Ice Climbing
On November 5, the United States Mint will be launching the Denali National Park and Preserve quarter, the 15th quarter in the America the Beautiful Quarter
The Grandfather Trail and the Daniel Boone Scout Trail at Grandfather Mountain State Park in North Carolina have ladders and cables. The Underwood Trail has one ladder. A full list of trails is available here.
More information about Walking and Hiking at Grandfather Mountain is available here.
Try checking these guys out. http://www.glaciermountaineers.com/
Capitol Reef, Waterpocket Fold, Land of the Sleeping Rainbow—all are colorful names to describe a park with many striking characteristics.
Waterpocket Fold, the main feature of the park, is the name of a 100-mile-long fold in the earth's surface. This uplift contains innumerable eroded basins or pockets that hold thousands of gallons of rainwater. These pockets of water have affected the history of humanity within the park and the flora and fauna of the region.
Entering the park from the west gives the most impressive view of the 1,000-foot-high stone barrier into which erosive forces have sculpted fascinating canyons, mesas, buttes and mazes. Once in the park, other astonishing panoramas await you.
Within a short distance of the visitor center, you will see Capitol Dome, Chimney Rock, the Goosenecks and the Egyptian Temple. Hickman Bridge, the Golden Throne and Capitol Gorge reward you after easy to moderate hikes. Prehistoric petroglyphs, the Fruita Schoolhouse, the Gifford Farmhouse and the Behunin Cabin speak of bygone eras and can be reached by car. The 20-mile round-trip Scenic Drive will take you past the Ripple Rock Nature Center and many of the park's features.
If you are seeking a remote wilderness experience, Capitol Reef has it. To the north of Route 24, dirt roads, which generally require high-clearance or 4-wheel-drive vehicles, lead into the park's north end through the heart of Cathedral Valley, an area of monolithic formations of Entrada and Curtis sandstones, some of which are 500 feet high. South of Route 24, graded roads, usually suitable for high-clearance vehicles, lead into some very fine hiking country. Besides good hiking opportunities, the southern part of the park also offers spectacular views of the folded strata of Capitol Reef and the Henry Mountains. Muley Twist Canyon is in the southern end of the park, as is Brimhall Bridge. Check with a park ranger before setting out for any of these more remote locations. Weather conditions may make the roads slick and impassable.
The snow, waterfalls, glaciers, and porous cliffs of our national parks create curtains and columns of ice that are ideal for ice climbing. This increasingly popular winter sport can be enjoyed at the pristine icey Miners Falls in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the sparkling glaciers of Kenai Fjords, and the rugged West Ridge of North Cascades' Forbidden Peak. Ice climbing is an inherently dangerous activity, so please only attempt it with the proper technical climbing skills and equipment. Swing your ice axe here for more information on ice climbing.
READ MORE