Potomac Conservancy • 4th December 2023

2023 was a “nutty” year for the Potomac River - Here’s why —

From late September through October, volunteers collected more than 3,311 pounds of acorns and seeds from locally evolved trees — more than five times the amount collected in the 2022 season! Acorns and tree seeds from White Oaks, Northern Red Oaks, and Black Walnuts topped the list of donations, while 27 varieties of tree seeds were donated in total. More than 200 volunteers contributed to the regional effort, delivering acorns to eleven collection sites scattered throughout Maryland, Virginia

The Japan Times • 15th November 2023

A glimpse of old and new in Tokyo and neighboring Saitama

Visitors to Japan can experience rich history without sacrificing modern amenities thanks to the traditional locales preserved amid the glass and steel of the country’s cities. Tokyo and its northern neighbor Saitama Prefecture abound with historic sites, modern buildings and lush greenery, while carrying on the legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This article examines some of the nearly countless things to see and do in these areas. It’s been more than two years since Tokyo hosted the

Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine • 4th October 2023

Five Lesser-Known Distance Trails in the Southeast

Sure, everyone’s heard of the Appalachian Trail—the famous footpath that draws almost three million hikers a year. But it’s not the only long-distance trail in our neck of the woods. The Southeast is crisscrossed with plenty of other lengthy paths, and most of them don’t see many thru-hikers. Here are five options for long hikes with little foot traffic. Winding through northwestern South Carolina and western North Carolina, the Foothills Trail is an extended highlight reel, packed with some of

27th September 2023

72 Hours in Tokyo

In the past, I've only visited Tokyo in transit. My entire experience was confined to airports, shuffling between flights. Last month, I was lucky enough to spend three day in the world's largest city.

27th September 2023

Saitama in Pictures

Last month, I spent a day train-hopping through Japan's Saitama Prefecture, just north of Tokyo. While the eastern edge of the prefecture blends into the outskirts of metropolitan Tokyo, moving westward, Saitama becomes more rural, wilder, gradually rising into the thickly forests peaks of the Okuchichibu Mountains.

Mental Floss • 11th September 2023

The Curious Extinction of the Carolina Parakeet: An Avian Cold Case

The once-abundant wild parrots vanished mysteriously in the early 20th century. Now scientists are closer to solving their disappearance.

Blue Ridge Country • 31st August 2023

Seven Spectacular Rail Trails for Fall

These former rail routes feature generally easy grades, lots of rich history, inviting pit stops and plenty of fall foliage. The Appalachian Mountains were the first formidable obstacle to America’s railroading boom—a vexing challenge for engineers. Still, by the late 1800s, the region was crisscrossed with rail lines, linking remote, mountain-cradled communities and expediting the extraction of the region’s natural resources—especially coal and timber. But, this railroading boom was relatively

Potomac Conservancy • 29th August 2023

Fall foraging along the Potomac River — Potomac Conservancy

Flowing more than 400 miles from the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia to Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac River shapes a wide variety of habitats, winding through a landscape rich in biodiversity. For centuries, the wide array of plant communities along the river has been vital for sustaining regional wildlife, from monarch butterflies to black bears. The seasonal availability of wild fruits, grains, seeds, and nuts provides essential calories for wildlife at critical times of the year—for instance

Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine • 1st August 2023

The Southeast’s Disappearing Grasslands

These native habitats, and their ecological benefits, are nearly gone. But there are efforts to save what’s left. Nestled in the suburbs of Baltimore, there’s a scrap of land that could be the backdrop for a classic Western film, a patchwork of rock-riddled grasslands and savannahs studded with stunted blackjack and post oak trees. This swath of habitat contains the largest intact barrens remaining on the East Coast. Now protected as the Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area, this strip of

richmondmagazine.com • 21st June 2023

Lights Out

Dark skies are scarce in the United States, especially east of the Mississippi River, where light pollution hinders views of the cosmos, particularly in urban areas. Nationally, about 99% of the population experiences a phenomenon known as sky glow, the illumination of the evening sky over inhabited areas. In the United States, there are 85 Dark Sky Parks certified by the International Dark Sky Association, an Arizona-based nonprofit that seeks to preserve the night sky by reducing light pollut

Potomac Conservancy • 12th June 2023

5 ways trees are affected by the climate crisis – and how they help combat it — Potomac Conservancy

Trees and forests are at the forefront of the climate crisis. Forced to contend with increasingly frequent droughts, wildfires, and severe storms, forests are profoundly affected by the warming planet. But, they are also one of the best ways to help combat the effects of a changing climate—locally as well as globally. In the Potomac River region, the climate crisis is already altering weather patterns, causing heavier precipitation and higher seasonal temperatures. For instance, in Washington,

Potomac Conservancy • 12th June 2023

Am I "outdoorsy" enough? — Potomac Conservancy

Outdoor recreation can be joyful, challenging, and deeply rewarding—and comes with incredible physical and mental health benefits that everyone should have the opportunity to experience. In fact, just last year, the United Nations General Assembly even adopted a resolution officially proclaiming ‘access to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment’ to be a universal human right. But, is spending time outside for fun truly accessible to everyone? According to the Conserving and Restoring Am

Adventure Cycling Association • 17th April 2023

The First Adventure

Six miles seemed like a doable distance. After all, the ride would be entirely flat. When I plotted the route to our backcountry campsite, Google Maps assured me that I could walk the entire way in about two hours. Cycling there should be a piece of cake. But, when I planned the three-day family getaway to Virginia’s False Cape State Park, there was one detail I hadn’t fully considered. Half the riders in our group were under the age of six – and their bikepacking skills were still to be determi

Highland Outdoors • 1st April 2023

A Walk through the Country: Mapping the American Perimeter Trail

In the summer of 2019, Rue McKenrick set off on an epic hike. His plan was simple: walk a counterclockwise lap around the continental United States.

Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine • 29th January 2023

The Southeast’s Best State Parks for Trail Runners

Lace-up and pile on the miles at these scenic gems With some of the oldest mountains on Earth, and traversed by long-distance footpaths like the Appalachian Trail, Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and the Pinhoti Trail, the Southeast is a spectacular destination for trail runners to log miles, especially in the region’s state parks. Here are just a few of the best places to hit the trails. Stashed away in a rugged corner of the Cumberland Plateau, Pickett CCC Memorial State Park is a portal to an exten

Thrillist • 18th January 2023

Ski an Old Coal Town That Nearly Became a Ghost Town

Just 50 years ago, the town of Davis seemed likely to become a ghost town. The story of the West Virginia hamlet read similar to other coal towns in the US: once-rich natural resources were depleted until the land ran dry and no work was to be found. But the region’s natural assets saved Davis once again. Thanks to its high altitude and abundance of snow, Davis went from a coal town to a ghost town to a thriving ski town. Perched at 3,100 feet, it’s probably no surprise that this highest town in

pastemagazine.com • 5th December 2022

How the Humble Pepperoni Roll Became an Appalachian Staple

There are a lot of stereotypes attached to Appalachia and plenty of preconceived notions about the region’s culinary contributions. In fact, moonshine might be Appalachia’s most illustrious artisanal export. The region is often typecast as isolated, backwards and lacking diversity. But that’s not the reality. The mountain-riddled region extending from southern New York to northern Mississippi has been shaped by a mélange of cultures, from Appalachia’s original inhabitants, including the Cherokee

Matador Network • 25th October 2022

8 Haunted Trails in National Parks You Can Hike (if You Dare)

America’s national parks preserve some of the country’s most spectacular natural assets. And these protected areas also often have a rich past – but sometimes, that past is terribly tragic. Morbid historical events in many of these parks have inspired spooky legends that endure today, from tales of murder to mysterious illnesses. Though these haunted trails are great for Halloween hiking, they’re also fascinating places to check out year-round, especially for hikers on the hunt for spooky spect

Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine • 18th October 2022

Rolling On The Rivers: Best Paddling Trails in the Southeast

The Southeast holds some of the oldest and most biodiverse rivers on the planet. Home to everything from marshy coastal creeks to rapid-rippled mountain streams to slow-rolling blackwater rivers, the region is also especially rich in aquatic life, holding more than half the freshwater fish species found in the United States, and more amphibians than any other corner of the country. This means plentiful options for on-the-water adventures. For paddlers keen

Earth Island Journal • 7th October 2022

Tackling Heat Inequity: For many US cities, building climate resilience also requires reckoning with their racist past

DURING THE SUMMER OF 1995, a sluggish air mass settled over the Midwest for a week, smothering the region with a stifling combination of high dew points and blistering temperatures. For five days in mid-July, temperatures hovered around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat index peaked at more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Chicago was the epicenter of the disaster. At the end of the heatwave, more than 700 of the city’s residents had died of heat-related illness. The majority of the fatalities were