FinanceProfessor.com

Bringing the real world to the classroom and vice versa!
and sharing some outdoor tips as well!


 
 

Where is St. Bonaventure University?
About 70 miles south of Buffalo
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Outdoor Links


While I do not get nearly enough time to do so, I love to hike and camp.  We did quite a bit when at JMU but have had much less time (can you say store?) since coming back to St. Bonaventure.  However, that said between running and just walking in the woods, I do get out at least a few times a week (granted that is usually for running but it is in the woods.)

My favorite outdoor site may be America's Roof.  It may not be as fancy as others, but it is very informative! It started as a listing of the highest point in each state, and while that is still there (now alos at countryies and even the county level), htere is so much more on just about anything outside.  It also has my my favorite non finance newsletter for free!

For anything outdoors (Hiking, biking etc) there are few links better than Great Outdoors Reacreation Page (GORP.com ).  It has information on everywhere.   Among the places that I have used GORP for are: 

                        1. Shenandoah National Park   (SNP) from GORP.  
                        2. George Washington National Forest
                        3. Allegheny National Forest
                        4. The Finger Lakes National Forest
                        5. The Adirondacks State Park

Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail is simply an awesome concept.  As you probably know it is 2150 miles from Springer, Geargia to Mt. Katahdin Maine. I have never done  much of it but whenver I get a chance I do like to spend at least a few hours hiking it.  Of course there are many sites devoted entirely to it.  I will try to list a few of teh ones I have found useful.  And no matter which one you go to, be sure to read some of the persoanl stories.

The official page (if there is such an animal) http://www.appalachiantrail.org/  
An EXCELLENT personal site devoted to the AT is http://www.fred.net/kathy/at.html .  
Trailplace.com also has a good site

The Finger Lakes Trail is pretty close to Olean.  It  starts in Allegany STate Park and goes and goes...544 miles worth. :)


Western New York links

As much of my free time was when I was at James Madision University (before starting this site)  much of our camping has been in and around the Shenandoah Valley.  Hence many of the links are for that region. 

Here are a few links that I like.

  1. wnyhikes.com --as the Buffalo News said "a homespun and informative site for anyone in Western New York looking for places to take" hike
    the site "highlights 17 different hiking locations in Western New York, from Allegany State Park to Zoar Valley. Each page includes numerous pictures, a topographic map."
  2. The Buffalo Hike Club also has a pretty cool site: www.calanan.com/hiking
  3. http://wnyrin.com/parks/ ---WNY Parks and Recreation
    www3.thingstodo.com/states/NY/greater_niagara.htm
Two others
http://members.localnet.com/~tiberius/hiking/mission.html
Adventureheads (www.adventureheads.com): A club that takes an extreme sports approach to the outdoors.

Although I have never hiked in Ontario, The Bruce Trail site is pretty good and if you are looking for a place to go from Buffalo it might be fun.

New York State Parks :  While I am less than 100% impressed with Allegany State Park it is not bad and it is very close. Both Virginia and Pennsylvania have a decent sites.  If you are still looking for a park, you might consider checking out LL Bean has a fairly complete list of state parks for all 50 states.  Unfortunately their system is set up such that it prevents a direct link, go to their Outside section.
 

I almost hate putting this on, as too many peole will find it but Seneca Rocks in WVA is a really cool area and a quaint town.

One of the most overlooked and underappreciated locations on the JMU campus is the Arboretum which unfortunately is being surrounded by housing and retail outlets.  St. Bonaventure should consider making an Arboretum tying together the Stations of the Cross  cross trails and the area across "Stink Run" to the West of Gargoylve Park.
 

The Nature Conservancy   is a great charity and is gernally offering very cool FREE Screensavers and Email cards.  are really nice!

As those who know me already know I am quite the environmentalist.  Besides hating "sprawl ," I love planting trees, hiking, and camping.  Unfortunately I do not find the time to do it as much as I would like (basically all of the time!).  But we do try to camp out 5 or 6 times a year. 

The Nature Conservancy is an excellent organization that puts sound economic principles to work.  Their main idea is to purchase land and to protect it from development.  I am a member and I encourage you to at least think about it. 

The Sierra Club tends to be a bit more political, but none the less, it is a good site and sometimes politics are needed.

Books

A Walk In the Woods by Bill Bryson is hillarious.  It is about his and Steven Katz's journey along the trail.  I do not agree with him on everything, but you will laugh while reading the book none-the less! Read a speech Bryson gave.
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