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Just a few years ago, people were touting e-books as the future of the publishing industry. Through these portable electronic devices, individuals could read entire books without amassing a large collection of tattered paperbacks. Despite all the hoopla, e-books never really took off. Now, one company is hoping to take the technology to the next level.

Just this past month, Discovery Communications (the company behind the Discovery Channel and TLC) was awarded a US patent for a new e-book invention. Though Discovery has been mum on the details, the patent application describes the device as “a new way to distribute books and other textual information to bookstores, libraries and consumers”. For more results go to www.profit-pulling-ebooks.com.

The patent is not just for the book-shaped electronic reader itself, but also for an entire electronic library system. Discovery notes in the patent information: ‘‘Not since the introduction of Gutenberg’s movable typeset printing has the world stood on the brink of such a revolution in the distribution of text material. The definition of the word ‘book’ will change drastically in the near future.”

The news of Discovery’s patent certainly perked the ears of Amazon, the maker of the Kindle, a portable electronic device that enables users to get book, magazine and newspaper content instantly. The device was released this past fall after three years in development, and it features a display that resembles real paper.

It also offers a large selection of books, giving users access to about 80 percent of current New York Times bestsellers (which cost $9.99 each to download). A keyboard allows users to make notes, highlight text and bookmark pages. Of course, the downside of the Kindle is its price tag of $399 – not exactly attractive to readers used to buying books for around $10 or borrowing them from the library.

The other major obstacle faced by e-books is the question of whether people really want to let go of books. So far, the question remains unanswered. While e-books haven’t thus far lit the industry on fire, they have seen their sales figures increase exponentially in the past few years.

But books still have several benefits e-books haven’t been able to match. For one thing, they’re durable. You can also login on to www.ebook-secrets-revealed.com. A paperback can get buried in the sand and simply be brushed off, while a $400 electronic device filled with sand could be catastrophic. Secondly, books remain a reflection of personality. Personal libraries remind people of books they’ve read and may want to return to – just like record or movie collections.

Still, e-books do offer intriguing possibilities all their own. For one thing, they give people the ability to get new books in minutes while lying in bed or riding the bus. Secondly, they save space and paper. For the frequent traveler the e-book is much more convenient than lugging around a dozen paperbacks or stopping at each airport book store to add another couple pounds to a carry-on. With e-books, content is instant, bulk is minimal and travel is easy.

Ultimately, the widespread acceptance of e-books comes down to whether the benefits of the new technology will outweigh the old. Certainly, e-books must become more affordable and the content available must become limitless. But perhaps Discovery will be the company to make that happen.

For more useful tips & hints, please browse for more information at our website:-
www.ebook-secrets-revealed.com
www.profit-pulling-ebooks.com

With the newer versions of Exchange Server, the application may have become better in different perspective, but the problems like not mounting of Exchange database is still the same. Here, is a list of some probable causes which might be creating the problem and the severest one among them is which says that database is corrupted and needs Exchange Server repair:

Hardware Issues: With the event ID 474, you may discover that due to some hardware problems at hard disk level, the database has got corrupted and thus is failing to mount. This case needs handling through EDB recovery: either through backup after replacing the hard drive, moving the mailbox to other server or having an Exchange Server recovery help from service part of data recovery industry.

Not having the sufficient rights:

If you get Event ID 2102, 9519, 1029, 1005, 90741121, 125 or 9004, the problem is stuck with the modification of the SeSecurityPrivilege right. To fix the issue, manually assign the correct permission or you can also run Exchange setup in Domain Prep mode.

Transaction logs modified or deleted: The installed antivirus program should not have power over transaction log folder for scanning, for the reason that server crash may happen if any virus is detected in these logs due to the modification or deletion of affected logs. You may get Event ID 455 in this respect.
Database size limitation; Exchange server 2000 and 2003 standard edition sets limit of 16 GB to the database size, which might be the cause. Exchange server
considers PRIV.EDB and PRIV.STM as the total database size. As a cure, you can set the maximum database size to 17 GB by editing the registry and removing the undesired data. After this, remove this limit as this could raise the database corruption further.

Active Directory permission modified: If the information store has no privileges to be read, the database will fail to mount. The other reason could be that server object is not there in the Active Directory. So run Exchange Setup in Domain Prep mode or have correct ADS editing.

Among all, database corruption is the real issue to handle; either occurred due to hardware problems or some logical issues. EDB repair is the way which can medicate, but needs the real help.

As stated earlier also, hard disk damage like cases has way through Exchange server recovery service, while, in logical corruption, you have an alternative of using Eseutil utility for EDB recovery. But, I advise you not to use this as of its destructive nature to the corrupted pages; instead you can have easy-to-use third party applications, called Exchange Server repair software for the same.

Stellar information Systems Limited offers you both EDB repair solutions, which are high in bringing effective results.

Stellar Phoenix Mailbox Exchange Recovery software is the application to extract all the mailboxes from the corrupted database. This Exchange Server repair product is of read-only design, having superb scanning power.

Exchange Server recovery service era is enriched with Class 100 Clean Rooms, high-tech tools and techniques and the focused approach to EDB recovery. Under this, you will find damaged hard drive components corrected or replaced and EDB recovered.

Mount Kenya is Africa`s second highest mountain, after Kilimanjaro. It is estimated to be 2.5 million years old, and Kilimanjaro at 750,00 years of age is really an upstart. Time has really taken its toll, and the peak is thought to have dropped from 6,500 m those millions of years ago to 5,199 m today. The mountain is an extinct volcano, whose plug forms what is today the peak area. The crater was long ago, done to death, by nature`s untiring erosion agents.

Mount Kenya is an awe-inspiring spectacle that dominates the central Kenyan highlands. It is perhaps understandable that the Kikuyu people who reside on its lower slopes thought it fit for Gods` abode. And it inspires people in strange ways. In 1943, Felice Benuzzi, an Italian prisoner of war held at Nanyuki at the base of the mountain, and two companions, escaped and attempted to scale the summit. With just a few handmade climbing tools, he managed reach Point Lenana, the mountain`s third highest peak.

But Benuzzi was at least an accomplished mountaineer. In 1988, the Mount Kenya Rescue Team discovered and retrieved an elder of the Meru people way up at the chilly heights of Peak Nelion (5,188 m). Only experts, with proper equipment and guides reach Nelion. He appeared unaware of the feat he had accomplished and was perturbed by the fuss his rescuers raised. He explained his mission was “going to God”. He was kitted in a manner you will not see recommended in any guide book- in a single blanket and open sandals. The animals do weird things too: a few years ago, the frozen bodies of a leopard and colobus monkey were discovered at Nelion.

Mount Kenya is located 180 km to the north of Nairobi. The mountain falls within Mount Kenya National Park. The park is made up of a protected area above 3,200 m altitude, together with two small salients reaching to 2,450 m along the Naro Moru and Sirimon trails. It was set up in 1949 and covers an area of 715 sq km. It is further surrounded by the Mount Kenya National Reserve, which extends over 2,075 sq km. The park has the distinction of being simultaneously a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve

The mountain is made up of three main zones: the rocky peak region, the afro-alpine moorland with its scattering of giant vegetation, and the extensive lower slopes covered in mountain forest and bamboo. The astonishing ecological diversity is one of the attractions of this giant. The ecological processes that have brought about the afro-alpine flora in particular intrigue scientists. There are 81 species of plants here that are found nowhere else in the world.

In the lower forest zone, there is plenty of wildlife including buffalo, elephant, sykes monkey and bushbuck. The animals are however generally difficult to see. Further up, the animals are even scarcer though hyena, leopard, buffalo and civet cats have been sighted. The only animal you are likely to see in the upper alpine zones is the rock hyrax. Though it is the size of a domestic cat, it resembles a rat more. The seemingly humble rock hyrax has some powerful relatives in the animal kingdom and it counts the elephant as its biological kin.

The mountain attracts over 30,000 enthusiasts every year. Point Lenana (4,985 m), the so-called trekkers peak, can be reached by any reasonably fit and suitably prepared person. The summit has the twin peaks of Batian (5,199 m) and Nelion (5,188 m), and is accessible to only those with technical mountaineering and rock climbing experience. This mountain is not an easy one to conquer and each year not more than 100 climbers make it to the twin summit peaks. Mount Kenya is in fact considered to be more technically challenging than the higher Kilimanjaro (5,894 m). But those who make it to the top experience some of Africa`s finest rock and ice climbing.

The mountain has very many fans and especially fascinates technical climbers. The author and mountaineer, Rick Ridgeway – author of the Seven Summits, declares that of all the worlds` mountains this is his favourite. Halford Mackinder planned and led the first expedition on record to reach the summit in 1899. But if the Meru elder mentioned above is anything to go by, the locals must have long ago been to the mountaintop. The Mackinder trip was a great success and his party discovered many species of animal and plant life then unknown in Europe. A new species of eagle owl, for example, was first recorded by this expedition and subsequently named after Mackinder.

Though Mount Kenya is practically on the equator, you will find snow and ice and even glaciers. However, in the one hundred years since Mackinder conquered the mountain, the number of glaciers has dropped from 18 to only 7 that remain today. The culprit for this is the global climate change that has accelerated in recent years. Scientists tell us that during the ice ages large glaciers reached below 3,000 m. Today the largest glacier is the Lewis Glacier at 4,600 m. The continuing retreat of glaciers is expected to have a negative impact on downstream eco-systems, not to mention the scenic appeal of the mountain.

Mount Kenya is the source of Tana River- Kenya`s biggest river- and was for many years seen as an inexhaustible water fountain. Not any more- the loss of glaciers and forest cover has brought this assumption into disrepute. The loss of forest cover is particularly worrying, because it is avoidable. How to save the forests of Mount Kenya has long engaged environmentalist Wangari Maathai -the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner. She was born on the lower slopes of the mountain and has in her lifetime witnessed the changes up at the mountain.

You can reach the peak area by taking one of three routes: Naro Moru, Sirimon and Chogoria. Good roads will get you form Nairobi to Naro Moru, Nanyuki and Chogoria – the base towns for each of the trails. There are alternative routes but most have fallen into disuse and you need superior navigation skills and stamina to attempt them. This includes: Burguret, Meru, Kamweti, and Timau. It is highly recommended that you stick to the three popular routes. But if you have a good reason for doing otherwise, or indeed for pioneering your own route, you are required to register with the park authorities.

The Naro Moru route approaches the mountain from the west and is easily the most popular. The trail is well serviced with rest huts and is the fastest way to the peaks. It is however the steepest and climbers vulnerable to AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) may experience difficulties. The hike will take 4 days, though you may opt for an additional day at the summit. You start with a fairly steep 5-hour walk from Park Gate to Met Station (3,050 m). This is where you spend the first night and acclimatize to the thinning mountain air.

The next day is the longest and you will walk, under varying terrain, for anywhere between 8 and 10 hours. You spend the night at Mackinders Camp (4,200 m), in the vicinity of the peak area. You really should have an early night on this day. Very early the next morning -2.00 a.m is the usual time- you set out to attempt Point Lenana. The mountain is generally clear in the morning and stormy in the afternoon- so, the idea is for you to ascend and descend the peak when you have good traction. This is the part of the hike where some experience symptoms of altitude related ailments.

It will take you about 5 hours to reach Lenana. Here you must take some photos, to show the folks back home how you fared at the top of God`s Mountain. Afterwards, you descend in 3 hours to Mackinders Camp for breakfast. Then ascending back to Teleki Valley via Camel Rocks, you reach Met Station in about 4 hours. The night rest is at Met Station, before the final descent to Park Gate.

The Sirimon route has its base at Nanyuki to the north of the mountain. The route offers easier climbing than the Naro Moru trail and is also more scenic. It normally takes 5 days up and down the mountain. You start with a 3-4 hours walk through rain forest to overnight at Old Moses camp (3,300 m). Next day after breakfast you hike through the moorland and the Liki and Mackinder valleys. You reach Shipton`s camp (4,200 m) after a 6-7 hour hike. You spend the night here before setting out very early the next morning to attempt Point Lenana.

The Chogoria route begins at the town of the same name to the west of the mountain. This is the by far most beautiful and scenic of the popular routes. You will enjoy dramatic views of waterfalls, valleys, tarns and rugged rock formations. But the trail is not so popular because it is also the longest and therefore toughest. It will take you 6 days to ascend and descend the mountain. There are no usable service huts along the route and you must carry a tent along. Whichever route you use, you can prolong your enjoyment of these heights by taking a day to do the Summit Circuit Path.

It is important that you take enough water – about 4 to 6 litres daily- to keep dehydration at bay. Dehydration makes you more vulnerable to altitude sickness and hypothermia. Hypothermia is lowering of body temperature and symptoms include clumsiness and disorientation. Victims of the condition need to be quickly provided with a warm and dry environment. At heights above 3,000 m, oxygen levels reduce and altitude sickness stalks the trekker. That is why a fast climb is not advised, as you have no opportunity to acclimatize. The symptoms for Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) are nausea, headache, fatigue and general malaise. You should always descend to lower altitude with the onset of symptoms.

Other more severe medical conditions that can arise are High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). The coming of HAPE is betrayed by a dry cough and difficulty in breathing. HACE is marked by slurred speech, severe headache and disoriented behaviour. HACE and HAPE are both potentially fatal and you should always descend to lower altitude and seek treatment. To reduce chances of mountain sickness, it is advisable to acclimatize by spending an extra night near Park Gate or at the mountain huts above 4,000 m. If you temper your zeal for the peaks and take a slow sensible hike you will enjoy the adventure and will be all right.

You will generally need a guide and porters so that you can concentrate on the hike. Always go for those who have high altitude experience and are accredited by the park authorities. They will know the routes, and a good one is worth his weight in gold, in event of sickness and other contingencies. The porters shoulder the heavy stuff while you carry a daypack with essentials such warm clothing, fire making capability, some food and drinks, a flashlight and first aid kit.

The stuff you must bring along includes: warm clothing, waterproof hiking boots, rain suit, sleeping bags, flashlights, sunglasses and hand gloves. Many climbers find it expedient to buy a Mount Kenya climbing package in order to take advantage of those with local knowledge. Such a package will include transport, accommodation in the mountain huts, meals while on the climb, park entry fees, services of an experienced mountain guide and porters and cooks.

The main rainy season in the Mount Kenya region falls from late March to June, with secondary rains appearing from late October to December. You can climb the mountain at any time of year but the most comfortable climb is achieved in the dry months of January and February and from July to October.

After your climb, you can relax at some of the excellent hotels and resorts in the Mount Kenya area. Before you leave the country, take to heart the sentiments of the Italian climber Carlo Spinelli, who said: “I consider myself a nature lover more than a mountaineer, and for this reason Kenya has the best of both mountain and wilderness”. Take time to see wildlife on a Kenya safari in this region or in other parts of the country.

Copyright © Africa Point

Mount Kenya is Africa`s second highest mountain, after Kilimanjaro. It is estimated to be 2.5 million years old, and Kilimanjaro at 750,00 years of age is really an upstart. Time has really taken its toll, and the peak is thought to have dropped from 6,500 m those millions of years ago to 5,199 m today. The mountain is an extinct volcano, whose plug forms what is today the peak area. The crater was long ago, done to death, by nature`s untiring erosion agents.

Mount Kenya is an awe-inspiring spectacle that dominates the central Kenyan highlands. It is perhaps understandable that the Kikuyu people who reside on its lower slopes thought it fit for Gods` abode. And it inspires people in strange ways. In 1943, Felice Benuzzi, an Italian prisoner of war held at Nanyuki at the base of the mountain, and two companions, escaped and attempted to scale the summit. With just a few handmade climbing tools, he managed reach Point Lenana, the mountain`s third highest peak.

But Benuzzi was at least an accomplished mountaineer. In 1988, the Mount Kenya Rescue Team discovered and retrieved an elder of the Meru people way up at the chilly heights of Peak Nelion (5,188 m). Only experts, with proper equipment and guides reach Nelion. He appeared unaware of the feat he had accomplished and was perturbed by the fuss his rescuers raised. He explained his mission was “going to God”. He was kitted in a manner you will not see recommended in any guide book- in a single blanket and open sandals. The animals do weird things too: a few years ago, the frozen bodies of a leopard and colobus monkey were discovered at Nelion.

Mount Kenya is located 180 km to the north of Nairobi. The mountain falls within Mount Kenya National Park. The park is made up of a protected area above 3,200 m altitude, together with two small salients reaching to 2,450 m along the Naro Moru and Sirimon trails. It was set up in 1949 and covers an area of 715 sq km. It is further surrounded by the Mount Kenya National Reserve, which extends over 2,075 sq km. The park has the distinction of being simultaneously a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve

The mountain is made up of three main zones: the rocky peak region, the afro-alpine moorland with its scattering of giant vegetation, and the extensive lower slopes covered in mountain forest and bamboo. The astonishing ecological diversity is one of the attractions of this giant. The ecological processes that have brought about the afro-alpine flora in particular intrigue scientists. There are 81 species of plants here that are found nowhere else in the world.

In the lower forest zone, there is plenty of wildlife including buffalo, elephant, sykes monkey and bushbuck. The animals are however generally difficult to see. Further up, the animals are even scarcer though hyena, leopard, buffalo and civet cats have been sighted. The only animal you are likely to see in the upper alpine zones is the rock hyrax. Though it is the size of a domestic cat, it resembles a rat more. The seemingly humble rock hyrax has some powerful relatives in the animal kingdom and it counts the elephant as its biological kin.

The mountain attracts over 30,000 enthusiasts every year. Point Lenana (4,985 m), the so-called trekkers peak, can be reached by any reasonably fit and suitably prepared person. The summit has the twin peaks of Batian (5,199 m) and Nelion (5,188 m), and is accessible to only those with technical mountaineering and rock climbing experience. This mountain is not an easy one to conquer and each year not more than 100 climbers make it to the twin summit peaks. Mount Kenya is in fact considered to be more technically challenging than the higher Kilimanjaro (5,894 m). But those who make it to the top experience some of Africa`s finest rock and ice climbing.

The mountain has very many fans and especially fascinates technical climbers. The author and mountaineer, Rick Ridgeway – author of the Seven Summits, declares that of all the worlds` mountains this is his favourite. Halford Mackinder planned and led the first expedition on record to reach the summit in 1899. But if the Meru elder mentioned above is anything to go by, the locals must have long ago been to the mountaintop. The Mackinder trip was a great success and his party discovered many species of animal and plant life then unknown in Europe. A new species of eagle owl, for example, was first recorded by this expedition and subsequently named after Mackinder.

Though Mount Kenya is practically on the equator, you will find snow and ice and even glaciers. However, in the one hundred years since Mackinder conquered the mountain, the number of glaciers has dropped from 18 to only 7 that remain today. The culprit for this is the global climate change that has accelerated in recent years. Scientists tell us that during the ice ages large glaciers reached below 3,000 m. Today the largest glacier is the Lewis Glacier at 4,600 m. The continuing retreat of glaciers is expected to have a negative impact on downstream eco-systems, not to mention the scenic appeal of the mountain.

Mount Kenya is the source of Tana River- Kenya`s biggest river- and was for many years seen as an inexhaustible water fountain. Not any more- the loss of glaciers and forest cover has brought this assumption into disrepute. The loss of forest cover is particularly worrying, because it is avoidable. How to save the forests of Mount Kenya has long engaged environmentalist Wangari Maathai -the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner. She was born on the lower slopes of the mountain and has in her lifetime witnessed the changes up at the mountain.

You can reach the peak area by taking one of three routes: Naro Moru, Sirimon and Chogoria. Good roads will get you form Nairobi to Naro Moru, Nanyuki and Chogoria – the base towns for each of the trails. There are alternative routes but most have fallen into disuse and you need superior navigation skills and stamina to attempt them. This includes: Burguret, Meru, Kamweti, and Timau. It is highly recommended that you stick to the three popular routes. But if you have a good reason for doing otherwise, or indeed for pioneering your own route, you are required to register with the park authorities.

The Naro Moru route approaches the mountain from the west and is easily the most popular. The trail is well serviced with rest huts and is the fastest way to the peaks. It is however the steepest and climbers vulnerable to AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) may experience difficulties. The hike will take 4 days, though you may opt for an additional day at the summit. You start with a fairly steep 5-hour walk from Park Gate to Met Station (3,050 m). This is where you spend the first night and acclimatize to the thinning mountain air.

The next day is the longest and you will walk, under varying terrain, for anywhere between 8 and 10 hours. You spend the night at Mackinders Camp (4,200 m), in the vicinity of the peak area. You really should have an early night on this day. Very early the next morning -2.00 a.m is the usual time- you set out to attempt Point Lenana. The mountain is generally clear in the morning and stormy in the afternoon- so, the idea is for you to ascend and descend the peak when you have good traction. This is the part of the hike where some experience symptoms of altitude related ailments.

It will take you about 5 hours to reach Lenana. Here you must take some photos, to show the folks back home how you fared at the top of God`s Mountain. Afterwards, you descend in 3 hours to Mackinders Camp for breakfast. Then ascending back to Teleki Valley via Camel Rocks, you reach Met Station in about 4 hours. The night rest is at Met Station, before the final descent to Park Gate.

The Sirimon route has its base at Nanyuki to the north of the mountain. The route offers easier climbing than the Naro Moru trail and is also more scenic. It normally takes 5 days up and down the mountain. You start with a 3-4 hours walk through rain forest to overnight at Old Moses camp (3,300 m). Next day after breakfast you hike through the moorland and the Liki and Mackinder valleys. You reach Shipton`s camp (4,200 m) after a 6-7 hour hike. You spend the night here before setting out very early the next morning to attempt Point Lenana.

The Chogoria route begins at the town of the same name to the west of the mountain. This is the by far most beautiful and scenic of the popular routes. You will enjoy dramatic views of waterfalls, valleys, tarns and rugged rock formations. But the trail is not so popular because it is also the longest and therefore toughest. It will take you 6 days to ascend and descend the mountain. There are no usable service huts along the route and you must carry a tent along. Whichever route you use, you can prolong your enjoyment of these heights by taking a day to do the Summit Circuit Path.

It is important that you take enough water – about 4 to 6 litres daily- to keep dehydration at bay. Dehydration makes you more vulnerable to altitude sickness and hypothermia. Hypothermia is lowering of body temperature and symptoms include clumsiness and disorientation. Victims of the condition need to be quickly provided with a warm and dry environment. At heights above 3,000 m, oxygen levels reduce and altitude sickness stalks the trekker. That is why a fast climb is not advised, as you have no opportunity to acclimatize. The symptoms for Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) are nausea, headache, fatigue and general malaise. You should always descend to lower altitude with the onset of symptoms.

Other more severe medical conditions that can arise are High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). The coming of HAPE is betrayed by a dry cough and difficulty in breathing. HACE is marked by slurred speech, severe headache and disoriented behaviour. HACE and HAPE are both potentially fatal and you should always descend to lower altitude and seek treatment. To reduce chances of mountain sickness, it is advisable to acclimatize by spending an extra night near Park Gate or at the mountain huts above 4,000 m. If you temper your zeal for the peaks and take a slow sensible hike you will enjoy the adventure and will be all right.

You will generally need a guide and porters so that you can concentrate on the hike. Always go for those who have high altitude experience and are accredited by the park authorities. They will know the routes, and a good one is worth his weight in gold, in event of sickness and other contingencies. The porters shoulder the heavy stuff while you carry a daypack with essentials such warm clothing, fire making capability, some food and drinks, a flashlight and first aid kit.

The stuff you must bring along includes: warm clothing, waterproof hiking boots, rain suit, sleeping bags, flashlights, sunglasses and hand gloves. Many climbers find it expedient to buy a Mount Kenya climbing package in order to take advantage of those with local knowledge. Such a package will include transport, accommodation in the mountain huts, meals while on the climb, park entry fees, services of an experienced mountain guide and porters and cooks.

The main rainy season in the Mount Kenya region falls from late March to June, with secondary rains appearing from late October to December. You can climb the mountain at any time of year but the most comfortable climb is achieved in the dry months of January and February and from July to October.

After your climb, you can relax at some of the excellent hotels and resorts in the Mount Kenya area. Before you leave the country, take to heart the sentiments of the Italian climber Carlo Spinelli, who said: “I consider myself a nature lover more than a mountaineer, and for this reason Kenya has the best of both mountain and wilderness”. Take time to see wildlife on a Kenya safari in this region or in other parts of the country.

About the Author: Andrew Muigai is editor of AfricaPoint Insider online newsletter. It is part of Africapoint.com – the Africa travel website that has helped thousands of travelers discover Africa. You can view more info on Kenya safaris at the website. http://www.africapoint.com/tours1/kentour.htm

Mount Fuji or Fujisan is Japan`s highest mountain. The peak lies at 3776 meters which translates to 12,388ft. Its conical form, often snow-capped can be seen from both Tokyo and Yokohama providing of course the weather is clear. The shape is the clue, because Fuji, the Spiritual Mountain is a volcano. The last eruption was in 1708 so we can safely say Mount Fuji is presently dormant.

For the traveler who is perhaps using Japan as a stop over on a flight from either the US or Europe to Australasia time is probably in short supply. However, your stop-over will probably act as a foretaste of this incredible land of rugged terrain and rocky coasts, and not forgetting the fact that Japan is one of the few places in the world that enjoys four seasons. The easiest way to catch a good glimpse of the mountain is to take a train from Tokyo to Osaka. The Tokado line runs from the capita to Osaka via Nagoya and Kyoto; all places worth visiting during your stay in Japan. Approximately 45minutes after leaving Tokyo the train comes to Shin-Fuji station. This is the place to take photographs, so be sure you are on the right hand side of the carriage in order to see the towering, often snow capped peak of Japan`s premier mountain. Japanese trains are fast and efficient so the stop at Shin-Fuji will be brief and you will need to be quick in order to get your photographs. Unfortunately, too, the view can frequently be marred or even obscured by haze or cloud cover. this is especially so during the warm summer months, so maybe the best time to visit is the winter!

However, for those with more time, head out of Tokyo to the Fuji Five Lake Region that hugs the lower reaches of the mountain at an altitude of 3500 ft. This is a good base for climbing the mountain. To benefit from better weather conditions this is best done during the summer months of July and August.
Another alternative is to proceed to the hot spa resort of Hakone. Hakone is a favorite getaway spot from the hurly burly of bustling Tokyo, so expect the town to full at week-ends and during holiday time. From this lovely place with its lakeside setting you will get breath-taking glimpses of the upper reaches of a mountain that has inspired artists and sages over the centuries. If you want to go to the top, there is a motor road that goes half way up so you don`t need to get into training before heading off to Japan. Oh, yes, the best time to visit Hakone and the 5 Lake Region is during the month of June when the hydrangeas are in bloom, enjoy your trip!

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In December 2005, Manaro, the volcano in the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu showed signs it was about to erupt. Smoke and ashes shot up from the crater and many of the population fled their homes. In point of fact the volcano did not erupt. However, as the old year came to an end and we entered a new one, news flashed around the world that the South Pacific had experienced a large earthquake. Could there, I wonder, be a connection?

Mount St. Helens, located in the Washington State in the Pacific Northwest, also a volcano , erupted in May 1980. The eruption is attributed to an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale. Certainly, this was not the first time this mountain had outbelched larva, smoke and ash in its 50,000 history of eruption. This time the north face collapsed in a gigantic avalanche of sand, rock and larva, taking with it 230 square miles of verdant forest. The volcano spewed a mushroom cloud high into the sky that turned day into night and scattered gray ash over most of eastern Washington State and the surrounding area. The eruption itself lasted a mere nine hours but the affects felt as far away as Canada, have changed the area out of all recognition. It was as if an atom bomb had exploded in the area on that day almost 26 years ago.

In 1982, President Reagan and Congress voted to create 110,00 acre National Volcanic Monument not only to mark the events of that fateful day in May 1980, but also to take from what was described as a national disaster and turn something negative into a positive creation. Within the Park that comprises the Monument the land is left alone to recover from the shattering disturbance it had experienced. Slowly and without the help of man the area is beginning to return to life. The once gray, larva strewn terrain is now gently turning green as plants and shrubs take root within the ash and debris. Bird life, which deserted the area after the eruption, is now coming back and the elk that lived and grazed within the surrounding forest are now straying back to what was once their natural habitat. Who says these creatures do not have instinctual memory?

For the traveler who remembers the graphic TV pictures of the Mount St. Helen`s disaster a trip to the National Monument will help restore faith in the notion that no matter what happens, it will pass and life will move on to its next mighty stage of growth and development.

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Christmas well spent adventuring the picks of Mount Kenya and a great view of the country Kenya.

I did a five days tour of Mount kenya just about two days before x-mass.I left Nairobi for Nanyuki to start of my adventure trip,on an early and beautiful day sunny and clear sky.

I was in one of Kenya`s travel mini bus refereed to us the Matt `MATATU` which i boarded from the Accra street in down town Nairobi at the junction of River road and Accra road ,it was at around 8:00 in the morning and streets were busy so does the bus stop as lots of people were traveling up country to cerebrate x-mass with their families .

I was lucky that a friend and a guide from the African home adventure tours and safaris ,had arranged to have me book a trip with them and was SO well organized.I talked to a tall guy from the airport refereed to as “One people“ Alberto a very friendly and serious guy he recommended that i take a tour of the mountain as a first time traveler in an African country ,an idea i did not object to knowing very well that as a Kenyan he would actually recommend something of intrest and fun to a point that it would never fade my memory.

As we took off from the Nairobi busy area that i was really scared of being the only white man,i was not sure of my safety but my guide kept on assuring me that all is well and no cause for alarm i trusted him and gained the confidence to get going.

Some few minutes after half eight in the morning we were in the outskirts of the city heading to Thika where lots of pineapples are grown by an American firm delmonte a very vast land and beautiful looking i could not believe its Africa as all my life i thought Africa was all jungle but here i am SO green fresh air the feel was incredible to me.

As we descended the very central part of Kenya ,and viewing the mountain from a distance some where at a district called Muranga`MAKUYU` the view of the mountain was SO gorgeous that i could not believe the feel and view with the beautiful jacaranda trees,coffee trees,vegetables and fresh fruits sold by the road side .Its when i realized that the central part of Kenya as refereed to for agriculture,i saw the reality of serious farmers and pulling out their yields by the road side to sell what they grow as a way of supplementing their income ,as we stopped for a while at a place known as Kiangwachi ,Ngwachi refereed to as sweet potatoes, i could not believe the no of women mostly though a few young men were present approached our bus with all kinds of fresh fruits,vegetables some i had never seen in my life and my friend guide bought a few assorted fruits that we ate on our way up they were indeed very sweet and cheap too.

We drove up as we ascended a small town known as Karatina which has one of the biggest open air market our driver drove by it and i saw it for myself and is indeed a big market with all sorts of food items and very busy indeed i think it was a market day though i did not ask.

We proceeded on to wards nyeri town,which is in Nyeri district a very green area beautiful trees,coffee,tea and other crops huge cabbages that i have never seen all my life Nyeri produces quite allot to the country economy as in agriculture.

An hour later i was alighting my bus at a town called Nanyuki where i was to start off with my tour.i was booked in a hotel in the town centre,very clean and cheap nice food and good people .its here that i meet a group of travelers also from the top of the mountain and heading north of Nanyuki to isiolo on to the Samburu park.

I had a brief chat with the travelers and they assured me of the wonders of the mountain.

I decided to relax in the late hours of the afternoon and had dinner at six thirty in the evening we went out with some friends of my guide for drinks and disco at a nearby pub it was great .later on we retired to bed ready for the next morning.

I was up early the next morning due to excitement and we checked out of our hotel room after breakfast and took of to the base of mt Kenya we arrived there at around ten thirty and started with our trip up it was Little cold but later was warm we went all the way to makinders camp for an overnight ,we had dinner and slept in the bundas next morning was up and proceeded up i had my binoculars with me and camera took pictures all the way as i viewed the country from the to of the mountain at Christmas eve i really felt great and most thankful to my guide Mwangi.

I owe African Home Adventure Tours And Safaris a big thank for a great and memorable trip specially for Christmas. i really enjoyed it i would not hesitate to recommend African home adventure to any traveler keep up happy trials and peace on earth the website is www.africahomeadventure.com

Muraguri James Gichohi

Mount Gunnison was calling as we three 13 year old boys laid our plans and set out on our next Colorado back country adventure. We had studied our Forest Service map and convinced our parents that we knew what we were doing. It seemed fairly straightforward. We would follow the Forest Service trail about a mile toward Minnesota Pass from Beaver Reservoir up the East Fork of Minnesota Creek. To get there you headed southeast from Paonia, Colorado following Minnesota Creek along road 710. Paonia, Colorado, was a quiet little town about 25 miles up in the mountains from Delta, Colorado following highway 92 and 133. Growing up in the area I saw Paonia valley as a Shangri-La. The mountain ringed valley provided a glorious abundance of apples, peaches, cherries, plums, and pears, and the 4th of July was a community celebration called “Cherry Days”.

Completing the Shangri-La illusion, southeast of Paonia, Mount Lamborn and Landsend Peak form an amazingly close mountainous backdrop for the town. East of Lamborn, above Minnesota Creek, Mount Gunnison stands tall, remote and seemingly inaccessible. We three boys meant to change that perspective, taking on the peak, or at least taking a good shot at it. Ron, Larry and I laid out our provisions across the living room floor, checking our lists and divying up the loads accordingly. Larry with his weight training had the dubious honor of the heaviest pack load. Ron and I split the remaining supplies.

Our adventure forty some years ago was outfitted in a pre-modern camping gear era – at least in our lives. My Boy Scout backpack was an open bag into which everything was piled, our tent a piece of tarp strung between two trees. And my bedding – a couple of wool blankets that Mom thought couldn`t get too badly damaged. Interesting the way the world and our expectations change over time.

My folks dropped us off up at the Beaver Reservoir dam, and the adventure began. We excitedly covered the first mile of the trail quickly. Around a mile, a side trail turns sharp left leading around the side of Mount Gunnison, over to Coal Creek on the other side. That was not for us though. It appeared on the map that you could head directly east at that juncture, following HooDoo Creek as it led up a draw toward the summit of Mount Gunnison. You could see the beginnings of a trail heading up that direction – the trail we chose to follow.

The excitement of exploration drove us onward, upward through aspen groves on the lower flanks of Mount Gunnison. Always keeping HooDoo Creek within sight to our left, we followed that narrow, windy trail through the increasingly dense brush. It became apparent that the “trail” we were following was probably a game trail going nowhere in particular. Hitting multiple forks on the path, within an hour of leaving the main Minnesota Pass Trail our trail disappeared completely. Undeterred, we struggled onward and upward through dense brush for another hour or so. The relatively open aspen grove transitioned into dense pine forest, the trek becoming even more challenging as dissension arose within the ranks. It was unclear that there was any easy route through the timber, or which way to go, and some were questioning if we were – lost.

Lost? How could we possibly be lost? Three 13 year old boys way off trail, bumbling around in dense forests on the flanks of Mount Gunnison in the West Elk Wilderness Area – lost – it`s possible. Ron climbed a taller pine in the forest to see if he could make out where we were. It was obvious where we were – in the middle of a deep pine forest somewhere on the side of the mountain.

We seldom apply – lost – to our adventures. Afterall, we spent days and days out exploring the mountains, creeks and draws throughout the whole Paonia valley. As long as we could hear HooDoo Creek cascading down the draw to our north, we hadn`t strayed far from it. We knew we could follow it down to the East Fork of Minnesota Creek and our main trail out.

But the upward trek toward the summit of Mount Gunnison was questionable. The journey became bushwhacking, and the day was waning. So, we halted our upward struggle, worked our way across to HooDoo Creek, and found a wonderful spot on the creek bank under the tall pines to pitch camp.

The tarp strung between trees, the three of us jockeyed for which rock we were going to be sleeping on underneath it. With a fire in the fire ring, we whipped up standard gourmet camp fare – Lipton chicken noodle soup – accompanied by excellent shoestring potatoes and home made cookies. Following rousing camping songs, where we learned that Larry had a budding career in the bluegrass industry, we settled in for a memorable night in the woods.

The following morning dawned cold and rainy. Yes, a little rain into the “tent” during the night, soaked the three of us to the skin. We struck camp early and waded through dripping wet brush, plodding back down from the lower ridges of Mount Gunnison, continuing singing those same great tunes we shared around the campfire. Maybe we understood why there was no trail straight
up next to HooDoo Creek, leading to the top of Mount Gunnison. “Wouldn`t it be great if there were a trail up there?” we laughed, enjoying the view of the peak as we waited at Beaver Reservoir for our ride.

Reflecting back forty-some years on that wonderful adventure, I probably wouldn`t change a thing, except for the gear. And now that I`ve found that I can begin and end that journey in the comfort of nearby motel accommodations in either Cedaredge or Delta found at: http://www.montanaadventure.com/out/state/us-co.html I am excited to re-explore that wonderful area.

As web designer for the Montana Recreation Connection and Colorado Wilderness Tours at
( www.montanaadventure.com/out/state/us-co.html,
Gordon Hollingshead has provided an online travel directory for the past 10 years for people planning theri vacations and travels
throughout the western United States. More information contact Gordon at gordonh@montanaadventure.com.

Being the second highest mountain in Africa, Mt Kenya stands tall at a whooping 5199m above sea level and Situated 16km south of the equator. This mountain in Central Kenya Highlands is within the Mt Kenya National Park, and is among the most beautiful landscapes in the entire Africa. With three mountain peaks i.e., the Batian, the Nelion and the Lenana providing the perfect backdrop for a fun and adventurous Kenyan mountain vacation. Visitors can go camping in the vast wilderness surrounding Mt Kenya, stay in historic hotels not unlike the dwellings of the area’s early settlers, or stay in a modern, state of the art resorts and Lodges Like The Ark, Nyeri, Treetops and the Mountain Lodge.

The Batian and Nelion are the lowest of the three peaks but Surprisingly can only be reached by skilled mountain climbers. Lenana, although the highest peak can be reached by the normal trekking group, though reaching the top could be more challenging than you ever thought of, but with a good guide reaching the peak can become a reality. The glaciers sorrounding the montain, the mist, and the snow covering the top of the mountain yields numerous number of streams down to the base of the mountain. For those who plan to climb the mountain leisurely, you may need four to seven days. Its advisable to carry a tour guide and a porter both of which can be arranged by the Spirit of Africa Tours Personnel in Nairobi.

There are a variety of trailed routes to the top of mt Kenya. Visitors wishing to Climbing Mount Kenya can use one of these routes each of which has its own features and characteristics. Each route will exhibit different topography, flora and fauna. These routes are the Sirimon route, the Picnic Naro Moro route, the Burguret route, the Timau route and the Chogoria route which meet at Minto`s hut at 4300m above sea level and overlooking Lake Michaelson. Each entry point to Climbing Mount Kenya is Conviniently dotted with a variety of resorts and camping sites.

It would be important to note that Climbing Mount Kenya can be done with relative ease. Within a Short while you will have risen wore meters above sea level than is medically advisable. The Sudden Loss of Oxygen could be disastrous for the less skilled trekkers who could result to headaches and vomittimg and could eventually lead to death if not monitored. Many have died climbing Mount Kenya. My Advise is Take it with ease. Do it for four to seven days, but you have to strike a balance between your health and the cold temperatures which have a habit of hitting -10 degrees celcius, the rain and the cold winds.

The weather is very harsh in the Mount Kenya region especially during the period from March to August. I would definately not advise you to climbing Mount Kenya during these periods. But if you do, carry a good sleeping bag, very warm clothing, good quaity boots, headgear and gloves. Make sure all your clothing is waterproof since this region rains every other day and sometimes heavily. I would reccommend that you bring with you Gotex material, which will act as wind breakers especially when you get to the peak.

A Mt Kenya mountain vacation is a great idea for a group, or as a romantic getaway. Its also a great idea for anyone looking to escape the stressful fast pace of city life. The beautiful scenery and fascinating wildlife attractions will please anyone.

Josephine Muchiri is a tour operator and has been organizing and reporting on Vacation, Travel and Tours for years. For more information on Climbing Mount Kenya, visit her site at Mount Kenya