North America - Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World - page 207

Need to know Trail passes (US$10 per day or
US$35 per season, including map) are sold at the
Kingdom Trails Welcome Center in East Burke
Village on Route 114. For directions from Southern
Vermont, Connecticut, Boston and Québec, as well
as a list of bike shops and accommodation, see
W www.kingdomtrails.org; T [phone].

276 mounTAin
Biking ALong
The kingdom
TRAiLS,
VeRmonT

Whether you get your
kicks out of cycling over
gentle, rolling slopes or
steeper, twisting climbs,
there's something for
every level of experience
at the Kingdom Trails
in the hills of northeast
Vermont. Around 160km
of trails run across
the west and east side
of Darling Hill and
over Burke Mountain,
with the most popular
including Dead Moose
Alley, Fenceline, Pines,
Pastore Point, Pound
Cake and Sidewinder.
The trail system
is managed by a non-profit conservation
organization called Kingdom Trails, which has
developed smooth tracks along disused cart
paths and scenic country lanes. The tracks are
built using a comprehensive drainage system,
which works to curb the effect that any build-up
of water can inflict in terms of eroding soil and
vegetation.
The trails are open from mid-May to the end of
October (depending on conditions), but the best
time to go is in the autumn, when the crisp air
keeps you cool and you can admire the glorious
autumnal colours of Vermont's broadleaf trees.
When the season draws to a close (usually in late
autumn), the tracks become a retreat for non-
motorized winter sports, such as cross-country
skiing and snow-shoeing - similarly low-impact
activities that help keep this special place a
year-round adventure playground.

277 humpBAckS off hAwAii

There are few more incredible sights than
watching a 37-tonne humpback whale breaching
completely out of the sea. And few better places
to see this powerful display than Hawaii:
between November and April each year, up to
ten thousand whales migrate here to mate, give
birth and nurse their young.
Several operators offer trips out to view
the endangered humpbacks and the 21 other
species of whale and dolphin here, though Wild
Side Eco-Adventures, based about an hour
from Waikki on Oahu Island, comes highly
recommended. With groups kept to a maximum
of twelve people (and sometimes as little as six),
the company offers several whale- and dolphin-
watching trips led by expert marine biologists,
as well as the chance to charter a boat for some
leisurely island-hopping.
But Wild Side isn't there just for
entertainment: aware that whale-watching is
fast becoming a popular activity, their staff are
mindful of keeping a respectful distance from
the mammals, while the company's marine
biologists are constantly monitoring the whale
behaviour and collecting data. In autumn,
the company's Ocean Trekker Expeditions
introduces small groups to the basics of whale
and dolphin research; you'll learn about
breaching, the whale's song and pectoral slaps,
all the while recording their actions. Being a
part of their conservation is the best way of
getting closer to the mighty humpback whale.

Cyclist in Vermont

Need to know On the Ocean Trekker Expedition
guests stay at the Makaha Golf Resort Hotel. It's
also possible to volunteer for longer periods with