mountain bike trail, mountain biking, mountain biking trail, rocky mountains, rockies mountains, mountains, mountain, mountain getaway, mountain getaways, mountain biking trails, mountain resorts, down hill mountain biking, down hill mountain biking trails, downhill mountain biking, downhill mountainbiking, mountain backpacking hiking, mountain bike downhill, mountain bike map, mountain bike maps, mountain bike riding, mountain bike trail map, mountain bike trail maps, mountain bike trails, mountain bikes downhill, mountain high ski, mountain lodges, mountain map, mountain maps, mountain report, mountain reports, mountain resort, rocky mountain, rocky mountain golfing, rocky mountain horseback, rocky mountain trail ride, rocky mountain trail rides, rudd mountain, rudd mountains, sun valley mountain bicycle

The giraffe''s high shoulders and sloping back give the impression that its front legs are much longer than the hind legs, but they are in fact only slightly longer. The giraffe (as well as its short-necked relative the okapi from Central African forests) has a distinctive walking gait, moving both legs on one side forward at the same time. At a gallop, however, the gait changes, and the giraffe simultaneously swings the hind legs ahead of and outside the front legs, reaching speeds of 35 miles an hour. Its heavy head moves forward with each powerful stride, and then swings back to stay balanced. Giraffes have "horns" not true horns but knobs covered with skin and mountain hair above the eyes to protect the head from lodge blows. The reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) of northeastern Kenya has large, chestnut-colored square patches defined by a network of fine white lines.

The giraffe''s high shoulders and sloping back give the impression that its front legs are much longer than the hind legs, but they are in fact only slightly longer. The giraffe (as well as its short-necked relative the okapi from Central African forests) has a distinctive walking gait, moving both legs on one side forward at the same time. At a gallop, however, the gait changes, and the giraffe simultaneously swings the hind legs ahead of and outside the front legs, reaching speeds of 35 miles an hour. Its heavy head moves forward with each powerful stride, and then swings back to stay balanced. Giraffes have "horns" not true horns but knobs covered with skin and mountain hair above the eyes to protect the head from lodge blows. The reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) of northeastern Kenya has large, chestnut-colored square patches defined by a network of fine white lines.

The stripes on Grevy''s zebras are more numerous and narrow than those of the plains zebra and do not extend to the belly. In all zebra species, the stripes on the forequarters form a triangular pattern; Grevy''s have a similar pattern on the hindquarters, while others have a slanted or horizontal pattern. Burchell''s zebras inhabit savannas, from treeless grasslands to open woodlands; they sometimes occur in tens of thousands in migratory herds on the Serengeti plains. Grevy''s zebras are now mainly restricted to parts of northern Kenya. Although they are adapted to semi-arid conditions and require less water than other zebra species, these zebras compete with domestic livestock for water and have suffered heavy poaching for their meat and skins. mountain Family groups are stable members maintaining strong bonds over many years. Mutual grooming, where lodge zebras stand together and nibble the hair on each other''s neck and back, helps develop and preserve these bonds.

©2003 www.mountain-biking-backpacking.com All rights reserved.