It turns out that courage, resourcefulness, sharply honed instinct, and occasional mischievousness serve both humans and beasts well. Like the explorers they accompany, the best adventure dogs have just a hint of masochism in them, enduring鈥攁nd even enjoying鈥攃onditions that many people听wouldn鈥檛 think of bearing.

Here are five who made their mark on history by journeying where humans are few and dangers abound.

Stickeen

The Unflappable Alaskan Mutt Beloved by John Muir

When Muir began a canoe voyage through southeastern Alaska鈥檚 icy fjords in 1890, he only reluctantly accepted the presence of his friend鈥檚 dog.听The听fluffy little guy had听the personality of a 鈥渟mall, squat, unshakable desert cactus,鈥� Muir later wrote in the short story named after听the canine, 鈥淪tickeen.鈥澨�

Then Stickeen voluntarily joined Muir on a storm-ravaged day of glacier travel he would later deem 鈥渢he most memorable of all my wild days.鈥� It culminated in the crossing of a treacherous snowbridge spanning a 50-foot-wide crevasse that could have easily become an icy grave for both of them. Muir鈥檚 usually inscrutable companion became despairing and frantic given the peril before him; after surviving the ordeal, he became exultant, 鈥減ouring forth a tumultuous flood of hysterical cries and sobs and gasping mutterings.鈥�

Both creatures were changed by the experience. They became inseparable for the remainder of their shared journey. ,听Muir declared that their 鈥渟torm-battle for life brought [Stickeen] to light, and through him as through a window I have ever since been looking with deeper sympathy into all my fellow mortals.鈥�

Seaman

The Newfoundland Who Journeyed West with Lewis and Clark

Purchased by Meriwether Lewis in 1803 for $20 (a sizable sum at the time), Seaman became an important member of the Corps of Discovery鈥檚 28–month undertaking to explore the Louisiana Purchase and map a water route from the eastern U.S. to the Pacific Ocean.

A skilled hunter and swimmer, Seaman quickly proved his usefulness. He killed and retrieved waterfowl and deer to help feed the corps鈥� 32 members, alarmed them when grizzlies ranged close, subverted a near disastrous buffalo stampede, and accompanied Sacagawea as she established contact with Native American tribes.

The limited rations, ticks, mosquitoes, prickly pear cacti, and encounters with aggressive wildlife that bedeviled the expedition鈥檚 humans also afflicted Seaman. About halfway through their journey, Lewis saved Seaman from almost fatal blood loss by stitching up a bite from an aggrieved beaver the dog had attempted to retrieve.

Since the last journal entry mentioning Seaman was recorded two months before the corps returned to Saint听Louis, little is known about what happened to him鈥攊ndeed, whether he even survived. However, an entry appearing in an 1814 book, , pertains to a collar that presumably belonged to Seaman. This has led some to conclude that Lewis and his loyal companion enjoyed several years together prior to Lewis鈥檚 death in 1809.

Bothie

Explorer of the North and South Poles

Reportedly as fearless and amusing as he was stubborn and prone to mischief, Bothie was a听Jack Russell terrier who became the first鈥斺�攄og to reach both the North and South Poles.

He and his adventurous owners, Ranulph and Virginia Fiennes, undertook a three-year expedition around the world via the poles starting in 1979. Ranulph, deemed the world鈥檚 greatest living explorer by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1984, brought Bothie along for their journey, save for the Africa segment (which was too hot).

In a 1985 Los Angeles听Times story about the dog鈥檚听accomplishments, Ranulph described him as a 鈥渃ontrary-souled,鈥� yappy mongrel and 鈥渁 fully fledged renegade.鈥�听Bothie rocked a specially made red polar suit and boots to help him survive the extreme cold he encountered, a getup that inspired posters and life-size Bothie toys.

Naughty as he could be鈥攈e enjoyed liberating frozen eggs from buried food stores in Antarctica, licking them until they melted, and demolishing the stinky treasures鈥擱anulph and Virginia felt he brought a sense of normalcy to their 52,000-mile journey. After its completion, they wrote to memorialize his adventures.

Laika

The Moscow Stray Who Became the World鈥檚 First Cosmonaut

Laika, a husky-spitz from the streets of Moscow, was about two years old when she made her to the Soviet Union鈥檚 space program. Chosen for her resourcefulness, docile nature, and urination habits鈥攕he didn鈥檛 need to lift a leg in tight quarters鈥攕he became the first living being to orbit earth.

Prior to the听launch of Sputnik 2 on November 3, 1957, Laika underwent training to acclimate to increasingly small, pressurized spaces and strong centrifugal force. Doctors surgically implanted electrodes in her body to monitor her heart and respiration rates, blood pressure, and physical movement.

She survived the launch and orbited space for several hours听before succumbing to heat and/or dehydration, although the official Soviet line for many years was that she lived for closer to a week before eating poisoned food sent into space with her.

Laika was never meant to survive her trip into space; had she lived until Sputnik 2听completed its 2,570 orbits, she would have burned up upon the satellite鈥檚 reentry into the earth鈥檚 atmosphere. But her sacrifice helped pave the way for the humans to follow, and her name (Russian for 鈥渂arker鈥�) and story have inspired everything from band names and books to museum exhibits and statues.

Tschingel

The Peak-Bagging Beagle of the Alps

One-third of a team deemed 鈥渢he most famous trio in the Alps,鈥� Tschingel was a consolation gift given to a young American named William Coolidge and his aunt听Marguerite 鈥淢eta鈥� Brevoort by their alpine guide after a failed attempt on Eiger, in Swizerland. Tschingel for her climbing accomplishments, which included 11 first听ascents, primarily in the Dauphin茅 Alps of southeastern France.

Some of their hardier expeditions took a toll on Tschingel. During the trio鈥檚 1871 climb up Eiger via the west ridge鈥攖his one successful鈥擳schingel was roped up for the final ascent and part of the descent. Bleeding profusely from her paws, she bravely soldiered on, leading the way over rocks and ice, avoiding crevasses along the way, and earning a reputation as 鈥渁 born guide,鈥� Coolidge later wrote.

Four years later, Tschingel became the first canine to climb Mont Blanc; that same year, the named her an honorary member, recognition that was not bestowed upon Brevoort鈥攐ne of her era鈥檚 most accomplished mountaineers鈥攕ince the club did not open its doors to women for another century.听

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If it鈥檚 true that greatness must be experienced in the first person to be truly appreciated, then writer Rick Bass was on to something with his latest project. Bass spent three years sitting across the dinner table from some of the finest living writers of the 20th and 21st centuries, basking in their light and collecting a few clues to their genius.

In (Little, Brown and Company; $28), Bass took to the road with some of his past and present students to prepare meals for writers who helped him learn his craft鈥擯eter Matthiessen, Terry Tempest Williams, and Lorrie Moore, among others.

Jim Harrison was not among the mentors treated to one of Bass鈥� elaborate meals for the project鈥攈e died a 鈥減oet鈥檚 death鈥� in 2016, pen in hand鈥攂ut his presence in the book looms large. 贬补谤谤颈蝉辞苍鈥檚 Legends of the Fall, perhaps the best novella of the past century, inspired Bass to take the leap three decades ago from someone who reveres the written word to one who wields it daily.

Surely Harrison, whose for fine food and drink remains unequaled in the literary world, would have approved of Bass鈥� offering: made-from-scratch meals often incorporating meat that Bass himself hunted, as well as berries, greens, and mushrooms that he and his mentees foraged. They commandeered their hosts鈥� kitchens to prepare ambitious fare like antelope shoulder grilled over mesquite coals, smoked salmon and sweet potato hash, elk burgers with blue cheese and arugula, and grilled turkey stuffed with jalape帽os and onions. Dessert was equally decadent: feta and goat cheese cheesecake with homemade gingersnap crust, huckleberry and rhubarb pie, pine nut tart. Although a few failed dishes make for great comedy, the meals are mostly successful. I advise against reading it while hungry.

The fundamental question Bass strives to unravel through all those miles, over so many seared elk backstrap appetizers and glasses of Bordeaux, is a simple one: What makes for a life well lived? At this stage in his life, confronting the heartbreak of a divorce he describes as 鈥渘either my idea nor my wish,鈥� Bass pursues a related question: How does the good life change after weathering an unexpected loss on the lee side of midlife?

Bass visits Denis Johnson, a highly acclaimed writer with an indisputable wild streak who was twice divorced but contentedly partnered when Bass dined at his home in Idaho. During the meal, Bass nearly comes out and asks if Johnson had ever given up hope and what one does with the scar tissue of past relationships. He shied from asking鈥攖oo intimate, he feared.

Like Bass, Johnson chose to make a home in a remote and heavily forested valley. It鈥檚 not lost on Bass that many of his heroes are hermits, 鈥渢o the point where they remove themselves so far from society and civilization that not even the curls and tendrils of electricity can reach them.鈥� But living completely alone in such a remote valley鈥攅ven an intensely beautiful one鈥攁sks something different of a solitary psyche. With his two daughters grown, Bass often finds himself reluctant to return to his beloved but empty home in Montana鈥檚 Yaak Valley. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a hard place to be single,鈥� a Yaak native told me years ago in a dim and smoky Missoula bar.

Even the suggestion of doubt can wreak havoc upon contentment. Thus, The Traveling Feast lacks the Zen-like clarity of earlier Bass nonfiction classics like Winter: Notes from Montana and Why I Came West, but there鈥檚 levity in the obvious pleasure that Bass, a self-professed hermit, draws from conversations with his mentors and peers. And the ancient act of providing proves nourishing to both Bass and his heroes. Some (Doug Peacock, Terry Tempest Williams, Tom McGuane) have become old friends; meals with others (David Sedaris, Joyce Carol Oates) have the jerky, halting feel of a first date. Three of Bass鈥� mentors have died since he broke bread with them: Peter Mathiessen, Denis Johnson, and John Berger each succumbed to one form of cancer or another.

One of the central themes of The Traveling Feast is time. Earlier in his life, Bass harbored a deep curiosity about the roles fate and chance played in his life鈥檚 trajectory. It seems he鈥檚 decided to lay that question to rest and instead search for clues about what might remain, how best to use one鈥檚 finite allotment of days.

What Bass finds applies to any number of undertakings, creative and otherwise: Be disciplined with your time and attention but generous with your good fortune. Make space鈥攑hysical space鈥攆or your chosen pursuit. (Several of Bass鈥� mentors write in completely separate quarters that they disappear into daily.) Commune with others who share your passion. Find allies to strengthen and champion your work. Pay it forward.

Perhaps none of these practices can ignite the spark of brilliance, but they can certainly nurture it. 鈥淲riting may or may not be able to be taught,鈥� Bass writes. 鈥淏ut being a writer鈥攚hich is to say, growing the unguarded heart, and inhabiting the exhilarating layer of atmosphere just above us as well as the sometimes frightening subsurface barely a spade鈥檚 stroke beneath us鈥攖his can be taught, or at least encouraged.鈥�

One way a writer achieves greatness is by leaving behind a text that will transcend his or her death. The author of 30 books, several of which have become cornerstones of the West鈥檚 literary canon, Bass has earned a prominent spot in our cultural consciousness. By participating in the age-old mentor-mentee tradition, he does something else to achieve a form of immortality鈥攈e passes on the torch. Accompanying him in that endeavor is a great pleasure indeed.

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Cramming a National Park visit into just one day can involve a stressful amount of guess-based planning and/or a dose of luck-infused spontaneity. But you can take charge with confidence if you read though this list of carefully curated day plans for ten beloved National Parks.

Big Bend, Texas

The best way to get lost in this park鈥檚 1,250 empty square miles is to canoe through the narrow walls of Mariscal Canyon on the Rio Grande. in Terlingua will set you up on a guided trip or an independent float (from $60). Back in Terlingua, the serves up boar strips and live entertainment most nights of the week.

Grand Teton, Wyoming

Maybe it鈥檚 the name that scares away the crowds, but Death Canyon, with its moose and fields of Indian paintbush, isn鈥檛 anything to be afraid of. Hike eight miles out and back to the junction of Static Peak Trail, or continue on for the full 16 miles round-trip to the 11,294-foot summit. Refuel in Jackson with a pulled-pork sandwich and a pint of See You in Helles at before heading to your cabin at (from $199).

Congaree, South Carolina

A photo posted by Jeff Portaro (@jeffportaro) on Jan 26, 2015 at 9:39am PST

Visitors can explore this little-known park by land or water. We like it wet: paddle Cedar Creek through swamp chestnut oaks and sweet gums. Bring bug spray鈥攖he mosquito populations can be formidable. Eighteen miles northwest in Columbia, enjoy regionally sourced shrimp and littleneck clams at , then spring for a room downtown at the , a boutique hotel in an old bakery (from $139).

Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

It鈥檚 not all underground. Mountain bikers have free rein on 25 miles of unpaved trails here, and the singletrack is sweet. Charge across a ridgetop on the Big Hollow Trail, then spelunk by lantern on a ranger-led evening Star Chamber tour. Camp at on the Green River (from $12) and feast on arni youvetsi (braised lamb and orzo) and baklava at in nearby Glasgow.

Haleakala, Hawaii

To explore this park鈥檚 enormous volcano by foot, hike four miles along Sliding Sands Trail, dropping 2,500 feet into the crater. Or do it on wheels: will shuttle you up to the crater鈥檚 lip for sunrise and outfit you with a mountain bike for the 23-mile, 6,000-foot descent ($135). Stay at Makawao at the , a former plantation with pool and yoga studio (from $155), and stock up on cream puffs at the .

Rocky Mountain, Colorado

Celebrate the park鈥檚 100th birthday, which is a year ahead of the national parks centennial. Skip the crowds on Longs Peak and head up 11,586-foot Little Matterhorn, a 5.5-mile hike from the Bear Lake Trailhead. Back in Estes Park, soak in your own private streamside hot tub at the simple (from $159), then try the elk medallions at .

Grand Canyon, Arizona

A photo posted by Gene (@cruisemotogene) on Apr 17, 2015 at 12:14pm PDT

On the park鈥檚 less crowded North Rim, start at Cape Royal Road and hike two miles out on the Cape Final Trail to the canyon鈥檚 edge. Time your arrival for sunset. Take in the stars at the (from $18), or rent a rustic cabin at the , perched on Bright Angel Point ($116).

Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina and Tennessee

Lose the other ten million annual visitors and hike up 6,593-foot Mount Le Conte to spend a night at the legendary (from $136, by lottery). Or start your day with apple fritters at near Cosby, Tennessee, then burn them off hiking five miles up 4,928-foot Mount Cammerer to an octagonal fire lookout built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

Hot Springs, Arkansas

A photo posted by Lake Escape Houseboats (@lakeescape) on Feb 25, 2015 at 8:19pm PST

You鈥檙e here to relax. That said, warm up with a 13-mile Sunset Trail hike through pines and hardwoods on 1,209-foot Sugarloaf Mountain. Then head to historic Bathhouse Row for a soak at and a Hitchcock Spring K枚lsch at the . Stay in nearby , where you can swim and fish and bunk in a lakeshore cabin ($185).

Channel Islands, California

A photo posted by Aaron echols (@kodak_hayes) on Apr 16, 2015 at 6:55pm PDT

They don鈥檛 call them the Gal谩pagos of North America for nothing. Charter a boat with Santa Barbara鈥揵ased for a day of sea kayaking and diving on Santa Cruz鈥攖he biggest, most biologically diverse of the park鈥檚 five islands (from $100). Camping is allowed, or head eight miles west of Santa Barbara to the surf-chic for fish tacos and craft cocktails (from $179).

The post The 24-Hour Plans for 10 Must-Do National Parks appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The National Park Service celebrates its 100th anniversary next year, meaning hoopla, poo-bahs, and crowds. If听2014 saw a record 292.8 million park visitors, just imagine the chaos that a centennial year will bring. Even this year, parks are expecting record numbers.

But you'll only get hounded by听the hoi polloi if you don't know where to go.听Start early with these adventures in ten classic鈥攁nd should-be classic鈥攑arks. We're sharing our favorite ways to get an adrenaline rush, the听hidden spots where you won't be stepping on other tourists' Tevas-clad feet, and the finest nearby eats.听

Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

Kenai is a 669,983-acre rampart of rock, crevasses, and impenetrable ice on the Gulf of Alaska shore, but don鈥檛 be intimidated鈥攖hat鈥檚 why you鈥檙e going. The park is a two-and-a-half-hour drive south of Anchorage and just ten miles from the harbor town of Seward. One of the best hikes is at Exit Glacier: a steep four miles alongside the edge of the icy slope, the trail yields impressive views onto the large Harding Icefield.

But the park is best seen by boat. Take an overnight sea-kayak tour with听, which includes a three-hour boat ride to 22-mile-long fjord Aialik Bay, where you鈥檒l see whales, sea otters, sea lions, and puffins ($699). You鈥檒l paddle along the mile-wide face of Aialik Glacier, then head two miles south to camp near Pedersen Glacier鈥檚 lagoon, with a maze of icebergs to explore. For a softer landing, the 16 cabins at听听are also on a beach near Pedersen Lagoon and are the only lodging within the park鈥檚 boundaries ($725, meals included).听

Trail Mix: Head to听听in Seward for cod hauled off the boat that morning.
Gateway Activity: Seward is spectacular in its own right, set at the end of glacially carved Resurrection Bay. Reserve one of three waterfront cabins at听听($239).听

Olympic National Park, Washington

The massive Elwha Dam was removed two years ago to restore the river鈥檚 salmon population. Paddlers are cheering, too, since this opened up an uninterrupted float through Olympic鈥檚 former Lake Aldwell to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Go with , which is launching ten-mile trips through the lower dam site, including three miles of Class III鈥揑V water ($54). A raft is the perfect vantage point from which to spot eagles and other wildlife and to view the river鈥檚 restoration up close.

Also, the Boulder Creek Trailhead re-opened last fall. (It was closed for three years during demolition of a second dam.) Now you can hike 2.5 miles to Olympic Hot Springs, a handful of clothing-optional, rock-ringed pools in the fir and hemlock forest along Boulder Creek. For a longer trek, the Hoh River Trail on the park鈥檚 west end climbs 17.4 miles from the Hoh rainforest to alpine wildflowers at Glacier Meadows. There you鈥檒l find the starting point to ascend 7,980-foot Mount Olympus. The choicest digs are the Roosevelt Cottages at 100-year-old ($279), located just 30 minutes from the gateway town of Port Angeles.

Trail Mix: For lunch, Port Angeles locals order the biscuits and gravy, sweet-potato fries, and homemade ice cream at ; for dinner, they congregate at the for the green curry seafood with local Manila clams and cod.
Gateway Activity: While the park boasts 70 miles of coastline full of secluded beaches and tide pools, there鈥檚 also good surfing on Quileute tribal lands at First Beach. Fed by Pacific storm surges, the water is coldest in summer, so rent a five-millimeter wetsuit and a board at ($40).

Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida

Dry season is the time to visit the Everglades. From October to April, the rain subsides, mosquitoes disappear, and wildlife is easier to spot. Alligator sightings are all but guaranteed on a day paddle of the Turner River, and manatee and sea turtle encounters are common. Arrange a shuttle and kayak rental from听听for the 11-mile paddle from the put-in at Highway 41 back to the park鈥檚 Gulf Coast visitor center in Everglades City ($75). The paddling starts in a freshwater cypress swamp and ends in brackish mangroves, with open marshland and plenty of wildlife in between. You鈥檒l likely have it to yourself on a weekday. Experienced paddlers can take longer expeditions through the Wilderness Waterway, a 99-mile maze of sloughs and mangroves, or along the coastal 10,000 Islands route.

You鈥檒l camp on beaches or on chickees, docklike platforms built over the water. Grab a backcountry camping permit at the听听(from $12), and be sure to pack fresh water鈥攖here鈥檚 none along the route. The paddle from Everglades City to Flamingo, at the park鈥檚 southernmost point, takes about a week, and Everglades 国产吃瓜黑料s will shuttle your car to Flamingo for $420. When you鈥檝e made it back to Everglades City, recuperate by the pool or on the screened porch of the听听($99).听

Trail Mix: Get lunch at听听on Chokoloskee Island (in the bay south of Everglades City), known for its paella and key lime pie.
Gateway Activity: The 51 species of coral are the main attraction at听听on Key Largo, 30 miles from the Everglades鈥� east entrance. The park includes 72 square miles of water, and just 100 feet off Canon Beach are artifacts from a 1725 Spanish shipwreck that are easy for snorkelers to explore.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Everyone should visit Yellowstone鈥檚 trippy geysers and hot pools at least once. To avoid bus tours and traffic jams, go in the fall, when the park is mostly empty and the elk are horny and bugling. If you can鈥檛 pull that off, there are ways to navigate the more crowded times. Jeremy Schmidt, author of National Geographic鈥檚 Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks Road Guide, recommends Lone Star Geyser, a remote and less visited thermal area that erupts every three hours; it鈥檚 located two miles from Grand Loop Road by foot or bicycle. Get farther off the beaten path by hiking from the Heart Lake trailhead, near Grant Village, alongside hot-springs-studded Witch Creek, and pitch a tent on the shore of Heart Lake (, $25). It鈥檚 a 23-mile route, with an optional side excursion to 10,308-foot Mount Sheridan for views of the Absarokas to the east and the jagged Tetons to the south.

Prefer to paddle? Access the Shoshone Lake Geyser Basin via sea kayak on a two-night, 30-mile expedition through the Lewis and Shoshone Lakes. Rent boats or sign up for a guided trip with听听in Jackson Hole (from $720). To see Old Faithful鈥檚 otherworldly gallery of thermal pools, stay at the听, which was constructed almost entirely from local lodgepole pine logs ($108).听

Trail Mix: Head south to Jackson鈥檚听听for the steak tartare pizza with garlic aioli and capers.
Gateway Activity:听The fishing on the Snake River, just outside Jackson, is some of the best you鈥檒l find anywhere. Third-generation guide听will ensure that you make the most of it (from $475).

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado

The majority of visitors to Black Canyon never make it past the rim, but it鈥檚 hard to blame them: the routes descending the 2,000-foot gorge to the churning whitewater of the Gunnison River follow steep, unmaintained gullies, some of which require technical-climbing skills. For those who do go deeper, the rewards are great: world-class trout fishing, limitless rock climbing, and stunning views of the granite walls on either side.

To keep it mellow, hike the two-mile Oak Flat Trail, which dips 400 feet into the gorge on a maintained section, or walk the three-quarters of a mile out to Warner Point, the park鈥檚 highest spot. If you go all the way down, the best camping is on the riverside beach at the bottom of the Warner Route, a six-hour round-trip scramble from Warner Point. You鈥檒l need a free backcountry permit even for a day trip, which can be picked up at the South Rim visitor center or North Rim ranger station. To scale one of the Black鈥檚 legendarily long and airy routes鈥攍ike six-pitch, 5.9 Maiden Voyage鈥攂ook a day with (from $265).听

Trail Mix: Head to , 24 minutes from the park in Montrose, and fill up on sirloin or chile relleno, the house speciality.听
Gateway Activity: Recuperate after your canyon adventure at , a 1,200-acre spread near Austin with six renovated cabins, farm-to-table dining, and an on-site fly shop. Fish the farm鈥檚 riverfront, or just take a cooling plunge from the six-foot diving platform into the pond ($85).

Yosemite National Park, California

With its iconic rock domes, 200-foot sequoias, and 2,000-foot waterfalls plunging over sheer granite walls, Yosemite may be the most spectacular spot in the lower 48. Which is why it gets so crowded in summer. Our recommendation? Go early (April) or late (October) in the season, and avoid weekends. But go, by all means. Our favorite hikes include the seven-mile round-trip, 2,500-vertical-foot trail to the top of Yosemite Falls; it鈥檚 steep, but the views are sensational. For an overnight, cross the valley and backpack the 14-mile Pohono Trail from the Tunnel View parking lot on Wawona Road. You鈥檒l get views of the valley and El Capitan from Dewey Point. Camp at ($5 per person) and detour to the rim for views of Bridalveil Fall. The hike ends at Glacier Point, where you can catch a shuttle to the valley or hike down via the eight-mile Panorama Trail to see Liberty Cap and Half Dome in the distance.

To get vertical, rope up with , which offers group lessons on classic crags (from $148). Or book climbing instruction and scale long routes like Nutcracker鈥攁 five-pitch, 5.8 climb鈥攐r 16-pitch Royal Arches, one of the finest in the world. Stay at the , an art deco masterpiece with 30-foot ceilings in the dining room and three huge fireplaces in the lounge (from $490). Rather sleep under the stars? Head to Yosemite Creek, a remote, first-come, first-served spot on Tioga Road.听

Trail Mix: Fuel up at the at the Mobil station in Lee Vining if you鈥檙e coming or going via Tioga Pass. The order: buffalo meatloaf or fish tacos with ginger coleslaw.
Gateway Activity: Some of the best whitewater rafting in the world is found on the rivers flowing out of the park. Sign up for a or an (from $144).听

Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Split into three zones by the deep canyons of the Colorado and Green Rivers, and with limited road access, much of Canyonlands is impenetrable to casual sightseers. Venture deep into the red-rock desert on foot or boat, though, and you鈥檒l encounter a 527-square-mile empty playground of the surreal. In the Needles District, hike the 11 miles round-trip to Druid Arch through Elephant Canyon, a gallery of orange-and-white-banded pillars hundreds of feet tall. Or from the Elephant Hill trailhead, take the moderate but spectacular Chesler Park Loop into a sandy bottomland punctuated by sandstone spires and deep, narrow rock corridors. To avoid crowds at the Island in the Sky鈥檚 Mesa Arch, just a quarter-mile from the road, go at dawn for an unbeatable view of the Colorado River canyon.

Summer visitors should explore the Green River by canoe, where a cooling dip is a ready option. Put in at Mineral Bottom for a four-day, 52-mile Class I float, or head farther upstream of the park boundary for longer trips.听听in Moab will rent you a canoe and shuttle you to and from the river ($155). Base yourself in Moab, where offers walk-in camping adjacent to burbling Mill Creek ($32). Or rent a two-bedroom condo downtown at听听(from $329).

Trail Mix: In Moab, try the bacon and green chile Wescial burrito at the听听for breakfast, and make dinner reservations at the听听for Gorgonzola-crusted beef tenderloin.听
Gateway Activity: Six years ago, Moab locals plotted 150 miles of new trail, 90 of which have been built鈥攍ike Hymasa, Captain Ahab, and the Magnificent 7 system. The Porcupine Rim Trail will also serve up everything you can handle.听听offers guided rides with shuttles.

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

With 30 lakes and some 1,000 islands splashed across the Minnesota-Canada border, Voyageurs is a paddler鈥檚 paradise. Explore 600 miles of bedrock shoreline and camp among spruce and birch forests, trolling for walleye or casting for northern pike. Head out for a night or two via kayak or canoe to one of the park鈥檚 270 designated campsites, which can be up to six months in advance (from $16). Or go for the grand tour: a five-night, 80-mile loop through the park鈥檚 three largest lakes, with just two portages. Start from the Kabetogama Lake visitor center and head west toward the half-mile Gold Portage trail to 360-square-mile Rainy Lake. Take a few days to paddle the south shore, ducking behind islands if big waves arise. At Kettle Falls, stop by the historic , accessible only by boat, where you can have a meal and get your boats trucked across the quarter-mile-long portage to Namakan Lake ($5).

Take a few more days to explore Namakan鈥檚 smaller inlets and passages, swinging by 125-foot-tall Grassy Bay Cliffs, and make your way back to Kabetogama Lake via Blind Indian Narrows. Houseboats cruise the park, and they鈥檒l be your primary competition for campsites. If you can鈥檛 beat them, consider joining them. Voyagaire Lodge and Houseboats in Crane Lake, at the park鈥檚 southeast corner, will rent you a boat with a gas grill and a hot tub on the roof. The , with five double beds, goes for $605 a night. You鈥檒l get a tutorial before you鈥檙e sent on your way. The most popular three-night route? A visit to Kettle Falls.听

Trail Mix: A trip to Voyageurs will likely involve a stop in Duluth, about 2.5 hours south of the park. Swing by to see which of its 100-plus beers are on tap. And order the burger: it鈥檚 made from cattle raised by the brewery and fed spent grain from the brewing process.
Gateway Activity: In Duluth, get out on Lake Superior. rents paddleboards for exploring and leads Great Lakes SUP-yoga sessions (rentals, $15 an hour; classes, $25).

Acadia National Park, Maine

*Photo credit is wrong, should be Noah Couser/Aurora*Acadia鈥檚 granite bluffs are iconic. Less well known: you can climb many of them. Otter Cliff, on Mount Desert Island鈥檚 east coast, is one of the best places to scale sea cliffs in the country, with routes from 5.5 to 5.11. Inland, the south wall of Champlain Mountain has multi-pitch trad climbing and views of the Atlantic. in Bar Harbor can arrange a trip for you and your crew (from $99). Pitch a tent at , a beautiful forested spot that fills up quickly in high season (reservations available up to six months in advance; $22).

Looking for something more remote? Take the mail boat from nearby Stonington to 5,400-acre Isle au Haut for a night at the , a working lighthouse (from $325, all-inclusive). Hike the island鈥檚 rugged southwestern coast, then ride one of the inn鈥檚 loaner bikes to Long Pond for a dip.听

Trail Mix: The fireplace and copper tables give in Bar Harbor a cozy feel, and its local-catch fare elevates the food above standard pub grub. Wash the seafood risotto down with a pint of Bar Harbor Real Ale from nearby Atlantic Brewing Co.
Gateway Activity: Every Friday, offers two-hour moonlight sea-kayaking trips along Casco Bay ($45). You鈥檒l launch at 7 P.M. in Portland, three hours south of the park.听

Glacier National Park, Montana

File this one under go before it鈥檚 gone. When the park was created 105 years ago, 150 of the namesake glaciers dotted the landscape; now there are fewer than 30. Hike four miles along the Loop Trail to the 100-year-old , your backcountry base camp for an exploration of the stunning Grinnell Glacier, a 1.5-mile hike away (from $100).

Or take to the water: driving 30 miles up bone-jarring gravel roads to Kintla, one of the northernmost lakes in the park, might take a toll on your suspension, but your reward is a translucent body of glacial meltwater surrounded by larch forest. Load up your canoe for a three-mile paddle to the six-site campground at the head of the lake. Pack bear spray and some rope to hang food; this is grizzly country (, from $5).听

Trail Mix: Located 36 miles northwest of West Glacier, is off the grid. But that doesn鈥檛 prevent it from making the tastiest huckleberry bear claws in the lower 48. The Merc has sandwiches, beer, espresso, cabin rentals, and other essentials, and has served this remote outpost for over 100 years.
Gateway Activity: With more than 50 miles of lift-served downhill and cross-country trails, , a 40-mile drive from West Glacier, is an up-and-coming mountain-biking destination (from $22). Check out Kashmir, a black-diamond trail full of jumps and banked corners.

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When Everest ER opens for its 13th operational season this April, last year鈥檚 disaster鈥�the avalanche that killed 16 Sherpas鈥攚ill hang heavy in the thin air at Everest Base Camp. Nonetheless, the team鈥檚 four field physicians and logistics manager will continue to do what they鈥檝e been trained to: care for climbers in the harsh environs of the world鈥檚 highest medical clinic.

Over the course of the two-month climbing season, the team will treat an estimated several hundred patients鈥攖rekkers whose final destination is Base Camp, climbers making a bid for the summit, and Nepalis supporting these expeditions. Some of the Nepalis will have awaited the clinic鈥檚 opening for the better part of a year, as it will be their first opportunity for medical treatment they can access and afford. Treating people in need is what clinic founder Dr. Luanne Freer feels most passionate about; she鈥檚 used the word 鈥渄estiny鈥� to describe her path to medical treatment in Nepal.

In 1994, five years before Freer鈥檚 first medical mission to the Himalayas, she was captivated by the challenges of high-altitude medicine. She researched Acute Mountain Sickness in Yellowstone National Park before finding her way to expedition medicine and what she calls, 鈥渢he best job in the world.鈥� This is her 15th medical mission to Nepal and her 28th trip to the country. (She鈥檚 volunteered in other capacities, including instructing mountaineering first aid courses at the .)

国产吃瓜黑料 caught up with Freer, 57, as she was en route to Nepal from her hometown of Bozeman, Montana. Just before boarding a plane in Seattle, she spoke about life inside and outside of Everest Base Camp and what she anticipates for the 2015 climbing season.

OUTSIDE: By now, you must have your pre-Everest routine down to a science. What do you do to prepare for two-and-a-half months above 17,500 feet?
FREER: I鈥檝e kind of screwed my altitude approach this year鈥擨鈥檝e just returned from an Ebola treatment hospital in Sierra Leone [near sea level]鈥攁nd I expect trekking up the mountain may be a bit more difficult. I鈥檝e also been busy with other projects like collecting equipment, including a new ultrasound machine provided by our sponsors. It鈥檚 a lot of preparation and in the midst I鈥檝e got a full-time job. It was a very harried packing process.

What are the logistics involved with getting staff and supplies to Base Camp?听
The climate and conditions are so hard on equipment that you can鈥檛 really rely on anything working from season to season. This year we鈥檙e going up with a brand new custom-designed solar energy and communication systems. The tonnage involved is stunning. Making sure that everything makes it onto planes and helicopters before it鈥檚 carried up is a big project. I ask our designers to make no piece heavier than 30 kilograms (66 pounds) so that porters or yaks can carry it up.听

What are some of the common illnesses and injuries you treat?
The reality is we have a very selected population at Base Camp鈥攊f you think about it, nobody chooses to climb Everest until they鈥檝e had a little bit of experience on high mountains鈥攕o we have a kind of pre-destined community that doesn鈥檛 suffer altitude-related illnesses as commonly as you would think. The majority of what we see is high-altitude cough鈥攚e call it Khumbu cough鈥攁nd it鈥檚 caused by a combination of high altitude and low relative humidity. It can be severe enough to result in broken ribs. Nobody鈥檚 immune. Nobody鈥檚 bronchial tissue lining is designed to live at that high and dry of an environment.听

We also treat viral infections鈥攙iruses are easy to spread when you鈥檙e sharing a tent for meals鈥攁nd gastrointestinal conditions. There are hygiene issues on the mountain that make people here more susceptible to illness. We treat altitude-related illnesses like HAPE [high altitude pulmonary edema] and HACE [high altitude cerebral edema] as well.

Everest ER is a project of the (a Nepali NGO) run in conjunction with a U.S.-based nonprofit called the Himalayan Rescue Association-USA. How is it funded?
The bulk of the money in the nonprofit account comes from my motivational speaking in the past. Currently the money that helps the season operational funding break even comes from the $100 that most climbing operators opt to pay per non-Nepali team member. If the entire non-Nepali team donates, the Nepali team members enjoy unlimited doctor consults. Slightly more than half of the patients we treat are Nepali. All of our patients pay a very low fee for medications as used.

Can you describe a medical treatment that went really well, a patient with a particularly severe illness or injury that had an unexpectedly good outcome?
The one that first comes to mind, just because it was so unusual, involved a 2009 epidemic of illegally and improperly sold alcohol that was causing people to die of methanol poisoning. A Sherpa who almost died鈥攈e was found unconscious, his breathing was irregular, and he鈥檇 suffered frostbite鈥攚as saved by his buddy鈥檚 quick thinking and collaboration between different teams. He was treated by our doctors and not only survived but came back the following year to thank me for having our doctors on the mountain because he surely wouldn鈥檛 have survived if he鈥檇 been farther from medical care. It was a really heartwarming thank you. There are tons of them.听

How about a patient you treated that was particularly tough for you personally?
It鈥檚 hard to find somebody at Base Camp that we don鈥檛 know, so it鈥檚 really hard whenever there鈥檚 an accident on the mountain. Of course, every life is important, but it seems to hit even harder when it鈥檚 a Sherpa struggling to support their family. Unfortunately, it seems like every year somebody who might not have the choice to do a less risky job loses their life. It really makes you realize the devastation that lies in wait.听

That said it鈥檚 worth mentioning that we have never had anyone die in our clinic. We鈥檝e had people brought down to the clinic where they鈥檝e been pronounced dead, but nobody has died at our clinic. The reality is that most of the really big problems, injuries, and illnesses happen up higher, and because we don鈥檛 have a technical rescue team on Everest, they鈥檙e not able to reach Everest ER in time for us to provide advanced life-saving care.

What happens when somebody dies higher up on the mountain, where it is more difficult and risky to get people down?
A lot are still up there. I don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 changed this year, but my understanding is that in past years, there鈥檚 a rescue deposit that each team has to pay and they鈥檙e required to bring down all of their human waste and garbage and that includes the bodies of the deceased. The [the organization responsible for both waste management on Everest and fixing the Khumbu Icefall Route] has basically put a financial incentive on bringing everything down, including the bodies. Of course sometimes that is not possible, and I know that they leave some up there, but I think there鈥檚 been a renewed effort to bring them down, especially now that we have helicopters powerful enough to extract them.

Are bodies ever carried down by hand?
Absolutely. I think any way you shake it, it鈥檚 a fairly expensive proposition to get them down and ultimately the family decides if they want to hire 鈥淴鈥� amount of team members to retrieve the body or involve a helicopter. Last year, Everest ER鈥檚 logistics manager Lakpa Norbu Sherpa was involved in helping package the bodies because he is one of the few technically trained in long-line helicopter rescue. We are otherwise rarely involved with body recovery.

The Nepalese government has said that they鈥檙e improving rescues and medical care this year. How do you think it will play out?
I read 听that you did. I鈥檓 anxious to see what turns up. The four doctors they鈥檙e talking about are my four doctors at Everest ER. I received a very generous donation so that we can better protect the national workers and respond more quickly in the event of a rescue situation. I鈥檓 going back with donated and purchased rescue equipment.听

I鈥檝e been lobbying for a Sherpa-run technical rescue team for years. If there鈥檚 a silver lining to last year鈥檚 tragedy, it鈥檚 that there鈥檚 growing support for a fully trained and equipped technical rescue team.听

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The best place to celebrate this end to winter? Small ski hills. Fewer crowds equals more time spent on the hill, not in a lift maze. Plus, small ski hills have some refreshingly low prices.听

Here are five small U.S. ski areas where you can welcome spring and send the ski season off in style.听

Snow King, Wyoming

Nearby Jackson Hole Mountain Resort gets a lot more press, but isn鈥檛 without its charms. Think night skiing (available Tuesday through Saturday) and a spring skiing staple: closing weekend pond skimming ().

Plus, Snow King鈥檚 generous uphill travel policy () means it鈥檚 virtually free to skin or hike 1,500 feet to the top of 鈥渢he Town Hill鈥� (acre-for-acre, the steepest hill in the United States) and take in the view of town as you fly down Exhibition, one of the most sheer, lift-served runs in North America. For lodging, check in to the historic in Jackson, which offers apr茅s-ski cookies and cocoa in its guest rooms. From there, it鈥檚 a two-block walk to local hangout听.

Bridger Bowl, Montana

Bridger Bowl, about 30 minutes from Bozeman, is all about the backcountry. Bridger鈥檚 ski school offers ridge terrain tours that start at $180 (avalanche gear included) for three hours of guided touring. If you鈥檙e just looking to have some end-of-season fun, check out the听 for snowboarding and skiing.

Try the Hopzone IPA at听, a cozy neighborhood brewery with award-winning brews. If a room with a fireplace and Jacuzzi sounds appealing, check into the . For breakfast, stop at and grab a Trapper Wrap loaded with eggs, sausage, gravy, and potatoes en route to another day of charging.

Berkshire East, Massachusetts

The United States鈥� first ski area to produce enough renewable electricity to power its operation is also home to one of the best racing programs in New England. But you don鈥檛 have to be a pro to take advantage of the area鈥檚 ($15 Thursday nights; Saturday night family deals) and surprisingly diverse amount of terrain.听

The Schaefer family has owned Berkshire East for 39 years and recently purchased nearby Warfield House Inn, a quintessential New England B&B that doubles as a 350-acre working farm. Book a room at the inn and they鈥檒l knock $10 off your lift ticket. On certain weekends, they also run a on lift tickets. Ten miles east, in Shelburne Falls,听located right on the Deerfield River, the听听serves up tasty dishes like salmon wasabi wraps.

Monarch Mountain, Colorado

This gets just as much snow as the megaresorts along I-70 (350 inches annually), but fewer people. Here, the base elevation is high (10,790 feet), the lift lines are short, and the tickets cost a fraction of its northern neighbors. More challenging terrain is available for those willing to pay for cat skiing or trek 10 minutes out of the ski area boundary to Mirkwood, a 130-acre basin where you can have your pick of cliffs, chutes, and tree skiing. If you鈥檝e been anxiously awaiting spring runoff, consider getting a jump on summer watersports by participating in Monarch鈥檚 signature event: on April 11鈥攃ompetitors race down a specially designed course that ends in an icy pond.

is 40 minutes away, but if you book two nights, they鈥檒l cover the cost of two, one-day lift tickets to Monarch. Cabins at Mount Princeton can accommodate a crowd鈥攖he largest sleeps 10鈥攁nd include patios and gas fireplaces. Fill up on crab cakes with saffron aioli and bistro steak chimichurri at the .

Shanty Creek, Michigan

Having a ridiculously friendly staff can make or break a ski day, but realizing you still have money to spend after a day out on the slopes? Cheers to that! Every Sunday, $25 will get you on the beginner hill. Not a never-ever? Ski the trees of Little Red Riding Woods on the north face of Schuss Mountain鈥攖he more advanced of Shanty Creek鈥檚 two mountains鈥攐r cruise down Good Knight, a favorite with racers. Thanks to its wide range of off-the-hill offerings (think dogsled rides, fat-bike trails, and snow tubing), Shanty Creek has plenty to please your crew, including an event most Saturdays and Sundays. On closing weekend, don a tropical-themed outfit and partake in the pig roast during the , March 21 and 22.

Stay at , a ski-in/ski-out lodge with modern one- and two-bedroom suites and an outdoor pool and hot tub. Nearby in Bellaire, Short鈥檚 Brewing Company hosts live music several nights a week in its .

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Even though you might have only a hazy memory of last Saturday night, your smartphone has the pictures to document it. And now you can print those hard-to-remember moments direct to film with .

About the size of three stacked iPhones, the SnapJet is a portable printer that works with any smartphone to print credit card-size pictures, effectively turning your phone into a Polaroid camera.

Here’s how it works: the SnapJet uses a fiber optic polymer to scan the light emitted from your smartphone鈥檚 display and transfer it directly onto the instant film below. Just push the device鈥檚 single button and it’ll print out a photo a few seconds later. The best part? You get to watch the image appear on the film, just like you could with the old Polaroids. Fully charged, the battery prints about 50 photos.听

No cords. No requisite software. And just a single press of a button. With the SnapJet, you can make those memories a lot more accessible鈥攆or either the refrigerator or a blackmail-size manila envelope. Who said film is dead?

$129,

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