Coming to the US, I didn’t realize how gifted the country is, in terms of topographical variations. I had no idea there were mountains to hike and desert valleys to walk through. I had been eyeing the national parks in the US since my undergrad days. I had heard and seen so much about the hikes and the incredible views all the national parks have to offer.
There are a total of 63 national parks in the US. This summer, I was finally able to hike some of the most beautiful national parks: Yosemite and Grand Canyon. Just as I was talking about the topographical variations in the US, both Yosemite and Grand Canyon offer totally different views and features.
To enter any national park, there is a fee of $35 which lets you enter the park for up to 7 days (with the receipt). If you plan on going to multiple national parks in a year, I will recommend getting the America the Beautiful Pass. This pass costs $80 and is valid for an entire year. If you plan on going to more than 2 national parks, then you basically redeem the price of the pass easily. You can also have a second holder of the pass and split the cost with them, making it even more affordable and worth your money.
We are lucky to be a part of the University of Michigan. Little did I know, we can rent a plethora of camping gear through the recreational sports center. So for the newbies trying to get into hiking/camping, UMich offers a variety of camping gear for you to rent if you don’t want to spend all that money for just one trip.
Coming back to Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. I was able to complete 8 different trails, totaling up to about 45 miles with the highest elevation gain of about 2,000 ft. As a new hiker, you should not just be looking into the length of a trail but also its elevation. The elevation is what gets you. It is very important to know your limits because some of these hikes can get VERY strenuous.
If you ever plan on hiking, I would definitely recommend downloading the AllTrails app. This app has information about every trail in every national park, state park or literally any other possible trail, short or long. It also tells you the elevation gain and other facts about the trail.
The US is not only the home to these 63 national parks but also some amazing state parks, lakes, historic sites, etc. During my trip I was also able to hike and enjoy Lake Tahoe, which is another amazing and beautiful area for adventure geeks.
Coming closer to our home, there are some mind-blowing places to hike, camp and relax in Michigan. Some of my favorites are Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Porcupine Mountains, and Sleeping Bear Dunes. There is also a freshwater spring called Kitch-iti-kipi in the upper peninsula of Michigan that has some breathtaking views.
Hiking, camping and traveling has been the best part of my journey in the US so far. I hope everyone takes advantage of everything this beautiful country has to offer while they are here.
Written by
Abhyuday Rastogi
Summer Orientation Peer Advisor
Graduate Student
India
No comments:
Post a Comment