The Hamptons are a hedge fund fiefdom. The Hudson Valley is now home to multiple $2,000-plus-a-night hotels. Even Litchfield County, Conn., once home to farm stands and little else, is full of cashed-up city slickers. That leaves the Berkshires. Three hours from Manhattan, this western Massachusetts mountain range has somehow avoided becoming completely unattainable for … Read more
Two kids, boys about 10 years old, walk past the bar to the hostess stand of a popular restaurant in Aspen, Colo. “We’d like a table for two,” one says. The waitress doesn’t blink; she leads them to a booth. The mountain town of Aspen isn’t just a gnarly spot of X Games sports, or … Read more
This small California tunnel has a long history. Just off Highway 1, the Partington Cove Trail leads hikers to one of the Golden State’s most stunning coastal vistas, with rugged views of a wave-battered beach and turquoise waters. But getting there requires a trek through a 60-foot, hand-carved passageway. Sign up for the California Morning … Read more
They’re turning it into Mont Brown. French authorities are imposing a ban on Mont Blanc day trippers after noticing a surge in tourists defecating on site, feeding wildlife, and making unreasonable demands. “Faced with these excesses, we are showing that the ‘anything goes’ approach is over,” Jean-Marc Peillex, the mayor of Saint-Gervais and president of … Read more
California’s “lost” mountain towns are about to be found. An ambitious 500-mile single-track trail is being pieced together, reaching from Northern California to Western Nevada, with plans to link 15 far-flung communities once fueled by the Gold Rush, logging, and mining. The mammoth Lost Sierra Route would snake through some of the Golden State’s most … Read more
More than 14 million older adults fall every year in the US, perhaps none so often as 91-year-old Dale Sanders. By his count, Sanders fell 71 times while reclaiming his record as the oldest hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail. Six were what he calls hard falls, including one that led to a brief hospitalization … Read more
Lake Tahoe is seeing so many visitors that fees could be hiked for everything from parking to hiking — inadvertently affecting the locals who are already struggling with the area’s high cost of living. The US Forest Service is proposing new or increased recreation fees at roughly 40 destinations across the Lake Tahoe region, including … Read more
While many seek the great outdoors for its promise of peace and quiet, visitors to a popular European summit were greeted with long lines and maddening crowds this month. Mount Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales, is known to hikers the world over as a six-to seven- hour ascent that rewards the hearty with beautiful … Read more
California is home to many a fabled tourist attraction, but some unlucky visitors never make it out alive. In a recent TikTok, Orange County realtor Lindsey Marino gave a rundown of a fistful of perilous places in the Golden State, including two locations in Yosemite National Park that are as famed for the ever-present threat … Read more
The death of Joanna Ruth Shields, the 37-year-old woman who was found along a remote Big Sur hiking trail in April, has cast a spotlight on a little-known but deadly affliction: alcohol withdrawal syndrome. According to an investigation by the the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the Carlsbad native had died of “probable alcohol withdrawal seizures … Read more
A beloved hiking spot nestled in the Hollywood Hills above Studio City is sparking frustration among regular outdoor enthusiasts after the city began strictly enforcing new parking restrictions at Fryman Canyon. The popular trailhead at Wilacre Park, which offers scenic views of the San Fernando Valley and is a favorite for locals and tourists, now … Read more
Most seven-year-old children celebrate their birthdays with family and friends, eating cake and having festivities. But Joey Danger Evermore enjoyed his according to his name — by climbing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Joey began the climb last weekend as a six-year-old child and finished the climb Thursday a year older, becoming the youngest … Read more
Roughly a dozen hikers have reportedly fallen ill with a nasty stomach bug after traversing a section of the scenic Pacific Crest Trail. The popular hiking destination spans more than 2,600 miles and goes from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington. The Pacific Crest Trail Association acknowledged reports of “gastrointestinal illness” in the … Read more
A man has given a wounded butterfly a second chance at life — by creating a tiny prosthetic wing from dried orchid petals. Morhaf Ghazi, 30, discovered the fragile insect while hiking in Amman, Jordan, when he noticed it was unable to flutter away as he approached. On closer inspection, he saw the butterfly’s right … Read more
Netflix has increased prices on all its plans in the US, as the streaming giant pushes into new programming formats such as video podcasts and live sporting events. The company’s ad-supported tier will now cost $8.99 a month, compared with $7.99 earlier, while prices for its standard plan rose $2 per month to $19.99, according to … Read more
Chuck Norris spent his golden years in peak condition, including climbing an iconic Northern California mountain only months before his shocking death at 86. The famed martial artist and action star summited the 10,457-foot Lassen Peak in September, celebrating the accomplishment in an Instagram post. “What a day! I had the pleasure of hiking Lassen … Read more
On a grueling 222-mile hike through California’s Sierra Nevada, Laurie Singer faced a terrifying ordeal — she was abandoned, miles from help, with no one to rely on but herself. In 2016, the avid hiker and adrenaline junkie set out to tackle the John Muir Trail, one of America’s most famous backpacking routes, with her … Read more
Four fan-favorite national parks in the West have announced their plans for how people can visit them this year. Arches, Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Yosemite national parks have all implemented vehicle reservation systems for at least the summer visitor season for a few years in order to maintain visitor safety during their busiest time of year. This year, two of the … Read more
Spotify will increase the price of its monthly premium subscription plan by $1 to $12.99 in the US, Estonia and Latvia markets, the Swedish streaming platform said Thursday. The company said its new pricing would take effect on consumers’ billing dates starting in February. Subscribers will receive an email about the price adjustment. Its shares fell … Read more
It’s been three years since British actor Julian Sands shockingly went missing in Southern California, creating a sensational police investigation that ended tragically. Sands disappeared in the area of Mount Baldy — which is notoriously treacherous for hikers — on Jan. 13, 2023. His wife, Evgenia Citkowitz, reported him missing that same day. After a … Read more