Free Admission to 396 U.S. parks during National Parks Week April 21-29, 2012

Courtesy of Google Images - Yosemite National Park 

All 396 U.S. national parks offer FREE ADMISSION during National Parks Week, April  21 - 29, 2012!

Plus, many of the parks are planning special programs.

Lodging discounts and other offers good at several national parks are listed at nationalparksonline.org.

Support your parks! More info here:
nationalparksonline.org.

Courtesy of Google Images; Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Learn to mountain bike or improve your riding with skills clinics - coed and women-only mountain bike camps

I'm always on a quest to become a better cyclist, especially when it comes to riding singletrack trails on my mountain bike! For the past two years, I have signed up for the women-only Dirt Series clinic, a two-day skills intensive which has come to my town of Santa Cruz, California. The Dirt Series rolls out again in 2010, with a new title sponsor of Trek Bicycles. The Santa Cruz clinic sold out all its spots within 24 hours, but fortunately, there are Trek Dirt Series camps offered around the U.S. and Canada that still have space. They offer women-only camps as well as co-ed options. I'll write more about my great experience with them in my next blog post.

Another way to get better on the bike is to sign up for a mountain bike camp with Alison Dunlap, two-time Olympian and former national and world champion in mountain biking.

I still haven't ridden in Moab, Utah! I must change that!

 I have taken afternoon clinics with Alison Dunlap and had the opportunity to interview her as a journalist at Sea Otter Classic and other major bicycling races.  She is a great teacher - fun, patient, encouraging and of course, a master at her craft. Here's the scoop on the Moab, Utah, camps with Alison.

Alison says:
"After running skills clinics for the past five years, we have decided to take a break, and instead focus our energy on expanding our Moab Camps."

April 27-May 1, 2010   Novice/Intermediate
We are introducing a new Beginner/Interm 5-day Moab Skills Camp

"For those of you that have come before, we have a new Intermediate/Adv Ride Camp."
May 11-15, 2010   Intermediate/Advanced
Sept 28-Oct 2, 2010   Intermediate/Advanced
Cost:
$1985:  All inclusive
$1595:  Without lodging and massage

More about Alison
She's a  USA Cycling certified Level II coach, a United States Anti-Doping Association Athlete Ambassador, a member of the USA Cycling Olympic Selection Committee, and a certified Wilderness First Responder.

If you have taken one of Alison Dunlap's camps or had her coaching, please leave a comment here on this blog and let me know what you thought!