including interpretive facilities and sanitation; 160 km of horse and hiking access trails: Assiniboine Pass, Wonder Pass, Mitchell River, Simpson River, Citadel Pass, Surprise Creek; and guide-outfitters cabins: Mitchell River and Police Meadows.

Lodging
Visitors can make reservations for the Naiset Huts and the Hind Hut through the. Reservations for the Naiset Cabins are recommended in the summer and are mandatory in the winter. The Naiset Cabins are $20 per night per person. There is a non-refundable reservation fee of $50 per night to a maximum of $15 for three nights or more per reservation (May 2018). For campers who wish to stay at these huts on a first-come, first-served basis, bring a tent in case they are full.

Camping
Camping year-round at and, where campsites can be reserved from late June through September.

Backcountry
For other sites, backcountry fees are collected year-round at Lake Magog and Og Lake campgrounds. There are no registration or camping fees for camping in any other campground in the park (including Porcupine).

Stay safe
Weather conditions can change suddenly in this area and lightning storms with hail and snow are common in summer. For overnight trips a sleeping bag, ground pad, waterproof tent or bivouac bag, and lightweight stove are essential.

Only experienced climbers practiced in crevasse rescue and properly roped should venture onto snowfields and glaciers. Winter visitors to the park should always ski with a partner. Winter visitors be familiar with standards of avalanche safety.

title: Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park


text:
Mount Athos

Mount Athos (Άγιο Όρος Ayio Oros, classically Ἅγιον Ὄρος Agion Oros) is a mountain and a peninsula in Macedonia, northern Greece and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Understand
This 390-km² peninsula houses some 2,000 monks in 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries, and 400 other men who work in the monasteries. An autonomous state under Greek sovereignty, entry into the area is strictly controlled and only male residents are allowed to live there and only male visitors are allowed.

Agio Oros (Holy Mountain) is a self-governed part of the Greek state, politically subject to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople as regards its religious aspect. The mountain is dedicated to the Holy Mother of God, and by an imperial document (typicon) the avaton was established and no female may set foot on the peninsula. Most of its inhabitants are Orthodox monks living in monasteries, sketae (small villages of cells), cells (individual homes), and hermitages. Those who are not members of the clergy include employees and workers, but also the numerous visitors to Agio Oros, who come for the purposes of meditation, prayer and study.

Of the 20 monasteries, one is Russian, one is Bulgarian, one is Serbian and the rest are Greek. There are also Romanian and Bulgarian sketae. Foreign monasteries and sketae are supported by their respective countries.

These monasteries possess holy relics, icons, frescoes and mosaics of great value. Although many have been lost in fires or stolen during raids, a vast array of historical texts, rare documents and manuscripts - all historical heirlooms - are kept in their libraries.

The first to settle here were iconodules, members of the clergy fleeing from the persecution of the iconoclasts. They came and lived as anchorites, unknown, and literally alone inside caves. Later, monasteries were built and were organised in a monastic state. Agio Oros became a refuge for those seeking to save their souls through fasting and praying, and its prestige grew to a point that even Byzantine emperors came and lived as monks here.

The right of autonomy of Agio Oros was granted gradually, initially by the Byzantine emperors Nikiforos Fokas and Ioannis Tsimiskis. This autonomy was maintained and even enhanced throughout the Ottoman rule up to this day. After World War I, a series of international treaties recognized the special status of the mountain. Although nominally part of Greece, special stipulations and exemptions apply in regard to Greece's accession to the European Community (now European Union).

Average visitors can stay for free at each monastery for one day, for a maximum of three nights/four days, pending acceptation of request and only after having secured a written permission (diamonitirion) from a dedicated bureau in Thessaloniki. Scholars and genuine Orthodox novices can obtain longer permissions.

Individually organizing logistics for a Mount Athos pilgrimage can be challenging, since monasteries may not also reply promptly to phone and e-mail inquiries, if at all. Check for updates at sites such as Athos Weblog. It may also be helpful to get in contact with people who have made recent pilgrimages to Mount Athos.

Talk
Greek is the main language spoken at Mount Athos. Some English is spoken by many monks, but some monks, especially at the smaller sketes, may speak only Greek. Thus, it may be helpful to at least know some basic Greek or to have a phrasebook ready.

Traditionally Russian is the second most common language on Athos after Greek, but as of 2023 there are few Russian pilgrims on Athos due to travel restrictions following Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Romanian is the third most common language on Athos after Greek and English.

Monks are typically greeted with the Greek word evlogíte (ευλογείτε, meaning "blessings"). A common response to evlogíte is en kyriō iesou (εν Κυρίω Ιησού, "in the Lord Jesus"), and some monks can get creative with their response as evlogíte can also be understood as a formal imperative verb ("please bless").

Serbian, Bulgarian, Romanian, and Russian are spoken in a few monasteries and sketes.

Permission to enter
A fair bit of advance preparation and bureaucracy is necessary to visit Mount Athos, because of the monastic community's strict entry controls. A permit (diamonitirion) is required for each pilgrim, whether visiting as an individual or as part of an organised group. There are daily quota of entry, and a fee is required for the diamonitirion: Foreign visitors also need a passport; if you are Orthodox but not Greek, you will need to prove this (a letter from a priest or a baptismal certificate will do). Boys under 18 may obtain permission to visit, but must be led by his father.
 * Up to 100 Orthodox pilgrims per day, €18 per pilgrim
 * Up to 10 non-Orthodox pilgrims per day, €30 per pilgrim, reduced to €10 for non-Orthodox students
 * No limits to Orthodox priests in holy orders.

First contact the Pilgrims' Bureau (address below). They may need plenty of notice of your proposed visit - up to six months if you plan to visit during the summer months of June, July, and August when the monasteries are full to overflowing with Greek and Orthodox pilgrims, but as little as a few days outside the peak season.

Contact: The Holy Executive of the Holy Mount Athos Pilgrims' Bureau, 109 Egnatia Str., 546 22, Thessaloniki. , Fax +30 2310 222424

Once you have gained permission from the Pilgrims' Bureau you must contact each monastery where you plan to stay. Without their consent you will be turned away. A good site for further details of monasteries and how to contact each one by phone or fax is here. Many of the sketes speak only Greek, so it may be helpful to have an interpreter assist. You must contact each monastery individually by telephone and e-mail (if applicable) to confirm, preferably around one month in advance.

The "general diamonitirion" usually granted to visitors allows you to stay a maximum of three days, visiting monasteries at will. The more rare "special diamonitirion" allows an unlimited stay at only one monastery.

Entering Mount Athos
Two ferry companies operate regular passenger services to Mount Athos.

The ferries operate early in the day, so pilgrims coming from Thessaloniki will need to stay overnight in Ouranoupoli or Ierissos.

Get around
The monasteries on Mount Athos can be reached only by ferry, either from Ouranoupoli (for west coast monasteries) or from Ierissos for those on the east coast. Many visitors arrive at the port of Dafni (Daphne), from where they continue by bus to the "capital" Karyes. Smaller boats, people carriers and taxis ferry pilgrims from monastery to monastery. The Agia Anna (regular speed) and Mikra Agia Anna (speedboat) ferries also carry passengers from Dafni to Kafsokalyvia (location of the Holy Trinity Skete) at the southern tip of the Athos peninsula. For boat schedules, check here.

The Mikra Agia Anna speedboat arrives slightly ahead of the Agia Anna regular ferry at destinations along the southern part of the Athos peninsula, even though the latter starts 1.5 hours earlier. However, reservations, which can be made up to 7 days in advance, are necessary for the speedboat. No reservations are necessary for the regular ferry. Before boarding, be sure to purchase your ticket at the main ticket office near the Pilgrims' Bureau, and also have your diamonitirion to show to the ferry officer.

There are also sightseeing boats that do tours around the peninsula without landing; these require no permits, and are the only option for women who want to get a glimpse of Mount Athos.

On Mount Athos itself, the most convenient (and most popular) way of travel is the taxi-minibuses. They operate on a schedule, and they connect Dafni, Karyes, and most of the monasteries, using narrow roads that were made fairly recently. Few direct routes exist between Dafni and the monasteries, and, as such, most travelers will have a layover in Karyes for a couple of hours.

If you prefer to travel the old fashioned way, it is possible to walk from monastery to monastery. The longest walk is from Agia Anna to Great Lavra (6-7 hours). Many of the ancient footpaths, many of which have been improved by the Friends of Mount Athos society, are still clear but from time to time it will be necessary to walk on the roads. Footpath junctions are well signed, but they are almost all only in Greek. The Mount Athos Pilgrim Map (booklet and flat map) is available for hikers.

See

 * The capital, Karyes: Highlights include the old church of Protaton, which has exceptional murals and a famous icon of the Virgin Mary, called Axion Estin, which is the household icon of the patron saint of the Holy Mountain.
 * The monasteries, which in Mount Athos amount to twenty:
 * Great Lavra (Μεγίστη Λαύρα Megísti Lávra): the oldest monastery in the Holy Mountain.
 * Vatopédi (Βατοπέδι): the second oldest monastery. Vatopedi takes online reservations for overnight stays.
 * Iviron (Ιβήρων): an ancient Georgian monastery, now populated by Greek monks.
 * Chilandariou (Χιλανδαρίου, or Хиландар Hilandar in Serbian): a Serbian monastery, populated by Serbian monks.
 * Dionysiou (Διονυσίου)
 * Koutloumousiou (Κουτλουμούσι): popular with pilgrims due to its location within Karyes.
 * Pantokratoros (Παντοκράτορος): known for their efforts to make monastic life accessible to new pilgrims.
 * Xiropotamou (Ξηροποτάμου): known for their strict discipline and high-quality hospitality for pilgrims.
 * Zographou (Ζωγράφου, Зограф Zograf in Bulgarian): a Bulgarian monastery, populated by Bulgarian monks.
 * Dochiariou (Δοχειάριου)
 * Karakalou (Καρακάλλου)
 * Philotheou (Φιλοθέου)
 * Simonos Petra (Σίμωνος Πέτρα or Σιμωνόπετρα): a Greek monastery, very cosmopolitan in its composition, including monks from many places over the world.
 * Agiou Pavlou (Αγίου Παύλου)
 * Stavronikita (Σταυρονικήτα)
 * Xenophontos (Ξενοφώντος): a Greek monastery which has one of the biggest katholika (churches) on the Holy Mountain. Xenophontos requires online reservations for overnight stays.
 * Osiou Grigoriou (Οσίου Γρηγορίου)
 * Agiou Panteleimonos (Αγίου Παντελεήμονος, or Ρωσικό Rossikon): the Russian monastery, populated by Russian monks.
 * Konstamonitou (Κωνσταμονίτου)
 * The eighteenth monastery in rank - Esphigmenou (Εσφιγμένου) - is populated by monks under a schism dispute with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and thus may not be open or suitable for visitors.

 * The sketae, or cloisters, which in Mount Athos amount to at least a dozen:

 * Saint John the Baptist (Romanian): a Romanian skete, more commonly known as Prodromos or Timiou Prodromou, which seems more like a monastery, and belongs to the Megísti Lavra monastery.
 * Kafsokalivia: a Greek skete which belongs to the Megísti Lavra monastery.
 * Agia Anna: the most important Greek skete in Mount Athos, quite a monastic village, which belongs to Megísti Lavra monastery.
 * Mikra Agia Anna: a Greek skete which belongs to the Megísti Lavra monastery.
 * Agiou Demetrios (Greek): a Greek skete which belongs to the Vatopedi monastery.
 * Agiou Andreos: a Russian-built skete belonging to Vatopedi monastery, now mainly populated by Greek monks. It functions more like a monastery due to its size. It has one of the biggest katholikon (church) in the Holy Mountain. Popular among pilgrims due to its location within 20 minutes' walk from Karyes.
 * Saint John the Baptist (Greek): a Greek skete which belongs to the Iviron monastery.
 * Agiou Panteleimonos: a Greek skete which belongs to the Koutloumousiou monastery.
 * Profiti Ilias: a Russian-built skete, now populated by Greek monks, which belongs to the Pantokratoros monastery, and can be seen at eyesight of it.
 * Agiou Demetrios (Romanian): a Romanian skete, also known as Lacou Skiti or Lakkoskiti, which belongs to the Agiou Pavlou monastery, but is so far away from the main roads that monks there are extremely friendly to their few visitors.
 * Nea Skiti: a Greek skete which belongs to the Agiou Pavlou monastery.
 * Annunciation of the Theotokos: a Greek skete which belongs to the Xenophondos monastery.
 * Bogoroditsa: a Bulgarian skete which belongs to the Agiou Panteleimonos monastery.

 * The Morphonou Tower: a white marble tower which is the only remains of the Amalfion monastery, the only Latin monastery to exist in the Holy Mountain.
 * Saint Athanasius' cave: 15 minutes walk away from Prodromos skete, it is the cave of the original monk from Mount Athos who founded the first monastery (Megísti Lavra) and originated the current monastic status quo of the Holy Mountain.

Religious pilgrimage
Upon arrival at a monastery, the pilgrim may ask the guest-master if and when they may see and venerate the relics and miraculous icons and may receive a kind of guided tour and information about the history of the monastery. Some monasteries on Mount Athos continue to follow the Julian calendar and Byzantine time. Local dates can thus be 13 days behind the rest of the Gregorian world, and a day starts counting at sunset. Instructions to pilgrims are generally given in "Greek time", i.e. Gregorian calendar and Greek standard time (UTC+3 in the summer, UTC+2 in the winter), but check with your hosts if ever in doubt.
 * Attend the church services: they are the center of the life in the Mount Athos monasteries and sketae. For proper attendance to church services, please consult the Respect section. These services normally take place in the following fashion:
 * An afternoon service, known as "Vespers" to Orthodox, which in most monasteries takes place from 17:00 to 18:00, but in some monasteries and sketae this time may vary.
 * A morning service, known as "Matins" or Orthros, which begins at 04:00, and blends into the Divine Liturgy until it ends at about 07:00.
 * An All-Night Vigil, only available on nights of major Orthodox feasts or the feast of the saint to which the concerning monastery is dedicated.
 * Venerate the relics: each monastery and skete has precious relics available for veneration, which normally are available during or immediately after church services. In order to properly venerate the relics, please consult the Respect section.

Nature

 * Go hiking between monasteries: Many monasteries and sketes in Athos are connected by walking trails and are only 1-2 hours apart from each other, making it possible to visit several monasteries in a day on foot with a nice walk in nature in between. The Friends of Mount Athos help to maintain the trails and publish a regularly updated online guide of footpaths with GPS traces for download.
 * Cross the Athos Desert: it is the terrain between Megisti Lavra (and/or Prodromos skete) and Agia Anna skete. This terrain is very wild, completely devoid of roads, populated by hermits and/or hesychasts, but of immense spiritual beauty for believers. The crossing - by foot - normally takes about 6 hours. Hikers can start from Saint Anne's Skete, Little Saint Anne's Skete, Karoulia, or Katounakia. Going eastward, you will pass St. Basil's Skete, Kerasia, Kafsokalyvia (which has a port with ferries taking passengers to Dafni; also the site of St. Akakios the Younger's hut), Agios Nilos (site of St. Nilus the Myrrh-streamer's cave), a very rocky and bare mountain slope, and finally the Romanian skete of Podromos. From there, you can walk north to the Great Lavra. This footpath can also be done in reverse.
 * Climb the summit of Mount Athos (2033 metres): this can only be reasonably achieved departing from Agia Anna skete during summer. Climbing from the skete to the summit and coming back takes about 8 hours. There is a shelter on the way up, but it only has basic dormitories and no food or drinkable water. Footpath junction signs, which are usually only in Greek, point the way to the peak with ΚΟΡΥΦΗ ΑΘΩ ("Athos Peak").
 * Animal therapy: Although pilgrims are not allowed to bring pets to Mount Athos, the locals in Daphne and Karyes keep a few dogs (male only due to strict entry control). Cats (both sexes) roam wild around the peninsula. The dogs are generally very friendly to pilgrims whereas the cats are of variable amiability. Spending time with the dogs and cats is a common pastime when pilgrims wait for buses (whose arrivals can be anything from on time to an hour late).
 * Watch sunset at Athos: only properly seen from the monasteries of the southern coast (Agios Pavlou, Agiou Dionysiou, Osiou Grigoriou, Simonos Petras, Xiropotamou, Agiou Panteleimonos, Xenophondos, Diochariou), the Chalkidikian sunset is of a quality which can easily challenge all other Greek sunsets, either in the mainland or the islands.
 * Stargazing: The night sky can be seen very clearly from Mount Athos, since monasteries do not typically turn on bright lights at night. If you wake up for Matins (prayers from 03:00 to 04:00), be sure to catch a glimpse of the Milky Way.

Buy
"Souvenirs" are mostly of religious nature. Shops are available at Dafni, Karyes and some monasteries. The following is an incomplete list of items you may buy to take with you:

 * Icons (all prices and sizes)
 * Prayer ropes (known as komboskini in Greek or chotki in Russian)
 * Books about lives of the Saints
 * Frankincense
 * CDs or cassettes of monastic choirs (the most renowned from the Holy Mountain being the one from Simonos Petras)
 * Walking sticks (engraved with Mount Athos emblem)
 * Wine produced at Athos' vineyards

If you happen to buy prayer ropes or icons, don't miss the opportunity of having them blessed with a monastery's holy relics!

Eat
Provided you stay at the monasteries, or you are just passing by at the right time, you will eat meals and dinners with the monks in the monastery's refectory (trapeza). The food is normally extremely good, usually vegetarian but with cheese and bread. Mostly it will be bread, olives and vegetables, although occasionally fish or cheese may be served.

For drink, on fasting days (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) only water will be served. On non-fasting days Greek wine and/or Greek retsina will be available. If you happen to be on the monastery's saint feast day, a piece of sweet cake will surely be available as a dessert.

In order to eat at the monasteries, you must be attentive to eating schedules. These normally take place after their services, that is, after Vespers in the afternoon (at around 18:00) or after Divine Liturgy in the morning (at around 07:00). Still, these times are not exact, so you should ask at each monastery for the timetable, and if you arrive after eating times, you may ask the archontaris (guestmaster) for food.

It is a good idea to take additional supplies with you. They can be bought at Dafni or Karyes, but do not rely on having great variety available. It is very strongly recommended to stock up on food (preferably energy bars and bread) at Ouranoupoli, since Dafni and Karyes are the only settlements at Mount Athos that sell very limited selections of food. The ferries also have limited selections of coffee, juice, and bread.

You will surely enjoy the food because the monks are trained specialists at cooking, and the food is all freshly grown and healthy. Furthermore, eating takes place with a monk reading aloud lives of the saints or extracts from the Bible, so even if you don't understand the language, it will be an enjoyable experience.

Drink
Some of the larger monasteries sell wine and spirits. Beer, wine and spirits can also be purchased in Karyes or Dafni.

However, even though you may be able to purchase alcohol, it is considered inappropriate to drink in front of the monks. Practise moderation!

At the monasteries and sketes, you may be served water, grape juice, or sometimes strong alcoholic spirits (ouzo or tsipouro).

For drinking water, be sure to bring a refillable water bottle (1-2 litres) to fill with tap water, which is safe to drink at the monasteries. You may also occasionally be able to drink spring water at fountains along certain footpaths.

Sleep
The only places to sleep in Mount Athos are the monasteries and sketae, which offer spartan dormitory-style accommodation in guesthouses (archontariki). Most, but not all, require reservations in advance. For a directory of the phone and fax numbers of the monasteries and sketae, check here and also the Friends of Mount Athos website.

Check in before 16:00 or risk being shut out! Simple meals are included at specific times. Showers and restrooms are shared by pilgrims. Most monasteries have hot water, but some of the more remote sketes may only offer cold showers. There have also been reports of bedbugs at a few of the monastery hostels.

No payment is expected for stays of one night, but donations are usually accepted, especially if you request and receive permission to stay longer.

Respect
Mount Athos is where monks go to escape the modern world, and as you're visiting as a guest, you have to respect their rules and behave as they expect you to. In general terms, monks expect pilgrims to visit them, and not tourists. When possible, try to keep a pious attitude, even if you are not Orthodox, and be sensitive that some monks may not want to discuss topics that seem too "worldly" for their concerns. The monks consider themselves to be living in a place without time, so when inquiring about chronological dates (e.g. the foundation date of the monastery) do so in a tactful way which avoids making you look touristy.

Conventions of behaviour vary somewhat from monastery to monastery, so when in doubt, ask the master of the guesthouse, the archontaris. In general:

 * Do not hold your hands behind your back as if on a sight-seeing tour, hold them in front of you in a sign of reverence.
 * Avoid engaging in activities which may be disrupting for the monks, like bathing in the sea or listening to loud music.
 * Photography of monasteries is allowed, but photography of monks or inside churches is generally prohibited without explicit permission. In some monasteries (e.g. Agiou Panteleimonos) photography is banned in the whole monastery territory. On feast days, the presence of huge crowds result in many people taking photographs even inside the church, and in these cases the ban is not enforced. However, avoid taking photographs with flash or in a manner which may be annoying to the monks.
 * Video filming is prohibited in all Mount Athos, however this is rarely enforced for low-quality video being made by point-and-shoot cameras. However, if you are filming with professional equipment, you will raise many suspicions that you are producing a sneak documentary about the Mountain!
 * Dress respectfully: long trousers only; no shorts. Shirts and T-shirts with short sleeves are often allowed, although not in all monasteries. To be on the safe side, it is best to wear long sleeves, since monks at some of the more conservative sketes and monasteries may tell you to immediately cover up your arms. Dressing in white shoes may also be considered disrespectful. Plain clothing with dark colors (black, dark blue) are strongly recommended over light colors (white, pink). It is best to avoid clothing with fancy printed images and logos.
 * While visitors are usually welcome at services, there may be space constraints in the summer high season, and non-Orthodox may be restricted to certain outer parts of the church (e.g. the exonarthex) or expected not to attend at all. Even if allowed in the services, non-Orthodox should abstain from partaking from the Holy Mysteries (Communion) or taking the antidoron (unconsecrated bread) at the end of the service, and should inquire before venerating relics if they are allowed to do so.

Stay safe
Because Athos is a monastic community with strict entry controls, violent crime is largely unheard of. Occasionally pilgrims can get rowdy due to the free-flowing alcohol at some establishments, but they do not mean harm and the right thing to do in that case is to politely distance yourself and inform the guestmaster.

Theft is also rare for the same reason of religious piety and access control. It is common to see neatly lined-up luggage on benches in public places, for example at the Karyes bus terminus and outside small shops and churches, where the owners of the luggage have put down their luggage temporarily in order to go on a short walk. Be sure to collect all your luggage when you return though: due to the sparse availability of transport, if you forget your luggage, it will be very difficult to retrieve it.

Important phone numbers for police stations, ports, and post offices can be found here.

When walking around Mount Athos, follow the usual safety tips and precautions for hiking. Some footpaths, especially in steep, rocky part of the southern peninsula, can be very steep and rocky with no guardrails. Bring enough food and water to last for the entire day when going on long-distance treks. It is very strongly recommended to stock up on food (preferably energy bars) at Ouranoupoli, since Dafni and Karyes are the only settlements at Mount Athos that sell very limited selections of food. The ferries also have limited selections of coffee, juice, and bread.

Many minor footpaths are unmarked, and they can be surprisingly deserted. When hiking through remote areas, it can be easy to get lost in remote areas such as the slopes of the Mount Athos peak or the Anti-Athonas area, so be sure to have GPS and bring a good map (the best one available in 2022 is the map of Mount Athos by Peter Howorth). Due to the rugged terrain, distances can seem much longer than they look on flat maps. Phone reception is not available in remote interior areas.

Go next

 * The closest destinations to Mount Athos are the ones the ferries depart from: Ouranoupoli and Ierissos.
 * The closest big city — and well worth a visit — is Thessaloniki.

title: Mount Athos


text:
Mount Bachelor

Mount Bachelor is an inactive volcano in the state of Oregon. The surrounding area offers snowshoeing, snow skiing, snow tubing, and dog sledding, among other activities in the winter, and fishing hiking and camping during the rest of the year. There is also a trail to the top of the mountain. Mount Bachelor lies within the boundaries of the Deschutes National Forest.

Do
There are many things to do at Mount Bachelor. It all depends on the season. If it is the summer you can go see the sights of the Mountain by taking chairlift rides up the mountain. Winter time is when the mountain is at its peak. During this time, you can ski or snowboard on one of the best resorts in the nation. The mountain usually opens around Thanksgiving, but it all depends on the weather and usually closes its season around the end of April, pending how much snow it has. The price for a daily lift ticket varies depending on the time of year. Here is a lay out and the high and low prices:
 * Adult $49-$52
 * Youth (6-12) $30-$32
 * Teen (13-18 ID Req.) $42-$45
 * Senior (65-69) $42-$45
 * Senior (70+) Free
 * Adaptive $24-$26
 * Lower Lift Special $32-$34
 * Child (5 and Under) Free

There are many other things you can do at Mt. Bachelor. The mountain offers a lot of cross country skiing trails, along with snowshoeing, and many snowmobile trails are in the area.

Mt. Bachelor also offers many fun events during the year, including:
 * Free Day usually in February
 * Chevy Grand Prix, an Olympic qualifying event
 * Winter special Olympics held from March 3–5

Eat
On the mountain, Mount Bachelor offers three lodges all which provide food, also allows people to bring their own food. West Village lodge is the main lodge of the mountain and the only place you can purchase your lift ticket. There is also the Pine Marten lodge at the top of Pine Marten express and then Sunrise lodge.

Lodging
Although Bachelor doesn't have any places to stay on the mountain, there are many places to stay in the area. The two that most people stay at are Bend which is a half hour drive away and also Sunriver which is a twenty-minute drive. If you are looking for a place with more things to do at night like malls and restaurant, then Bend would be the better choice. However, if you are looking for a cabin to stay in, then Sunriver is a better choice.

Stay safe
If you are planning a hike or skiing adventure into areas less travelled it is advised to take a Personal Location Transponder. If you should become lost, injured, or trapped this device will help emergency crews to locate you quickly via a GPS signal. The technology can now locate you to within 10 feet of your actual placement. A great accessory for snow enthusiaists in avalanche zones. Always get weather reports for the area prior to travelling.

title: Mount Bachelor


text:
Mount Baker

the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and is a major outdoor recreation area (ski, snowboard, mountaineer, hike, etc.) located east of Bellingham. It is one of the five major stratovolcanoes in the area that have produced over 200 eruptions in the last 12,000 years.

History
Mount Baker has worn several appellations in its 400,000 years. Long before white settlers came, Nooksack Indians called it quck-sman-ik, meaning "white mountain." The Lummi Indians near Bellingham Bay called it kulshan, meaning "broken off." Presumably, they were referring to the frequent volcanic activity.

English explorer Captain George Vancouver rededicated the mountain while charting the region in 1792. He named it for Lt. Joseph Baker, a young officer in his command who spotted the peak while their sloop "Discovery" was sailing off the coast of Washington, near Dungeness Bay.

Climate
Temperatures in the Mt. Baker area range from 70s (°F) with clear skies in the summer to upper 20s with rain and snow through the winter. Annual rainfall in the lowlands is 30 to 50 inches. At higher elevations, precipitation ranges from 70 to 140 inches.

In 1999, Mt. Baker set the new world's record for the most snowfall ever measured in a single season-- 1,140 inches (2,895.6 cm)!

Get in
To get there from Bellingham, take I-5 to exit 255, take Sunset Drive east until it becomes state highway 542, and follow that highway 56 miles to the ski area. This drive takes about 90 minutes in good weather conditions. The road is plowed regularly, so it should be passable to regular cars except during storms. Note, however, that chains may be required on two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles during inclement weather as determined by the Washington State Patrol. Only vehicles over 10,000 gross vehicle weight rating must carry chains between November 1 and March 31.

Another popular route, for Canadians, is to take the Sumas border crossing from Abbotsford, and continue following the road signs as you drive southeast for 45 minutes.

Fees and permits
A Northwest forest pass is required to park at all trailheads and at the Artist Point parking lot. Passes can be acquired at all ranger stations or by calling: +1 800-270-7504.
 * Day Pass $5
 * Annual Pass $30
 * Federal Golden passports are also honored at NW Forest and park sites:
 * Golden Eagle $65 (federal annual pass)
 * Golden Age $10 (lifetime pass for US citizens 62+)
 * Golden Access Free (Qualified Disabled US Citizen)

See
Summer

A summer must see is the blooming alpine flowers found on many high level trails. The late snow melt means that the flowers bloom quite late in the year, usually late July or August. Fireweed and Columbine are some of the most amazing.

, at milepost 55, provides a postcard view of Mt. Shuksan and is a popular photography stop.

Winter

Do

Hiking. An abundance of trails cover the Mt. Baker area as soon as the snow melts. From the (the end of the road) a few of the more popular trails are the demanding climb of Table Mountain, the stimulating variety of Chain Lakes Loop and the awe inspiring closeness of the mountain itself at Ptarmigan Ridge.

For those with less ability to walk a distance the Artist Loop trail, starting at the Artist Point parking lot, provides a great view of the mountain on an accessible paved loop, with the opportunity to continue up the hill just a little way to find small meadows and late summer ponds which are perfect private lunching spots. The rocky terrain here makes it feel like you are in the backcountry when in reality you are less than a mile from your car.

Eat
There are two day lodges with parking and full amenities (White Salmon and Heather Meadows), and a third ski-in lodge ("Raven Hot Cafe") with food. Tip: bring US dollars cash; while MasterCard and Visa are accepted for lift tickets and gear rentals, cash gets you a discount, and only cash is accepted at some food counters. Heather Meadows lodge is a better starting point for gear rental and has direct access to the bunny slope.

Sleep

The US Forest Service maintains three campgrounds along the Nooksack River on Hwy 542 east of Glacier: For information call +1 360-856-5700 Mt. Baker Ranger District

Stay safe

 * Use caution on access roads: watch for obstructions such as rocks, sudden bends, parked vehicles and pedestrians.
 * Safeguard your possessions by keeping them out of sight. Lock your vehicle.
 * Carry the ten essentials.
 * Stay on trails. Wear adequate footwear and use a topographic map and compass.
 * After hiking, check yourself for ticks which may carry Lyme disease.
 * Horses can startle easily. When stock approach, make your presence known and stand on the lower side of the trail.
 * Report down trees or washouts to the nearest ranger station.
 * Do not depend on cell phones as there are many 'dead spots.'
 * Always tell a friend your travel plans including destination and expected return time.

Wildlife
The North Cascades is home to many species of wildlife from a common chipmunk to a grizzly bear, it is important to keep wildlife wild. Animals can be attracted to food and other scents. Human food is both unhealthy for animals and can lead to potentially dangerous encounters with bears.

 * Try to have your sleeping area about 100 yards (90 m) up wind from your cooking area. Keep sleeping gear free of food odors and cosmetic scents.
 * Store food, garbage and toiletry items in either bear-resistant canisters (available on loan from National Park Service offices) or strung up 15 feet (5 m) off the ground and at least 5 feet (1.5 m) from tree trunks.
 * Pack out all food waste.
 * Never feed wildlife.

Go next

 * North Cascades
 * Seattle
 * Vancouver

title: Mount Baker


text:
Mount Baldy

Mount Baldy, or Baldy Resort, is a small ski hill community in Okanagan overlooking the Okanagan Valley in southern British Columbia just north of the Washington state border.

Understand
Mount Baldy Ski Area consists of 35 downhill skiing trails. There is no night skiing at Mount Baldy Ski Area. Nordic trails are also open December through March.

The area is unique as the associated village of 150 ski cottages are ski-in ski-out.

Check the snow conditions here.

Get in
Its road access is via McKinney Road from Oliver and from BC Highway 3 north of Bridesville and BC Highway 33 west of Rock Creek, in the Boundary Country. It is 35 minutes from Oliver and 45 minutes from Osoyoos, less than an hour from the US border, and roughly 5 hours from Vancouver.

The nearest airport with scheduled flights is in Penticton.

See and do

 * Downhill skiing: A variety of beginner to advanced level runs.
 * Snowboarding: The snowfall and the abundance of perfectly spaced trees on the mountain makes Baldy great for snowboarders.
 * Snowshoeing: Explore the trails on an expert-guided tour, or rent equipment and discover the mountain on your own.
 * Sledding: Grab your sled and hit the Magic Carpet Hill. Join the weekly Baldy Tobogganing Party every Saturday afternoon for hot chocolate and warm up by the cozy fire pit.
 * Cross-Country Skiing: Enjoy the diverse terrain on Baldy Mt and its views. Trails to suit every level.
 * Disc Golf: Disc Golf on a 18-hole course. Disc and scorecards available in the ticket office.
 * Disc Golf: Disc Golf on a 18-hole course. Disc and scorecards available in the ticket office.

title: Mount Baldy


text:
Mount Bandai

Mount Bandai (磐梯山 Bandai-san) is in Fukushima, Japan and a part of Bandai-Asahi National Park.

Understand
Mount Bandai, "Bandai-san", is a volcanic peak which gives its name to part of the Tohoku region of Japan. The region is located at a large opening through the northern Japanese alpine ranges. The small towns of Inowashira and Aizu-Wakamatsu are on this low-lying area overlooked by Bandai-san. The area of Urabandai, literally "behind Bandai" means what it says: the alpine basin behind the volcano with many features formed by its eruption in 1888. Just to keep us all on our toes, Urabandai is also called Bandaikogen, meaning "Bandai plateau" and its main hub, Bandaikogen Eki is not an "eki" as in rail station.

From Tokyo
The Tohoku Shinkansen links Tokyo and Ueno stations with Koriyama, change here to the Ban'etsu West Line to Inawashiro or Aizu-Wakamatsu. These are both good hubs from which to explore the area.

An alternative train route, but much slower, involves taking the Tobu line private railway from Asakusa in Tokyo towards Nikko then taking inland alpine rail routes (the Aizu Tetsudo) north to Aizu-Wakamatsu.

Get around
The JR Ban'etsu West Line links all the main cities. Urabandai is reached by bus from Inawashiro.

See

Do

 * Lake fishing, canoeing, sailing packages available from Matsubara Camp-jo, tel 0241 32 2247
 * Skiing: several skifields in the area, which has a five-month season of very heavy snowfalls
 * Hiking

Splurge

 * Urabandai Nekoma Hotel at Bandaikogen Eki, tel 0241 37 1234: really flash place that does weddings, has its own skifield up the road and its own volcanic spring spa in the basement

Camp

 * Matsubara Camp-jo, Hibara-ko lake, tel 0241 32 2247: only accessible by boat so free of traffic noise. Boat pickup for guests at Bandaikogen Eki.

Homestay

 * Loghouse Mori no Uta, Minami Ourenzawa-yama, Kitashiobara, tel 0241 33 2929: stay in a genuine Canadian log house (no kidding!) with a local family. Heaps of traditional country cooking, which is mostly delicious apart from the weird boiled floaty things.

title: Mount Bandai