Mountains

The whole experience was tremendous. My own most enduring memories,are of the guides, porters and cooks who took us up there. Whilst I were struggling up with day packs, the porters and cooks were racing up carrying our main packs, together with tents, food and water. By the time we reached camp they had already pitched the tents and prepared a meal. In addition, as we entered the campsite, they greeted us with an African song and dance routine! This was followed by a sit-down meal that was always well presented and palatable (if only I had an appetite). How the cooks managed to prepare spicy chicken and chips at 4,600 meters remains a mystery to me.

Souvenirs: If you are like me and like to get a few souvenirs from your trip, I recommend getting things in Moshi rather than getting them in Arusha if you have the option. Smaller town, easier to navagate, a little more tourist friendly. The Tanzania soccer jerseys are pretty cool if you are looking for a gift for a boy.

I found my biggest enemy on summit day was not the altitude, but the almost unbearable cold. I have spent a lot of time in the cold and grew up in it. I know how to layer and what to wear. But this was a whole new level of cold to me. Take in to account, of course, your personal build and your track record with cold, but I would say plan for colder than you think.

this was a wonderful trip!

I spent three weeks in Peru and visited areas from the Amazon, amazing, to the Nazca Lines. We stayed at the "Inkaterra Pueblo Hotel" at the base of Machu Picchu...a 4 star hotel spa that was unbelievable! So worth the splurge!!

I spent three weeks in Peru and visited areas from the Amazon, amazing, to the Nazca Lines. We stayed at the "Inkaterra Pueblo Hotel" at the base of Machu Picchu...a 4 star hotel spa that was unbelievable! So worth the splurge!!

Such an unusual place to be. To be able to walk on the hardened lava and see little flowers springing up between the cracks. Then you could smell the sulfate that was also coming from some of the cracks. Awesome!!

Check the local tourist magazines. There is a small boat operator that takes parties of 6 right up to where the lava hits the water. It was amazing to see the lava explode and feel the heat up close!

The best way to see the park is to go to the visitor canter...a fantastic museum and information center. Once there ask the park rangers for their opinion of what to do based on what is happening then. They conduct daily walks and naturalist programs..all free which are outstanding...

This National Park is the closest to me, so have been there many times. I always see something new, and never tire of its beauty. Of course, fall is when it is in all its glory.

So lovely! While there I could hear the old folk song... in my head! Was sort of sad in a way.

you can get your nature fix here and then roll out to the wineries and bed and breakfasts then head back to the city all in one day

Many, many, times over my childhood years !!!

Beautiful park.

LOVED this. We spend a wonderful time at a motel on the Blue Ridge Parkway... Could not decide if we wanted to stay there because it was bit expensive but then we learned that dinner and breafast were included! The lady who signed us in said her husband were right then busy fishing for trout for dinner! Wow! Dinner was amazing! The trout outstanding and then the chef (owner) came by with a pan with trout and asked if we wanted more!!! Later we were served a wonderful fruit pie for desert and again, the chef came buy and asked if we wanted anotherp piece! And the view in the photo above, was our view from our little cabin and the flankets were turned down with chocolates on the pillow! So, yes, the trip and amazing scenery, Gatlanberg, Tennessee in general, the mountains and all were breath-taking but our little motel put the cherry on top. Wish I can remember the name of it???

Visiting Ape Cave is a must! Lava tube hike with a lantern...kinda scary, but so worth it!!

If you're visiting Seattle and have a full day to invest in a road trip, don't miss this great site.

Want to go there! But probably won't. major knee problems :-(

This is an amazing park. I recommend the boat to the island. Then after hiking around the island then after hiking around the island you can jump in the cold clear water! Invigorating!

Beautiful drive around the rim. Did not get to do the boat ride, which I regret. Amazing place.

Would love to go there somday!

Make sure you leave yourself enough time to spend at least one full day on a park tour. Spend the night and see what you didn't see the previous day.

Want to go there someday!

We recently went to Great Basin National Park and toured the Lehman Caves. It was $10 a person for the whole tour and it was worth it. We learned a lot, saw some amazing structures and enjoyed the 90 minute tour.

saw this years ago. Beautiful glaciers and the cave tour was great.

While in that general area, check out David Mountains State Park, Fort Davis, TX.

Some day...

Would love to go.

Everything is so beautiful and scenic - and it was far less crowded than most parks I had visited, perhaps because it was already the end of the 2nd week of September or maybe it's just like that.

Went at begining of May and only saw a little of the park because of snow

Been here twice. First time, never saw the mountain. Last time, in May, the mountain came out, and I was in awe!! We stayed at the Paradise Inn two nights, and the mountain is beautiful from there. Can hike up towards the mountain from there. Yes, there was LOTS of snow, which made the setting that much more beautiful.

Have been to Washington and seen this from afar. Looks so lovely.

very nice- went in May LOTS of snow!

Beautiful, beautiful!

Tour some of this park in early evening. Mountains were pretty

Great place for viewing wildlife

Gorgeous drive across the mountain. This is one of my Favs!

The sweet mountain air! Went to a writer's conference there... very inspiring! Aumtum in the rockies are something one just have to do, at least once...

What can you say, when you see these giants? They leave you speechless. Loved this place, and yes I DID hug a tree!

We camped, hiked and enjoyed the amazing scenery. A return is a must!

Huge trees!! The General Sherman is a must see while in the park and walk the trail with the house and senate and the president trees!

If you plan to hike to the top of Half Dome when the cables are up you’ll need to get a permit. Get more information on getting a permit here.

Lived here 8 years and miss it every day!! Living in paradise!

This is where I live! Love it!!

quiet campground, great for star gazing

Not totally impressed and the campground needs improvement, but the boys loved wearing headlamps in the caves.

Come prepared for those un-expected early fall storms. It was 95 degrees when we started our trip to Mt Whitney from San Diego, and it snowed 16 inches at base camp. Nothing like snowballs in summer!

When it is relatively free of snow, from approximately July to October, the Mount Whitney Trail provides a non-technical, but strenuous, route to the summit of Mt. Whitney.

Wilderness permits may be reserved in advance. For more information. click here... Due to the high demand for Day Use and Overnight Mt Whitney Permits, a lottery is held for reservations. There is not a waiting list for cancelations. The space left after the lottery will be available to reserve at the end of April. For trips in May, June or July; apply on April 20, 2011 For trips in August, Sept. or October; apply April 27, 2011 Application to reserve after the lottery.

Visiting the park is recommended between late December and late February, during the southern summer. Not only is the weather more hospitable, but daylight hours are very long given the extreme southern latitude. Outside of this time frame, the weather becomes too extreme for the majority of the public, and daylight dwindles to only a few hours a day.