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Dogs are man’s best friend, and most of us will want to achieve the status of being our dog’s best friend as well. How do you do that? Simply take him out for walks, or exciting adventures such as hiking. Dogs love to roam around freely, and being able to run on grassy lawns as well as play at forests areas. Seeing it in such a happy state one can almost see a smile on its face.

As fun as the wilderness seems fun for your dog, don’t forget the dangers lurking around the corner. You would not wish to see your dog being harmed and hurt while it is playing. There are a few things you should be aware of and you have to take responsibility as so to protect your dog from being hurt or even killed.

Below are a few risks associated with taking your dog out hiking or traveling other outdoor areas:

One of the risks are ant hills, especially for those who live down south. There are abnormally large anthills at the southern regions of the United States, and your dogs are best kept away from these anthills. From South Carolina to Texas, fire ants are common and they are known to be ferocious. Fire ants are one of the most aggressive ants that you can ever come across, and these deadly ants have venom in their system which they will inject into anything that they deem threatening, especially those who approach their nests. Their stings are small but painful, and if your dog is stung by a lot of them at once, he may have the risk of being fatally wounded and may die from it.

Snakes are another dangerous threat. Rattlesnakes are common, and they can be found at most areas, and are harmful to dogs, and even humans. Snakes may prefer to take shelter in different areas, as common grounds are dry and contains burrows as well as vegetation. Rattlesnakes tend to hide in hollow logs, as it is dry and dark. These snakes will rattle when they sense threat approaching, and dogs are usually not afraid of the rattling noise. Therefore they will still offend the snake and ended up being bitten anyway.

The other common snake in the United States is the copperhead. These snakes are prone to biting and the bites are very painful. They are normally not very venomous, and if your dog is of larger size then it will not suffer fatal wounds. Smaller dogs may have a different fate, and a bite from copperhead snakes may do more harm to it.

The majesty of a wild animal in their natural habitat is unmatched. Animal watching can be a great way to catch a glimpse of the splendor of nature. A recreational hike or a ride through scenic roadways can afford one the opportunity to see many animals. It is important to understand when and where to see different animals so you are prepared when you strike out on a trek to spot that magnificent creature. Forays into nature during late summer and early fall, August through October, are great times to catch some magnificent sites.

Moose: August – October

The moose is one of those great beasts that many people set out to spot. It can be seen throughout the Northern Hemisphere, especially in the northern, coniferous forests. It is an awe-inspiring animal that can reach heights of 7 feet and weigh as much as 1,500 pounds. It is easily spotted during a drive along undeveloped areas of the highway or through scenic roadways. They can also be spotted on trips down the many waterways in New England. They like to munch on the tender water plants and the ferns and young trees along clearings and roadways. Late summer and early fall, as the nights begin to cool, is the best time to spot these giants. Early morning and dusk are common times for moose to be out and about.

Grizzly Bear: June – September

The grizzly bear can be seen along the Western Mountain range, from Northern California to Alaska. Alaska and Western Canada have a higher population than the continental U.S. These bears often make their way to the coast for the running of the salmon and can be seen along many streams and rivers. They can be seen from June to September fishing, lounging in the underbrush, or eating young shoots and berries. Some of Alaska’s parks and sanctuaries afford the best chance of spotting one of these large brown bears.

Black Bear: May – September

The black bear has a much larger habitat, ranging from the Arctic Circle down to Mexico. It lives in the forests and mountains, and like its brown bear counterpart, can be spotted from late spring to early fall. Northern forests or the Appalachian mountain range make great areas to spot a black bear. It is active in the fall preparing for hibernation. This bear can often be spotted foraging in berry patches and along rivers. They are also often found around dump sites, or anywhere food might be left unattended for long periods. The black bear is spooked easily so observance from a distance is the best bet.

Bison/Buffalo: July – October

Bison, or buffalo, are an endangered species due to extreme hunting practices during the early to mid-19th century. Most of the bison today are located in Yellowstone National Park. They run free within the park and can be seen throughout the area. Bison mate from July to early August and the calves are born in April or May. These young bison can be seen in late spring and early summer. Bison can be seen throughout the summer and they are easy to spot on the prairies during late summer and early fall as they get ready for winter.

It is important to be safe and give the animals their distance when observing them. Many people have been seriously injured or killed due to pushing too close. The animals will often ignore watchers who keep a distance and this provides the best opportunity to see them in their natural setting. Pack a lunch, put on the hiking boots, or jump in the car, and head out to watch these splendid creatures.

~Ben Anton, 2008

The Filipino music scene will never be complete without mentioning this triad group named the APO Hiking Society. This group is composed of three members namely Jim Paredes, Danny Javier and Boboy Garrovillo. Their songs and music are hitting the airwaves for the last 30 years until today. The generation today is still humming to their wide range of hits. The group is touching everyone with their music with recent gigs and concert. The APO Hiking Society is really making effort to revive sounds that can reach out to anyone.

The music industry has paid tribune to the works of this triad by creating the KaminAPO Muna album. The top songs of the APO were revived by popular groups of today and compiled them to an album. The album also has an additional bonus tracks that includes songs sung by the APO themselves. It become popular as it was constantly played on TV and radio. People really gave support to this album as it became one of the top selling when it is first released.

The trio was very happy with the turn out and massive support from the people. MYX, a local music channel paid tribune to APO in Megamall. Popular bands serenaded people with classic songs of the APO. It was truly a successful event. Aside from the tribute, the APO become busy with own concerts and guest appearances in some TV programs. They also received an appreciative plaque from ASAP, a noontime show that has audience here and abroad.

The highly talked about album, Kami nAPO Muna is available in every record bar nationwide. For those who have an Ipod or MP3, the album can be downloaded via I-Tunes. It is a tool from the Apple Company that can help download songs to an Ipod. All one needs to do is go to the homepage, type in the name of the album and viola every one can have an access to APO’s music.

The album has 18 tracks with the performance of top bands from local music scene. For months the album has been rating number one in top charts. It also has been the number one selling album in record bars. There are also four newly made music videos for some of the songs that have been hitting the charts. It included Yakap sa Dilim, Nakakapagtaka, doo bi doo and a favorite wedding love song Panalangin. These songs are not only popular in the form of videos and cds but also it has become a number one downloaded ring tones for cell phones.

The APO also has an official website where anyone can subscribe to recent updates from the group. Danny, Jim and Buboy are really a legend in the music industry. One can never get enough of them. They can never go out of the picture. They would continue to reign in the hearts of their fans and people who can be touch by their sounds

The best hiking trails of Santa Cruz County are plentiful and are spread throughout the area. The Monarch Trail located at Natural Bridges State Beach It is known for its rock type bridges that naturally appear throughout the area. Monarchs frequent the trail and light upon the Eucalyptus trees. The boardwalk is wheelchair accessible and leads to a simple trail.

Redwood Grove Loop and River Trails are located within the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Banana slugs, deer, and redwood trees can be seen throughout the trails. People swim in the river and there are a lot of wide open expanses. The Redwood Groove Loop meanders in an oval shape through the redwoods. The San Lorenzo River can be viewed as well. A canyon naturally forms in the river area. Big Rock Hole is where many visitors of the trail go to swim and swing across with a rope swing. It is positioned by Highway 9 just north of the city. People often ride on horseback along the trails.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park has the Skyline to the Sea Trail. The redwoods along it are said to be thousands of years old. The movie “Vertigo” was filmed here in the 1950′s by Alfred Hitchcock, which starred Jimmy Stewart with Kim Novack. There are waterfalls, forests, grasslands, and the Pacific Ocean from the trail. It is positioned along Highway 9 and 236. It is twenty-five miles northwest of the city.

Ohlone Bluff Trail is positioned in Wilder Ranch State Park. The trail is named for the indigenous people who once filled the area. Picnic spots are available along several parts of the trail. Hours can vary on different parts of the trail, so a watch is necessary.

Pogonip has a view of the ocean and is off of Gulf Club Drive. There are several trails available to hike or job. It is common to see joggers, people walking dogs, and other relaxing along the trails. It is positioned along Spring Street accessible from Highway 9. The area was for a country club at one time. Spring Box Trail has fish and many springs in the creeks.

The Nature Conservancy’s Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve has trails for hiking and is home to many birdwatchers. More than 200 species of birds can be viewed from the area. They migrate from Mexico the the Southeast portion of Arizona.

West Ridge Trail is position alongside three other trails: Bennett Creek, Fall Creek, and South Fork trailways. The Lime kilns, Cape Horn, and the Lost Empire trails are located at the 1.7 mile marker. There is a large tree called Big Ben and a Barrel Mill which fashions redwood lumber into barrel heads.

The Old Cove Landing Trail runs in the middle of Wilder and Sand Plant beaches. Monterey Bay can be viewed from the trail and many birds and waterlife can be seen from it as well. There is a cultural preserve near the Wilder Ranch Buildings. Former Native American villages and Mexican adobe dwellings can be seen throughout the trail area.

At nearly one and a half million acres Glacier National Park in Montana is impressive and boasts over 200 lakes and streams, 50 glaciers and more than 700 miles of wonderful hiking trails. These numbers are impressive, but they do not even start to convey the breathtaking beauty of this national park.

They do not begin to describe how the mountains around Lake MacDonald glow pink in the setting sun and almost force you to stand transfixed to this view until darkness falls. Neither do they describe the huge field of tall bear grass stalks with their white flowers which simply shout at you to roll back the years and run through the meadow like a child.

But your first point of call should one of the visitor centers in Apgar, Logan Pass or St. Mary where you can find out all about the area and pick up some excellent hiking guide books.

One of the best ways to get to see many of sights of the park is to drive along the famous 50 mile Going-To-The-Sun Road which was built in 1932 and skirts around Lake MacDonald before crossing the Continental Divide at Logan Pass some 6,700 feet above sea level. From Logan Pass it then descends down to Saint Mary Lake which is an awe inspiring body of water.

If you want to go hiking then there are plenty of options and the area near Belly River offers some glorious scenery and numerous campsites where you can take a rest. For those people who are looking for a longer trip then you can backpack in from Canada, crossing Brown Pass and ending at Bowman Lake.

Another great site is the Hole in the Wall campground which offers 20 waterfalls and thousands of lovely wildflowers. Look upwards and you will see the water coming from a waterfall which pours out of a natural hole in the rock face which gives the area its name.

If you would like a taste of adventure then how about a whitewater rafting trip? You can either join a group of eight people on a larger boat or brave the water yourself in a kayak. Even beginners find that it an easy trip and there are few rocks to contend with, but it will nevertheless give you plenty of fun as you rush down the Flathead River.

For those who like an easier life there are also the Red Bus tours. Millions of visitors have enjoyed seeing the park from these open-topped buses, but take along lots of sunscreen as the sunshine in Glacier during the summer months is very strong.

If you are driving yourself then a good place to stop off is the Trail of the Cedars boardwalk. This area has been free from fire for more than 500 years because of the high moisture content and the result is some of the biggest cedar and hemlocks to be found anywhere. If you are patient you will also spot a flying squirrel or two and, as night begins to fall, you will hear the owls hooting.