National
Forest
Spending time in the many national forests is an experience
that brings exciting memories and fun. A trip to one
of the many national parks allow you to get away from
the everyday home activities and spend time enjoying
the beautiful adventures, scenery and outdoor recreation.
There are many things you need to help you plan and
prepare for a great experience. To enjoy the experience
you should always be prepared with necessary camping
gear. Hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers, and climbers
will find few restrictions in our national forests.
Entrance fees are generally nominal or nonexistent.
The literature on the area might not be as glossy or
extensive, but that keeps the crowds away and lets you
discover things on your own.
Ultra light gear has become a passion for many backpackers
who are keen on traveling light. During the early days
of backpacking, people used to carry huge packs weighing
50-70 pounds for long trips. With the technological
developments, today's high tech backpacker can go lighter
and farther.
MORE TIPS YOU WON'T FIND
FROM ANY OTHER SOURCES
- Learn to think in terms of ounces and not pounds.
- Write down all your weight calculations and you
will see everything more objectively.
- Use a kitchen scale that shows ounces and fractions
of ounces to weigh every piece of equipment you have.
- If purchasing new gear, compare the weights of
your options by taking your scale to the store.
- When purchasing gear from a catalog or online,
insist on knowing the weight before you purchase it.
- Remove parts that are not functional-tags, drawstring
from pants with elastic, extra length on draw cords
of packs and stuff sacks, extra length on pack straps.
- Take gear that serves multiple uses
A National Forest is an area of considerable extent
that is preserved by government decree from private
exploitation and is harvested only under supervision.
National Forests are sometimes known as America's favorite
playground because of all of the fun exciting activities
to enjoy at the National Forests. There are thousands
of campgrounds, trails, streams, lakes, etc for any
type of outdoor activity.
In the Unites States there are 155 forests and 20
grasslands . This area covers more than 190 million
acres of land in 44 states in the US. Don't be misled:
The national forests are not all forest. Mountain bikers
will find technical single-track that snakes its way
through a diversity of terrain that includes desert,
canyon, grassland, wetland, and mountain. Climbers can
still discover new routes up sheer-face granite walls.
And for hikers and backpackers seeking solitude, the
forests offer refuge in vast wilderness areas that shelter
wildlife from the modern world. In these areas hundreds
of different species of animals live.
Click Here for one some of the
largest and most enjoyable campgrounds in the entire
national parks system ... Colorado
Parks
National Forest
Threats
The National Forests area is large
but America's population is growing and may danger these
millions of acres with all the new development. The
growing population may cause instinction of certain
animals or may destroy many of the natural habitats.
Approximately one-third of endangered and threatened
species in our nation can be found within the national
parks.
The question we face in the twenty-first
century is whether we can avoid a tragedy of the commons.
The national forests have long served as a primary resource
for timber. Today, that tradition is being reevaluated
as forests around the world continue to dwindle at an
alarming rate. Only time will tell whether government
efforts like the Roadless Initiative can help preserve
what little forest remains.
Another threat to the national
forests are wildfires. Over the past few years the United
States has seen a major drought throughout many sections
of the country. This drought is affecting the national
forests and causing major wildfires. Catastrophic wildfires
are storming through the West coast and harming mush
of the habitat and community.
National Forests have many environmental benefits.
We rely on National Forests for drinking water. Thousands
of species of animals and plants also rely of the forests
as a homeland. The National Forests also remove more
than 50 million metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere
each year. The National Forest also produces millions
of jobs each year and gets millions of dollars from
recreation activities. |
