The RTC Blog Has Moved!

Starting this October, we’ve given our blog a new permanent home at www.railstotrails.org. You can now access the official RTC TrailBlog from any page on our Web site in the lefthand navigation bar. We’ll continue to feature “Trail Voices” profiles and exciting RTC updates, and we’re adding loads of other stories on everything from trail-building tips to court decisions and policy news from around the country. At the RTC TrailBLog, it’s never been easier to keep up with the rail-trail community, so check out our new look and let us know what you think!

From Bike Repair to Bike Odyssey

Bike Recycle Vermont (BRV) is a nonprofit located in Burlington, Vt., that refurbishes donated bicycles and resells them to low-income Vermonters as affordable, reliable and sustainable transportation. The Fall 2009 issue of Rails to Trails magazine featured a story on Emily Eschner (“Gals and Gears”), and specifically a course she instructed;  at the time she was with AmeriCorps VISTA and serving at BRV.  The “Women’s Wrench Workshops,” designed and taught by the recent University of Vermont (UVM) graduate, sought to make cycling less intimidating for women, and to recruit more female volunteer bike mechanics to the bike shop. “I know lots of women who have a bike and ride it, but they don’t know how to fix it when something goes wrong,” says Eschner. 

Emily Eschner, right, and Margaret Fitch show off their BRV riding gear.

She began offering the course as a seven-week, hands-on workshop exclusively for women. It was open to students of all ages and experiences. Many came in only knowing how to pump up tires or adjust a bike seat. During the course, they moved through progressively more complicated lessons, from basic bike anatomy and tools to brake realignment and wheel truing. “They [could] learn together and not be afraid to ask questions,” Eschner says. “They can be proud of their bikes and feel confident working on them.” Attendees donated $1 to $5 per session, depending on what they could afford, and all proceeds benefited BRV. Eschner completed several class cycles, and she saw class sizes increase from three or four students to as many as a dozen.  

Having completed her one-year AmeriCorps stint at BRV, though, Eschner has focused on a new plan for the next few months of her life: a 2,000-mile bicycle ride from Burlington to New Orleans.  

After her older brother biked across the country in 2005, Eschner knew she wanted to take a long cycling trip of her own. For his trip, he took four friends and a support vehicle from Maine to California in 40 days. “Definitely a great trip for him, but not my style,” she says. “I always knew I’d do it differently when it was my turn.” 

That time came this past spring when her friend Margaret Fitch, a fellow UVM grad, proposed the idea of a joint cycling journey. “Working at Bike Recycle Vermont as a bike mechanic and instructor, I became more interested in and knowledgeable about bikes,” says Eschner. “When my friend Margaret approached me with the possibility of a long bike trip, I entertained the idea more seriously than before. Margaret and I were on the same page: yes, ride bikes. Hooray! But ride them not merely to zip from point A to point B—ride them from point A to point B at a pace relaxing enough to stop and smell plenty of roses.”  

Fitch and Eschner get excited for their 2,000-mile journey.

The two have been mapping their route, but they have no specific agenda along the way, other than to explore and make plans as they go. “‘Why New Orleans?’ a lot of people ask us,” says Eschner. “‘Why not?’ is often our answer. It was a city south of our starting location that neither of us had ever been, and that holds a fair amount of intrigue for us. We’re both in that ‘odyssey’ stage in our lives where we’re not tied down to a career, family or house and trying to figure out our next steps. The ultimate goal is simply to experience any and everything that the country has to offer.” 

Starting September 13, Eschner and Fitch will set out on their trip, hoping to arrive in New Orleans by mid-December. They’re keeping a blog of their preparations and experiences along the way, and they’re also hoping to stay with fellow cyclists who might have a yard for camping or a floor to share. You can check out their tentative route at www.emilyandmargaret.blogspot.com to see if they’re passing through your town, or just to track their progress south this fall. They have a lot of miles of ride, and they’re eager for suggestions about where to stop and what to visit.  

More about Bike Recycle Vermont
BRV began five years ago as the backyard project of founder Ron Manganiello. The organization has grown into a full-time operation run entirely by volunteers. Using donated bikes and salvaged parts, BRV charges $20 for the bicycles, each of which comes with a complimentary helmet, lock and rear light. Diverse local populations, including resettled refugees and immigrants, benefit from the program.

Last November, BRV became an official program of Local Motion, a nonprofit that promotes trails and bikeways in the Burlington area. For more information, call 802.264.9687 or visit www.localmotion.org.  

More about AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps is a national service program designed to fight poverty. For more information, visit americorps.gov.   

Trail Voices: Mike Haering

“Trail Voices” highlights the work of rail-trail supporters around the country. Our interview subjects are anyone from high-level urban planners to local volunteers, and no contribution to the trails, walking and bicycling movement is too big or too small–dedication comes in all sizes. We could never tell all the personal stories that make rail-trails a success, but we can share a few of the voices behind the movement.
 

(Left to right) Kyle Morgan, Mike Haering and John Tichenor, part of Fetzer's crew on the Sojourn.

Mike Haering lives in Louisville, Ky., and has always been an active outdoorsman and hiker. “I’m not going to say I’m a recluse,” he says, “but I could have a very happy day if I’m alone on the top of a mountain and watch the sun come up on the east, the sun go down in the west, and I don’t see anyone else the whole day.”

In the office, Haering works as the brand director for Fetzer Vineyards, makers of the “Earth Friendly Wine” in Hopland, Calif. After 18 years in the wine industry, Haering still marvels at the process and lifestyle of winemaking. “First thing I really noticed, being in wine and wine country, is the sense of community,” he says. “It’s a farming environment, and you feel like you belong to something close to Mother Earth. I’m fascinated by the winemakers and the magic they can do with the fruit, and give us a great glass of wine at the end of the day.”

Starting in 2009, Fetzer began a partnership with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) to help support the Trail of the Month program and the 2009 Greenway Sojourn, which wrapped up this past July on the Pine Creek Rail Trail in Pennsylvania. Haering and the Fetzer crew were active and popular participants. Several members of the official Fetzer Bike Team came along for the four-day ride, and Fetzer poured wine at several overnight stops and meals for the 250 riders. “The wine pouring was a huge success,” he says. “Not only were we able to share a taste with those so inclined, but we got to share Fetzer’s sustainability story with them.”

We caught up with Haering after the ride to learn more about the Sojourn, the partnership with RTC, and about Fetzer’s long-recognized commitment to sustainable winemaking.

What makes Fetzer’s sustainable wine production unique and so important?
Everything we do, we look to make sure we minimize the impact to our community. The first place you do that is with the environment. We have a concentrated effort not to throw anything away. Since 1990, we have reduced our waste to landfills by 96 percent, while doubling production. We don’t even go to recycling right away; we reuse first, so we’re doing more with less. We were also the first winery that went to 100 percent green energy for its winery operation. We put solar arrays on the roofs of various buildings, and sometimes we generate so much energy that we can sell it back to the electric company. Also, by lowering the weight of our wine bottles by an average by 16 percent, we have saved the equivalent of 70,000 trees a year.

There’s always this perception that when you’re doing something sustainably, you’re not doing it well. But we don’t compromise quality. Simply stated, we make great wine the right way.

The Fetzer team joins Sojourn riders on the first morning of the four-day ride.

How did the partnership with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy begin?
Fetzer seeks to partner with likeminded organizations in order to connect with people who act with long-term, sustainable practices. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy was a perfect fit. Their commitment to establishing trails for years to come is fantastic, and their vision of having 90 percent of the population within three miles of a trail by 2020 is truly inspiring.

What about the Sojourn in particular made the event such a great opportunity for Fetzer?
The Sojourn fits well with Fetzer because we know Fetzer consumers enjoy the outdoors and are active in a variety of pursuits, including cycling. This ride provided Fetzer a chance to connect with riders in their environment, and hopefully connect in a fun way.

What did you think of the Pine Creek Rail Trail?
Absolutely gorgeous. You know, I’ve traveled many places around the world, and before you get there you always have this perception of what it is or could be. Well I went into [Pine Creek Gorge], and the canyon walls, the river running through it, watching the peace of the fly fishermen, just enjoying nature—it was pristine, just beautiful. The trail fits the personality of the place; it felt like a natural trail next to that river.”

What did you find most memorable about the Sojourn?
The ride and experience exceeded our wildest dreams. Everyone was so friendly and they accepted us warmly. I’d say the biggest memory we will leave with is the sense of community everyone on the ride shared. Although it rained several times, people came together and we believe they bonded closer. We were blessed to be part of it.

To learn more about Fetzer, visit www.fetzer.com.

We Make Our Wine Responsibly.  Please Enjoy It Responsibly.
©2009 Fetzer Vineyards, Hopland, Mendocino Co., CA   www.fetzer.com

Trail Voices: Neal Brendel

“Trail Voices” highlights the work of rail-trail supporters around the country. Our interview subjects are anyone from high-level urban planners to local volunteers, and no contribution to the trails, walking and bicycling movement is too big or too small–dedication comes in all sizes. We could never tell all the personal stories that make rail-trails a success, but we can share a few of the voices behind the movement.

Brendel on an outlook near the Blue Ridge Parkway in Afton, Va.

Neal Brendel has been a lawyer with the Pittsburgh office of K&L Gates since 1979. He’s been a partner since 1986, and one of his projects is to provide pro bono legal work for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC). At K&L Gates, Brendel represents parties in commercial disputes, often involving contracts and insurance. Providing legal counsel for RTC, though, allows Brendel to combine his law career with his love for the outdoors by clearing legal hurdles for trail development. “There are many different legal challenges people make, but at the end of the day we do what we can to remove those barriers so that the entities can complete their trail,” says Brendel.   

Most recently, Brendel, along with K&L Gates attorney William Semins, worked on a case for RTC involving the 52.5-mile Armstrong Trail in western Pennsylvania. The Moody v. Allegheny Valley Land Trust case dealt with the issue of railbanking—a federal law that allows an out-of-use railroad corridor to be converted for interim trail use, thereby preserving the corridor until such time as rail service is deemed necessary again. On July 20, 2009, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court affirmed that the Armstrong Trail is entitled to the protections of private railbanking, establishing an important precedent for rail-trail development around the country. (When fully completed, the Armstrong Trail could connect to the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage and link to a continuous route from New York to Maryland and onto Washington, D.C.) 

RTC’s legal program, administered by RTC General Counsel Andrea Ferster, is often behind the scenes yet very much at the forefront of RTC’s work promoting and protecting rail-trail corridors. The assistance of Brendel and other pro bono attorneys is critical to RTC’s efforts to influence trail policy at the courtroom level and offer legal assistance to trail groups in particular cases around the country.

What got you interested in doing work for RTC?
I grew up right outside Pittsburgh, Pa., and used to always find time to ride the Great Allegheny Passage. I watched the trail movement grow, especially in the Pennsylvania area. I enjoy doing work for RTC because it is a nice break from the usual sort of cases I deal with. RTC cases are always fun and interesting. 

What is the most rewarding part about doing pro bono work for RTC?
For me, the biggest reward is that the legal work is for a good cause. At the end of the day, I know there will be a new trail to ride on, and lucky for me it’s right in my backyard. When I ride down the Allegheny, there are parts of the trail that are still barricaded off, so it’s satisfying to be able to see parts of the trail open up.

What has been your most memorable rail-trail experience?
My favorite trail experience has been the Butler-Freeport Community Trail, a rail-trail in western Pennsylvania that connects the city of Butler to the Allegheny River port of Freeport. I love biking on this trail because it goes through so many different terrains. As you start the climb away from the valley, you encounter everything from open woods to forest to farmland. The trail is also great for bird watching.

Another reason the Butler-Freeport Community Trail is one of my favorites is because it was one of the first trails that gave rise to the legal precedent where courts started to recognize the concept of private railbanking. Whenever I ride the trail, I think of its legal precedent.

How often do you get out on the trails?
In the summer I try to go out for about 40 to 50 miles once or twice a week. My wife is actually doing a trail ride with a community group from D.C. to Pittsburgh. It’s exciting because she’s riding all rail-trail connections, about 360 miles. It’s satisfying to see the number of people who love using the trails. I have the impression that it takes a while for people to become aware of a rail-trial, but now you see everyone using them. It’s great!

Trail Voices: Stacey Capers

“Trail Voices” highlights the work of rail-trail supporters around the country. Our interview subjects are anyone from high-level urban planners to local volunteers, and no contribution to the trails, walking and bicycling movement is too big or too small–dedication comes in all sizes. We could never tell all the personal stories that make rail-trails a success, but we can share a few of the voices behind the movement.

Stacey Capers getting loose before a workout .

Since she was 20, Stacey Capers had weighed more than 200 pounds. She was an athlete in high school, yet for her entire adult life she struggled with being overweight. This past year, though, Capers and her husband Adam became contestants on the sixth season of NBC’s reality TV show, The Biggest Loser: Families, which challenged couples to lose weight through improvements in diet and exercise. “Never in a million years did I think we would get chosen for the show,” says Capers. “It was a huge blessing.

During the course of the show, Capers and her husband lost a combined 145 pounds. They didn’t win the competition, but they were so inspired by the experience they decided to start their own company, called I Can Do Fitness. Their mission is to provide “resources, advice, outreach and support for individuals committing to a healthy lifestyle through nutrition and physical fitness.” I Can Do Fitness helps clients use different types of interval training to increase their weight loss, and they encourage clients to be creative with their exercise plans to stay motivated. That was a lesson she learned from her trainer on the show, who introduced her to the 44.8-mile Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park (W&OD).

Growing up in New York, Capers was always more familiar with urban areas, but she now takes full advantage of the many trails in the Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia area—especially the W&OD trail, which runs from Shirlington on the outskirts of D.C. to Purcellville, Va. These days, she regularly incorporates the paved trail into her workout sessions. Using trails for exercise has given Capers a new appreciation for the outdoors, and she hopes to continue using them to achieve her weight-loss goals and live a healthy, active lifestyle.  

Did you ever use trails before you made your commitment to losing weight and getting healthy on The Biggest Loser?
No, I got introduced to the Washington & Old Dominion trail by my trainer. I started using the trails by my gym in Vienna to run, and I would use the mile markers to push myself farther each time. Your body will quickly adjust to your workout routine if you do not push it to work harder, and running on the trails really allows me to do that. As I started to lose weight, I was able to run for longer periods of time. It was a really good switch of environment from my typical gym workouts.

What benefits do you enjoy from outdoor activity versus working out in the gym?
The good thing about [running on trails] is that once you run two miles, you have no choice but to turn around and run two miles back home. I also love how running outside allows you to see so much nature, and you can just escape in your thoughts. I’ve learned that you can use the outdoors to do the same gym-quality exercise. We encourage this idea to all of our clients.

Are you training for anything in particular right now?
I [ran] in the American Heart Association Lawyers Have Heart 10K in Washington, D.C., which I primarily used trails to train for. I also just signed up to do my first triathlon, so I plan on starting to bike more often. I don’t actually own a bike right now, but I think that this triathlon will encourage me to buy one. 

Before the show, could you ever imagine yourself getting in shape so successfully on trails?
Definitely not. Now that I’ve been introduced to it, I always prefer to exercise outdoors rather than being cooped up inside the gym. When I was carrying around all of the extra weight, it was very uncomfortable to be outside. Now I am able to enjoy it, and for the first time I actually love summer. It’s also a good way to spend time with the family. I love picking up my daughter from school and taking her to the trail for a walk.

Bike-to-Work Week 2009

Bike-to-Work Week is here!

A bicycle commuter rides through Flat Branch Park on a spur of the MKT line in Columbus, Mo. © Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every year, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy eagerly anticipates Bike-to-Work Week (and Day and Month) because this is our chance to really witness, en mass, the power of the pedal.

We’re accustomed to hearing compelling bike-as-transportation stories coming out of cycling hubs like Seattle, Portland or Minneapolis, and places further field like in Amsterdam. But May is the month when all across America people put their best foot forward—repeatedly and in a circular motion—in support of active transportation.

To be a part of the festivities, check out TrailLink.com (powered by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy) to find a rail-trail you can incorporate into your bicycle commute this week. For Bike-to-Work Day this Friday, May 15, invite your colleagues or neighbors to join for a celebration on wheels. Or find in a pre-organized event listed with the League of American Bicyclists (many events utilize rail-trails as well as roadways).

Not up to riding this year? It’s never too early to start prepping for Bike-to-Work Month 2010! Building bicycling into your daily life, be it for recreation or transportation, is an excellent way to enjoy the outdoors, spend time with family and friends, save some cash, get into shape, and stay healthy and fit.

Were you inspired by all the Bike-to-Work festivities? Comment on this blog post to let us know how you participated in Bike-to-Work Day, Week or Month. If you rode on a rail-trail, be sure to let us know which one!

“Railroads for Runners”

The Runner’s World Web site blogged about rail-trails recently. Do you have a favorite rail-trail for running? I used the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park when I was training for a marathon. At 45-miles long, there’s plenty of room to get in your 26.2 miles.

Trail Voices: Noel Keller

“Trail Voices” highlights the work of rail-trail supporters around the country. Our interview subjects are anyone from high-level urban planners to local volunteers, and no contribution to the trails, walking and bicycling movement is too big or too small–dedication comes in all sizes. We could never tell all the personal stories that make rail-trails a success, but we can share a few of the voices behind the movement.

Keller on his TriCruiser sporting his signature "twirly" hat.

For April, we tracked down Noel Keller, who graduated from active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps at the grade of colonel in 1987. Two and a half months later, he suffered a bad landing while strapped into a sailplane called the LARK. He wasn’t able to walk after the accident. His wife Marjorie obtained the best spinal surgeon around, who Keller says “did a fine job of putting me back together.” Though he still suffered permanent spinal damage that affects how he moves his legs, Keller learned to walk again with the aid of a cane.

In 2002, he found a special tricycle that suited his physical needs and began exploring as many trails as he could–and he’s been busy. As of January 2009, Keller has pedaled on trails and roads in 29 states, and he’s submitted reviews and photos for 55 trails listed on Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s TrailLink.com. His goal is to ride, review and photograph rail-trails in each of the lower 48 states and Alaska.

How did you discover your tricycle?
I learned about a tricycle from a friend and tried it out. Found I could pedal it, but it was too low to get out of it. Then I found a tadpole TriCruiser, made by Sid Gowdy, that had a high seat. After a couple test rides, I bought one when I learned I could load it in the back of a minivan. From Sid’s Web site I discovered Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and joined, for the publications and the information on rail-trails.

 

Self-portrait in his rearview mirror

How do you coordinate your solo trail rides?
My procedure for riding trails, since I have to provide my own SAG [Support and Guidance], is to unload my TriCruiser at a trailhead, ride a distance one way, then turn around and ride back to the trailhead. Then in the afternoon I go the other way and return. I first carried a Garmin eTrex Legend GPS that I loaded with trail and trailhead [GPS] coordinates. This gives me a countdown on the miles to the turnaround and trailheads.

Now that you have a wide experience on rail-trails, what are some of your favorites?
Well, I really like the Elroy-Sparta State Trail in Wisconsin, as it was my first one. The one with the best scenery is definitely the Route of the Hiawatha in Idaho or the Mineral Belt Trail in Colorado. If you are looking for interesting activities in a short distance, I would recommend the Yampa River Core Trail in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. And I met the most people on the Katy Trail State Park in Missouri.

On your TrailLink.com reviews, your tagline is Twirlymaker. Where did that come from?
Twirlymaker is the name on the fake license plate on the back of my TriCruiser. I also use a train and a spinner above my head instead of a flag, so I make twirlys.

Trail Voices: Gwen Loose

“Trail Voices” highlights the work of rail-trail supporters around the country. Our interview subjects are anyone from high-level urban planners to local volunteers, and no contribution to the trails, hiking and bicycling movement is too big or too small—dedication comes in all sizes. We could never tell all the personal stories that make rail-trails a success, but we can share a few of the voices behind the movement.

For February, we tracked down Gwen Loose, project coordinator for the York County Rail Trail Authority in York County, Pa. Trails have been in her blood—and under her boots—for as long as she can remember. Loose is an avid hiker and member of the York Hiking Club, which helps maintain a section of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) that passes over Peter’s Mountain, north of Harrisburg, Pa. The A.T. is maintained entirely by individual volunteers and volunteer maintaining clubs, she says. The York Hiking Club is one of the oldest maintaining clubs. Their particular section includes a shelter high on the ridgeline on top of Peter’s Mountain. “Anytime we want to get equipment up there to maintain the shelter, it’s a real challenge,” Loose says. 

Gwen Loose, at left, in Colorado's Indian Peaks Wilderness Area

 

Right now, Loose is working on her Masters Degree in American Studies, specializing in the history of the Appalachian Trail. One of her projects is working with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to create the first museum exclusively about and for the trail. “It’s hard to believe there isn’t one,” she says.

Since 1997, Loose has worked with the York County Rail Trail Authority on several rail-trail projects in Pennsylvania, including the 21-mile Heritage Rail Trail County Park, managed by the York County Department of Parks & Recreation. We caught up with Loose recently to learn more about her involvement in the county’s trail system.

 

When you first joined the Authority, how far along was the Heritage Rail Trail County Park?
At the time, the Heritage Rail Trail was right in the middle of developing. It had a lot of momentum, and that appealed to me. Ten miles were built, with about 10 to go. The trail was completed in 1999, so I jumped right in those final two years and had to manage a lot of the grants that had already been awarded, and coordinate the grand opening and managing of contracts to finish the last two phases. It was an exciting time to join the project.  

What has made the Heritage Rail-Trail such a successful attraction?
A consultant once told us that for a trail to be successful, it has to be constantly interesting and continually serene. I think that’s really what attracts people to the Heritage Rail Trail, besides the fact the trail was built and is maintained to extremely high standards. Visitors know when they come to the Heritage Rail Trails that they’re going to have a quality experience. 

 

Loose hiking in the Canadian Rockies

Do you have any other current trail projects underway?
We have two projects right now to extend the Heritage Rail Trail. One is an approximately 5.5-mile extension going north from York, Pa., that will connect to John Rudy County Park, which has soccer fields, running courses, a playground and volleyball courts. It’s a very active recreation spot, so it’s a great connection for the trail. And then the other extension is following an old trolley corridor, about 16.5 miles long. It’s owned by the electric utility, and the county has an agreement that permits development of a recreational trail in the corridor. The first phases of construction are complete on both of these projects—about a mile and a half on the northern end, and two small sections of the Hanover Trolley Trail are complete.

How long will it take to have these extensions fully developed and connected?
They move as fast as funding. Usually what happens when we have two projects going is that we alternate years for construction. Generally speaking, I would give us another three to four years for the northern extension to John Rudy County Park to reach completion, and probably five to six years for the Hanover Trolley Trail.

Where do you find most of your trail funding?
We conducted a five-year capital campaign that’s still ongoing, and we were able to raise approximately $1.5 million. This local money serves as match money to  leverage state and federal grants. The cost of trails has continued to escalate, just like everything else. Sometimes it makes trail development frustratingly slow, but as along as we can produce a mile here and a mile there, it keeps us happy. And it keeps our funders happy—they like to see results.

What are you most proud of in your time at the York County Rail Trail Authority?
I would have to say that for myself and the Rail Trail Authority, we’re all really proud of the Heritage Rail Trail County Park. I think we’re most proud that we had so much support from our residents, all during construction. Early on, some people were skeptical, and they didn’t know what the trail would look like or who would use it. But as sections of the Heritage Rail Trail were complete, community support grew and gave us the momentum to finish the trail.

Do you know someone we should consider for a “Trail Voices” profile? If so, please e-mail Karl Wirsing at karl@railstotrails.org with a brief description and contact information for your nominee.  

2009 Greenway Sojourn Open for Registration

THE 7TH GREENWAY SOJOURN, July 22-26, 2009, will lead 250 cyclists on a ride through one of Pennsylvania’s most spectacular natural areas, the Pine Creek Gorge.

The route of the Greenway Sojourn will focus on the 64-mile Pine Creek Rail Trail, which parallels the creek through the heart of the Pine Creek Gorge. The rail-trail follows the path of a 19th century railroad that hauled lumber out from the valley.

A 2001 article in USA Today named the Pine Creek Rail Trail one of “10 great places to take a bike tour” in the world. Now in 2009, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy offers you and your family the opportunity to join us on a four-day adventure through this amazing natural area.

Registration for this tour is limited to 250 people, so learn more and secure your spot on the 2009 Sojourn today.