Aeolus Update
ATA's Beagle Mascot
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Aeolus is hiking like a mad dog doing circles
around us while we hike. Even when kayaking he’ll “slip off”
then swim to the bank and run along the shoreline following us
downstream. It’s a very funny sight to see. In addition, while
kayaking he has been taking rides on different guest’s kayaks,
hopping from one kayak to another and even posing for a
picture. One day after a long trip on the river, while standing
on the front deck Aeolus squatted down and peed off the side of
my kayak. I guess he had to go, hehe. I give him a lot of
showers since he’s so active and loves dirty mud puddles. But
after many years of forcing him into the shower, Aeolus will
now walk by himself. He still doesn’t look very happy but
does it regardless. He has to be the happiest dog, always
excited to meet new hikers or any stranger during the day. Good
news, we had no porcupine encounters yet this season and we
used the trails a lot where they live. As for his heart murmur,
we are thinking about starting a gofundme webpage to help with
the medical expenses which are close to $200 per month to keep
him living a long life.
Aeolus is named after a cave myself and a friend
dug open a blocked passage discovering the largest cave in New
England back in 2000. The cave is named after the mountain,
Mount Aeolus. Aeolus was the custodian of the winds in Greek
mythology.
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Hiking Tip: Tips for Day Hiking in the
Mountains
What to bring on a day hike
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Hiking
mountains brings you up close with nature, from the sweeping
views of pine-fringed peaks and stark rock cliffs above tree
line to the colorful faces of tiny flowers at your feet. But
mountain hiking takes thought and planning, even if you're just
hiking for a few hours or a day on marked trails near a resort.
Before starting, get information about the trail you want to
take at the tourist information office or booth, the Forest
Ranger's station or a local store that selling hiking and
biking gear. Take any buff local's advice carefully if he or
she says the trail is easy, it may be for them by not for
desk-anchored city folk.
Choose trails carefully, so young kids can't get in trouble, by
walking into the woods or off a cliff.
Decide in advance if you want to spend most of your time hiking
uphill, downhill, or both. Sounds obvious, yes? But, take the
Ridge Trail as an example of what's not easily apparent. The
name and the map suggests you are walking on a ridge line.
While that was true, I choose the route that was almost
entirely downhill.
Always check the local weather report to see if thunderstorms
are predicted. (They often start in the afternoon.) Take your
hike early in the day. If it starts thundering and lightening,
head back down.
Some trail maps, especially at resorts, indicate whether the
trail is just for hikers, only for mountain bikers, or for
both. If you prefer quiet and not having to worry about
constantly moving a few steps off the trail so bicyclists can
get through, pick a path accordingly.
We're all told that we should never hike alone. This is
certainly true in the backcountry. On resort trails, however,
I've seen many people hiking alone. In either case, always let
someone at home or a friend know exactly which trails you are
planning on taking. If you hurt yourself and can't get back to
the trailhead, people will know where to start looking for you.
What to Take on Mountain Hiking Day Trips
Always bring several layers of clothing. When it's in the 80s
at the base of a mountain the temperature up top, where it's
several thousand feet higher, will be lower. On the rare
occasions, it can even snow in the Rockies and often drops down
to below 50 degrees at night. (At times, even in the 30s.) If
you start out in a t-shirt, toss a long-sleeved shirt, a fleece
and spare socks in a daypack or a hip pack. Lightweight rain
gear is handy if it starts pouring.
Wear shoes with a good grip, because most trails are a mix of
rock and dirt. Over the ankle hiking boots may help save you
from twisted ankles on rough trails, where shale or rocks stud
the dirt to keep the paths from eroding.
use walking stick, you can get lightweight ones at many
sporting goods stores. I've used them on hikes when there you
have to work your way up, down or around larger rocks and dirt
steps, and they make it much easier.
Bring a small first aid kit, a flashlight, a compass and a map.
Sounds low-tech, but there are places in the wilderness where
you can't get a signal and the GPS or other apps on your
Smartphone won't be available to you.
Bring Food and Water: You get dehydrated faster at higher
altitude, so bring lots of water. Don't forget energy bars or
other food that gives you the power to keep hiking.
Watch Out for Wild Animals: You are on their turf, so don't be
surprised if you see moose, elk, deer, even a bear or a scarce
mountain lion.
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ATA's DVD Recommendation:
Into the Wild (2007)
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Based on a true story,
Emory University graduate Christopher Mccandleuss abandons his
possessions, destroys his credit cards and identification
documents, gives his entire $24,000 savings to charity and
hitchhikes to Alaska to live alone in the wilderness. In the 20
months leading up to his Alaskan adventure, his travels lead
him on a path to self-discovery, seeking and ultimately finding
pleasure and joy along with a sense of truth and purpose he had
been lacking all his life, and heals him from his troubled
childhood. Throughout his epic journey he meets people who both
influence and are influenced by the realization that “happiness
is only real when shared.” Upon this realization, he seeks to
return from the wild to his family and friends.
Based on the 1996
non-fiction book Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer on the travels
of Christopher McCandless across North America.
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Healthful Living Tip:
How much physical
activity do adults need?
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Physical activity is
anything that gets your body moving. According to the 2008
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, you need to do two
types of physical activity each week to improve your
health–aerobic and muscle-strengthening.
18 to 64 years old: For
Important Health Benefits Adults need at least:: 2 hours and 30
minutes (150 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity
(i.e., brisk walking) every week and muscle-strengthening
activities on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle
groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms).
And 1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) of vigorous-intensity
aerobic activity (i.e., jogging or running) every week and
muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that
work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest,
shoulders, and arms).
Physical Activity is
Essential to Healthy Aging
As an older adult, regular
physical activity is one of the most important things you can
do for your health. It can prevent many of the health problems
that seem to come with age. It also helps your muscles grow
stronger so you can keep doing your day-to-day activities
without becoming dependent on others.
Not doing any physical
activity can be bad for you, no matter your age or health
condition. Keep in mind, some physical activity is better than none
at all. Your health benefits will also increase with the more
physical activity that you do.
If you're 65 years of age or older, are generally fit, and
have no limiting health conditions you can follow the
guidelines listed below.
For Important Health Benefits older adults need at least::
2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) of moderate-intensity
aerobic activity (i.e., brisk walking) every week and
muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week that
work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest,
shoulders, and arms) and 1 hour and 15 minutes (75
minutes) of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity (i.e., jogging
or running) every week and muscle-strengthening activities on 2
or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs,
hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms).
For Even Greater Health
Benefits older adults should increase their activity to: 5
hours (300 minutes) each week of moderate-intensity aerobic
activity and muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days
a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back,
abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms) and 2 hours and 30
minutes (150 minutes) each week of vigorous-intensity aerobic
activity and muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days
a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back,
abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms)
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Aerobic activity – what
counts? Aerobic activity or "cardio" gets you
breathing harder and your heart beating faster. From pushing a
lawn mower, to taking a dance class, to biking to the store –
all types of activities count. As long as you're doing them at
a moderate or vigorous intensity for at least 10 minutes at a
time. Even something as simple as walking is a great way to get
the aerobic activity you need, as long as it's at a moderately
intense pace.
Intensity is how hard your
body is working during aerobic activity. How do you know if
you're doing moderate or vigorous aerobic activity?
On a 10-point scale, where
sitting is 0 and working as hard as you can is 10,
moderate-intensity aerobic activity is a 5 or 6. It will make
you breathe harder and your heart beat faster. You'll also
notice that you'll be able to talk, but not sing the words to
your favorite song.
Vigorous-intensity activity is a 7 or 8 on this scale. Your
heart rate will increase quite a bit and you'll be breathing
hard enough so that you won't be able to say more than a few
words without stopping to catch your breath.
You can do moderate- or vigorous-intensity aerobic activity,
or a mix of the two each week. Intensity is how hard your body
is working during aerobic activity. A rule of thumb is that 1
minute of vigorous-intensity activity is about the same as 2
minutes of moderate-intensity activity.
Everyone's fitness level is different. This means that
walking may feel like a moderately intense activity to you, but
for others, it may feel vigorous. It all depends on you – the
shape you're in, what you feel comfortable doing, and your
health condition. What's important is that you do physical
activities that are right for you and your abilities.
Muscle-strengthening activities – what counts?
Besides aerobic activity, you need to do things to make
your muscles stronger at least 2 days a week. These types of
activities will help keep you from losing muscle as you get
older.
To gain health benefits, muscle-strengthening activities
need to be done to the point
where it's hard for you to do another repetition without help.
A repetition is one complete movement of an activity, like
lifting a weight or doing one sit-up. Try to do 8—12
repetitions per activity that count as 1 set. Try to do at
least 1 set of muscle-strengthening activities, but to gain
even more benefits, do 2 or 3 sets.
There are many ways you can strengthen your muscles,
whether it's at home or the gym. The activities you choose
should work all the major muscle groups of your body (legs,
hips, back, chest, abdomen, shoulders, and arms). You may want
to try:
Lifting weights
Working with resistance bands
Doing exercises that use your body weight for resistance
(push ups, sit ups)
Heavy gardening (digging, shoveling)
Yoga
Even if you wear sunscreen faithfully, you should check
regularly for signs of skin cancer. Warning signs include any
changes in the size, shape, color, or feel of birthmarks,
moles, or freckles, or new, enlarging, pigmented, or red skin
areas. If you spot any changes or you find you have sores that
are not healing, consult your doctor.
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Healthful Living Recipe:
Carrot Cake Waffle Breakfast Sandwich
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Carrot
cake for breakfast? Why not! This innovative healthy waffle
breakfast-sandwich recipe uses whole-grain frozen waffles
instead of bread and has a carrot cake-like filling made with
reduced-fat cream cheese, shredded carrot, raisins and walnuts
sweetened with a touch of maple syrup. Even better, it's ready
in 5 minutes!
2 whole-grain frozen waffles
2 tablespoons reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel)
½ cup shredded carrot
2 tablespoons raisins
1 tablespoon chopped walnuts
2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
Preparation: Active 5 m and Ready In 5 minutes.
Toast waffles. Spread cream cheese on 1 waffle. Top with
carrot, raisins and walnuts. Drizzle with maple syrup. Top with
the remaining waffle.
Nutrition information: Serving size: 1 sandwich
Per serving: 441 calories; 20 g fat(6 g sat); 5 g fiber; 56 g
carbohydrates; 13 g protein; 18 mcg folate; 95 mg cholesterol;
27 g sugars; 12 g added sugars; 9,639 IU vitamin A; 4 mg
vitamin C; 283 mg calcium; 2 mg iron; 400 mg sodium; 604 mg
potassium. Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (193% daily value),
Calcium (28% dv) Carbohydrate Servings: 3½. Exchanges: 2
starch, 1 fruit, 1 vegetable, ½ other carbohydrate, 2 fat
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ATA's Founder & Guide with Mascot
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Appalachian
Trail Adventures Customized Hiking Vacations
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Appalachian
Trail Adventures (ATA) offers a distinctive adventure vacation
with guided daily hiking, kayaking, and caving in the Green
Mountains of Vermont that targets families and individuals who
are adventurers, families, and those seeking an active
vacation, including hikers who do not feel comfortable hitting
the trails alone. ATA provides an affordable
all-inclusive hiking or fitness vacation giving a real Vermont
outdoor adventure. That's why it has the best hiking
vacation at the lowest possible prices, starting at $242.00 per
night, per person, including taxes and gratuities.
Unlike most spas, ATA's owner
John Keough is engaged daily with the guests, encouraging them
on the trail and kayaking. ATA offers a variety of options to
help customize one's vacation.
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Fall
Hiking, Yoga & Paddle Retreat
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When: October 13th-15th
Cost: $575.00 single occupancy & $530.00
double occupancy. Rates are per person tax included
Retreat Includes: 2 nights lodging with breakfast,
picnic lunch & dinner, guided hike on sat & sun with
stretching & meditation, including afternoon kayaking or
excursion to local attractions, yoga class fri, sat & sun,
post dinner campfire
Limited space reserve your spot today!
For more information call John at 1-888-855-8655
or Mindy at 1-401-378-5668
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Hiking & Kayaking Vacation
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Nightly
rates are per person, including taxes and gratuity. The Hiking
Vacation consists of an air conditioned room at the Summit
Lodge with three daily meals; snacks; guided novice,
intermediate or advanced hike; and an afternoon of kayaking,
caving or an excursion. Massages ($75.00+), yoga classes
($30.00), tennis lessons are available a la carte.
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Single
Occupancy
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Double
Occupancy
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1-3
NIGHTS
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$285.00
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$255.00
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4-6
NIGHTS
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$280.00
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$251.00
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7+
NIGHTS
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$274.00
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$242.00
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Family
Hiking & Kayaking Vacation
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The Family Hiking & Kayaking rates are for
families or groups that are required to participate in same
morning & afternoon activity. I.E. Family members
participate on the same hike, then after a picnic lunch the
entire family participates kayaking. Some family member(s) cannot
go caving or on an excursion while others go kayaking.
Afternoon activities include a choice of hiking, kayaking,
caving and excursions. Nightly rates are per person,
including taxes and wait staff gratuity. .
Room
Options: The lodge has large family rooms
with a combinations of bedding arrangements for three to six
hikers
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Triple
Occ.
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Quad
Occ.
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1-3 Nights
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$195.00
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$180.50
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w/o dinner
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$165.00
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$150.50
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4-6 N
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$191.00
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$176.50
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w/o dinner
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$161.00
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$146.50
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7+ N
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$182.00
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$167.50
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w/o dinner
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$152.00
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$137.50
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Quintuplet
Occupancy
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Sextuplet
Occupancy
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1-3 Nights
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$172.50
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$155.00
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w/o dinner
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$142.50
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$125.00
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4-6 N
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$168.50
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$151.00
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w/o dinner
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$138.50
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$121.00
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7+ N
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$159.50
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$142.00
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Our PEAK
BAGGER VACATION is
for those hikers who want the opportunity to hike Vermont's
4,000 foot mountains, the Appalachian Trail and the Long Trail,
the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the country.
Those who summit all five of Vermont's 4,000 footers, are
awarded with a certificate of accomplishment. This
accomplishment in the hiking community is referred to as peak
bagging.
Fast pace hiker’s we recommend 5 to 7 nights and
for intermediate hikers who have a taste for adventure and want
to summit Vermont's 4,000 footers at their own pace, we
recommend at least 7-10
nights. The rate for the Peak Bagger
Vacation is an additional one-time charge of $250.00 per person
for any length of stay on top of ATA’s Hiking Vacation rates.
Peak Bagger Dates: Please Note: The Peak Bagger Vacation is
available anytime by special request, rates may vary.
August 27nd through September 2nd
September 24th through September 30th
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Long considered Killington's classic four-season
resort hotel, The Summit Lodge is an ideal
destination for your Vermont vacation that is why ATA has
chosen it for their home base. Located in the heart of
Killington, the lodge is situated high on a private knoll with
magnificent views of Vermont's second highest mountain and the
surrounding Green Mountains. With eleven acres and forty-five
comfortable rooms, the facilities and grounds are extensive
including an outdoor heated pool, Jacuzzi whirlpool, saunas,
two tennis courts, massage therapy, two restaurants and
bars, duck pond, game room, a bocci court, horseshoes and
shuffleboard. A sit-down breakfast and a bag lunch are supplied
by the Summit's chef, while dinner is hikers choice to dine at
either the Foundry Restaurant or the Summit Lodge.
The new owner of the Summit Lodge, Emmett O’Dwyer
is making significant improvements after his recent purchase
during the spring of 2017. He has spent a lot of time and money
improving the business, changing the way the staff view
management and the way the guests feel in the lodge. The staff
feel secure in their jobs and a sense of pride with changes and
updates.
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The Foundry Restaurant's Executive Chef has
created a delicious menu for ATA hikers who are seeking
healthier meals. Located on the banks of the Summit Pond, The
Foundry offers a distinct year-round dining experience. In
addition to the ATA hikers' menu, The Foundry offers two menu
options: an American Bistro-Style menu in its formal dining
room, as well as a more casual Tavern menu in the bar. Their
impeccable chef-driven cuisine provides guests the finest cuts
of prime meats, fresh seafood, homemade pastas and much more.
They use the freshest ingredients to create mouthwatering
appetizers, flavorful side dishes and irresistible desserts,
designed to engage all of your senses. The Foundry experience
focuses on providing un-paralleled hospitality in a warm and
relaxing setting. In addition to its dining options, The
Foundry offers live entertainment regularly and is host to many
of the area's events.
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Please check out Appalachian Trail Adventure’s
social media links we have them all, whether you prefer to
Follow, Post, Pin, Poke, Like, Snap, Share, Tweet, Double Tap
or Comment.
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