Hanta Virus in American Southwest

by Erik McLaughlin on

The Hanta Virus is a little known problem of those who live and travel in the American Southwest. Unfortunately, Hanta has a reputation for killing people and should be taken seriously. A recent article discusses a case from February, 2008. Knowledge of transmission and prevention are needed to prevent a great “Indiana Jones” style adventure, visiting ghost towns, from making you very sick.

Hanta Virus first got major media attention with an outbreak in New Mexico in the early 1990’s. The “Four Corners” area (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado) was the epicenter of infectious disease and epidemiological research. This outbreak allowed researchers to determine that the disease is spread through contact with infected rodent urine and feces. Spread of Hanta between humans, directly, is not common and believed impossible.

Rodents are ubiquitous in the American Southwest and they are the primary vector for disease transmission. People especially vulnerable to this are hikers and backpackers and those who live in more rural areas. Exploration of ghost towns is a popular vacation activity and caution should be taken when doing this. These ghost towns attract the rodents and visitors to these buildings are putting themselves at potential risk through contact with animal urine and feces. However, of more than 100 reported cases, only 2 have come from hikers. The rest are from people cleaning their garages, vacation homes and other areas that include rodents excreta. Bleach solution and rubber gloves are proper protection measures, along with adequate ventilation while cleaning vacation homes or garages.

Hanta Virus symptoms include a flu-like illness with muscle aches and pains, headaches, nausea and vomiting and fatigue being common. There is no cure for Hanta Virus and care is supportive (treating the symptoms only). Worse is the Hanta Pulmonary form that classically appears after the person appears to have recovered from the initial infection. The person;s lungs fill with fluid and progression can be quite rapid, in hours in fact.

There have been 76 cases in New Mexico, since 1993, with 31 deaths.

The Earth Expedition: Seven years, two feet, and one backpack

by Anna Brones on

Imagine packing for the next seven years. That’s exactly what Daren Wendell is currently doing. On Saturday March 8, Wendell will embark on his seven year, foot-powered journey around the world, leaving at exactly 10:30 am from Dahlegona, GA.

Titled The Earth Expedition, Wendell will cross 3 continents, 17 time zones, and 14 countries; he’s calculated that it will probably come out to about 36 million steps. One of his main goals for his expedition is to raise awareness about the water crisis and AIDS pandemic hitting Africa by advocating for Blood Mission.

On The Earth Expedition’s website you can track Wendell’s adventure, which will, among other places, take him across the Bering Strait. On top of the physical exhaustion that a 7 year trip can entail, Wendell will be making some intellectual efforts as well; during his travels he plans on learning at least the basics of the 11 different languages of the countries he will be passing through. This is one committed man. If keeping up with Wendell by way of live GPS on his website isn’t enough, you can even offer up your couch for him to sleep on; if you live within 30 miles of his intended route that is.

You might be saying to yourself, “is this guy crazy?” Wendell’s own response to that question: “Define crazy.” Maybe that’s a good point, considering the fact that he is not the only one to attempt the whole world on foot. Personally, I think I am going to stick with casual weekend hikes and leave the heavy lifting up to the slightly more motivated like Wendell.

Extreme sledding, the latest in extreme sports

by Jamie Rhein on

If you think sledding using a flying saucer is a thrill–I do, the thing can spin, there’s a sled out there that adds a whole new experience to winter sports. Mad River Rocket makes maneuverable adventure sleds that help you get a feeling you’ve turned into Superman. You don’t really leap over tall buildings, but flipping, dipping and darting through trees, over ditches, up embankments, down snow covered stairs, human-made hills and naturally formed mountains is on the menu–if it’s covered with snow, you’re in luck.

Extreme sledding is one of the latest trends that has turned the thrill of childhood into a sport that can send adults hearts’ racing. Here’s a video to show just what a Mad River Rocket sled can do plus an ABC News article that details its wonder. What isn’t shown is how the sled can also be used to tow gear if you’re hiking in the winter. The company’s Web site details more extreme sled info with loads of photos. [Thanks Davis Cox for the tip!]

Should pilots have to compete for your business?

by Kent Wien on

You’ve always dreamt of flying out to a remote lodge in the middle of nowhere in Alaska, but you’re a bit concerned about the pilots. Are they really good enough to get you into that 1000-foot strip? Wouldn’t it be nice to know just how these aviators rank?

Well, the May Day Fly-In and Airshow in Valdez, Alaska has a bush pilot competition that ranks pilots and their planes in their ability to takeoff and land in the shortest possible distances. These airplanes are highly modified to handle the tightest gravel bars Alaska has to offer. And their pilots know how to get the most out of them.

If you’re looking for some experienced pilots to take you to a great lodge, you can’t go too wrong with the Claus family. Dad, Paul, accomplished the shortest takeoff at 19 feet, and his 18-year old son Jay scored a 39-foot takeoff, which was good for 4th place in his class. The Claus family own and operate the Ultima Thule Lodge.

Here’s 18 year old Jay’s 39 foot takeoff:


I think I’m ready to go visit the Claus family and see just WHERE they’re taking this airplane!

Join Kent at Cockpit Chronicles which takes you along on each of his trips as a co-pilot on the Boeing 757 and 767 out of Boston.

WHS new “Tentative List”: Places to Love–Petrified Forest National Park

by Jamie Rhein on

For the Gadling series “World Heritage Site new “Tentative List”: Places to Love” we are covering the 14 sites that have been submitted for possible inclusion as an official World Heritage Site in the United States. The sites will not be posted in order of importance or in the order they appear on the list.

Number 13

Name of Site: Petrified Forest National Park

Location: In Arizona almost halfway between Albuquerque, New Mexico (204 miles) and Phoenix, Arizona (259 miles)

Reason for importance in a nutshell: 10,000 years of human history + deposits of petrified wood that date to the Late Triassic paleo-ecosystem (205-225 million years ago) + dinosaur fossils and more + “one of the most diverse collections of prehistoric pottery fragments in the Southwest.”

Jamie’s Take: I’ve been here at least three times and can vouch that the beauty of the Petrified Forest is not just the petrified wood or the fossils. The Painted Desert is part of the Petrified Forest National Park. Here, the landscape is the kind you could look at every day for a year and never get bored. Depending on the angle of the sun, colors change from burnt orange to purpley blue. The mix of human existance with the natural world is the calling card, but this a physically facinating part of the United States. For anyone who grew up living around forests and grass covered scenery, here’s a place to see what all those layers of earth look like.

While you’re visiting, check out the Painted Desert Inn which is a National Historic Landmark. The dining room and lunchroom are decorated with murals depicting Hopi culture. Also in the park is a section of original Route 66 highway. Another worthwhile stop is the Rainbow Forest Museum. Interpretive displays and a film explain the significance of the area. If you can’t make it any time soon, here’s a virtual tour.