Here are some stats from Project Remote 2014
Number of state Remote Spots documented: 4
Total miles hiked: 157
Heaviest pack weight: 71 (Ryan), 54 (Rebecca)
Longest trek – 71 miles (Wyoming)
Highest elevation – 11,700 ft (Colorado)
Most river crossings – 120 (New Mexico)
Best wildlife – Ryan: New Mexico (rattlesnakes and lizards!), Rebecca: South Dakota (prairie dogs and bison!)
Number … Continue reading the story "Project Remote 2014 Summary"
Post Archives from the ‘Remote Spotting’ Category
Gila Wildflowers
Over 250,000 acres of the Gila National Forest burned in 2012, the largest wildfire in New Mexico history. Large fires are a natural part of the mountainous, ponderosa pine ecosystem... though it is possible that fire suppression activities, land use, and climate change influenced the massive size of this one. Two years after the fire, we journeyed into Gila Wilderness to document the New Mexico … Continue reading the story "Gila Wildflowers"
Grizzlies in The Bob
Perhaps no other animal embodies wilderness more than the grizzly bear. Feared or revered, this species is often thought of as a ferocious predator. The actual diet of the grizzly is much more diverse and includes berries, forbs, tubers, nuts, insects, and mushrooms. We encountered 2 grizzlies during our 10-day expedition into the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area (commonly called The Bob), documenting the … Continue reading the story "Grizzlies in The Bob"
Bakken Oil Boom
Our initial calculations put the North Dakota Remote Spot within MHA Nation lands (Fort Berthold Indian Reservation). This western region of North Dakota seems to be the heart of the Bakken oil boom. On our way towards the Spot we encountered major road construction and traffic, and small towns booming with RV, tent, and trailer settlements associated with oil industry workers. Often times the oil … Continue reading the story "Bakken Oil Boom"
Loons in the Boundary Waters
Nothing is more iconic of northern lakes than the echoing call of a common loon (Gavia immer). Easily the most numerous of the wildlife species we encountered in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, loons accompanied us for 40 miles on our paddle to document the Minnesota Remote Spot.
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota has more common … Continue reading the story "Loons in the Boundary Waters"
The Mighty Mississip
Mount Hosmer Park in Lansing, Iowa perches on a bluff overlooking the mighty Mississippi River and provides an excellent view of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.
This Refuge is over 194,000 acres and was formed in 1924, before the locks and dams were constructed along … Continue reading the story "The Mighty Mississip"
What We Do at a Remote Spot
While we travel around the country for Project Remote, many people ask us what it is we do when we get to a Remote Spot. Do we just stand and absorb the remoteness?
To an extent, yes, but it is much more involved than that...
Our first step is … Continue reading the story "What We Do at a Remote Spot"
Hiking mileage for Project Remote Northeast
We now have completed 4 of the 7 states on our Project Remote Northeast endeavor, all of which have been one or two-day hiking expeditions. From here on out, traveling to the Remote Spots in the northeast will be via boat. We wanted to take this time to summarize and share details about our hiking mileage.
New York Remote Spot (Adirondack Park): 27.7 miles … Continue reading the story "Hiking mileage for Project Remote Northeast"
Lunch on the Trail
Eating lunch while backpacking is a tricky thing. You don't want to eat too much because it will slow you down. You don't want to eat too little because you won't have the calories you need to keep hiking. You don't want anything too complicated that will take too long to prepare or be too messy. And you don't want anything too heavy or large … Continue reading the story "Lunch on the Trail"
Encounters with Hurricane Irene in the Northeast
Hurricane Irene devastated the northeast last year and many impacts are still evident today, 10 months after the fact.
Dozens of landslides occurred in the High Peaks region of the Adirondack Park as a result of Irene. In fact, trails in the High Peaks Wilderness Area (within which the New York Remote Spot is located), were closed for a while last year because the damage was … Continue reading the story "Encounters with Hurricane Irene in the Northeast"