Whether you’re making an environmentally-conscious track list for your iPod/morning run or you simply love some good old music trivia, we’ve got four Mother Earth-approved songs for you to ponder. And until today, you probably thought they were about love, or some other singer-songwriter cliche.

“Kashmir” by Led Zepplin

Like many of Zepplin’s “greatest hits,” this one sounds like it’s about sex. But just do a little research, and it’s clear Robert Plant is singing about a striking geographical region – specifically, he was inspired by a drive through the Sahara Desert, though that’s not anywhere near Southern Asia’s Kashmir. (Hence the confusion.)

“Paradise City” by Guns ‘n Roses

Yeah, you thought Paradise City’s green grass was just a metaphor for some booze and drug-infested LA hangout, or, well, something else. Get your head out of the gutter – it’s actually more straightforward than that. Axle Rose was just reminiscing on his childhood days in the Midwest.

“What About Now” by Daughtry

You’d think an American Idol crooner would have more superficial things to sing about, but this song – written by two former Evanescence members – is about Uganda, Africa and the human destruction it’s endured. How serious!

“Idioteque” by Radiohead

You probably got so into the cool percussive beats and meditation-worthy pace of this song that you tuned out the apocalyptic lyrics entirely. But before you fall asleep to this favorite Radiohead track, keep in mind you’re listening to someone’s fears about global warming! Listen closely and you’ll hear “ice age is coming…” eeks.

Do you have any favorite songs about nature? Not sung by John Denver?

Photo by Rossina Bossio Bossa.

We’ve got five great hiking spots for people who hike for the challenge and the view. What kinds of wildlife or waterfalls will you stumble across on your journey?

As you plan your next outdoor adventure, consider these great hiking destinations. And remember, bring lots of water.

Half Dome at Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park’s Half Dome is both a strenuous and scenic hike. If you’re ready to topple the giant, you’ll see everything from chipmunks to waterfalls. For years, the Half Dome was unhikeable, only showing up on postcards. Luckily for us, a trail was eventually paved up the side and to this day, adventure seekers have been taking the rewarding hike up to the Half Dome’s 5,000-foot summit. The Half Dome is easily one of the most breathtaking Yosemite hiking trails, however it’s a 17-mile round trip – so it’s not for folks who are out of shape, or afraid of heights, for that matter.

The Pinnacle at the Appalachian Trail

Stretching from Maine to Georgia, the Appalachian Trail is the mother of all hiking trails. It’s Pennsylvania’s portion of the hike that’s the most memorable, though, particularly the 8-mile loop that begins and ends at the Pinnacle. While you’ll have to do a little scaling to really appreciate the to-die-for views, it’s totally worth it.

Havasu Trail at the Grand Canyon

Located in the Grand Canyon’s west end, the Havasu Trail is super walkable. From the Indian village of Supai to the blue-green waterfalls of the Havasu Canyon, hikers will have plenty of mesmerizing scenery to soak up. Due to flooding, the Havasu Trail is currently closed. It’s set to welcome back hikers this month (May 2009), though!

West Rim Trail at Zion National Park

Not only is it one of Zion National Park’s most acclaimed trails, but it’s one of the best hiking trails in North America – period. Starting at Lava Point and ending at the Grotto, you’ll see many sides of Zion’s wondrous west rim and never tire of the constantly changing imagery and even elevations.

The Pacific Crest Trail

Where is the Pacific Crest Trail, you ask? Well, it’s in Mexico, Canada, Oregon, California, and Washington. Even if you’re not up for the full 2,650-mile hike, you’re welcome to stroll through any one, scenic part of it  – for most the trail, dogs are even welcome to tag along. Those who endure the entire PCT will pass through several ecosystems and geographies, including volcanoes!

Hopefully your mind’s reeling with ideas for your next hiking itinerary. Just be prepared – even the most scenic hiking trials aren’t worth an injury.

Photo by Jesse Davila

Thought up by journalist Richard Louv, “Nature Deficit Disorder” is a lot scarier than Swine Flu. NDD causes depression, obesity, attention deficit disorder, and all kinds of other horrible hang-ups. The worst part is you can’t go to the doctor and get a prescription for it, because it doesn’t technically exist – well, no one in the medical community recognizes it as a real medical condition, and your insurance provider certainly won’t, either. But any by-the-books physician will agree with the principles of Nature Deficit Disorder: isolation from nature is so not healthy. Really, there’s not much more to the Nature Deficit Disorder definition than that.

Kids these days would rather play first-person shooters on the Xbox than cops and robbers in the woods. And as a result, there may be some long-term consequences to their mental and physical health. Louv put a twist on the age-old idea that everyone needs sunshine and fresh air in his book “Last Child in the Woods.” He went so far as to suggest that going without sunshine and fresh air for too long could be devastating. Yes, devastating. You’ll get fat and possibly even die because you’re so fat. Or you’ll get depressed and possibly kill yourself. Seriously, this is bad stuff! It’s not just that NDD sufferers look pasty.

The media has frightened moms into thinking it’s never safe to go outside. So, to compensate for this, overprotected little ones play structured sports and Wii Fit. They watch nature docos instead of actually going out and interacting with nature. Surely that’s enough “activity” and “eco education” for them! But Louv suggests it’s not enough to just be active. Kids – and their parents, too – need more than that. They need to be active outside, away from buildings and paved roads. They need some quality time with nature.

But hey, what does that really mean for us and our daily lives? Many of us are urbanites who make a living sitting in front of a computer screen forty hours a week. We’re not 400 pounds and we’re not standing on the edge of a building threatening to jump. Do we really need to get out and about? Maybe we don’t have Nature Deficit Disorder. Maybe we’re just, you know, evolving with the times. Come on, Louv’s just one of those crazy anti-technology nut jobs, right?

Anyone who’s just returned from a camping trip, however, would disagree.

Just because we’re desensitized from living in an urban cage doesn’t mean we’re doing awesome. Go for a fifteen minute jog around the neighborhood and then tell us it didn’t make you feel better than running on the treadmill at the local gym.

Don’t become a victim of Nature Deficit Disorder. Watch the sun set over the Rocky Mountains, take a nighttime dip into hot springs, enjoy a meet and greet with some bison, and put yourself in the shoes of nature loving explores Lewis and Clark. We’ve got a foolproof cure for  Nature Deficit Disorder – an American Rambler tour. Hurry and sign up before it’s too late! Trust us, you don’t want to have a mental breakdown after all.
Photo by Drew Herron.

What makes an adventure traveler different from any other kind of tourist?

On a whim, I searched for ‘adventure travel’ on Wikipedia today. Here’s what I found:

Adventure travel is a type of tourism, involving exploration or travel to remote, exotic and possibly hostile areas, where the traveler should “expect the unexpected”. Adventure tourism is rapidly growing in popularity, as tourists seek different kinds of vacations. According to the U.S. based Adventure Travel Trade Association, adventure travel may be any tourist activity, including two of the following three components: a physical activity, a cultural exchange or interaction and engagement with nature.

Way to take the fun out of it, eh? Of course, American Rambler Tours scores like gangbusters on all three components. But we’re not into statistics and scientific formulas. We think it’s more constructive to think of adventure travel as an approach — to vacationing and to thinking about travel.

“Adventure travel” is an umbrella term that can include any number of activities. You can hike through a forest, walk inside a volcano, climb up a mountain, or canoe down a river. It’s how you do it that matters. The art of adventure travel is what makes the difference between a walk in the woods and a life-changing experience.

Prepare
Adventure travelers don’t just expect the unexpected — we prepare for it too! This means getting sound and comprehensive information beforehand, planning the journey in detail and being well-equipped. We don’t confuse spontaneity or adventurousness with unpreparedness.

Seek
Adventure travelers aren’t just thrill-seekers, contrary to popular perception. We seek experience: we want to discover what happens in a certain situation or area or activity. We seek knowledge: we want to know who we are and how things work in these situations — whether it’s the skill of putting up a tent or the art of maneuvering a canoe. Finally, we seek wisdom: we want to think and live better through our knowledge.

Connect
Adventure travel is about making connections — with nature, with other people, and with ourselves. Naomi Shihab Nye said it well: “Even now, when skin is not alone/ it remembers being alone and thanks something larger/ that there are travelers, that people go places/ larger than themselves.”

Reflect
Adventure travel is not just a way of vacationing, it’s a way of thinking. It’s not only an awesome experience — it’s the knowledge we get, the connections we make, the memories we carry. It’s an opportunity to step outside our usual constraints and routines, discover new things and challenge our ideas. That’s the kick.

If these are things that interest you, you may already be an adventure traveler at heart.

What do y’all seasoned ramblers think? Did we leave anything out? What’s your idea of adventure traveling?

My best childhood memory is sitting round a bonfire toasting marshmallows, but not for the reasons most people remember.

I wanted my marshmallow to toast first so I put it right in the fire. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t work, the marshmallow just completely burnt and tasted like soot. Being a typical four year old I threw a hissy fit and my Dad gave me his first marshmallow to shut me up.

I have no idea why this memory sticks in my head above all other but it makes me smile. I really didn’t deserve my Dad’s marshmallow at all. I just love the idea of unconventional parental love or maybe just my Dad knowing what would shut me up so we could get on and enjoy the holiday.

Rather random thought for the day but I love sharing camping stories and a lot of those go back to our childhood. Hope I’ve made you want to reminisce or at least go camping for the weekend.

-Leanne

Hey-ooooooooo

Ok. First blog. Good deal. If you are reading this you oughtta know that American Rambler Tours provides small group adventure tours right here in the good ol’ U. S. of A. Now that its April, summer vacation time is quickly approaching.

We make it affordable and fun for you to experience outdoor adventure. You already know what whitewater rafting is, hiking, mountain biking, etc. But have you heard of riverboarding? Canyoneering? Caving? http://www.americanramblertours.com/adventure.htm You don’t have to spend alot or do major planning to try these sports. Take a trip with us and we’ll open your eyes to small group adventure.

The season kicks off in May and goes strong through the summer with the last adventure tours wrapping up in October.

-Desert Dan