A Nature Lovers Adventure Journal

1
A Nature Lovers Adventure Journal

• Denise Norths Digital Travel Bio
• bikenorth_at_yahoo.ca
• University of British Columbia
• LIBR 500 - Fall 2006

2
Sacred Places

• What follows is a compilation of my ultimate
  favourite local, national international
  places
  
• Unique regions Ive had the opportunity to
  travel to in my 20s and 30s
  
• Whether explored by bike, kayak on foot or
  skis, each region holds a special place in my
  heart
  

3
Arches National Park

• An artists, geologists hikers dream
• Where sunrises sunsets linger deep in the
  valleys, painting a majestic masterpiece along
  canyon walls
  
• Where canyons are etched with thousand
  year old pictographs created by Anzazi tribes
  
  
• LOCATION Moab, Utah
• TRIP LENGTH 4-6 days
• OPTIMUM TIME April or October
• Double O Arch

4
Paria Canyon

• Imaginethe ultimate solitude
• Encountering no other humans while hiking through
  70m high slot canyons
  
• Spending 1.5 days in a shoulder-width canyon
  (Buckskin Gultch)
  
• Hiking up and over boulders and log jams in knee
  deep water
  
• The stillness only interrupted by the echo of an
  offspreys call
  
• Searching for pictographs left by the Anzazi
  Tribes
  
• TRIP DESCRIPTION 5 day back-country hike
• LOCATION Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs
  Wilderness
  
• (112,500-acres)
• Canyon entrance Grand Junction,
  Colorado, USA
  End point
  10 miles West of Page, Arizona

5
Moab, Utah

• The ultimate canyon country adventure
  vacation!
  
• Extraordinary sandstone formations
• Majestic slot canyons
• Indulging in natural beauty
• Envision paving any rocky, off-road trail, then
  creating total traction for hiking and cycling
  
• An ideal place to learn to mountain bike on solid
  slick rock grip terrain
  
• Even the gonzo abusive trails are manageable
  yet exhilarating!
  
• Just watch out for the sand traps and
  Prickly Pear cactus!
  

6
Cycling the Oregon Coast

• An incredible freedom, wheeling down dramatic
  ocean-side roads, savouring the steady tailwind
  at my back
  
• Gazing down towering/jagged cliffs, listening
  to the thunderous waves and bellows resonating
  from the sea lion caves
  
• Camping at pristine hiker/biker camp sites
  (a bargain at only 4 / person!)
  with peaceful beaches, rugged sand dunes
  and lush forests as neighbors
• Hiking through fragrant rainforests,
  encountering ancient towering
  Metasequoia trees, large enough for a van to pass
  through!

7
Captivated by Cambodia

• Once the most powerful kingdom in SE Asia (802
  AD-1800s)
  
• during the Angkorian Era all that remains now
  are the
  
• Temples of Angkor.
• Magnificent architectural masterpieces
• Every surface is an intricately hand carved
  design in stone
  
• Its amazing the temples are still standing
  over one thousand years later!
  
• Now the Khmer people are trying to recover from
  the horrors of war under the brutal Khmer Rouge
  Regime
  
• The poverty stricken yet resilient Khmer
  continue to try to rebuild their lives
  
• and re-claim their land that is littered
  with thousands of active landmines.
  

My heart went out to the dozens of children and
families I met who lived in shacks shared with
livestock. Yet their playful laughter and
vibrant, genuine smiles, warmed my heart.
8
Vibrant Vietnam

• Vietnam is a progressive culture with paved
  super highways, a dream to
  
• cycle on compared to Cambodia! Surrounded by
  evidence of thriving
  
• industry and entrepreneurs at every bend
• Artists and craftspeople abound from
  superb
  
• seamstresses, to amazing painters,
  potters
  
• and talented carvers
• A country where women wear beautiful, hand
  sewn,
  
• silk pantsuits while teenage girls cycle to
  school
  
• wearing elegant school uniforms made of white
  silk
  

9
Laid-back Laos

• Recently developed tourism 2003
• Incredible cycling and side trips along the main
  
  
• Northern road to tiny, rustic villages.
• Passing through tropical forests, with crystal
  clear
  
• rivers that beckoned for many refreshing
  swims
  
• Friendly, well-educated and kind locals who
• welcome travelers.
• Vibrant Buddhist temples and statues abound
• along quiet back roads.

10
Costa RicaNaturally

• The largest concentration of national parks
• and protected regions in the world
• Manuel Antonio Monte Verde National Parks have
  spectacular flora and fauna, including Howler and
  White Monkeys, Three-toed sloths, hundreds of
  rainforest birds and magnificent
  tropical flowers
• A major highlight is trekking through
  rainforests and taking a nocturnal hike in
  Monte Verde where the rainforest remains active
  all night A tingling feast for the senses!
• Pristine beaches on the NW, Pacific Side
• Unique black sand beaches on the Caribbean,
  Atlantic Ocean side
  
• Trip duration10-15 days
• Best time of year Spring or Fall

11
Cycling The Maritimes

• Stunning ocean side views and picturesque rural
  scenery
  
• Quaint country towns and cities, full of vibrant
  characters culture
  
• Beautiful Victorian Elizabethan historic homes
  with widow walks
  
• Maritimers are the most thoughtful, genuine and
  fun-loving people Ive met throughout my travels
  in North America
  
• LOCATION Nova Scotia, New Brunswick Prince
  Edward Island
  
• DURATION 2 weeks
• DISTANCE 1400 km (3 separate trips 1996, 1998
  and 2001)
  

12
Cycling in British Columbia

• My favorite cycle touring
  trips include
  
• The Rocky Mountains The Golden Triangle
  (330 km)
  
• 
  Banff, Alberta Radium Golden, BC 3
  days
  
• The Kootenay Region
• The Silver Triangle (270 km) 3 days
• Nelson New Denver Kaslo
• The Slocan Triangle (300 km) 3-4 days
• Revelstoke Kaslo New Denver
  Nakusp
  
• South/Central Region
• Trans Canada Trail (400 km)
• 8/12 days off-road Merritt Hope
  Chilliwack
  

• The Okanagan KVR Railway (250km)
• Penticton Peachland Princeton
  Hope
  Merritt Vernon Kelowna
  
• Columbia Western Railway (250 km)
• Kelowna Beaverdell Rock Creek Grandforks
  Castlegar

13
Kayaking BC

• The Johnstone Strait (4 days)
• Imagine waking up to the sound of Killer
  Whales as they pass
  
• by the campsiteBeing entertained by dolphins
  and salmon
  
• jumping and performing during their evening
  water ballet.
  
• And trying to photograph seals before they
  disappeared into the kelp
  
• Male female Killer
  Whales
  
• Quadra Cortez Islands Desolation Sound (6
  days)
  
• 
  
  
• Stunning, multi-coloured ocean life including
  starfish, sea urchins, fish, octopus flowing
  kelp
  
• The Broken Islands Group (5 days)

14
Back-country skiing
Rogers Pass, Glacier National Park

(45km NE of Revelstoke, BC)

• A mecca for experienced,
• back-country ski enthusiasts
• One of the most consistently pure powder
  back-country ski regions in the world
  
• An unparalleled powder haven!

Denise enroute to Sapphire Col
and the Lily Glacier
As a friend of mine, and
fellow telemark skier says.
Free your heels, free your soul.

- Jeff Grutz -
15
Credits

• All photos are my own personal photos, with two
  exceptions noted below. For permission to use my
  photos, e-mail Denise at dnorth_at_vsb.bc.ca
  
• Cabot Trail photograph used with written,
  e-mailed permission from http//www.allinclusiveto
  urs.net/t_nova_from_ny_02.htm
  
• Peggys Cove photograph from Canadian Tourism
  Commission http//www.explore.canada.travel
  
• Photo used with verbal permission from the
  Canadian Tourism Commission Office 1400-1055
  Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, BC V7X 1L2 
  
• Music courtesy of Windows Media sample music