4
August
2011
Cedar Rapids is a great town in and of itself but it’s adjacent to one of the neatest rivers in the world! If you’ve been using your Satellitestarinternet.com internet to plan a trip to Cedar Valley you’ve got to check out these must-dos while you’re in the town of Cedar Rapids…
Brucemore – This 1920s mansion has been restored to its former glory and remains one of the most recognizable landmarks in town. Buy Read the rest of this entry »
Posted under Uncategorized
2
October
2011
One mistake the novice adventurer sometimes makes before heading on a hike is not to prepare correctly. There is a happy median of preparedness, a middle way. Take too little and you could find yourself in unexpected danger, take too much and I guarantee the hike is going to be more grueling.
The most obvious item: a good pair of boots. Never neglect your feet. It is surprising how many people go into rough terrain with an old pair of sneakers. It never hurts to waterproof your boots. Beeswax will usually do the trick, apply liberal amounts over Read the rest of this entry »
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18
September
2011
Fishing in Iowa is a fantastic way to get out and grasp a sense of nature, particularly for people who live crammed into the suburbs and city life of our fast-paced society. During Winter months, Iowa is a popular destination for ice-fishing, with many state parks and recreational sites that exhibit an unmatched beauty and bountiful supply of fish.
During Spring and Summer months, erosion created from the melting ice provides fisherman with many up-close and personal opportunities to access crystal clear fish Read the rest of this entry »
Posted under Uncategorized
5
September
2011
If you are going hiking along Iowa’s Cedar River or anywhere for that matter it is always good to know how to make a fire without supplies. This article will help you make a fire when you need it the most. The first thing you need to do is collect anything that will catch a fire fast. Some great things to look for are dry bark, dry grass, and dry leaves. The keyword being dry, as it is the fastest thing that will catch on fire. Now, you must make a nest with all of the dry Read the rest of this entry »
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29
April
2011
As the famous saying goes, find a job that you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life. While the phrase may be easier said than done, use these helpful tips to land your dream job as a hiking guide. As with any job, you need to make yourself as marketable as possible. There are several key elements to becoming a succesful guide. First and foremost, you will need to have a passion for Read the rest of this entry »
Posted under Uncategorized
16
April
2011
Iowa has a unique beauty to it that makes it a place people should visit. Iowa ranks right about in the middle in terms of land size in the United States, which is about 56,000 square miles or 26th in total area. Iowa is also between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, making it home to some fantastic river areas.
The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers are not the only big rivers running through Iowa. There is also the Iowa Read the rest of this entry »
Posted under Uncategorized
8
October
2010
Proper nutrition is an important but often overlooked issue on the trails, especially for amateur hikers. You can run through a lot of calories in just a few hours on the trail, especially in the summer, and if you get lost, you’d better hope you have more than just a pack of M&M’s (however, M&M’s can be a tasty part of trail mix). These are some of the foods which hikers turn to most often.Tuna and Crackers: Tuna, for those who can stomach it, is high in protein (7.2 g per serving) and one of the easiest foods to store now that it comes in pouches instead of cans. With a box of crackers and some cheese, this is a basic snack that packs a lot of potency. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted under Hiking Tips
1
October
2010
The Cedar Valley Trail is always a great place for a sedate, introspective walk or hike. If you’re interested in exploring the trails with members of the local community, though, there’s no better option than the Cedar Valley Trails Festival. Held annually every summer for the last 15 years, the latest festival took place August 11-15. Once again, the event brought out plenty of eager Iowans anxious to explore the outdoors.Festivities began on the morning of the 11th with a “senior cruise”in reality, a narrated tour in a community van. Appealing to those who are getting up in years but still have a sense of humor and a desire to explore, the “cruise” is just the beginning of five days of fun. Official opening ceremonies took place on August 12 at 5:30, when visitors were introduced to the many new trail constructions during the past year, but you can be sure many people didn’t wait until the evening to start celebrating. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted under Events
24
September
2010
The 300-mile Cedar River winds through Minnesota and Iowa, and nestled around it are miles and miles of trails that continuously attract hikers, campers, and picnickers. Cedar Valley Nature Trail is the largest of these, connecting the cities of Evansdale and Hiawathaa 52-mile distance. It’s not uncommon to see inline skaters alongside the bikers and hikers, and even some skiers when the snow starts to fall.Half of the trail is paved, while the other half is made up of compacted limestone. In between the two larger cities, the trail passes through a number of other pleasant small towns, including Gilbertville, Brandon, Urbana, Center Point, and Robins. Despite this, most of the trail is shaded by trees and removed from busy population centers, so the wildlife creeps out often. Animals often spotted on the trail include deer, wild turkeys and other birds, and even the more curious badgers. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted under Trail Information
17
September
2010
The 52-mile length of the Nature Trail makes it the longest trail in Cedar Valley. However, the Nature Trail makes up only the tiniest part of the 6,800 mile American Discovery Trail just over .7. As a part of the first coast-to-coast trail in the United States, though, its importance cannot be overestimated. The American Discovery Trail (ADT) was developed starting in 1989, spearheaded by both the American Hiking Society (AHS) as well as BACKPACKER magazine. Scouting started in 1990 to develop the initial route, which has been consistently upgraded since then as new bridges are added and new trails are cleared. Due to a branch in the trail between Colorado and Ohio, a hiker can make it from coast to coast by traveling just over 5,000 miles. Completing the entire trail is an admirable accomplishment, and one which has inspired some individuals to devote more than a year to the task. Marcia and Ken Powers, a couple from California, were the first to make it coast-to-coast on a continuous tripit took them from February 27, 2005 to October 15, 2005. Mike Daniel, known colloquially as “Lion King,” was the first to hike the entire trail, including both paths of the fork. This arduous accomplishment began on June 17, 2007 and ended on November 5, 2008. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted under American Discovery Trail