Autumn is a spectacular time of color in many areas of the Earth, and the U.S. Appalachian Mountains are no exception. From radiant reds to mustard yellow, the vibrant display of color is short-lived, earning leaf-peeping a peak priority. What causes such brilliant displays of leaf color this time of the season, anyway? Think you already know? We thought so, too. Here are a few things we learned after some quick research. Here is what we found – Leaf Foliage Fall foliage is a byproduct of chemical changes when deciduous trees prepare to go dormant for winter. The difference in […]
Coconut is harvested from the coconut palm tree, which flourishes in tropical climates such as the Philippines, Thailand, Mexico, and India. These trees also grow in South Florida on the U.S. mainland. Remarkably, coconuts have reached the shores of nearly every continent unassisted by human effort. They can drift in the ocean for up to three months, eventually washing up on sandy island beaches, where they can sprout into new trees that may produce up to ten thousand coconuts over their lifetime. This is why coconut palms are commonly found growing along island beaches. The water extracted from coconut is […]
Have you ever wondered if fresh food contains the same nutrients as its dried counterpart? Let’s examine what happens when food is dried. These four steps are involved in preserving food by drying: Harvesting Storing Processing Drying From the moment it’s harvested or picked, raw food contains the highest content of nutrients. The nutrients decline as the food gets exposed to light and air during handling and transport. Additional nutrient loss occurs when the food undergoes processing (peeling, slicing, chopping) and declines further once exposed to heat for either cooking, preservation, or storage. Maximum nutrient retention occurs when raw food […]
Nutritional yeast is the perfect companion for vegan adventure travel because it gives cheesy flavor without the need for refrigeration, is low in sodium, and has a very long storage life. Some brands of nutritional yeast are vitamin-fortified and considered a health food. There are no plant foods that reliably contain B-12 and nutritional yeast is an economical way for vegans to get this vital nutrient.
Knowing how to read a topographic map is an essential skill for navigating the backcountry. Make sure you understand how to follow a topographic map before your hike — especially if you plan to be in a remote area. Here we’ll cover the basics and provide some online sources for finding topographic hiking maps. We will also feature some external sites that teach map skills & orienteering in greater detail. What is a Topographic Map Topographic maps render the three-dimensional ups and downs of the terrain on a two-dimensional map. The topographic map shows a cross-sectional view of the terrain, known as a topographic profile. […]