Cedar Valley Trail

Useful accessories for the hiking enthusiast

admin — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

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 the boots surface. Those clumsy slips into a shallow creek will not be near as troublesome. Next up: a lightweight but sturdy backpack. Remember the ‘feet rule?’- a couple extra pairs of socks is not a bad idea. I’d also take: water, at least one bottle for each person hiking; a pocketknife or multipurpose tool; a compass (make sure you know how to read it); a standard first-aid kit and a flashlight. A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen can help, remember you can get sun burnt anytime of the year. Optional items: binoculars and a walking stick. Don’t head to your nearest retail store and purchase one of those ridiculous 35 aluminum walking sticks. A sturdy stick is not hard to find. Longer hikes will require more gear, but this would suffice for your basic set-up.

Fishing in Iowa: tips and travel suggestions

admin — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

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 filled waters from vantage points that are not possible at other times of the year. However, in your pursuit of the best fishing in Iowa, make sure you leave prepared. Below are a couple of simple tips to make sure your experience is a positive one.

Ensure You Are Aware of Fishing Regulations

Before embarking on your fishing-trip, ensure you are aware of Iowa’s fishing regulations. Regulations change at different times of the year, so if the seasons have recently shifted, it is important you update your information.

Try to Avoid Plastic Bait

When fishing in Iowa’s majestic waters, try to avoid plastic bait. Plastic bait is not only bad for the environment if it is left behind, but it is not as efficient in attracting fish as bait made with water-based resins.

How to make a fire in the wilderness with no supplies

admin — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

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 things that you collected. Next you will need to find a flat piece of wood to use as a fire board. Now make a V-shape notch into your board and make a small dent across from the cut. Put a dry piece of bark under the notch and get a stick to use as a spindle. Put the stick into the notch and start spinning. This will take time and effort, but before you know it a fire will be started with no supplies. You can now take these skills and use them when you need it the most. Starting a fire is not that difficult if you have the determination and will power to do so.

Must-Do in Cedar Rapids…

www.cedarvalleytrail.com — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

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 tickets and take a guided tour to learn more about the history of the city and this beautiful home.
Indian Creek Nature Center – Before you get out there on the trails head to Indian Creek to get some much-needed info on the local flora and fauna. The knowledgeable guides here can talk to you about scheduling and what to pack for your hike.
Science Station – If you’ve got kids in tow you’re going to want to hit up the Science Museum. They’ve got a huge IMAX theater and tons of hands on exhibits for almost anyone to get something out of.

How to get a job as a hiking guide

admin — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

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 the outdoors and be able to handle the workload assigned. While a guide will most likely be teaching and supervising less experienced hikers, a guide should be able to hike 15-20 miles comfortably with a 40-60 pound load. The safety of the customer is paramount and one should feel confident with the task of leading and directing strangers. In the event of an injury, it will be important to be CPR certified. Additionally, one should look into WFR (wilderness first respondant) classes to be even more qualified. This will ensure you know what to do in the event of an injury specifically out in the wilderness. In order to become better qualified for hiking guide jobs that require you to have previous experience, finding a job as a summer hiking guide would be a great starting point.

The geography of the state of Iowa

admin — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

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 and Cedar rivers which run through the state providing forested areas, wetland areas, and great hiking trails. Most of Iowa can best be described as gentling sloping with rich plain lands. These long stretches of gentle plains are often interrupted by rivers and streams creating some great wildlife hot spots.

Along the Mississippi River, especially in northeast Iowa, the terrain is different than the rest of the state. Here there are going to be large hills, slopes, and cliffs. This area is also home to places like the Effigy Mounds and Yellow River Forest which is where many of the fantastic state parks are. There is a lot of farmland in Iowa, but the rivers and rolling plains provide a lot of beauty to the state.

Make your backpack a pantry with these tasty trail treats

admin — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:00:15 +0000

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.Energy Bars: The backpacker’s best friend in terms of nutritional value is sometimes accompanied by a less-than-stellar taste. However, there are plenty of brands to choose from, so you should be able to find one that suits you. The Lara bars are the lightest (along with LUNA bars) and also one of the tastiest, but they do have more fat (9 g) than most brands.Canned Fruit Cocktails: If you’re planning to be out for a while, a can or two of fruit cocktail can make a great mid-day snack (or breakfast, if you’re camping). You also get liquid along with it, which can help hydrate you. Of course, nothing beats good old fashioned water.Dried Fruit and Vegetables: Regular fruits and vegetables can take up a lot of space in your pack. You can purchase dried varieties at the supermarket, or get your own dehydrator and do it yourself. That way, you can also make sure you know everything that’s gone into your food. Make sure you drink water when eating any dried product, or you’ll get dehydrated during digestion.

Cedar Valley Trails Festival attracts both two- and four-legged fans

admin — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:45:32 +0000

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 11^th 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.Friday saw the ever popular Cedar Falls Dog Walk, with support from the Taylor Veterinary Hospital. For the event, the Cedar Bend Humane Society brought nine dogs out, allowing residents without a dog of their own to walk these needy animalsand even think about adopting them. Cedar Bend saw the event as an opportunity to educate the local community about their needy animals, and possibly even recruit some new volunteers.Saturday and Sunday were both filled with runs, rides, and other games. The Light Up the Night Ride at dusk on Saturday and the Poker Ride Sunday morning (where bike riders collected cards which gained them entry to a poker game at the local Mulligan’s Brick Oven Grill & Pub) both had to be seen to be believed. Luckily for those who missed it, there’s always next year.

Cedar Valley Trail perfect for a day-trip

admin — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 05:30:06 +0000

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.At the Evansdale end of the trail, hikers can explore George Wyth State Park. Named after a Cedar Falls businessman renowned for his devotion to conservation, this park treats is open for camping and even includes modern showers and rest rooms. Along with the Cedar Valley Trail, it’s also one end of the Lake-to-Lake State Park Bike Route, which takes bikers along county highways over a 50-mile distance to Pine Lake State Park.Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area does not include the trail, but is less than 10 miles from the path in some places. At Pleasant Creek you’ll find 10 more miles of trails, along with a renowned fishing lake where anglers regularly reel in crappie, bluegill, muskellunge, and of course bass and catfish. Pleasant Creek is also open for public hunters during the season. No matter what your hobbies or interests, we think you’ll be inspired to make the trek down Cedar Valley Trail.

Cedar Valley in good company as part of the American Discovery Trail

www.cedarvalleytrail.com — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 23:15:12 +0000

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.Today, the trail is maintained by the ADT Society. In addition to working on the upkeep of the trail, the Society also prides itself on bringing communities together in the name of hiking. Cedar Valley inhabitants are already a friendly lot and come together every year for the Cedar Valley Trails Festival, but the Society has been successful in mobilizing groups in other states. Even if you can’t make it to the American Discovery Trail yourself, take its example to heart and spread the word about hiking and backpacking in your own community.