Denizens of Earth

Denizens of Earth

It must be natural that if our local, observable universe is embedded in a larger structure, a multi-verse, then there must be many other places in this larger structure. These places, call them planets or drops of water for that matter, must have denizens in them that call their local environs the universe (the only one, the unique universe). Conditions in those other places could be very different. Or they could be pretty similar to what we have here on our Earth, so if they happen to drop by, they may cast a look at these photos and get excited about the fact of how similar we all are.

A natural but looking as an artificial blue cat.

A proud Goat.

Elk-medallion St. James Town West recreation park, an elk Medallion who lives there.

Fresh, healthy, fast. The fresh concept of the Marché Cow.

Loch Gal Frog King.

Yorkville Bear.

Jamaican Cats.

Stone Cat.

Leopard Cat.

Pusha.

Menace of Jamaica.

Loonies in High Park, Toronto.

Mother Nature's Deluxe Abodes

Mother Nature's Deluxe Abodes

National park lodges show off the best of rustic architecture

In addition to the largest canyons, the biggest geysers, and the most pristine wilderness, America's national parks contain some of the best preserved rustic hotels in the United States. These capacious lodges were built with stones and trees hewn directly from the stunning landscapes they occupy in an attempt to recreate the great outdoors indoors. Park architects such as Frederick Law Olmsted, eschewing straight lines and sophisticated accoutrements and instead building soaring lobbies, gnarled log balconies, four-story, stone fireplaces and log furniture that harkened back to pioneer days.

Rustic architecture reached its apotheosis during the 1930s with numerous WPA projects designed to put men to work and promote national parks. Many of the buildings are now either national landmarks or on the National Register as some of the most beautiful places to stay in the country. The rooms are as comfortable as those of any fine urban abode, but the hotels remain what their creators intended: one of man's most ambitious attempts to build on a grand scale in harmony with nature.

Here, Harvey Kaiser, vice president of Syracose University and author of Landmarks in the Landscape, a history of park architecture, recommends the most beautiful lodges in the country. All are either national landmarks or on the National Register; many have undergone major renovations. Because of their popularity, some lodges may be difficult to reach by telephone, so we've included fax numbers and addresses to write for more information.

Ahwahnee Hotel (/915) – Yosemite National Park: Its asymmetrical rock columns and varied levels convey the impression of a mountain range. The concrete exterior is dyed red to match the redwood forest. The floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows offer splendid views of the soaring walls of Yosemite Valley. Open year-round.

Bryce Canyon Lodge (1925): Bryce Canyon National Park. Atop a mesa overlooking the colorfully hued stone walls of Bryce-Canyon, the lodge and adjacent cabins are classic examples of rustic architecture. A wave-patterned, cedar-shingle roof, stone masonry,wrought-iron chandeliers, and liberal use of sold log beams (one measures 52 feet) give an Old West feel. Open April 15 to November 1.

El Tovar Lodge (1905): Grand Canyon National Park. Only 50 feet from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, El Tovar was one of the first railroad destination resorts. Original promotional literature described it as a combination of Swiss Chalet and Norway villa. With Indian murals and crafts throughout, it is among the most eclectic hotels in the national parks. Today, it is also one of the most luxurious, with first-rate service and gourmet meals. Opean year-round.

Lake McDondals Lodge (1913). Glacier National Park. This mountainous lake region, so similar to the Swiss Alps, inspired architects to build one of the premier examples of Swiss chalet hotel architecture in the United States. Lying atop a small rise, the western façade of the hotel faces out across Lake McDonald, the largest lake in the park, with views of the magnificent snow-capped mountain beyond. Open May to October.

North Rim Lodge (1927). Grand Canyon National Park. Lying on the edge of the North Rim, the lodge with adjacent cabins offers an inexpensive alternative to El Tovar. It is built into the side of the rim; its several levels actually step down from the canyon rim. The many terraces and observation decks offer breathtaking views of the canyon. Also notable is the oversize fireplace on the eastern terrace – big enough for an adult to walk into. Open mid-May through mid-October.

Old Faithful Inn (1904). Yellowstone National Park. The first national park building constructed in an architectural style harmonious with the grandeur of the surrounding landscape, this hotel boasts a seven-story-high log lobby. Many rooms have views of the world-famous Old Faithful geyser nearby. Open May 5 to October 22.

A hotel at night. Photo by Elena.

Oregon Caves Chateau (1934). Oregon Caves National Monument. Located in the Siskiyou Mountains next to the entrance to the only limestone cave formation in Oregon, this hotel actually spans a small gorge; the fourth floor is at road level. The fireplace, according to a recent study, is one of the largest in the state if not on the entire West Coast. Also of note is a stream that runs through the first-floor dining room and disappears outside into a lush green forest. Open March 11 to May 22, and September 7 to December 31 at bed-and-breakfast rate.

Paradise Inn (1916). Mount Rainier National Park. One of the earliest ski resorts in the country, Paradise Inn lies at an elevation of 5,400 feet. The exterior has a lovely, shimmering silver quality due to the use of timbers that were aged 30 years before construction. Significant are the hand-crafted artistry and Gothic feeling reminiscent of northern European woodwork. Open May 17 to October 1.

Stanley Hotel (1909). Rocky Mountain National Park. A regular stop for world leaders such as the emperor of Japan – but still affordable – this Neo-Georgian hotel provides Old World elegance in the heart of the Rockies. Canopy beds and antique furniture are found throughout the unique rooms. Although unlike the rustic landmark hotels on the list, Kaiser felt that it was too magnificent to leave out. Open year-round,

Wawona Hotel (1876). Yosemite National Park. This hotel predates the rustic movement, but it is the largest existing Victorian hotel complex within a national park, and one of the best preserved in the United States. The hotel complex also contains the studio of Thomas Hill, one of the last great painters of the Hudson River School. Open April 1 to November 25 continuously and intermittently the rest of the year.à, roome with bath.

Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park

3 milliom visitors per year – 82 square miles – The largest cave on earth. Mammoth Cave, KY.

  

Inside the world's largest cave's 335 miles of charted passageways are 70-foot chambers, Indian artifacts, an underground river, and some plant and animal species that have been isolated from the outside world for more than a million years. In fact, there are five species of animals unique to the cave.

Mammoth Cave has intrigued man for thousands of years. Native Americans first came 4,000 years ago and continued to use if for about 2,000 years. Tourists started visiting after the War of 1812, and by the mid-1800s it was one of the most popular tourist sites in the country.

Two-thirds of the park is composed of distinctive karst topography – the type of land surface that forms above a cave that features sinkholes, cave entrances, and disappearing streams. There are nearly 100 sinking streams called pnors that disappear abruptly onto holes on the ground.

Trees in blossom. Photo by Elena.

Peak season tips: The cave, of course, is the main attraction. It is always best to reserve cave trips in advance.

Camping: Houchins Ferry (no trailer hook-ups) and Denison Ferry (tent sites only, no water) sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are needed for Maple Spring Group Campground sites.

Best one-day trip: A great variety of cave trips in terms of length and difficulty are available, some lasting an hour, others most of the day. After or before your cave trip, take a short hike on the ¾-mile Cedar Sink Trail to see good examples of karst topography. You may also want to take the one-hour boat trip down the Green River or a walk along the Cave Island nature walk, part of which also goes along the river.

Best experience: Various cave trips are operated throughout by the National Park Service and are offered every day in the summer and on some weekends in the spring and fall. Be warned: Caving involves stooping, bending, crawling. Helmets and lights are provided, but visitors should bring their own knee pads. Long pants and boots are required, and gloves are recommended. Make reservations no earlier than 56 days before and no later than one hour before you wish to tour the cave.

Evergreen Park - 2

Evergreen Park -2

The Don Valley Brick Works

The Don Valley Brick Works made bricks that built Toronto. Now, these same buildings (and the new LEED Platinum building added) generates ideas and tools for building the sustainable city of the future.

Evergreen has transformed this site into an environmental centre where communities can discover how to live, work and play more sustainably. Evergreen Brick Works is a social enterprise; the money you spend supports the programs the society delivers. Explore the natural spaces. Get your hands dirty. Enjoy local food. Discover the past. Think about the future. Ask questions. Share your ideas and explore new ones. Take part in the programs and activities. Or just wander about.

Evergreen is a national Canadian not-for-profit that inspires to green cities. A national charity since 1991, Evergreen makes cities more livable by bringing people and nature together for the benefit of both.

All the pictures have been taken by Elena.

Quarry-building An old building of brick works.

This 12-acre industrial site is owned by the Toronto and Region conservation Authority (TRCA) and managed by the City of Toronto. Evergreen is operating the site under a 21-year lease. The TRCA and City of Toronto have contributed to the project.

Rim of what was once a huge day quarry. What is now transformed into natural habitat was once a large quarry for brick manufacturing.

As you explore this special public park, you will discover aspects of its industrial past, how natural habitats are maintained in the present, and how the landscape may evolve in the future.

A conference room on the site.

You can also explore the edible landscape, water features, as well as the spaces to build things with natural materials.

The site’s living landscape is designed to grow and change throughout the seasons and evolve through the interactions between children and nature.

Don Valley Brick Works Park is an important link in Toronto’s natural ravine system. To appreciate the extent of Toronto’s green corridors, take a look at the Watershed Wall sculpture located at the Evergreen Brick Works.

Please enjoy the park responsibly. Walking off the trail, climbing the slopes, letting dogs off leash, and disturbing wildlife or vegetation all cause serious damage to the park. Choose to help, not to hurt!

The Skyline of Toronto spells Don Valley Products.

This Evergeen site hosts a few gardens: Aspen Garden: The Garden Club of Toronto designed this garden highlighting one of Ontario’s best pioneer species, trembling aspen. First to come back when a forest regenerates, pioneer species thrive in poor growing environment and help create ideal conditions for other plant species to take root and increase biodiversity. Seed Producers Garden: this garden features native trees, shrubs and wildflowers that provide an abundance of seeds that feed birds and other wildlife throughout the seasons. Space family garden. Meighen family garden.

Old-brick-plant Deep into the Earth. As recently as the 1980’s, where this photo was taken would have been at the edge of a pit over 50 metres deep. Brick manufacturers operating here over 100 years dug an enormous quarry in order to extract clay.

Quarry Chimney court. Quarry Don Valley Chimney of the Bricks Worksю

Skyline Toronto -  The skyline of Torono spells Don Valley products.

Harbinger foundation water tower.

 To appreciate the extent of Toronto’s green corridors, take a look at the Watershed Wall sculpture located at the Evergreen Brick Works.

Evergreen Bricks Works graffity, detail.

Wolf Graffiti on the back wall of an old industrial building.

Beaver and Owl, graffity on the old walls

The level you are standing on is the result of thousands of tonnes or rock dirt and broken brick (spoil) used to fill in the quarry after brick making stopped in 1989.

To get an idea of the size of this huge pit, look up at the ridge of the park. Now imagine that same rim extended down at least five times deeper below.Ground level today - quarry pit now filled in - bottom level of quarry

Weston Quarry Garden. Return often to enjoy and help care for this special place!

Quarry Lake North slope of the park, where plant growth is now covering the once exposed layers of geological history.

Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park

3 million visitors per year – 485 square miles – Best part of the beautiful Teton range.

There are not many places in the world where you can literally stand next to a mountain. Foothills usually intervene. Imagine then Grand Teton, where the mountains rise sharply out of the relatively flat Jackson Hole Valley like stark, granite skyscrapers.

Another geological oddity formed during the ice age, Jackson Hole Valley looks as if some gargantuan infant sculpted it out of Play-Doh. When the valley formed, little driblets from the glaciers formed rocky deposits, called moraines, around the six sparkling mountain lakes that were incongruously punctured into the landscape.

Winding gently through this stranger valley is the Snake River, along the bans of which grow willows, cottonwoods, and the blue spruces in which bald eagles prefer to nest. Beavers have built dams up and down the river, forming wetlands that have an incredibly dense concentration of wildlife, including bears, elk, moose, trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, and Canada geese.

Peak season tips: From June through August, most of the crowds can be found near Jenny Lake, which has sand beaches and sometimes is warm enough for a quick swim.

Winter is coming. Photo by Elena.

Camping : Campgrounds are generally open from late May to October. In summer, Jenny Lake campground filles the fastest and has a seven-day camping limit – the other five parks have two-week limits. Camping at all six campgrounds is available on a first-come, first served basis except at Colter Bay Trailer Village, where reservations are required.

Best one-day trip: Beginning at the south entrance on Route 191, stop at Mentor's Ferry and the Chapel of the Transfiguration for a look at the dwellings of some of the area's first pionners. Then drive north along Teton Park Road to Lupine Meadow and take the spur road to the trail head, where there is a difficult hike to Amphitheater Lake near the timberline. Attempt this only if you are in good shape. Head back up Teton Road for a stop at South Jenny Lake, which is located at the bottom of the tallest Teton Peak. An easy six-mile hike there circles the lake and affords spectacular views of the mountain. Finally, stop at Colter Bay for a one-mile hike that loops around the wetlands and provides good opportunities for viewing the wildlife up close.

Best experience: In winter, horse-drawn sleighs take visitors to see the herd of 11,000 elk that live in the valley.

Newest National Parks

America's Newest National Parks

These desert lands are an oasis for those thirsting after beauty

Two new national parks and a new national preserve belie popular myths about American desert lands. Created by the 1994 California Desert Protection Act, Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and Mojave National Preserve, all in California's Mojave Desert, are not simply cactus-strewn sandboxes. In fact, they are practically teeming with some 700 species of plants and 760 species of wildlife, some of which are extremely rare.

And cultural artifacts also appear on the arid landscape, from mysterious ancient pictographs to the Boeing  burial ground, where the aircraft manufacturer has laid several 748s to rest.

Gas, water, food are few and far between, though, and summer daytime temperatures average more than 100 degrees. Make sure you consult a map carefully before you travel. The best months for visiting are October through May.

Death Valley National Park

At 5,000 square miles, it is now the largest national park in the lower 48 states. Badwater, the lowest and hottest place in the United States, is located here, but many of the mountains in the park can be chilly, even in the summer. Notable sites include Eureka Valley's 700-foot sand dunes and Scotty's Castle, the opulent home of an early prospector. Death Valley is probably the most visitor-friendly of the new national parks, with hotels, campgrounds, and even a golf course within its boundaries.

Joshua Tree National Park

National Monument Dr. Twentynine Palms, Ca.

Ansel Adams shot some of his most famous landscape photographs here. Home of the gnarly, 20- to 40-foot Joshua tree it is also a world-famous spot for rock climbing. Although there are adequate camping facilities in the park, one might want to stay instead in Tewntynine Palms or Palm Springs for the comforts of cilvilization.

Mojave National Preserve

Lake Mead National Recreation Are, 601 Nevada Highway, Boulder City, NV.

Initially proposed as a national park, but downgraded to a national preserve to allow hunting. With 19 mountain ranges, groves of white fir and Joshua trees, limestone caves, and extensive, ancient petroglyphs, there is plenty to keep one occupied. Of the new parks, however, the Mojave is probably the least equipped for visitors, with a few campgrounds and no towns nearby.

And cultural artifacts also appear on the arid landscape. Photo by Elena.

Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park

3 million visitors per year – 54 sqaure miles – the highest coastal mountains on the east coast.

The park is made of two islands and a peninsula: Mount Desert Island (which is accessible by a land bridge), Isle au Haut, and Schoodic Peninsula.

Artists and writers flocked to Mount Desert Island in the 1850s, attracted by its dramatic natural beauty and the rustic life it offered. Later, in the Gay 1990s, wealthy vacationers, inspired by the paintings, came and built “cottages” of a level of opulence that the country had not seen before. Many of the cottages were burned to the ground in the great fire of 1947, but the magnificent landscape that the painters celebrated remains – jagged, granite cliffs with forests of birch and pine that grow right up to the coastline.

The park's proximity to the ocean gives it a milder climate that that of the mainland, which helps it to sustain more than one of the best places on the Eastern Seaboard to take in fall foliage. The park is also known as The Warbler Capital of the United States. Over 375 species of birds, including around 30 varieties of warblers as well as the endangered peregrine falcon, inhabit the park.

Peak season tips: Expect nothing but bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Park Loop Road on the east side of Mound Desert Island on the summer. To avoid crowds, try the island's much less crowded but only slightly less spectacular western side. Also consider taking a ferry trip either to Baker Island or to Isle au Hault. June is the best month to see birds in the spruce, fir, and hardwood forests. August is the best month for sea birds.

Camping : The Blackwoods campground on the east side of Mount Desert Island is exceptionally well-landscaped with more than 300 campsites interspersed among groves of trees. It is open all year. Reservations via Mistix are advised.

Jordan Pond. Photo by Elena.

On the less-crowded west side is the 200-site Seawell campground, which is open only druing the summer. You have to hike in from a parking lot to reach it, but the serenity of nearby roads that are less traveled makes it well worth the extra effort. Sites there are available on a first-come, first-served basis only.

Particularly remote are Isle au Haut's five small lean-to shelters, which are perfect for escaping the cars and crowds without sacrificing convenience. The ferry there lands at a nearby hamlet where one can obtain provisions.

Best one-day trip : From the visitor center, take Park Loop Road to the 3.5-mile road that leads to Cadillac Mountain, where a short, paved trail winds around the 1,530-foot mountain, the highest coastal mountain in the nation. Back on Park Loop Road, turn around and continue down the East Coast. Stop at Sand Beach – it's a good place for a dip, and the 1,4-mile Grat Head Trail there offers a moderate hike around a rocky, forested peninsula. Continue on Park Loop Road to Route 3 and turn onto Route 198. Keep an eye open for Hadlock Pnd Carriage Road Trail where there is a 4-mile loop across three granite bridges. This trail goes past the highest waterfall in the park and is one of the best places to enjoy the spring blooms.

Best experience: Take the charming carriage ride through the park that is offered by the Wild Wood Stables near Jordan Pont. If carriages are too old-fashioned for you, this also is one of the few national parks where snowmobiles are allowed. The network of carriage roads provides excellent terrain.

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park

3 million visitors per year – 1,441 square miles – the best example of virgin temperate rain forest in the country. 600 East Park Avenue, Port Angeles, WA.

On a relatively isolated peninsula with no roads traversing it, Olympic is one of the most pristine of the nation's parks. It has been referred to as the last frontier. It divides into three distinct environments: rugged coastline, virgin temperate rain forest, and rugged mountains, at the foot of which is the largest intact strand of coniferous forest in the lower 48 states. The park also plays host to 60 active glaciers.

Peak season tips: Though three-quarters of the precipitation falls from October 1 to March 31, Olympic still receives mroe rain than any other area in the United States. Always bring rain gear.

Camping : Nestled in thickets of spruce, the main coastal campgrounds of Kalaloch and Mora proide privacy and a sense of wilderness. For an even greater sense of solitude, try one of the two smaller campgrounds, Ozette Lake or Erocson's Bay – the latter is accessible only by canoe. All of the coastal campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

The Hoh campground is the largest in the rain forest. The four smaller campgrounds, especially the 29-site July Creek campground on Quinault Lake, have more privacy and better wildlife-watching.

On the mountain, the Deer Park campground, at an elevation of 5,400 feet, feels remote but it is accessible by car and provides an excellent base from which to explore the mountains.

Most of the 17 developed mountain campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but group reservations at Kalaloch and Mora campgrounds can be made through either the Kalaloch park ranger or the Mora park ranger.

Best one-day trip: On a drive up Route 101, you can take in the park's harbor seals, gigantic driftwood, and tide pools teeming with activity along the coast. On the right, you'll pass a sign for the world's largest cedar tree. Switch off onto the spur road to the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center. There is a ¾-mile round-trip hike that winds through the dense rain forest at the end of the road. Back in your car, turn onto the road to the Mora Campground, where there are several short scenic trails along the beach.

Flowers, just sakura flowers. Photo by Elena.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park

3 million visitors per year – 414 square miles – One of the highest regions in the country – 114 mountains above 10,000 feet – Superintendent, Estes Park.

On both sides of Rocky Mountain National Park's 44-mile Trail Ridge Road, the highest paved road in America, are craggy snow-capped mountain peaks shrouded in clouds, alpine fields ablaze with wildflowers, and crystal-clear mountain lakes. Elk, deer, mouse, coyotes, marmots, ptarmigan and the bighorn sheep – the symbol of the park – can often be seen.

Peak season tips: The road to Bear Lake is one long traffic jam in the summer. Consider spending most of your time on the west side of the park; it's less spectacular, but also less crowded, and there are better opportunities to see wildlife.

Camping: There are five campgrounds in the park, each with a seven-day camping limit. For reservations to Moraine Park and Glacier Basin campgrounds, call Mistix. The other three are available on a first-come, first-served basis. In the summer, Timber Creek, on the west side of the park, is recommended – it doesn't fill up until about 2 p.m. Aspenglen and Longs Peak, where one begins the ascent to the summit, are often full by 8 a.m. Privately owned campgrounds also are available.

Best one-day trip: For a sampling of the varied topography, take Fell River Road to the Alpine Visitors Center at Fall River pass, 11,796 feet above sea level. Drive back along Trail Ridge Road. If time permits, turn off Trail Ridge road onto Bear Lake Road, which winds past lakes and streams to Bear Lake, where there is an easy a 1.1-mile hike to Dream Lake. A less-crowded trail nearby is the Glacier Gorge Junction Trail to Alberta Falls. Those who are in peak physical condition may want to attempt Long's Peak Trail, a strenuous 8-mile hike. A third of the 15,000 people who attempt it every year don't make it – at 14,000 feet, there is 40 percent less oxygen in the air.

Best experience: Eighty percent of the park's trails can be ridden on horseback, and there are two historic ranches at the center of the park. Horses can be rented from livery concessions in Glacier Basin and Moraine Park. For a list of nearby ranches, many of which of offer accommodations, contact the park administration. 

Flowers blossom. Photo by Elena.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park

3 million visitors per year – 3,472 square miles – the largest concentration of geysers and hot springs in the world. Yellowstone National Park, WY.

The center of what is now Yellowstone Park erupted 600,000 years ago, obliterating all life and scattering ash for thousands of miles around. The explosion left behind a 28-by-47 mile crater that contained the world's greatest concentration of geothermal phenomena, including hot springs,, fumaroles, steam vents, mud pots and over 300 geysers. Among the geysers is Steam Boat, which shoots columns of water a record 350 feet high.

Yellowstone is the second largest park in the lower 48 states, encompassing an area larger than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined. It is also the oldest park in the country, established in 1872. It has the largest mountain lake (Yellowstone Lake, with 110 miles of shoreline); the biggest elk population in America (100,000 strong); and is the last place in the country where there is a free-ranging herd of bison (4,000 of the woolly beasts).

Peak season tips: This is one of the coldest parks in the continental United States. Be prepared for winter weather at any time of the year. The park receives half its visitors in July and August, overcrowding the roads and limited visitor facilities. The solution: head for the backcountry. Most visitors never venture far from their cars.

Camping: The campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis, except for Bridge Bay, where reservations can be made through Mistix. They often fill early in late summer. Winter camping is available only at Mammoth Campground.

Best one-day trip: From the West entrance, drive along Grand Loop Road to the mile-long Upper Basin Geyser, where boardwalks and trails run among the most outstanding geothermal phenomena in the world. Continue on to Yellowstone Lake.

Water in the park. Yellowstone is one of the few national parks where snowmobiles are permitted. In addition, snow coaches - winter buses on skis - provide a unique way to travel. Photo by Elena.

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park

4 million visitors per year – 1,170 square miles – Home of the giant sequoia. Yosemite National Park, CA.

Yosemite's majestic granite peaks, groves of ancient giant sequoia trees, and waterfalls, including Yosemite Falls,which at a height of 2,425 feet is the nation's highest inspired some of the earliest attempts at conservation in the United States. In 1864, Congress enacted laws protecting the valley. Journalist Horace Greeley, who once visited this park, noted that he knew of “no single wonder of Nature on earth which can claim a superiority over the Yosemite.” And naturalist John Muir, whose efforts led to the park's formation, said of the valley. “Not temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite.”

The enormous park occupies an area comparable to Rhode Island, with elevations of up to 13,114 feet.

Peak season tips: During the busy summer months, forgo the sights and splendors of the seven-mile Yosemite Valley, which attracts the hordes.

Camping: Of the 18 campgrounds in Yosemite, the 5 main ones in the valley offer “refugee-style camping” - over campsites crammed into a singularly unspectacular half-mile. For more space and better views, head for the hills and try one of the eight Tioga Road campgrounds. There also are five tent camps about a day's hike from one another on the High Sierra Loop Trail. Campers can obtain meals, showers, and cots there. Reservations via Yosemite Reservations are advised.

Reservations also are required year-round in Yosemite Valley's auto campground and for Hodgdon Meadow, Crane Flat, and Tuolumne,  Meadows campgrounds. All other campgrounds are operated on a first-come, first-served basis. Camping reservations may be made up to, but no earlier than, eight weeks in advance through Mistix. Reservable campsites fill up quickly from mid-May to mid-September. Your best bet for snagging a spot is to start calling the Mistix reservation number at 7 a.m. Pacific Standard Time eight weeks in advance of the date you want to camp. 

Best one-day trip: Avoid the congested route to Yosemite Valley. Instead, grab a tour bus and get off either at shuttle stop 7, for an easy half-mile, 20-minute hike to Lower Yosemite Falls, or shuttle bus stop 8, for a strenuous one- to three-hour round-trip hike to Upper Yosemite Falls. Other sites include the Native American Yosemite Village and El Capitan, a 2,000-foot face crawling with little black specks which, on closer inspection, turn out to be rock climbers.

In fact, the dramatic domes and soaring pinnacles in Yosemite make it one of the best places in the world for rock climbing. The Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service offers beginning through advanced classes in the summer.

Nice park... Photo by Elena.

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park

5 million visitors per year – 1,904 square miles – the 277-mile canyon is nearly a mile deep in places. Grand Canyon, aZ 86023.

A Grand Canyon sunset is glorious, but even during the day, the canyon walls' many layers of stone refract hues of red, yellow, and green light. On a good day, you can see 200 miles across vast mesas, forests, and the Colorado River.

The park consists of three different areas: the North Rim, the South Rim, and the Inner Canyon, which is accessible only by foot, boat, or mule. The North Rim and the South Rim are only 9 miles apart as the eagle files, but 214 miles by road.

The different rims are located in entirely different temperate climate zones. The North Rim on average is 1,000 feet higher and is heavily forested with blue spruce and alpine vegetation. It is open only from May to late October. The more popular South Rim is closer to population centers and has the juniper bushes and Gambel oak typical of the arid Southwest. The Inner Canyon is desertlike; temperatures there often exceed 110 degrees in the summer.

Follow the trails! One-and two-day mule rides are a somewhat bumpy alternative to hiking the Grand Canyon. Avoid rides in the summer, when temperatures can reach 118 degrees. Two-days trips start at the South Rim. Photo by Elena.

Peak season tips: The South Rim is crowded all year. To escape the masses, take one of the many trails off East Rim Drive to a private spot overlooking the canyon, or try the North Rim. Which receives only ten percent of the park's visitors.

Camping: Lodging reservations South Rim, including Phantom Ranch, North Rim Lodging reservations. Recorded general park info is available.

Best one-day trip: The West Rim Drive offers wonderful views of the main canyon. In the summer, it is open only to buses, which can be taken from the visitor center. A paved trail runs along the South Rim offering an easy bike. All hikes into the canyon are strenuous. Of them, only the Bright Angel and the South Kaibab trails are regularly maintained.

Best experience: A raft ride down the Colorado River is a great way to enjoy the splendor of the canyon. Motorboat trips take 7 to 10 days, raft trips take 10 to 12 days, and trips on wooden dories usually last 18 days, though 3- to 8-days partial trips can be arranged. Write the park superintendent for a complete list of outfitters licensed by the National Park Service.

Great Smoky Montains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

10 million visitors per year – 800 square miles – Largest national park east of the Rockies – 107 Park Headquarters Rd, Gatlinburg, TN.

A world unto itself, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has over 1,500 species of flowering plants, 10 percent of which are considered rare, and over 125 species of trees – more than in all of Europe. In addition, there are 200 species of birds, about 50 species of fish, and 60 species of mammals, including wild hogs and black bears.A hike or divre from mountain base to peak is equivalent to the entire length of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine in terms of the number of species of trees and plants – every 250 feet of elevation is roughly equivalent to 1,000 miles of distance on the trail. A quarter of the park is virgin forest, the largest concentration east of the Mississippi. Some of the trees are up to 8 feet in diameter.

In addition to its natural attributes, Great Smoky Mountains is one of the most interesting national parks in the United States historically, with farms, churches, cabins, and working grist mills left by the mountain people who moved away when the park was established in 1934. The park has been designated a United Nations International Biosphere Reserve as well as a World Historical Site.

Peak season tips

 During the summer, in the lower elevations, expect haze, humidity, and afternoon temperatures in the 90s – and terrible traffic jams. Cades Cove, the less spectacular but more historically interesting section of the park, is generally less crowded in the summer.

Old and abandoned farms abound here. Photo by Elena.

Camping

Reservations are required May 15 through October 31 for Elkmont, Smokemont, and Cades Cove campgrounds. Contact Mistix Sites at other campgrounds are on a first-come, first-served basis. Stay of up to 7 days are allowed from mid-May through October, and up to 14 days the rest of year. Rarely filled are the Look Rock and Cosby campgrounds, which are in more remote parts of the park. Also of note is the LeConte Lodge, located on the park's third-highest peak (elevation, 6,593 feet), a six-hour hike from the main road. Accommodations are sometimes in cabins with no electricity or running water, but no include beds and hot meals. The lodge is open from late March through mid-November.

Best one-day trip

Entering the park from Gatlinburg, continue on US 441, and stop at the Newfoundland Gap, where there are spectacular views of the mountains. From there, turn onto Clingmans Dome Road (closed in the winter), which ends at a parking lot where there is a strenuous half-mile hike to a lookout tower atop 6,643-foot Clingmans Dome – the highest peak in the park. Back on US 441, continue to the Smokemont Campground where the easy, two-mile Chasten Creek Falls Trail meanders along a stream through a hardwood forest ending at one of the park's many waterfalls.

Best experience

The Great Smokies is one of the premier places in the East to enjoy magnificent fall foliage. The season lasts from September through October. Peak time: October 15 to October 31.

National Treasures - National Parks

Natural Treasures – National Parks

Getting away from it all in America's backyard

If the national parks were in it for the money, business would be booming. Last year, 273 million people visited them, and in the next decade that figure is expected to double! Today, however, roads are closing, gift shops are being razed, and new construction is at a standstill throughout the park system. That's because the National Park Service's previous strategy of luring visitors with resort hotels and new roads worked too well, resulting in the traffic jams, pollution, and honky-tonky resort accommodations that now plague many of the national parks.

To save off the major ecological threat that tourism has become, the Park Service is putting the brakes on all environmentally degrading tourism and instead focusing on preservation. The urban ills that the Park Service is attempting to eliminate are especially prevalent in the more that 50 America's national parks, which account for more than half the system's visitors.

That means that finding a spot to pitch a tent or hook up a trailer is not always going to be easy, especially during the summer. Some campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis. For others, you may need to contact the park directly through the National Park Service's Mistix system. The services ranks national parks by popularity and always offers a description of the more interesting tracks they have to offer – beaten or otherwise.

Quarry Lake. Photo by Elena.

Sure ways to beat the crowds

Travel in the off-season has its own rewards – and its own peril

Traffic on the main roads slows to a crawl, people are everywhere. Morning drive time in New York City? No, it's the summer rush to the nation's most popular national parks. Traffic has gotten so bad at some parks that tourists can spot wildlife simply by looking where other cars have pulled over to the side of the road to gawk.

The surest way to beat the crowds is to visit in the off-season. From June through October, Great Smoky National Park typically gets over a million visitors a month, but roughly half that number visit in the months between November and April, when temperatures in the lower elevations average about 50 degrees and occasionally reach in the 70s – perfect hiking weather, in other words.

There are other off-season rewards, too. At Rocky Mountain National Park, the bighorn sheep come down from higher elevations in May to feed on the mud deposits, and wildflowers there are spectacular in the spring. Yosemite National Park's waterfalls rush from the melting winter snows. In the fall, the foliage in many parks is absolutely superb. September is the sunniest month at Rocky Mountain National Park. And Grand Teton National Park is open all winter, allowing access to excellent cross-country skiing.

Of course, seasonal difficulties abound. There are, for instance, sudden snowstorms at Yellowstone National Park as early as September. And spring weather at Zion National Park is unpredictable; flash floods are not uncommon. Mammoth Cave can be especially dank in the dead of winter.

If such perils are too daunting for you, it is possible to avoid the masses in the summer simply by venturing into the backcountry. Most visitors don't wander very far from their cars.

Pusha - Part II

Pusha Part - II

The second part of pictures of Pusha, the best cat in the World, in the whole Universe, the great Pusha the Feline who knows that he is a lion.

We are all aware of the fact that cats have it all – curiosity, an endless sleep, company, and all, only when they want it. When a cat`s human friend isn't happy, the cat is not happy. Not because the cats care about our mood but because they're are thinking up ways to get even. Anyway, our understanding of cat’s intelligence is far from perfect, but they, the cats, wonder if we are conscious. We accept that they are clever and we like to think that they will treat us well when the day of their Kingdom comes.

The following pictures of small (domestic cat, lynx, bobcat and others) and big (tiger, lion, puma and other animals) felines depict some of these amazing wonders of nature.

All the pictures have been taken by Elena.

Pusha in blue.

Pusha in yellow.

Pusha surprised. Green eyed white cat (breed: Persian Silver Shaded, purebred).

Pusha, the Galaxy special forces soldier.

Domestic cat thinking (breed: Russian Blue). Siberian tiger, largest feline (panthera tigris).

Lovely kitty, up close.

White domestic cat sitting specifically designed cat toy (the 'tree' is found in most animal stores or pet shops). Breed: Persian Silver Shaded.

Members of the feline family have long fascinated the human race. 

Cats being revered as deities in Ancient Egypt represent an additional classic illustration.

Pusha reflecting about the future of the mankind and catkind who must live together and share the responsibility of the destiny of the planet.

Pusha posing as a great politician.

Although unrelated to cats, the name itself of famous American writer Tennessee Williams' play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and the derivative 1958 drama film, are just one example among many.

Pusha looking sideways.

See you, my friends!