I plan to visit some of the national parks in Washington (Northwest Pacific) in early September this year. My visit will only be for about two weeks. I plan to hike/camp/motel or whatever comes my way. Is there a comprehensive guide you would recommend covering this area? Who and where are the best places to go in Washington? What's the weather like at this time of year?

—Les Connelly
 Northamptonshire, England

Watch what you say there, pal. You Brits think two weeks is barely enough time to unpack, but that's all the vacation most Americans get in a year. So be gentle with us, and don't rub it in while you're hitting Mt. Rainier and Olympic national parks, Washington's crown jewels. Did I mention that you should hit Mt. Rainier and Olympic national parks? Yes: Do. Alpine mountaineering in the one, rain forest in the other. Lonely Planet's guide to the Pacific Northwest is a good place to start (www.lonelyplanet.com) for general info, as is Adventure Guide to the Pacific Northwest from Hunter Publishing (www.hunterpublishing.com). The Northwest is such an outdoor-oriented place, though, spawning an ungodly number of guidebooks, that it might be better to focus yourself with a little Web searching first. Try www.gorp.com for destinations and www.mountaineers.org for local outdoor events and books. And check out "Hail Cascadia," in the July/August issue of ADVENTURE, with information on some of the best activities in the Northwest, from sea kayaking in the San Juan Islands to off-trail hiking in Olympic National Park.

As for weather, late summer is glorious in the Northwest, but Seattle's rainfall doubles from an average of eight days in August to 13 days in September. It's nothing a member of the British Isles should worry about, but keep your fingers crossed that summer's Pacific High doesn't break down until after you head back home.

Is there a conspiracy in the government to hide aliens?

—Ned Nelson
 Salem, Oregon

Do you really believe that the institution that brought you the U.S. tax code has the chops to pull off a conspiracy of that proportion? My sources say no. And, though you didn't ask, other readers who asked this question also recommend the recreational opportunities near Roswell, New Mexico, where a UFO was rumored to crash in 1947. Check out the Capitan Mountain Wilderness, part of Lincoln National Forest (Tel: +1 505 434 7200), about 50 miles [80 kilometers] west of Roswell on Route 246. Pine Lodge to Chimney Rock is a popular hike, and you pass an alleged UFO crash site along the way.

I am a graduate student working on a project for my marketing class. We're studying various markets around the world and my group is evaluating the satellite phone market (or lack of one) in South America. Specifically, we are researching whether there is a market for satellite phones to be used by either tour leaders or even groups of people who might go out hiking, rafting, etc. This is based on the idea that if a person were hiking alone in the mountains here in the U.S., renting a satellite phone for the day would give the hiker an added sense of security if they should be injured or become lost. Why wouldn't this same theory apply in South America?

—Sheryl Haulman

Sorry, Sheryl, but my parents wouldn't do my homework for me and I'm not gonna do yours for you. But your comment about backcountry travelers having a greater sense of security with mobile phones is accurate and worth addressing. No question, the prevalence of phones in the wilderness has helped injured and lost travelers get their victimized butts back to civilization (as if the culture that created Mariah Carey's stardom truly can be called civilized). But, if anecdotal evidence counts for anything, there are just as many cases where people abused their communication link or asked for rescue when it really wasn't necessary.

Carrying a phone into the backcountry can indeed give some people an added sense of security, but it's often a false sense of security that can lead directly to people putting themselves at greater risk than they would if they didn't have a phone. Remember, even if the phone works, rescue might be impossible, due to weather, lack of daylight, or objective hazards such as flood waters or unstable snow. The technology could fail, as with a faulty satellite, dead battery, or phone dropped in the drink. And, except in the most developed regions, the subject of your study, South America, doesn't have the kind of search and rescue infrastructure you'll find in North America or the Alps.

Despite pooh-poohing your idea, though, I'm no technophobe. I actually have so many gizmos that I can't keep track of the beeps and burps coming from my briefcase. And sometimes I do take my cell phone (always turned off, by the way) into the backcountry when service is available. But I also base my traveling decisions on the assumption that my party is coming out under its own power, no matter what happens. Unfortunately, this old wilderness ethos of assuming responsibility for one's self is a dwindling commodity, and the concept of using a satellite phone as a life line only makes the matter worse. And there are far more intelligent people than I who would argue that the mere presence of a phone erodes the very nature of wilderness, that the impact of technology in the backcountry is corrosive to the soul and psyche, but that's a debate for another time.

Bet you wish you'd never asked, huh?

I have planned a bicycle expedition on the world's highest motorable road, Khardungla Pass, in the region of Leh-Ladakh in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India. Is it okay to use a single-speed bicycle? Would using a geared bicycle be advantageous or problematic?

—Yuvaraj
 Seattle, Washington

I haven't checked out the hardcore bike scene in India lately, but in North America the single-speed cult is comprised mainly of Luddites, nonconformists, retro grouches engaged in reverse snobbery, masochistic self-flagellators who like to suffer by pushing a big gear up hills, and a smattering of late adopters such as myself who appreciate the simplicity and light weight of single speeds but worry that they're only riding one because some people think they're cool. You'll notice that list didn't include "people who want to make things easier on themselves in the oxygen-depleted heights of the Himalayas."

In short: A multi-geared bicycle, especially a low-geared mountain bike, will provide far more versatility on steeper grades and make things way easier on your knees, quads, and lungs when you're up there in the stratosphere. Just make sure the bike is well-tuned by a good mechanic before you go, and brush up on your maintenance skills in case you have to make trailside adjustments. If your bike is equipped with Shimano components (most of the world's mountain bikes are), ask your local shop for the Shimano's owner's guide (www.shimano.com), which is a gold mine of information for maintaining your bike.

What do you think would be a good way to treat poison ivy? I have a lot from camping.

—Rudy Moreno
 Watouma, Wisconsin

Let's get one thing straight: Camping doesn't cause poison ivy; rolling around in poison ivy causes poison ivy. So, let's not be blaming camping for something camping isn't responsible for. That said, the best thing to do is learn to recognize poison ivy and stay the heck out of it: Look for clusters of three pointed leaves, with the middle leaf stem longer than the other two. Leaves are typically green but can be red in spring and yellow in fall. Remember, "Leaves three, let it be. Berries white, a poisonous sight." Of course, if you come face to face with poison sumac, which has seven to thirteen leaves, you're toast. Poison ivy, oak, and sumac all do their funky itchy thing thanks to an oil called urushiol, which binds to skin proteins and causes your immune system to attack the top dermal layer. The result, as you know, is a painful, itchy rash. Ivy Block (www.ivyblock.com), is being marketed as a preventive barrier, like a sun screen, though I can't testify to its efficacy. If you think you've come in contact with poison ivy (or oak or sumac), wash the area with soap and water or Zanfel (www.zanfel.com) within 15 minutes of contact. If you've already succumbed to the itchville bloom, don't scratch; you'll irritate the rash, and, if there's any urushiol still lurking on your skin, possibly propagate the nastiness, to boot. Try Calimine lotion (that'd be topically, not orally), Benadryl antihistamines (orally, not topically), or call a dermatologist for more aggressive measures. I've also heard reports that Zanfel is effective up to three days after contact.

Steve, I'm not sure if you'll answer this kind of a question but it's worth a shot. I am a 19-year-old freshman in college right now, and reading the resume of your life just now on this website has got me beyond the point of jealousy. My question then, is more about you than the trails, those come later... I'm wondering what kind of schooling you've done, and what you can recommend to me to attain the skills to write/photograph/etc for an outdoor/adventure magazine/company/etc. Thank you for your time, sorry if this question is a little out of the ordinary.

—Katie
 Seattle, Washington

Katie, you're already showing the skills it takes to be a successful outdoor journalist: Unbeknownst to you, you've stumbled upon the sacred motto among writers and photographers who make a living tramping around the globe: "It never hurts to ask." With a fearless attitude like that, you'll go far.

Seriously, neither my parents nor the holder of my college transcripts would recommend you follow my path, which was long and twisted and fraught with near self-destruction at many bends. Nevertheless, if you really want to know: I got my first 35mm camera at age 13 and immediately fell in love with photography. Through the various levels of school, I worked on yearbooks and newspapers, making valuable mistakes with other people's film. In college, I flailed for a couple years before switching my major to journalism, and then, while still in school, I snagged a part time job as an assistant to the Money section copy desk at USA Today. That led to a new focus on writing, which I developed for the next few years at USA Today and then as a reporter at the Burlington Free-Press in Vermont. I stumbled into a low-level editing gig at Powder, and from there I was able to merge my writing, photography, and editing skills into what some, but not all, would call a moderately successful career.

If there's a lesson in my story, I think it's that both traditional and untraditional paths have a place in outdoor writing and photography. Daily newspaper work is a tremendous way to hone reporting skills, organize thoughts, and learn to write on deadline. For photographers, the process of shooting every day, studying your mistakes, and trying to improve by the very next day is invaluable to learning. But ultimately there's no right or wrong way to break into the business. Talent, persistence, ability to listen, and keeping your editor happy are the magic beans, regardless of how you acquire them.

In the end, though, the most important thing is to follow what you love. Whether it's deep-powder skiing, day hiking, or wilderness ethics, your passion will inform and make true your work, giving it an authenticity and originality that no one else will have. Even if you discover you don't have the chops to make it as a professional writer or photographer, you'll still have your relationship with what you love, only it'll be deeper and more dimensional for the time you spent in its embrace.

Where can I find "good" maps of either the Appalachian or Colorado Trails?

—Mike McMahon
 Stillwater, Minnesota

How, exactly, do you define "good"? I have a lovingly rendered, hand-drawn napkin map of the AT I'll sell you for $15. Or, if you're some sort of elitist who's above that kind of thing, you can pick up topos of the entire trail for $154 from the Ultimate AT Store (888-AT-STORE, www.atctrailstore.org). Maptech has the whole trail on four CDs ($139, 800-627-7236, www.maptech.com). For the Colorado Trail, you can buy a full set of 29 1:50,000 topo maps ($18, 303-384-3729, ext.113, www.coloradotrail.org/store/ctstore.html), from the Colorado Trail Foundation.

The other day my dog found a porcupine, but we don't know when he got the quills on him! Are they nocturnal and how did it get into our backyard? Thank you!

—Leah
 Kerrville, Texas

Your dog was doing fine until the band started playing "Three Times a Lady" and he moved in for the slow dance, then it was all over. Although the Texas quill pig is, indeed, a creature of the night, when it comes to interspecies dating it's a bit of a prude. As for how it got in your backyard, I dunno. Fake ID?

I just moved to a beautiful part of the country—and have started backpacking on borrowed equipment. Do you know where I can find great gear at a reasonably low price?

—Kate Andres
 Fayetteville, Arkansas

In Fayetteville, you'll find the best selection and top brands at Pack Rat Outdoor Center (501-521-6340), although the prices might not be as far south as you'd like. Still, I'd always encourage you to support local specialty shops, because expertise and service are built into the price. Plus they might be willing to match or come close to a deal you find on the web. If you're searching online, www.livetoplay.com is an excellent gear-related auction site. REI's outlet site, www.rei-outlet.com, is also a good place for steals. And for general gear lust, try www.planetoutdoors.com, www.fogdog.com, and www.altrec.com.

I want to know what the best kick-butt glaciated region is in British Columbia for a mixture of alpine trekking and general mountaineering. I'm coming over with my girlfriend and I'm going to show her where God lives, a.k.a. the mountains.

—Thomas Pickard
 Sydney, Australia

Dude, you are singing my tune. The Coast Range of B.C. is one of the most stunning sections of terra montana in the western world. Starting from Vancouver, head straight north. As you near Whistler, you'll find yourself practically driving off the road at the sight of a number of stunning, sky-scratching, drool-inducing peaks. These are the Tantalus Mountains-rugged, alpine, and within easy reach of both Whistler and Vancouver. Whistler, too, is an excellent staging ground, especially if you're relatively new to mountaineering. Glaciers, icecaps, and well-established routes (both trekking and ski-mountaineering) surround the village. If you're an experienced mountaineer, keep going north, to British Columbia's highest peak, 13,177-foot [4,016-meter] Mt. Waddington, where you can immerse yourself in expedition-level trips. If you want Waddington's remoteness without quite the intensity of its objective hazards, try the Pantheon Mountains, just north of Waddington. For guide services, contact the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (403-678-2885, www.acmg.ca). For a treasure trove of mountaineering information, check out back issues of the Canadian Alpine Journal (403-678-3200, www.alpineclubofcanada.ca).

I want to take a special vacation with my 20-year-old son. I am thinking of the Grand Canyon. I heard on the Travel show a few weeks ago that National Geographic Adventure magazine did an article on biking, hiking, whitewater rafting, etc. but have not been able to locate it. Any suggestions? I am working with a limited budget (around U.S. $2,000-2,500) if possible.

—Deirdre Mitchell
 Leonia, New Jersey

You're speaking, of course, of the March/April 2000 issue, with our giant, exclusive guide to America's 100 best adventures. Yes indeedy, despite the influence of yours truly, that was a darn good issue, with scores of great adventures and lots of information on how you can do them yourself. You can order it (or any other back issue) by calling 800-647-5463.

Steve, My name is John Franklin. I'm 21 years old. I just got my first issue of adventure mag and it kicks ass. I'm always game for anything to do with the outdoors or an adrenaline rush. I lived in vermont during college and skied 80 days a year and did alot of biking and hiking. I presently compete in big air/freestyle skiing events and I bike all year and race a little XC. I have had numerous outdoor adventures throughout my life. These include such things as skiing the Wasatch in Utah, hiking Mt Washington 3 times, Canoeing the Alagash R. 65 miles in four days from interior Maine to Canada, numerous winter survival trips, skiing on a glacier in July in Whistler BC, biking in a 24 hour race at Mt Washington, rafting the Kenebec R. in Maine twice, I love anything that combines the outdoors and a little bit of adrenaline.

I am leaving my job in a month to chase my dreams. I own an old trailer and Im going to tow it to Alaska starting June 1st. I want to Hike in Denali National Park, ski the Chugatch range in the summer, bike in the daylight at 12:30AM! and watch the sunset over the coastal range, things like that are almost spiritual to me. I will live in Tahoe CA for next winter, try to reach my goals and become a sponsored competitive skier and maybe guide high adventure Mt biking and backcountry ski trips. I have also always been interested in being an outdoors/xtreme sports editor like you are. Could you please tell me more about yourself and your job. Also I will be keeping a journal of my travels and experiences this summer. If you want to see some of my writing let me know, I would be honored. Please write me back, thank you for your time John Franklin

—John Franklin

Why in the world would you want to know more about me? You're already out there more than I am. And why would you want to be an outdoor sports editor? The only reason to do this job is to get someone else to pay for your adrenaline—and it sounds like you've already done a darn good job of that. I say, stay the course. Keep your journal for yourself and work whatever jobs keep you out there.

If it involves fresh air and adrenaline overload, Steve Casimiro does it: mountain biking (120 days a year), skiing (50 days a year), surfing, skateboarding, climbing, backpacking (the rest of the time). Makes you wonder how he has time to be a contributing editor for ADVENTURE as well as write and photograph for Outside, Men's Journal, Skiing, and Powder (where he was editor for nine years), among others.

[Note: nationalgeographic.com does not copyedit questions and answers.]

Photograph by Steve Casimiro