Post by Andy Schroeder on Oct 10, 2007 12:56:51 GMT -5
Backpacker Magazine is once again looking for submissions from American Hiking's Alliance members for content to make up the regional sections of the magazine. The submissions should be made up of regional hikes, your organization's news items and upcoming events. Backpacker is striving to make the regional pages a real community resource, so the more input you can provide the better! Hike submission guidelines and sample hikes are attached to this email.
Backpacker is currently working on the April/May issue of the magazine.
Hikes from all around the country are wanted but hikes in the following areas are especially needed:
California/Nevada/Hawaii
Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, NW Canada) Mountain West (Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico) Midwest (Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio)
Participating in Backpacker's regional pages is a great way for organizations and clubs to get the word out about their activities and the hope is that submitting hikes will also boost each club's visibility.
Not
only does submitting this information give great hiking information to the public straight from the local experts, but you also get free publicity!
Please send all submissions to:
Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan, Regional Editions Coordinator Backpacker Magazine ekwakhefferan@aimmedia.com
For the April/May issue, submissions should be sent ASAP but no later than October 31.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Elisabeth at the email address above or myself at ILevin@AmericanHiking.org or at
301-565-6704 x 208.
Have a great weekend and Happy Trails!
Ivan Levin
Ivan Levin
Trail Programs Manager
American Hiking Society
1422 Fenwick Lane
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-565-6704 x 208
www.AmericanHiking.org
ABOUT “GETAWAYS: WILD WEEKENDS IN YOUR BACKYARD”
BACKPACKER publishes 6 regional editions in order to fulfill our readers’ desire for more local information on backpacking and the outdoors. These pages include hiking and backpacking recommendations from local experts like you and the members of your organization, plus a calendar of events from across the region that includes trail clean-ups, festivals, fundraisers, how-to clinics, and group hikes.
We’re asking you to provide us with a description of a 2- to 3-day weekend overnight hike. We prefer overnight hikes, but day hikes are fine as well, since some areas lack extensive backpacking options.
Before you choose a hike, please bear in mind weather and trail conditions during the time of publication; we don’t want to send anyone down a trail that is regularly washed out during the spring, for example. If there’s a great seasonal hook, such as fall colors or migrating wildlife, include that as well.
At the end of the piece, we credit your organization for the hike, not the writer. Specifically, it says: “Hike provided by the Your Hiking Club or Organization.”
Then we list your website on a separate line beneath that.
The description should be approximately 300-400 words in length. Your main task is to tell us what makes your pick such a great weekend hike. If you go over the word count, don’t worry; we’ll edit your piece to the correct length. Please just make sure that you’ve addressed all the questions below.
• The name and length of the hike, as well as the name of the park, forest or wilderness the hike is found in
• What is the highlight of the hike?
• Why go on this hike?
• A description of the area: The vegetation, topography (including elevations), wildlife and if applicable, interesting history. If you’re not sure about this information, consult a guidebook for specifics
• What is the best guidebook or map to use for this particular hike? What park or forest agency do you contact for more information? Please provide its phone number and website.
• Last, include Directions to the trailhead
We’re more interested in a description of the area than we are in a specific route, but we like to have a rough, suggested route that people can refine with their own maps and guidebooks.
And briefly address any of these issues if they are pertinent to the hike.
• Describe the difficulty of the route. How much elevation gain each day? Over what kind of terrain?
• The locations of campsites and the distances between them. Very briefly describe the campsite: Is there a shelter? Is there water available?
• Is there any gear that is necessary on this hike? Think about difficult river crossings, bear problems, etc.
• If parking or transportation is a problem, offer suggestions. Is it a loop hike, an out-and-back, or do you need a shuttle?
• Do you need a permit?
Thank you very much for your time and effort. We hope that this partnership will provide your club with new enthusiastic members and create more positive action within the hiking community.
SAMPLE CONTRIBUTIONS (edited)
Here are some examples of overnight hikes that have been edited to fit. This will give you an idea of the length and type of information we’re looking for, however, I still recommend surpassing the 200-word count by roughly 200 words when you send in your write-ups. That way, you can be sure that you’re not leaving out any important information that we feel is necessary.
These are still early drafts and are not perfect, but they should give you a feel for Backpacker style. Please understand that when we switch your wording around, it’s not that we didn’t like what you wrote; it’s because we have to maintain our stylistic continuity throughout the magazine.
Yes, they’re short. And yes, they don’t give people the whole picture. But given our limited space, our goal is to entice and motivate readers into taking these trips, so that they seek information from other sources: guidebooks, maps, and your website. We don’t intend to be the only source of information.
Thanks again for being flexible while we work to create a unique identity for this section. It’s a living, growing work in progress, and your continued participation and creative input us achieve something groundbreaking for the outdoor community. We want this to be a forum for the entire outdoor community, so don’t hesitate to tell me if you think something should be presented differently.
Washington
Umtanum Creek Canyon, L.T. Murray State Wildlife Recreation Area
THE HIKE: Trails in the Cascades can remain buried under feet of snow until July, so head east to Washington’s canyon country, where lush deciduous streamside forests and spring wildflowers provide a vibrant contrast amid the area’s stark sagebrush plains. The 5-mile Umtanum Creek Trail starts and the Yakima River and climbs 700 feet up the canyon, which boasts a spectacular waterfall and harbors an array of migratory birds as well as deer and bighorn sheep. Complete the 10-mile out-and-back (ending at Jacob Durr Rd.) as a dayhike, or for an overnight set up camp before mile three, where the trail becomes overgrown and several shallow stream crossings are required.
DIRECTIONS: Take I-90 to I-82 East about 3.5 miles to exit 3, Thrall Road. Turn right on SR 821. Go southeast into Yakima Canyon, which is signed. In 8 miles you reach Umtanum Recreation Area. WDFW Vehicle Permit required.
MORE INFO: Desert Hikes of Washington by Alan Bauer and Dan Nelson. Maps: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: wdfw.wa.gov. (509) 575-2740.
PROVIDED BY THE WASHINGTON TRAILS ASSOCIATION
www.wta.org includes trail reports
Hat Creek Rim
Via the Pacific Crest Trail
THE HIKE In May, mild temps, wildflowers, and huge views make this 40-mile trek worth the hassle of having to lug two days’ worth of water. Despite its proximity to the Sierra and the Cascades, the Rim’s geology is distinct. Nearly one million years ago, the Earth’s crust dropped 1,000 feet here, creating an escarpment with fissures that drain into a subterranean creek. Your first 30 miles atop the Rim are dry, but the miles pass easily, thanks to a slight downhill grade and views of Lassen, Burney, and Shasta, plus numerous lava flows, cones, and caves. Tank up at Rock Creek Spring and spend night 2 at Cassel Campground. Day 3 ends at 129-foot Burney Falls, which drops 100 million gallons of water a day.
DIRECTIONS Start at the PCT trailhead on CA 89 just north
of CA 44 near Old Station. End at McArthur-Burney Falls SP,
6 miles north of Hwy. 299 on Hwy. 89 (shuttle required).
INFO Guide: Pacific Crest Trail: Northern California by Schaffer et al. Lassen NF: (530) 336-5521; McArthur-Burney Falls SP: (530) 335-2777. Call for map suggestions.
Washington
Ingalls Creek Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area
THE HIKE: During the summer, the Teanaway area in Washington’s Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area can jam with so many weekend warriors that finding a choice tent spot becomes an epic battle. But grab a pair of snowshoes and take on the Ingalls Creek Trail in late May, and you’ll earn both solitude and views of the brilliant, snow-laden Stuart Range to the North. The trail begins with an explosion of wildflowers in the lower valley, but expect snow higher up. Camp at the junction of the Cascade Creek Trail (8 miles) or Porcupine Creek (10 miles), and test your snow travel and navigation skills by reaching Stuart Pass, 16 miles and 4,000 vertical feet from the trailhead.
DIRECTIONS: From Stevens Pass (US 2), turn south on US 97; continue 6 miles, then turn right on Ingalls Creek Rd.
MORE INFO: 100 Hikes in the Alpine Lakes (Mountaineers Books, 2000) and the Green Trails© maps for Liberty and Mount Stuart. Wenatchee National Forest www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/.
PROVIDED BY THE SEATLLE MOUNTAINEERS
www.seattlemountaineers.org
Backpacker is currently working on the April/May issue of the magazine.
Hikes from all around the country are wanted but hikes in the following areas are especially needed:
California/Nevada/Hawaii
Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, NW Canada) Mountain West (Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico) Midwest (Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio)
Participating in Backpacker's regional pages is a great way for organizations and clubs to get the word out about their activities and the hope is that submitting hikes will also boost each club's visibility.
Not
only does submitting this information give great hiking information to the public straight from the local experts, but you also get free publicity!
Please send all submissions to:
Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan, Regional Editions Coordinator Backpacker Magazine ekwakhefferan@aimmedia.com
For the April/May issue, submissions should be sent ASAP but no later than October 31.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Elisabeth at the email address above or myself at ILevin@AmericanHiking.org or at
301-565-6704 x 208.
Have a great weekend and Happy Trails!
Ivan Levin
Ivan Levin
Trail Programs Manager
American Hiking Society
1422 Fenwick Lane
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-565-6704 x 208
www.AmericanHiking.org
ABOUT “GETAWAYS: WILD WEEKENDS IN YOUR BACKYARD”
BACKPACKER publishes 6 regional editions in order to fulfill our readers’ desire for more local information on backpacking and the outdoors. These pages include hiking and backpacking recommendations from local experts like you and the members of your organization, plus a calendar of events from across the region that includes trail clean-ups, festivals, fundraisers, how-to clinics, and group hikes.
We’re asking you to provide us with a description of a 2- to 3-day weekend overnight hike. We prefer overnight hikes, but day hikes are fine as well, since some areas lack extensive backpacking options.
Before you choose a hike, please bear in mind weather and trail conditions during the time of publication; we don’t want to send anyone down a trail that is regularly washed out during the spring, for example. If there’s a great seasonal hook, such as fall colors or migrating wildlife, include that as well.
At the end of the piece, we credit your organization for the hike, not the writer. Specifically, it says: “Hike provided by the Your Hiking Club or Organization.”
Then we list your website on a separate line beneath that.
The description should be approximately 300-400 words in length. Your main task is to tell us what makes your pick such a great weekend hike. If you go over the word count, don’t worry; we’ll edit your piece to the correct length. Please just make sure that you’ve addressed all the questions below.
• The name and length of the hike, as well as the name of the park, forest or wilderness the hike is found in
• What is the highlight of the hike?
• Why go on this hike?
• A description of the area: The vegetation, topography (including elevations), wildlife and if applicable, interesting history. If you’re not sure about this information, consult a guidebook for specifics
• What is the best guidebook or map to use for this particular hike? What park or forest agency do you contact for more information? Please provide its phone number and website.
• Last, include Directions to the trailhead
We’re more interested in a description of the area than we are in a specific route, but we like to have a rough, suggested route that people can refine with their own maps and guidebooks.
And briefly address any of these issues if they are pertinent to the hike.
• Describe the difficulty of the route. How much elevation gain each day? Over what kind of terrain?
• The locations of campsites and the distances between them. Very briefly describe the campsite: Is there a shelter? Is there water available?
• Is there any gear that is necessary on this hike? Think about difficult river crossings, bear problems, etc.
• If parking or transportation is a problem, offer suggestions. Is it a loop hike, an out-and-back, or do you need a shuttle?
• Do you need a permit?
Thank you very much for your time and effort. We hope that this partnership will provide your club with new enthusiastic members and create more positive action within the hiking community.
SAMPLE CONTRIBUTIONS (edited)
Here are some examples of overnight hikes that have been edited to fit. This will give you an idea of the length and type of information we’re looking for, however, I still recommend surpassing the 200-word count by roughly 200 words when you send in your write-ups. That way, you can be sure that you’re not leaving out any important information that we feel is necessary.
These are still early drafts and are not perfect, but they should give you a feel for Backpacker style. Please understand that when we switch your wording around, it’s not that we didn’t like what you wrote; it’s because we have to maintain our stylistic continuity throughout the magazine.
Yes, they’re short. And yes, they don’t give people the whole picture. But given our limited space, our goal is to entice and motivate readers into taking these trips, so that they seek information from other sources: guidebooks, maps, and your website. We don’t intend to be the only source of information.
Thanks again for being flexible while we work to create a unique identity for this section. It’s a living, growing work in progress, and your continued participation and creative input us achieve something groundbreaking for the outdoor community. We want this to be a forum for the entire outdoor community, so don’t hesitate to tell me if you think something should be presented differently.
Washington
Umtanum Creek Canyon, L.T. Murray State Wildlife Recreation Area
THE HIKE: Trails in the Cascades can remain buried under feet of snow until July, so head east to Washington’s canyon country, where lush deciduous streamside forests and spring wildflowers provide a vibrant contrast amid the area’s stark sagebrush plains. The 5-mile Umtanum Creek Trail starts and the Yakima River and climbs 700 feet up the canyon, which boasts a spectacular waterfall and harbors an array of migratory birds as well as deer and bighorn sheep. Complete the 10-mile out-and-back (ending at Jacob Durr Rd.) as a dayhike, or for an overnight set up camp before mile three, where the trail becomes overgrown and several shallow stream crossings are required.
DIRECTIONS: Take I-90 to I-82 East about 3.5 miles to exit 3, Thrall Road. Turn right on SR 821. Go southeast into Yakima Canyon, which is signed. In 8 miles you reach Umtanum Recreation Area. WDFW Vehicle Permit required.
MORE INFO: Desert Hikes of Washington by Alan Bauer and Dan Nelson. Maps: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: wdfw.wa.gov. (509) 575-2740.
PROVIDED BY THE WASHINGTON TRAILS ASSOCIATION
www.wta.org includes trail reports
Hat Creek Rim
Via the Pacific Crest Trail
THE HIKE In May, mild temps, wildflowers, and huge views make this 40-mile trek worth the hassle of having to lug two days’ worth of water. Despite its proximity to the Sierra and the Cascades, the Rim’s geology is distinct. Nearly one million years ago, the Earth’s crust dropped 1,000 feet here, creating an escarpment with fissures that drain into a subterranean creek. Your first 30 miles atop the Rim are dry, but the miles pass easily, thanks to a slight downhill grade and views of Lassen, Burney, and Shasta, plus numerous lava flows, cones, and caves. Tank up at Rock Creek Spring and spend night 2 at Cassel Campground. Day 3 ends at 129-foot Burney Falls, which drops 100 million gallons of water a day.
DIRECTIONS Start at the PCT trailhead on CA 89 just north
of CA 44 near Old Station. End at McArthur-Burney Falls SP,
6 miles north of Hwy. 299 on Hwy. 89 (shuttle required).
INFO Guide: Pacific Crest Trail: Northern California by Schaffer et al. Lassen NF: (530) 336-5521; McArthur-Burney Falls SP: (530) 335-2777. Call for map suggestions.
Washington
Ingalls Creek Trail, Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area
THE HIKE: During the summer, the Teanaway area in Washington’s Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area can jam with so many weekend warriors that finding a choice tent spot becomes an epic battle. But grab a pair of snowshoes and take on the Ingalls Creek Trail in late May, and you’ll earn both solitude and views of the brilliant, snow-laden Stuart Range to the North. The trail begins with an explosion of wildflowers in the lower valley, but expect snow higher up. Camp at the junction of the Cascade Creek Trail (8 miles) or Porcupine Creek (10 miles), and test your snow travel and navigation skills by reaching Stuart Pass, 16 miles and 4,000 vertical feet from the trailhead.
DIRECTIONS: From Stevens Pass (US 2), turn south on US 97; continue 6 miles, then turn right on Ingalls Creek Rd.
MORE INFO: 100 Hikes in the Alpine Lakes (Mountaineers Books, 2000) and the Green Trails© maps for Liberty and Mount Stuart. Wenatchee National Forest www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/.
PROVIDED BY THE SEATLLE MOUNTAINEERS
www.seattlemountaineers.org
