ABC of Mountaineering News Feed

French-Alps-Tours.com Announces French Alps Tour

The French Alps Tour has organized a week-long trip (4-11 September, 2010) in the less trodden parts of the French Alps. Being an avid traveler herself, Cynthia designed this tour to take advantage of the places that has brought her the most pleasure in the two years of living in the Alps, as well as focusing on those things that are unique to the region and can't be experienced in other parts of France. The diversity of the land is secret of Savoie and the French Alps. You can find magnificent landscapes with deep blue lakes, colorful vineyards, Medieval towns and castles, quaint ancient villages, modern metropolitan cities, tall snowy mountains, and green valleys dotted with wild flowers. Eight months out of the year, the weather is mild and mostly sunny.

This tour package reveals the most exotic and interesting destinations of the French Alps. Travelers have the opportunity to pamper themselves at the Aix les Bains thermal baths inside their lakeside hotel, or take a horseback ride in the Alps, or fly through the trees at the High Ropes Adventure for those adventurous spirits. Food lovers can enjoy local chocolates, cheeses, wines and walnut oils during the scheduled tastings. The Tour also offers a short cooking class taught by one of Grand Bornand's best chefs and restaurateurs. Lyon's Old Town or Vienne's Roman Temple and Forum are included in the tour schedule for the history enthusiasts. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the towns on their own, shop at their leisure, and relax while enjoying the scenery. Wander the Medieval town of Annecy, nicknamed the Venice of the French Alps, and take a boat ride on its crystal blue lake. Enjoy watching the hang gliders and sunset at a catered outdoor dinner on the top of a mountain overlooking Annecy's lake.

Interested travelers should contact the Tour Operators on the website at www.french-alps-tours.com or call the United States number at 213-985-3123.

Source: http://www.pr.com

Destination Himalaya Treks and Expedition

Nepal is a never-ending outdoor play-ground for adventurous travelers, nature lovers and culture explorers. Being home to eight out of the fourteen highest peaks in the world, each over 8000m in the longest range the majestic Himalayas; Breath-taking scenes and awe-inspiring trekking trails, sanctuaries and wild-life parks inhabited by the rarest animals and birds; ancient rituals, traditions, and cultures. If you are looking for ever popular outdoor activities in Nepal like trekking, hiking, peak climbing, mountaineering, river rafting, wildlife safari, paragliding and cultural sites; Destination Himalaya Treks and Expedition will help you with friendly office running staffs and well trained professional crews.

We recommend our clients towards adventure treks, challenging trekking Destination Himalaya Treks and Expedition

high passes, unexplored trekking routes, home stay, village tour and pilgrimage tour to realize amazing experience of your real holiday. We also operate Tibet tour, Bhutan tour and India tour under the system of Nepal Government as well as rules and regulations followed by these Countries.

For discovering your dreams, Destination Himalaya Trek vigorously welcomes you to join us in an unforgettable and magnificent exploration which approaches once in your entire life.

Source: http://www.free-press-release.com

Mountaineers Foundation Presents

The Mountaineers Foundation invites the public to attend a presentation by ecological economist Dave Batker on March 27th at 7pm at Theatre 47 in Magnuson Park. Batker will share a humorous, edgy, factual, timely and highly-visual film about the American economy today, challenging the ways we measure economic success-especially the Gross Domestic Product-and offering an answer to the question: What's the Economy For, Anyway? Using Gifford Pinchot's idea that the economy's purpose is "the greatest good for the greatest number over the longest run," Batker compares the performance of the U.S. economy with that of other industrial countries in terms of providing a high quality of life, fairness and ecological sustainability, concluding that when you do the numbers, we come out near the bottom in nearly every category.

In addition to this 40-minute film, produced by John de Graaf, award-winning Seattle film maker with such titles to his credit as 'Affluenza,' "Silent Killer," and 'Buyer Be Fair', attendees will also be able to visit a showcase of some of the many organizations that have been helped by grants from the Foundation, made possible by generous donors. With donors' help, the Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, provides money for environmental conservation, outdoor education, and preservation of wilderness for habitat and recreation, including the awe-inspiring 460-acre Rhododendron Preserve on the Kitsap Peninsula.

Showcase will include:

Earth Economics, devoted to advancing and applying the science of ecological economics to promote healthy ecosystems, communities and economies, and to halting the globalization of unsustainable economic policies. Focusing on the vital areas of toxins, forests, fisheries and global trade policy, we achieve our goals through organization, education and advocacy.

Puget Creek Restoration Society, which protects, enhances, and restores the Puget Creek Watershed and other streams, wetlands, and green spaces. They serve the South Puget Sound communities and invite their participation through hands-on restoration, research, education, and advocacy, and by promoting a sense of stewardship.

American Alps Legacy Project, a grassroots campaign to complete the unfinished business of park and wilderness protection in Washington's North Cascades. The campaign is led by a committee of representatives from a number of supporting organizations.

Harbor WildWatch, whose mission is to inspire stewardship of the Puget Sound by providing learning opportunities about the environment to the people of Gig Harbor, Pierce County and the Key Peninsula. Their goal is to inform area residents about their local environment and engage their involvement in preserving the wealth of our natural resources

Chuckanut Conservancy, an organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of the unique wildlands in the Chuckanut-to-Cascades region of Northwest Washington.

Weaverling Spit Project, a project for the Samish Indian Nation to restore 550 feet of eroding shoreline with an engineered soft shore stabilization project in order to protect an archaeological site that is in danger of eroding onto the beach, provide habitat for forage fish spawning along with vegetation for shade of habitat and restore the shoreline along the Tommy Thompson Trail in Anacortes that is currently being impacted by erosion.

Cascade Land Conservancy which fills a unique niche as the largest land conservation, stewardship and community building organization in Washington State. For over 20 years, The Conservancy has led efforts to conserve more than 158,000 acres of forests, farms, shorelines, parks and natural areas.

Columbia Riverkeeper, whose mission is to restore and protect the water quality of the Columbia River and all life connected to it, from the headwaters to the Pacific Ocean.

Chumstick Wildfire Stewardship Coalition, whose mission is to protect lives, property and infrastructure in the Chumstick watershed from wildfire through a collaborative partnership. Through outreach and strategic planning their efforts will lead to actions on public and private lands to benefit people, wildlife, forest health and the community at large.

Tickets for this event may be purchase at http://www.BrownPaperTickets.com/event/101853 or by calling Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006.

Source: http://www.pr.com

Wildcat Mountain 100,000 Vertical Challenge

A record number 37 participating skiers and riders registered and accepted the challenge to ski or ride over 100,000 vertical feet on Monday, March 1st to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation® of New Hampshire. Weather for the event had concluded a multi-day storm that had dropped 4.5 feet of new snow and a final field of 34 male & female, young & old, ski, snowboard, and telemark participants were faced with a day that had its challenges in addition to the task at hand. Despite a delayed start due to 5-foot wind drifts that prevented initial summit access, strong summit winds, and daytime snows that had accumulated an additional 8 inches by day's end, event participants once again took on the legendary Lynx trail and were able to collectively raise over $35,000 in pledge donations and set an event record high donation amount for their efforts.

On account of the delayed start and day's challenging conditions, none were able to complete skiing or riding the 100,000 vertical foot challenge (48 runs down the Lynx trail), but top finisher for the day was Jonathan Green of Berlin, NH having completed 40 runs in the 7.5 hours available to participants. Other top finishers with all 3 having completed 39 runs were Christopher Anctil of Portsmouth, NH; Kevin Elwood of Rowley, NH; & Michael Kenney of North Attleboro, MA. Top fundraisers for this year's 100K Day were lead by Kevin Elwood of Rowley, NH having single-handedly raised well over $8,000 collected that day with an additional company matching donation amount of over $6,000 being sent to Make-A-Wish Foundation® of New Hampshire after the event. For a second year in a row, Chris Scannell of Marblehead, MA was second top fundraiser with over $3,000 in donations collected and Michael Spooner of Dorchester, MA was the third highest having contributed over $2,000 in collected donations for the event.

Not including this year's new record high donation amount, since the first 100,000 vertical foot challenge took place in 2004, the annual event's cumulative donation amount has exceeded $100,000 and has established Wildcat Mountain amongst the higher "Society of Strength� donors recognized by Make-A-Wish Foundation® of New Hampshire and directly benefiting their endeavors. The annual 100K event is unique to Wildcat Mountain coupling the accessibility and speed of the Wildcat Express high-speed, summit lift and the ski area's greater than 2,100 vertical foot drop.

Wildcat Mountain would like to thank all participants, donation supporters, volunteers, and recognize those that helped to make the event possible providing in-kind support, participant gift bag donations, and top fundraising prizes including: Rossignol, Jack Frost Ski Shop, Dakine, Green Wax, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Northern New England, & Boston's WFNX 101.7fm.

The mission of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of New Hampshire (www.newhampshire.wish.org) is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. It strives to provide children with the hope for better times, the strength for the tough times and the joy to experience the present. The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of New Hampshire is part of the nation's largest and most recognized wish-granting organization, with chapters and volunteers throughout the United States and the world.

Wildcat Mountain is a year-round, family-owned business, located 100% within the White Mountain National Forest in Pinkham Notch, NH. It is home to the 75-year-old Wildcat Trail first cut by the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1933 and is renowned for its proximity to Mt. Washington and Tuckerman Ravine. For further information, please visit skiwildcat.com or call 1-888- SKI WILD.

Source: http://www.pr.com

Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals

Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals announces the addition of their Group Sales Division to each of their locations in Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen, Breckenridge, and Keystone. By offering a group travel resource, Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals will assist wedding travelers, sports teams, organizations, large families, corporate travelers, and groups attending special events.

"The Group Sales Division has already received interest and will be an important factor to the growth of summer travel in the Rocky Mountains,� stated Tommy Z. Hoffman, owner and founder of Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals. "By giving groups such as wedding attendees more affordable options, they will have the ability to enjoy the five-star experience without breaking the bank.�

Group travelers who stay in vacation rentals have more options for rental size, location, price, and amenities such as pet and child friendly rentals. "We have found that wedding travelers are turning their trips into longer stays at locations such as Vail and Aspen,� stated Cali Adkisson, Group Sales Director. "The Rocky Mountains offer so many activities in the summer that guests are taking advantage of the opportunity.� Summer activities include rafting, hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, area tours, and more.

The new Group Sales Division will can assist sports teams, corporate travelers, and event attendees with five to 200 people traveling to the Rocky Mountains during summer and fall 2010. For more information regarding the Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals Group Sales Division, please email Adkisson at cali.adkisson@rmvrvail.com or call 1-877-510-2640.

Source: http://www.prlog.org