simple::nature

For many people, spring break is right around the corner.  Spring break itself hasn’t meant much to me since I graduated from college, but something about this time of year makes me want to escape to the warmth.  So what will you be doing for spring break?

If it’s warmth and sunshine you’re after, Mexico is always a great choice.  Between Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Puerta Vallarta, you’re sure to find some fun in the sun. 

If you want to stay closer to home, or at least somewhere that doesn’t require a passport, look south.  Florida, Arizona, California, and even Texas all have great vacation destinations. 

If it’s the fluffy white stuff your heart desires, many places like Utah, and Colorado still boast great powder throughout the spring break season.

Isn’t nature amazing?  Have you ever thought of how cool a pearl is?  I mean seriously, there are little treasures found in so many unexpected places!  I have been thinking about how remarkable pearls are so I have done a little research.  I found it interesting how the human race has kind of “stepped-in” and helped out the process a bit.

Pearls are so timelessly beautiful, it is kind of a shame that they use to only be available at the whims of nature. Luckily for us, were people have developed methods which allow us to cultivate, or culture, these fine treasures, enabling pearls to be more accessible.

The long history behind pearl culturing actually began in Australia. William Saville-Kent actually discovered the methods behind pearl culturing. However, two men from Japan, Tokichi Nishikawa and Tatsuhei Mise, are responsible for its true beginning as a commercial process. In 1916 they were granted the patent in Japan for culturing pearls, and Nishikawa’s Father-in-law then began to apply this technology to akoya pearl oysters. This technology was then applied to the south sea oyster in 1917 however it took another 11 years before a commercial crop of pearls was produced.

The method for culturing pearls is fairly simple. The oyster is brought out of the water, then a small irritant, such as a piece of shell or oyster tissue is inserted into the oyster. The oyster then activates its natural defense system and starts to coat the intruder with a layer of nacre. It keeps doing this until a full pearl is formed. This process, depending on the oyster and size of pearl desired, can take anywhere from 2 to 7 years.

A common misconception of this process is that a grain of sand is used to “seed” the oyster. While sand can cause a pearl to be formed it is much more likely that a bead, piece of shell, or chunk of tissue was used. These provide more reliable pearls, and pearl shapes, great for pearl necklaces and pearl earrings.

The culturing of pearls has provided a unique opportunity for those who seek after this jewel. They are able to have a real pearl made through the same process as natural pearls however they don’t have to wait for the rare natural pearl to found. It also provides the chance to have longer strands of matching pearls. Whatever the case may be, the culturing of pearls has most certainly made the jewelry world a better place.

I have been following the blog Dadventures in Beantown for a while now.  I am a parent myself, and I love to see somebody post about adventures that can be done with the kids.  Seth, the author of Dadventures, lives in Massachusetts (hence the title) where he is an elementary school principle, husband, father, and adventurer.  He and his family have traveled through five continents and are always keeping us up-to-date with adventures close to home as well.  They are about to embark on a big adventure to Rome (can you sense my envy?) and they promise to keep us posted on their adventures while there.  Hopefully his posts will be a cure for my insatiable desire to travel to that ancient land.

He’s given me permission to re-post one of his entries.  I wanted to give you a little taste of his writing, and encourage you to head over to his blog for the full feast!

First Freshies: Nashoba Valley Ski Area, Westford, MA

Sydney and cousin Sklyar ride their own, personal magic carpet, cousin Carey up the bunny hill. Nashoba may be little, but it’s perfect for beginners.

Nashoba Valley Ski Area
79 Power Rd
Westford, MA

Dadventures were defined in the snow for me. I put on first pair of wooden boards at age two at the Dartmouth Cross Country Ski Center and it has all downhill from there. My dad and I have spent innumerable hours crossing the globe, shoving our feet into boots and bombing down the moguls. Today was Sydney’s second time out, and who better to share it with that one of my favorite dadventurers, Cousin Carey. Carey was a kayak guide in Chile, has torn up the slopes of New England and generally shares my ambition for crazy outdoor fun. It is obvious that his daughter Skylar will do the same.

A quick phone call last night, a check off the freshies forecast (3-4 by morning), a perusal of Curious George in the Snowby H.A. Rey and we were off. Thirty-five minutes from my house (yes people, 35 minutes to pow-pow door to door) and we were on the hill. Sydney made me buy a full lift ticket, even though Nashoba has a nice feature for the under five set: $20 for the bunny hill. In the end, those two blue runs with him gripping me for deal life and laughing so loud my ears hurt off the chair were more than worth the extra $20 for me. Sure, Nashoba is not the alps, the lodge needs a little more room and Sydney could have used some beginner blues, but all in all, three hours later we were beat. The first step in a ridiculously expensive and rewarding adventure career.

Thanks Dadventurer!

The 2010 Olympic Games are less than 2 weeks away! I’m not going to lie. I love the Olympics. I love the competitive nature, as well as the sense of pride that occompanies the games. I know this is a bit premature, but it’s simply been on my mind as of late. What are your favorite events to watch?

I feel kind of silly posting about great ski trails and fantastic river runs when there is so much devastation in Haiti.  I don’t want to dwell on this for long, but I didn’t want to ignore it either.  I thought I would share a quote and a video straight out of Haiti:

In an e-mail newsletter Alex Thompson of Britain’s Channel 4 News writes:

Agencies on the ground, and the U.S. commander, are growing doubtful now of finding anybody else alive. He says US forces have not found anybody alive for the past two days. But we know that earthquakes always surprise us with the endurance of the human spirit. We may yet be further surprised.

Unless you live under a rock, I am sure you are aware that Whistler, BC will be hosting the Olympics in February this year.   I figured that now would be the perfect time to highlight that beautiful little piece of nature.

I just wanted to sneak a quick post in to wish everybody a happy and safe new year celebration!  I hope you all had a fantastic 2009, and hopefully 2010 will be even better.

Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes, CA

Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, Bend, Oregon

Alpine Meadows, Tahoe City, California

The Canyons, Park City, Utah

Kirkwood, Lake Tahoe, California

Park City Mountain Resort, Park City, Utah

Mt. Hood, Mount Hood, Oregon

Big Sky Resort, Big Sky Montana

Sugarloaf, Maine

Squaw Valley, Olympic Valley, California

Because for most of the United States, it is certainly ski season, I’ve decided to feature a list of the top ten North American ski destinations  compiled by Matador Trips.  I thought the list was well thought out and had a solid top ten, so here it is for your enjoyment:

The following ten ski resorts have been selected based on two criteria more important than any other: consistency of good snow conditions, and quality of terrain. Building your trip around any one of these places will make for an epic days this season.

Please ski and ride safely and we’ll see you out there!

10. Kirkwood, CA

Off Tahoe’s beaten-path, Kirkwood is 45 minutes south of the lake and resorts like Heavenly and Squaw. Its location helps thin the crowds, even as Kirkwood receives the most snowfall of any Tahoe resort, averaging 600 inches a year.

When it’s not snowing, it’s probably sunny, as Kirkwood also boasts a healthy majority of bluebird days. Take Wagon Wheel or Cornice Express and slice down steeps, bowls and chutes like The Wall and Cliff Chute.

9. Big Sky, Montana

With 4,350 feet of vertical, Big Sky is one of the largest in the US. It’s also pretty huge in terms of acreage—3,812. Purchase a Big Sky-Moonlight Basin Interconnect ticket and your skiable acreage expands to 5,512, quickly making Big Sky/Moonlight the country’s largest lift-served resort area.

Ascending the mountain, you can’t help but stare at the sheer face of Lone Mountain, towering ominously in the background, inviting the willing onto its many chutes, bowls and couloirs. While the riding is huge, the crowds and lift lines are virtually non-existent—so if you miss out on any terrain, you can be sure it’s because the resort was just too damn big.

Photo from Silverton Mountain

8. Sunshine Village, AB

One of 3 Banff-area resorts, Sunshine Village is all about imposing terrain and quality powder. Delirium Dive, Wild West and Silver City are free-ride areas offering some of Canada’s most extreme terrain within resort boundaries.

In-bounds backcountry, you’d better bring a riding partner, avalanche equipment and big-time skills. Once in, expect to negotiate cliffs, cornices, steeps and variable terrain. You’ll need to have good timing—these areas are often closed due to high avalanche danger.

Not quite ready for the backcountry? Goat’s Eye Mountain offers slightly-tamer, but still demanding expert options.

7. Powder Mountain, UT

In a state that earned its reputation on snow quality, only one resort is named Powder. Receiving 500 inches of dry Utah fresh a year, Powder also has more accessible terrain than any other resort in the US— 5,500 acres. You’ve never heard it billed this way because the terrain is a combination of lift-served, snowcat and hike-to.

Powder Country offers 1200 acres of hike-to terrain, notorious for having fresh lines even weeks after a storm. A shuttle comes by regularly to carry you back to the base once you’ve hit pavement.

Cat rides run either daily or for just $12 a ride. If you feel like gravity stifles your flow, 20 bucks buys you access to snowkiting terrain via Sunrise Lift.

6. Arapahoe Basin, CO

A-Basin’s altitude at 13,050 feet allows for a lengthy season that often welcomes skiers on Fourth of July. A-Basin also has some of the gnarliest, steepest terrain in Colorado, with 60% of the mountain graded for advanced or expert riders. Last season, the resort nearly doubled its skiable terrain with the addition of Montezuma Bowl on the backside.

While there’s no lodging on the mountain, there is tailgating—a section of A-Basin’s parking lot dubbed “the Beach” is the place to pull up a lawn chair, grill some brats and enjoy like-minded company and sweet mountain views.

Photo from Powder Mountain

5. Kicking Horse, BC

The Horse’s 4,133 feet of vertical is second only to the BC untouchables of Whistler and recently-cut Revelstoke. And that’s not PR-guru spin (i.e. vertical divided among seven base areas). You can drop the full 4,133 in one continuous line, from upper mountain chutes and bowls to lower runs and on to the base.

There are only 5 lifts, so catch Golden Eagle Express Gondola or Stairway to Heaven and choose from 70 chutes, cut across several ridges. Don’t expect smooth turns all the way to the bottom, however; chutes are laden with cliffs, cornices, rocks and other expert fare.

4. Jay Peak, VT

Those who complain that Jay Peak is too cold, windy or isolated don’t come back. The rest of us have different priorities. Priorities like 350 inches of powder, 24 glades and some of the only chutes in the east— numbers that would be impressive in the Rockies; in the east they’re unheard of outside Jay’s boundaries.

For backcountry, find a shred with his thumb out on the side of VT 224; he just tracked a sweet line over Big Jay and should provide some local knowledge. When it’s time to head in, lodges like Grampa Grunt’s (more like a hostel) and Snowshoe Lodge are the closest you’ll find to the Ritz here.

Photo by McPhoto, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

3. Red Mountain, BC

If you’re in BC and looking for a “scene”, head to Whistler. If you’re looking for pure riding and no hassles, consider Red Mountain your spot. Red’s southern inland location allows for much drier powder than resorts toward the coast. It’s still BC though; Red serves big terrain including glades, cliffs and steeps.

The resort also offers easy access points to 2,500 acres of backcountry. Red has piloted The Mountain Project, a cooperative among the resort, locals and outdoor manufacturers to preserve and sustain true mountain community values and lifestyle, the essence of what we sought to capture on this list.

2. Mt. Baker, WA

If you had to describe Mt. Baker in just one word, it would undoubtedly be SNOW. Last year, Baker was crowned the unequivocal snowfall king with a lofty 641-inch average. The resort also owns the world record of 1,140 inches in a single season. That’s no misprint.

Baker’s appeal doesn’t stop at deep pow; you’ll also find some of the sickest terrain in the lower 48. With gut-churning cliffs, cornices and steeps inside boundary lines, and a generous backcountry policy, Baker will ingrain lifelong memories (and lessons).

Don’t expect any plush amenities—the nearest lodging is 17 miles away in Glacier, ensuring that people who come have but one motivation.

Adult lift tickets run just $43/weekend and $36/weekdays, probably cheaper than your local hill.

1. Silverton, CO

Silverton has taken the vision of a rider’s resort to the next level. There’s a mountain. There’s a lift. And there’s over 1,800 acres of steeps, bowls and chutes. A yurt serves as the base lodge. No grooming. No runs. All terrain is colored black.

Depending upon when you’re there, you’ll have guided or unguided options. Avalanche gear is required. Take THE lift, hike the ridgeline and drop in on the line that looks most promising. A shuttle will pick you up where you land and take you back to start again. Expect to be joined by fewer than 80 others. Epic.

Whenever I think of spending time in nature, my mind always goes back to hiking.  Hiking is a wonderful way to get in touch with your surroundings, and get your heart rate up a bit too.  There are SO many great hiking trails in the United States, but I thought I would give you a list of 5 to start with. 

Zion National Park – The park’s name itself means “a place of refuge or sancturary,” and boy does it live up to its name.   The park’s fantastic views span over 229 square miles. The Colorado Plateau, Great Basin and Mojave Desert provinces intersect in this park allowing it to boast a deep diversity of plant and animal life. 

Glacier National Park – This park  spans across millions of acres of forests, alpine meadows and lakes.   Over 70 species of mammals and more than 260 species of birds call Glacier National Park their home. The park is also home to over 700 miles of hiking trails.  There is so much beauty to see in this park, and so much to do that it is certainly a must see.  

Yosemite National Park – Located in the Sierra Nevada, this park is said to have had the most breathtaking views that you can ever see. Expect to see numerous meadows, waterfalls and forests.

Appalachian Trail – The Appalachian Trail is one of the longest hiking trails in the United States.  It spans 14 states and about 2,174 miles. The trail goes through Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. You can hike the trail for one short day, or take an entire season off and hike the entire length.

Grand Canyon National Park – One of the most amazing creations of nature this National Park in the Colorado Plateau has some of the most awe-inspiring views.  You have got to see this at least once in your lifetime.