Claude Thomas Passion

By Drew Barring

Any hiker will tell you that the trail makes the experience. Hiking along the most beautiful and challenging trails are the hiking hobbyist’s dream. One of the benefits of hiking is that there are many countries, states, and islands that cater to the hiker through beautifully unique trails. Where do you want to go for your next hiking trip? This guide lists the top five places for hiking that will challenge even the most experienced hiker. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, these hiking trails can bring an appreciation towards nature’s beauty.

Breakneck Ridge Trail

Breakneck Ridge is located in New York along the Hudson River. The mountain trail is part of the Appalachian Mountains, so it’s filled with lush, green forests and rivers. The mountain has several peeks and plateaus to choose for your hiking destination. The highest summit for experienced hikers is 1,260 feet. To begin, most hikers choose the white route up the western side of the mountain. The steep, rocky climb to the summit gives a challenging hike with breathtaking views of the forest and rivers below it.

Glacier Gorge

Glacier Gorge is filled with multiple hiking trails for beginners and experts. Its location in the Rocky Mountains National Park makes it perfect for all kinds of scenery including rivers, lakes, waterfalls, mountains, and animals. Choose from hiking trails from all directions around the scenic gorge. Beginner trails are available at low levels that are relatively short. The trails are perfect for family and small children. If you consider yourself up for the challenge of a more expert level, Glacier Gorge offers demanding hiking trails that require excellent physical fitness and acclimation to high levels.

Appalachian Trail: The Pinnacle

Located in Humberg, Pennsylvania, The Pinnacle trail is also a part of the Appalachian Mountains. The trail gives views of scenic mountains and rivers along the way. Not far from the Pinnacle Trail is the Hamburg Dam for a breathtaking view of mother nature and technology tied into one. Weather can be mostly rainy and humid, which allows a more advanced hike for those who like the challenge of fighting the elements.

Mount Whitney

Hiking the trails at Mount Whitney will bring you to the highest peak in the United States. Located in California, Mount Whitney leaves the hiker with an accomplishment that few are able to make. Great physical condition and the ability to acclimate to high altitudes of approximately 15,000 feet are a must for this trail. The trail is well worth the challenge. Scenic Rocky Mountain views and a visit to Consultation Lake give the hiker an enjoyable and memorable trip.

Conundrum Hot Springs

Nestled in Colorado’s most underdeveloped wilderness, Conundrum Hot Springs is the place for hikers and other visitors to view mother nature’s most unique watery springs. The pools are scattered around the trail and their temperatures vary with the hottest being 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The trail is perfect for photos and awe inspiring memories. The unique hot pools surrounded by winter snow gives the sight seer an impressive view of nature’s characteristic style.

By Mike Selvon

When most people in the United States backpack, their base packs often weigh between 30 to 50 pounds, depending on how heavy the backpacking equipment is and how long the backpacking excursion is going to last. Many people opt for lighter base packs and choose lightweight backpacking. This backpacking term means packing the lightest gear possible to meet overnight backpacking, or even longer needs. On average, those who choose to lightweight backpack, pack between 12 and 20 pounds of gear, making their packs considerably lighter.

There are more and more people practicing lightweight backpacking on the trails today. These individuals are, on average, have more energy and experience far less exhaustion and injuries, and for the most part are more enjoyable to be around. The loss of a large amount of weight can free the traveler to experience more of the trip in an enjoyable manner instead of constantly worrying how they are going to climb the next hill.

When backpacking hiking with less gear, simply do not take more than what you know you will need. Many people tend to pack duplicate equipment just in case, but many people never need the duplicate gear. Believe it or not, packing your everyday 12 ounce tube of toothpaste or your ultra mega bottle of sunscreen can add to the weight content of your backpack very quickly, yet you will never need those amounts of products for a weekend or even a week long trip.

Instead, try packing trial size bottles of products so that you are more comfortable when traveling. Another item that can significantly add to your backpacking weight is packing unnecessary food. This is where deliberate food planning comes in. Many lightweight backpackers have found that packing food consistent with a 2,000 calorie a day diet relieves them of a lot of weight.

This averages out to about 1.5 pounds of daily food and can actually reduce the average backpacker’s weight by over 5 pounds, in food alone. While there are other items that can be deleted from your backpack to drop weight, starting with items like these can get you off and running.

Many individuals enjoy backpacking, but many find they are tired and exhausted by the end of the trip. Lightweight backpacking allows individuals to hike with more ease, while not having to carry heavy backpacking equipment. This type of backpacking puts less stress on the body and gives you much more ease of movement. Packing and traveling light is very possible and can lessen the load, allowing for a less stressful trip.

By Victor Epand

In many countries, bicycles are accepted and approved as a means of transport for people of both genders and all ages. Contrarily, very few adults in the United States ride a bike on any kind of regular basis, if ever. Although many children in this country love their bikes more than anything, the magic usually wears off when they reach their teen years. This change is probably a result of America’s obsession with motorized transportation, i.e. the automobile. However, over the past decade or so, Lance Armstrong has done an incredible amount to further the “coolness” factor of bicycles in America. This development is all to the good, since bicycles are beneficial to both individuals and to the planet as a whole.

Bicycles were invented in the early 19th century. Interestingly, the bicycle’s basic shape has never changed very drastically, although the one exception to this rule is the “penny-farthing” bicycle, the notorious model with a huge front wheel and a tiny rear one. For the most part, the first bicycles are easily recognized as bikes even by today’s standards. Early bicycles were used simply as a form of transportation, whether recreational or commercial.

While early bicycles were fairly “one size fits all,” modern cyclists have a whole laundry list of bicycle types to choose from. His or her selection is based on the type of cycling he or she intends to pursue. An individual who simply needs to get around the city will purchase a utility bicycle, but someone who enjoys bicycle touring (extended trips taken on a bike) will select a touring bicycle. Each kind of bicycle is designed to meet the challenges associated with the intended use.

Utility bicycles are probably the most common style of bike in the world. They are used by millions of people every day, especially in countries like China, Japan and the Netherlands, for commuting, shopping and basic point-to-point transportation. A utility bike often has a step-through frame, which features a low crossbar, making it easy to mount. This design evolved from the bicycles of the 19th and 20th centuries that were intended for female riders. Because the women of those eras always wore long dresses or skirts, bicycles needed to accommodate such clothing. While this is no longer (usually) a consideration, step-through frames remain popular due to the ease with which they can be mounted. Utility bikes are functional, durable, comfortable and versatile, but they do tend to be rather heavy. The handlebars on these bikes are usually higher than the seat, allowing the cyclist to sit upright.

Mountain bicycles are another extremely well-known type of bicycle. These bikes are designed to contend with unpaved environments such as mountain trails or country roads. They feature wide, knobby tires that provide a great deal of traction and shock absorption. Mountain bicycles usually have diamond frames, which are lighter than step-through frames. These bikes need to be relatively lightweight, as cyclists often need to lift them into trucks or carry them when the trail becomes too rough. The handlebars of mountain bikes are usually at about the same height as the seat, forcing the cyclist to bend at the waist while seated.

By Bruce Weir

Mountain biking is a great sport and enjoyed by a growing number of people each year. When starting out there is a lot of excitement in deciding what mountain bike you are going to get for all those outings you have planned. Just as important, once you have invested in the mountain bike itself there are some mountain biking essentials for yourself, and that means protective gear.

Speaking from personal experience there are three essential pieces of gear you just must have every time you venture out for that ride.

Mountain bike helmet - this is absolutely essential. Mountain biking will almost inevitably involve a fall or wipeout of some kind. A properly fitting mountain bike helmet can save you from a bump on the head or worse.

A couple of summers ago I was out for a leisurely ride on a familiar trail, not going overly fast or doing anything crazy but had a spectacular crash when I hit a wash out hidden in the patterns of light and dark among the shadows of the trees. Both the mountain bike and I were busted up rather badly. The bike was beyond repair and I took the impact on my right side, smashing up my leg, hand, arm and shoulder. The right side of my head also hit the ground hard but I didn’t realise this until much later in hospital as someone pointed out the shards of rock stuck in the shattered helmet shell. The helmet took the full force of the impact and prevented what could have been severe injuries.

When buying your mountain bike helmet check that the one you select is comfortable and meets the standards for your country; you may or may not need to make sure it complies with the laws where you live but you definitely do want to ensure it has passed the basic tests to protect your head. Mountain bike helmets come in lots of funky designs, some radical color schemes and a wide variety of fits for all shapes of heads even the kids don’t take much convincing that it’s good to wear a helmet.

Gloves - your second must have item.

Gloves protect your hands not only in the event of a crash but also riding in areas of close scrubby bush country and debris scattered by riders in front of you when going at speed on tracks with loose dirt, sticks or gravel. That crash I mentioned earlier; you might have guessed it, my hands lost some skin as I wasn’t wearing gloves because I’d put off buying a new pair. Ouch! Now I wear them all the time.

Glasses - the third essential item for protecting two of your most valuable assets, your eyes.

Glasses protect your eyes not only from the sun but also from insects, branches and leaves dangling across trails, dust, sand, mud and debris thrown up by other mountain bike riders or even off your own front wheel. You’ve probably got the picture.

Glasses with interchangeable lenses or transition lenses are the best for changing light conditions and there are many designed specifically for cyclists. Whatever glasses you choose, they must be impact resistant or shatter proof. I was wearing glasses at the time of my big crash and they were scratched up and a little worse for wear but my eyes were saved from any injury.

At the end of each ride simply place your gloves and glasses inside your helmet so they are together and ready every time you head out the door to hit the trail on the mountain bike.

Ride well, ride safe, have fun.

By NJ Brighton

Finding a piano lessons course can be easy, but also can leave you with a large hole in your pocket with nothing to show for it.

In this article, I would like to show you how to pick the perfect piano lessons course which will ensure that you not only learn the piano at a level and pace that suits you, but also won’t rip you off or worse still, end up teaching you bad piano playing habits.

So, let’s quickly look at the key areas of a great piano lessons course…

1. Caters for all skills

Whether you’re a total beginner or an intermediate piano player, at some point you’ll move on to the next skill level. The question is, do you really want to have to keep buying new piano lesson courses each time you progress?

This is a bad thing, as the teaching style you become accustomed to is disrupted and this can and will have a negative impact on your learning and overall progress.

Therefore, aim for a piano course that takes you through all the skill levels consistently. This will also save you time and money in the long run too.

2. Who’s teaching it?

Of course, it’s important that you know who’s teaching the material. This is the single most important point, as bad techniques taught to you are very hard to undo.

Make sure you’ve got a course that is developed by someone reputable. You don’t have to know them, or even know OF them, but they must be able to show their credentials somehow.

For example, how were they trained? How are they qualified to teach (if applicable)? What experience of paino playing have they got?

3. Multiple teaching modes

It is often said that the best way to learn any new skill (or develop existing skills) is to learn through multiple modalities.

Just like at school when you would switch from text book to video, to blackboard (if you’re over 20!).

So in a piano lessons course, look for video, audio and text formats. This will help you grasp the lessons on a much more tangible level.  These multiple modalities will also help you to stay entertained and focused when learning to play the piano.

4.  Guarantee

Finally, above all else you must ensure that the piano course has a solid guarantee. Although if you follow the steps from above, you shouldn’t need to worry.

However, in the past I have purchased piano lessons online that had not lived up to their sales letter claims and I was inclined to ask for a refund. This is merely the global standard for most products sold, offline and online these days.

But when looking at the guarantee for piano lessons, it’s important to remember that you need a longer guarantee than you would for say, a pair of socks.

By Vin Hayes

Concert promoters can easily be thought of as major event planners. Every detail of the concert has to go off without a hitch and that responsibility lies solely with the promoter. Concert promotion is a demanding career that requires serious attention to detail. In order to be an effective and successful concert promoter, a high level of organization is necessary. Losing track of important contact names, dates, telephone numbers or venue information could prove disastrous.

The world of concert promotions is full of contracts, legal agreements, insurance policies and riders. In order to make the best business decisions, a concert promoter has to have a working knowledge of all of these legal documents. Not understanding parts of a contract or rider can lead to confusion and difficulties down the road.

Concert promoters can make a huge amount of money, and then, they can lose money as well. Most people don’t realize that quite often, concert promoters actually use their own money to fund a concert event. All of the event expenses are his or her responsibility up front. Once the tickets have been sold, the band gets their cut and the bills get paid. It’s only then that the promoter gets what’s left. For this reason, it’s of the utmost importance to get as many paying customers in the door as possible.

Some of the major costs involved with concert promotion are the venue rental and event insurance. The promoter contacts the venue and works out a cost for the duration of the event. Some venues will require up-front payment while others may require a down payment with the remainder due at the end of the concert. Insurance is absolutely necessary and helps to protect the venue owners, concert promoter and band from possible litigation.

In addition, the concert promoter bears the cost of all advertising promotions and other marketing costs. Promoters these days have a variety of choices for marketing. They can use the internet, radio, TV and even flyers to get the word out about their event. Marketing, when done properly, usually takes up a fairly substantial portion of the concert promoters budget.

A successful concert promoter understands how to advertise to get the most people to buy tickets for the show. They’ve got to have a good sense of the band that they’re promoting as well as their fans. Whether a concert attracts a huge audience or a small one depends on how well the event was promoted, plain and simple. Concert promoters really have one objective; to make sure that enough tickets sell to make a profit. Ideally, all the tickets will sell for every night or day the event will run, but that’s not guaranteed.

The location, size and even layout of a venue has to be taken into consideration by the concert promoter. In order to put on a great rock concert, everything has to be just right. Everything must be considered, from band dressing rooms to the house sound system and lighting. Pleasing the band is only part of the story though. The audience has to be taken care of as well, both inside and outside the venue. Things like security, parking and even restroom facilities all fall under the concert promoters watchful eye.

By Cathy Miles

Online singing lessons have become very popular because they are convenient and affordable. With the help of voice software or online coaching a person can achieve a voice that is exceptional. The truth is that anyone can learn to sing by improving the voice that they already have. Singing is a combination of the voice, breathing and emotion of the person. When taught how to mesh all of the variables a person can then perfect the tone, pitch and strength of their voice.

There is no need in spending time and money on traditional classroom lessons when they are offered online. There are a number of products, coaches and software’s that can teach a singer the very same things that they learn in the studio. In fact some of the software is as technologically advanced as the recording studio. There are monitors and tracking devices so that the individual can actually learn when they are in tune and achieving a good melody within a song.

There are a number of downloadable songs that a singer can practice with to better improve their sound and endurance. Another great thing about practicing karaoke style at home is that the person can build their voice strength and confidence level. Online singing lessons are a great way to either learn to sing, get a good understanding of the basics or work toward perfecting the voice.