By July 1, 2012, California plans to close 70 state parks. Gray Whale Cove State Park, Portola Redwoods State Park, Castle Rock State Park, and 67 other of the state’s 278 parks will close. Twenty percent of state park rangers and all seasonal lifeguards working state beaches will lose their jobs. All of this is one step to help reduce a $9.2 billion state deficit. The cuts to California’s Department of Parks and Recreation will account for a savings of $22 million.

What does all this mean? To get a feel for the changes, check out the video above. It’s a documentary we found on the Prana blog, picked up from a Kickstarter project called The First 70. After the state park cuts were announced, a group from Heath Hen Films packed up a converted airport shuttle bus and took off to document the 70 parks.

“As we connected dots on a map, a pattern emerged,” the groups says on their Kickstarter page. “No one knew exactly what the conditions of closure would be, nor could they see how the state would ultimately benefit.”

While some say the cuts may help the state budget, others point out that local communitites that depend on the parks for tourism will lose out because of the decision. Online complaints about a lack of safety and education in wild places have led some citizens to start a movement for keeping the parks open.

“This governor has gone where no governor has gone before with state parks,” says Elizabeth Goldstein of the California State Parks Foundation. “Californians are frustrated with their state parks being held hostage in the budget process, especially when the claims of “budget savings” from closures are unlikely to materialize, but are likely to end up costing the state and local communities.”

To learn more about both sides of the cuts, check out the following:

A podcast from 89.3 KPCC on privatizing the parks.
California’s announcement of the funding cuts back in May 2011.
The California State Parks Foundation statement about the closing.

Tell us in the comments section below, what will be the effect of closing 70 state parks in California?

written by – Joe Spring

Happy New Year 2012

From TheBackpackerTV

Louie Schwartzberg is an award-winning cinematographer, director, and producer whose notable career spans more than three decades providing breathtaking imagery for feature films, television shows, documentaries and commercials.

This piece includes his short film on Gratitude and Happiness. Brother David Steindl’s spoken words, Gary Malkin’s musical compositions and Louie’s cinematography make this a stunningly beautiful piece, reminding us of the precious gift of life, and the beauty all around us.

As a visual artist, Louie has created some of the most iconic and memorable film moments of our time. He is an innovator in the world of time-lapse, nature, aerial and “slice-of-life” photography – the only cinematographer in the world who has literally been shooting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week continuously for more than 30 years.

Louie was recognized as one of the top 70 Cinematographers for the On Film Kodak Salute Series. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

Louie is credited by many with pioneering the contemporary stock footage industry by founding Energy Film Library, a global company with a network of 12 foreign offices, which was acquired by Getty Images in 1997. Motion picture clients of his cinematic artistry include Sex in the City, The Bourne Ultimatum, Die Hard 4, Syriana, Crash, Men in Black and classics such as American Beauty, Koyaanisqatsi and E.T. among others.

Louie went on to found BlackLight Films, a creative production company specializing in producing original theatrical feature, large format films, HD and TV programming.

In 2004, BlackLight Films completed production of the theatrical feature film, America’s Heart &Soul, distributed theatrically by Walt Disney Pictures. In 2006, BlackLight Films completed a series of HD shorts, Louie Films, for the launch of Buena Vista Home Entertainment’s Blu-Ray DVD releases. In 2007, the company produced a 1-hour special, Chasing the Light, which aired nationally on PBS.

Past projects include the 35mm film Seasons of the Vine for Disney’s California Adventure Theme Park and a 26-half hour series, America!, for The Hallmark Channel.

Louie has won two Clio Awards for Best Environmental Broadcast Spot, an Emmy nomination for Best Cinematography for the Discovery Channel Special, Oceans of Air, and the Heartland Film Festival’s Truly Moving Picture Award for Walt Disney Pictures’ feature film release America’s Heart & Soul.

Louie completed production on a feature length nature documentary, Wings of Life, to be theatrically released worldwide, under Walt Disney Pictures’ new production banner, Disneynature. The film was released in France (March 2011) under the title Pollen and won the Roscar Award for Best Cinematography at the 2011 Wild Talk Africa Film Festival.

Louie spoke at the TED 2011 conference in Long Beach, CA and has been a regular presenter at the annual Bioneers Conference in San Francisco. Currently, Louie is in production with National Geographic to produce Hidden Worlds, a 3D Imax film.

Wanted to wish everyone that visits TheBackpackerTV a fantastic Holiday Season.  Also, a huge THANK YOU for all the support you have given us over the last 4 years. After relocating to Atlanta Ga this year, I have to say, I do miss the snow…..a little. Here’s a short clip to make to put a smile on your face this Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!!

Sincerely,

Scott (ficade 03)

Admin

I created TheBackpackerTV because of my passion for the outdoors and seeing nature up close and personal. To share my experiences, and the experiences of others for everyone to enjoy. We go watch hundreds of videos each month picking the very best for you. Enjoy!

   

Since 1991, Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides has shown thousands of people the beauty of the mountains and wild places in Yosemite Nat’l Park, the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness, Sequoia & Kings Canyon Nat’l Parks, and the Eastern Sierra region. SYMG is a leader in the active travel and mountain guiding world, providing carefully planned and operated trips and programs in the most spectacular Wilderness areas of California.

This video was taken on a 5-day section of the John Muir Trail. This adventure hike started at Florence Lake and went to Edison Lake. The guided trip was filmed for Motion TV with host Greg Aiello and aired in October, 2011.

Video shot by Ian Elman

Admin

I created TheBackpackerTV because of my passion for the outdoors and seeing nature up close and personal. To share my experiences, and the experiences of others for everyone to enjoy. We go watch hundreds of videos each month picking the very best for you. Enjoy!

   

This amazing 20 minute documentary tells the story about Melissa Amacher and Justin Smith’s amazing journey on the Pacific Crest Trail. Their mission is simple: InspireOut encourages confidence, compassion, and environmental awareness using outdoor exploration as our muse.

In 2010, we hiked the entire Pacific Crest Trail, 2,663 miles from the border of Mexico to Canada, to raise awareness of theimportance of Outdoor Education and to increase scholarship funds so that as many children as possible have the opportunity to attend these life changing programs. Just even a tiny batch of testimonials from children and adults who have attended Outdoor Education shows how important these schools are in positively shaping the lives of our future.

Throughout high school and college, Melissa worked with numerous education programs geared toward helping kids find their inner strengths. Melissa graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Public Health, focused in infectious diseases. She also graduated from National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) where she spent 96 days in the Rockies with simply a pack on her back learning how to not only survive but lead others mountaineering, backpacking, climbing, and paddling/kayaking.

After college, Justin went to work at his first outdoor education job in Florida, where he led 30-day canoeing expeditions with Outward Bound. Justin pursued coaching and have enjoyed being with the Amador Polars Bears, Rocklin Wave, All-American Swim Academy, Sierra College and currently the Arden Park Dolphins.

This video was shot by Vimeo User: InspireOut

Around four million people hike some segment of the trail each year. Whether or not you’ve made tracks there, you can still get an inside look at this American Treasure.

Over 6,000 volunteers put in some 200,000 hours of time into maintaining the Appalachian Trail each year.
Katahdin comes from a Native American word meaning “Main Mountain.” The Appalachian Mountains are amongst the world’s oldest mountains. Emma “Grandma” Gatewood was the first woman to complete a continuous hike of the entire trail in 1955. Earl Shaffer was the first to hike the trail in one trek.

Read more on the National Geographic Channel

Front Feature Photo taken by © Photo: Mike Swanson

In the first week of April, 2011, I joined my older brother for a five-day trek along the Appalachian Trail through the Smokies. We were also joined by Ben’s two friends, Jason and Casey. What ensued was an adventure and a trial that included numerous physical meltdowns, one hellacious storm, unexpected snow, and many good memories. This is a short document of that journey and of my relationship with my brother. I hope you enjoy it.

The park has over 800 miles of trails offering hikers a wide range of scenery including spectacular mountain vistas, rushing streams and waterfalls, historic structures, and quiet groves of old-growth forest.

The Great Smoky Mountains Associations sells a variety of hiking books, maps, and guides to help choose a hiking route and plan your backcountry trip. You can contact the Association by calling (865) 436-0120 or by visiting www.SmokiesInformation.org. The Great Smoky Mountains Association is a nonprofit organization that supports educational and scientific programs in the park.

This video was shot by Horizonline Pictures

Go behind the scenes and hear National Geographic grantee and adventurer Andrew Skurka talk about how he became a record-breaking, long-distance solo hiker.

Andrew Skurka is a distinguished adventure athlete, speaker, guide, and writer. The 29-year-old is most well known for his solo long-distance trips, the most recent being his 4,700-mile 6-month Alaska-Yukon Expedition. In total, he has backpacked, skied, and packrafted 30,000+ miles through many of the world’s most prized backcountry and wilderness areas — the equivalent of traveling 1.2 times around Earth’s equator! Skurka has been recognized as “Adventurer of the Year” by National Geographic and “Person of the Year”.

Skurka was born and raised in Seekonk, MA, and is now loosely based in Boulder, CO. He enrolled in Duke University in 1999 with plans of a lucrative Wall Street career but made a mid-course correction after working at a high-adventure summer camp and hiking the Appalachian Trail. Soon after graduating Skurka began his first ultra-long-distance backpacking trip, the 7,775-mile 11-month Sea-to-Sea Route, which he followed up with the 6,875-mile 7-month Great Western Loop in 2007. Today, he feels fortunate to have made his adventurous lifestyle into an occupation.

Video shot by National Geographic

Admin

I created TheBackpackerTV because of my passion for the outdoors and seeing nature up close and personal. To share my experiences, and the experiences of others for everyone to enjoy. We go watch hundreds of videos each month picking the very best for you. Enjoy!

   

Julie Barlow puts together an excellent backpacking documentary
on the life and people that hike the 2,100 miles from Georgia to Maine.

The Appalachian Trail is the longest continuously marked footpath in the world, measuring roughly 2,180 miles in length. The Trail goes through fourteen states along the crests and valleys of the Appalachian mountain range from the southern terminus at Springer Mountain, Georgia, to the Trail’s northern terminus at Katahdin, Maine.

For the past six summers, I have been working in a New York State park through which the Appalachian Trail runs. Tired hikers take breaks by our vending machines every day, and I often strike up conversations with them. In meeting these friendly but rather pungent people, I began to wonder more about them, and their reasoning for taking on such a long journey. This curiosity spurred me on to delve more deeply into their lives through this project.

Known as the “A.T.,” it has been estimated that 2-3 million people visit the Trail every year and about 1,800–2,000 people attempt to “thru-hike” the Trail. People from across the globe are drawn to the A.T. for a variety of reasons: to reconnect with nature, to escape the stress of city life, to meet new people or deepen old friendships, or to experience a simpler life.

This video was shot by Viemo User: Julie Barlow

Still clinging to young man’s dreams, a 30-something professional revives his youthful vision of summits and faint trails and abandons work and the city. The Love Letter follows a pair of climbers in search of new and classic climbing routes across the spine of the Sierra, into difficult to reach stretches of the range. In the clutter of the modern world, can wilderness restore the human spirit?

Years earlier, Fitz had met a couple who backpacked and climbed through the Sierra for two months. Their description of stunning granite, cerulean alpine lakes, and sunshine for days provided fodder to tantalize our climbing addled brains. When the long days of summer shortened, we mused about taking our own journey through the Sierra, but this and that prevented us from committing to it. Yet, we knew that if didn’t make the time, schedule projects and work differently, the trip would continue to exist only in the ethereal.

Follow Fitz and Becca Cahall on their 300mile journey through the Sierra.

Video shot by Outdoor Research

In the third installment of No Signal, Bryan and Tyler travel to Glacier National Park in Montana. Without knowing what they are getting themselves into, they decide to spend three days backpacking through the park’s back country. Watch as they fly fish for trout in remote mountain lakes, chase after bull moose and try to avoid becoming bear bait.

Glacier is a backpacking paradise. The park consistently ranks as one of the most popular backpacking parks in the NPS. Famous for its towering mountains, pristine alpine lakes, abundant wildlife, and its 700+ miles of trails, this amazing place is growing in popularity each year.

Many resources are available online for backcountry users to plan their trips. The most important is the Backcountry Guide that is available as a PDF file. In addition to the Backcountry Guide we also have Trail Status Reports, Advance Reservation Availability Calendars, a Walk-in Availability Chart, Backcountry Campground GPS Data, and a Backcountry Blog.

This video was shot by Vimeo User: NoSignal

Admin

I created TheBackpackerTV because of my passion for the outdoors and seeing nature up close and personal. To share my experiences, and the experiences of others for everyone to enjoy. We go watch hundreds of videos each month picking the very best for you. Enjoy!

   

The Mazatzal Wilderness is a very large area (250,000 acres) encompassing the north western section of the Tonto National Forest. Elevations range from 1,600 feet at the Verde River to Mazatzal Peak which tops out at 7,903 feet (expect snow in the winter). The plant life is typical for this portion of Arizona with Lower Sonoran vegetation at the lower altitudes, grassy chaparral as you climb the slopes and mixed conifers towards the upper regions.

A three day trek through Mazatzal Wilderness.The video doesn’t show it, but parts of this trip were downright miserable. Although I wouldn’t recommend anyone following our footsteps on this one, the area is quite worth visiting and many of the trails are very well maintained. Some highlights of this trip: snow, turkeys, deer, mountainside camping, and near dehydration.some of the roughest terrain that I’ve ever hiked during my time in Arizona

Directions to Trailhead:

Trailhead is at junction of Arizona SR 87 and SR 188. From Fountain Hills, take AZ 87 north to mile marker 235.5. Trailhead is well marked on a well maintained dirt road.

Trail Description:

From the trailhead, the trail rises gently to the north. Within the first 1/2 mile you will encounter the signed junctions for the Gold Ridge Trail #47 and South Fork Trail #46. Keep right at both junctions for the Deer Creek Trail. The trail then passes through a gate and descends to Deer Creek. The trail follows along the south side of the creek in a beautiful riparian forest. The trail is a gentle climb but has a few sections that switchback over some natural obstacles.

At 3.3 miles the trail enters the Mazatzal Wilderness. At this point the noise from Highway 87 dissipates and you can enjoy the solitude of the wilderness. From here on the trail gets narrower and more overgrown.

The trail crosses the creek nearly 20 times in the next 4 miles. In several sections, you must walk in the rocky bed of the river. Keep an eye out for cairns to help find the trail. Although the cairns are numerous, it was easy to miss one and get off track. If this happens, retrace your steps to last cairn and look around for the next one.

After about 7 miles the trail enters a mature ponderosa forest. The trail continues its gentle climb until it reaches the Davey Gowan Trail #48. Stay right at this juncture. The last mile is a moderate to steep switchback that climbs out of the canyon and the trail ends in a forested parking lot at the end of Forest Road #201.

From the end of the trail, you can either return the way you came or walk west on Forest Road #201 and return on either the South Fork Trail or the Gold Ridge Trail.

This video was shot by Brandon Kelone

Admin

I created TheBackpackerTV because of my passion for the outdoors and seeing nature up close and personal. To share my experiences, and the experiences of others for everyone to enjoy. We go watch hundreds of videos each month picking the very best for you. Enjoy!

   

Greg Aiello was born to be in the wild. Greg grew up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California near Yosemite National Park. At an early age, he and his older brother, Jeff (producer of Motion) ventured into the High Sierra to explore, backpack, fish and climb.

As an accomplished mountaineer, Greg’s experience in the backcountry field-craft is deep. In addition to his extensive time in California’s mountains, Greg has summited Mt. Aconcogua in Argentina, climbed in the southern Alps of New Zealand, ventured through Australia’s outback, explored the jungles of Costa Rica and spent 10 days on the Galapogos Islands in the Pacific.

At 21, Greg went to work in the television industry as writer/producer for local broadcast affiliates around the country including WJXT in Jacksonville, Florida and KPHO in Phoenix. But his love for the mountains brought him back to California where he left the TV business behind to become a professional mountain guide specializing in long-duration trips on the famous John Muir Trail which runs from Yosemite to Mt. Whitney in the southern range of the Sierra.

Today, Greg, 39, lives in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains of California where he still guides when he’s not filming for Motion. He also enjoys snowboarding in the winter, playing his guitar, songwriting and traveling… go figure!

This video was shot by Vimeo User: Greg Aiello

Admin

I created TheBackpackerTV because of my passion for the outdoors and seeing nature up close and personal. To share my experiences, and the experiences of others for everyone to enjoy. We go watch hundreds of videos each month picking the very best for you. Enjoy!

   

Backpacking America's Last True Wilderness from Eric Rorer on Vimeo.

A two-week backpack in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge offers a glimpse of what’s at stake if this remote wilderness is opened to oil drilling.

The Arctic Refuge has been providing for the physical and emotional well-being of humans for many thousands of years. It remains an important resource to help sustain local Eskimo and Indian cultures. The Refuge continues to be valued, even by those who never travel within it’s borders, as a symbol of America’s vast and remote wilderness – a place of inspiration and beauty – a promise for the future for all Americans.

The Arctic Refuge contains remote, complete, and undisturbed lands across five different ecological regions: lagoons, beaches and saltmarshes of coastal marine areas; coastal plain tundra; alpine tundra of the Brooks Range; the forest-tundra transition south of the mountains; and tall spruce, birch, and aspen of the boreal forest.

Video was shot by Viemo User: Eric Rorer

Admin

I created TheBackpackerTV because of my passion for the outdoors and seeing nature up close and personal. To share my experiences, and the experiences of others for everyone to enjoy. We go watch hundreds of videos each month picking the very best for you. Enjoy!

   

Backpacker and Film maker Terry Bond has made another one of his memorible films about getting outdoors. Terry is a backpacker from England who has put together some amazing short films.

In this film, Moonlightshadow has recently took up wild camping as a hobby. Hear his thought’s as he shares them with Terry on a wild camp in Northern England.

To see more of Terry films, you can visit his YouTube site.

Scott Janz

Feel free to contact me at any time. Started Backpacking in 2003 and have never looked back. My all time favorite hike was last April when I hiked the Sycamore Wilderness Canyon. No trails, no signs, just wilderness and a 3,000 foot steep drop into the Canyon. I ran out of water my third day. Why? There was no water in the Canyon. You can check out my video on the “backpacker.tv” page. Thanks for dropping by.

 

Zigzagging its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) boasts the greatest elevation changes of any of America’s National Scenic Trails, allowing it to pass through six out of seven of North America’s ecozones including high and low desert, old-growth forest and artic-alpine country. Indeed, the PCT is a trail of diversity and extremes. From scorching desert valleys in Southern California to rain forests in the Pacific Northwest, the PCT offers hikers and equestrians a unique, varied experience.

Over the past decade the PCT has become a favorite target of thru-hikers and thru-riders (the hearty souls who attempt to hike or ride an entire long-distance trail in one “season”). Each year, in fact, an average of 300 hikers attempt to cover the full length of the PCT (thru-riders are more rare but increasing in number). Thousands of other hikers and equestrians enjoy this national treasure each year, some traveling only a few miles in the course of a day hike.

This video was shot by YouTube User: meta474

For the full 43 minute version you can go to “Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail” on our Documentary Channel

Scott Janz

Feel free to contact me at any time. Started Backpacking in 2003 and have never looked back. My all time favorite hike was last April when I hiked the Sycamore Wilderness Canyon. No trails, no signs, just wilderness and a 3,000 foot steep drop into the Canyon. I ran out of water my third day. Why? There was no water in the Canyon. You can check out my video on the “backpacker.tv” page. Thanks for dropping by.

 

LOVE LIFE: The Tale of Steve Fugate from Erin Henning on Vimeo.

Over the past ten years Steve Fugate Sr. has walked almost 25,000 miles, and did it all with a sign over his head saying, simply, “Love Life.” His mission is to teach his love for life to every person he meets, so that no other parent will lose a child to suicide.

Stevie was operating my business for me while I attempted a “thru-hike” of the Appalachian Trail. I had traveled just over half the trail when I received word that my son had placed a gun in his mouth and effectively ended both our lives.

I am convinced that there is no pain equal to that of losing a child. The grief was indescribable. I felt as though someone had taken an axe and chopped out my heart while I was yet breathing! My son, this living, breathing, precious life, my beautiful contribution to the universe, was suddenly gone. I can in no way fully describe the pain, I don’t know how to scream on paper…

Eight months later I returned to the exact spot where I had stopped my hike and proceeded to finish the “AT” as a tribute to my son. I screamed and cried almost every step of the way but I finished, having walked the entire 2,167 miles. While out on the trail in solitude, surrounded by the magnificent, inspiring beauty that encompasses that soothing and healing footpath, my life took a turn. For me, the Appalachian Trail became a pathway back to life… Trail Therapy. After completing my “thru-hike” of the Appalachian Trail I adopted a creed; I want no other parent to suffer the horror that I had to go through and I wanted no other young person to miss out on the chance to.. “LOVE LIFE”

Read about Steve’s awesome crusade to spread the word of Loving Life on his web site http://www.trailtherapy.com/

Admin

I created TheBackpackerTV because of my passion for the outdoors and seeing nature up close and personal. To share my experiences, and the experiences of others for everyone to enjoy. We go watch hundreds of videos each month picking the very best for you. Enjoy!

   

Encompassing 250,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area protects the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries. The area boasts miles of scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs, is rich with natural and historic features

Hiking Big South Fork will not let you down as far as scenery. I was really impressed on how much there was to see. The campsites, the rock formations, were all very cool. On this hike I had the pleasure of hiking with a good friend of mine, Bryan Delay. I originally met Bryan on Hikers Journal, but now he’s a Member of TheBackpackerTV.

We started our hike late on Thursday and immediately had to cross Laurel Creek. There was no option for rock jumping. Had to take off our shoes and put sandals on and brace for some cold water. We only hiked a mile or so before we set up camp for the night. We camped right along Laurel Creek. Then on Friday we hike to Charit Creek Lodge, which consist of some cabins and a dining hall. People can stay here with a reservation and the food is prepared for them. The only way to get to Charit Lodge is to hike to it. (or on Horseback) Then we hike to Twin Arches and then Jake’s Place, which would be a good place to camp on Friday night. Jake’s Place is an old homestead and there is plenty of space to camp. On Saturday we would hike to Slave Falls and then to Laurel Fork Creek, where we found a place to camp on Saturday night. We change our plans on hiking back to the car. We opted to hike Yellow Cliff Trail and only have to cross Laurel Fork Creek once. We found an excellent camp site along Laurel Creek. Then on Sunday we hiked out of the gorge to West Entrance TH where one of our cars would be parked.

A little about the Park Map. Don’t trust some of the Trail Heads. Most of them our accurate, but some of the places to jump into the park have been privately developed and no longer exist. We had a heck of a time starting our hike because of this, and had to change our starting point.

The Eastern/Central Time Line runs through the middle of the park. Most park offices and concessionaires operate on Eastern Time. If, however, your travels do take you across the time line, make sure you plan your time accordingly.

Bandy Creek Visitor Center is open daily, except Christmas. Center staff is available to provide visitors with information they need for a safe and enjoyable visit to the park and region. In addition to maps and park specific information, backcountry permits are available. Eastern National maintains an outlet in the Center.

Visitor Center hours May through September are 8:00 to 6:00 Sunday thru Saturday. October thru April the hours are 8:00 to 4:00 (Eastern Time). For additional information call (423) 286-7275.

Scott Janz

Feel free to contact me at any time. Started Backpacking in 2003 and have never looked back. My all time favorite hike was last April when I hiked the Sycamore Wilderness Canyon. No trails, no signs, just wilderness and a 3,000 foot steep drop into the Canyon. I ran out of water my third day. Why? There was no water in the Canyon. You can check out my video on the “backpacker.tv” page. Thanks for dropping by.

 

Moondance Adventures - Big Wild Backpacking from Hayes Hitchens on Vimeo.

What would happen if you took your teenager out into the Wilderness? Good question. Moondance Adventures knows the answer.

Moondance provides an unforgettable journey into the backcountry in some of the world’s most beautiful and pristine wilderness areas. It’s a place to experience the world without barriers, only curiosity and acceptance. From the gnarled mountains of the Rockies to the mysteries of Machu Picchu, our adventures offer you a first-hand view of the diverse ecosystems that make our world wild and fascinatingly beautiful.

Every Moondance trip offers its students unparalleled opportunities for personal growth. Students broaden their personal horizons through travel to new and unique destinations. They find their curiosity and sense of connection to the larger world stimulated by a rich set of experiences and encounters.

They discover remarkable reserves of adaptability, resourcefulness, and spirit while undertaking adventurous and challenging outdoor activities. The Moondance mission statement reads, “With courage, belief in one’s self, and a sense of purpose, a person can accomplish anything.” Focusing on this mission, Moondance instructors work diligently to establish a nurturing, non-competitive environment in which every young person is pushed beyond his or her “comfort zone” to a place where preconceived limits are challenged and significant personal growth can occur.

Who goes on these trips? The bottom line is that the groups are comprised of great kids from all over the country. Moondance students are bright, motivated, ambitious and adventurous. They want to be there to share in the experience with other like minded kids. Our groups are never larger than 13 students and always at least two adult leaders. Keeping our groups small allows us to do more, see more all while allowing individual attention and ensuring the best supervision.

For more information on Moondance Adventures, please check out their Web Site

Scott Janz

Feel free to contact me at any time. Started Backpacking in 2003 and have never looked back. My all time favorite hike was last April when I hiked the Sycamore Wilderness Canyon. No trails, no signs, just wilderness and a 3,000 foot steep drop into the Canyon. I ran out of water my third day. Why? There was no water in the Canyon. You can check out my video on the “backpacker.tv” page. Thanks for dropping by.

 

Across The Andes from Gregg Treinish on Vimeo.

Our goal was to backpack the length of the Andes Mountain Range, in the mountains. Combining a number of trekking methods including but not limited to, cross-country point-the-compass-and-go trekking, following foot and horse trails that have been used for centuries by local farmers and tradesmen, skipping down the Capaq Ñan (the original Incan Trail), and ever so occasionally braving the train lines, we accomplished our goal on April 17th, 2008. Our desire was to experience the culture and environment of the Andes first-hand in a manner that we feel only the pace of walking accommodates. Our intent was to learn as much as possible about the sustainable means of living that the people of South America have used for centuries, in order that we may teach what we have learned upon our return to the U.S. To the best of our knowledge, having successfully completed the trek, after covering 56 degrees of the globe, trekking more than 7800 miles, we became the first two people to backpack the Andes Mountain Range, the first two to walk it through the mountains without relying on roads, and Deia became the first woman to have walked South America.

For more information about this video or the trek itself, go to www.acrosstheandes.com

Admin

I created TheBackpackerTV because of my passion for the outdoors and seeing nature up close and personal. To share my experiences, and the experiences of others for everyone to enjoy. We go watch hundreds of videos each month picking the very best for you. Enjoy!