By: Jakaila Davis

I’ve always had quite an aversion to horror shows and films. So when I was exposed to the gorey world of the walking dead, naturally, I freaked. For three days I walked around the house with a knife clutched tightly in my hand against my side. Although I knew it was irrational, I didn’t care, my only regret I didn’t have a gun to protect me too. The walking dead is a very broad world, with games, TV shows, and spin offs being made public and shared, you can find anything you like. If you have quite the fondness for video games telltale has three full seasons and two DLC’s. If your a person who needs to feel the page turning underneath your fingers, there are comics that have 183 issues and counting. Fear not if you’re a person who needs to see the story playing out in front of you, 8 seasons are waiting along with a spin off, “Fear the Walking Dead.” Mysteries, drama, and action that’ll make your mind run rampant are in no shortage in The Walking Dead. All the way from trying to figure out how the virus started and how it will end. To all out war TWD (the walking dead) keeps you guessing and always on your toes excited for what’s to come. However, it is not for the faint of heart. Gorey blood baths and gruesome deaths also litter the series. If you can’t handle certain scenes of legs being crudely chopped off, blood spilling, and brain matter flying, you might need to reconsider your taste in TV. Out of all the walking dead characters I have a growing fondness for Daryl dixon played by Norman reedus. Daryl is quite possibly the greatest character there is, certainly the strongest. Daryl, as a character was not even supposed to be included into the show. When Norman Reedus auditioned for the role of Merle Dixon, Daryl’s shabby brother, they were so moved they had to make a new character. Daryl has lived through a lot, from getting impaled by his own arrow, to losing his brother only to find him later where he has to escape fighting him to the death. To killing his brother, being captured and tortured, losing Beth, one of the only people he showed blatant concern for. Even though he is a remarkable character, it sometimes lands him in the center of controversy. One centered around Beth, The younger sister of Maggie Greene. Daryl and Beth had a very good friendship, however some viewers thought their treatment to each other was rather inappropriate, considering Beth’s character was 16 when she was introduced. Their friendship consisted of “serious piggyback rides.” Hand holding, the occasional drink, long talks which are rare for Daryl and hugging. Seems harmless since they were never confirmed to be in any type of romantic relationship. His next controversy wasn’t until much later, when Negan arrived waving around Lucile. After Negan kills Abraham, violently smashing his head, Daryl gets up, punching Negan. Some fans think that this causes Negan to smash Lucile on Glenn. That is not the case because Daryl’s character is not present in the comics and Glenn still dies. The most recent controversy has to do with the departure of Andrew Lincoln, who plays Rick Grimes. As previously stated by Beth, Daryl is the last man standing from the original group. The only other person who will still be on the show from season 1 is Carol. With Andrew Lincoln leaving, another character will have to step up as the new front runner. Some fans of the show, would not like to see Daryl who is one of the candidates fill that role. Of course me and other Daryl fans would love to see that. Of course Maggie’s pregnancy will prevent her from even being on the frontlines once she starts showing, and soon after she has the baby. So it would make sense for Daryl to be the one to step up. At this point it’s between Daryl and Maggie. Daryl is clearly the most equipped to survive such a catastrophe as a zombie apocalypse. His hunting and tracking skills, coupled with his fearlessness with killing walkers and with people, makes him a perfect candidate. This is easily seen when Negan’s bat was raised and came too close to hitting Daryl’s head. He didn’t even flinch and stared down Negan.  Let me know what you think in the comments. Who’s your favorite character and who should be the new front runner of the show.

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By: Kaia Depuy

**Lake Tahoe, Nevada is a beautiful place with lots of gorgeous fluffy white snow, brown fuzzy bears, and lots of breathtaking views over the glistening water. During the winter, Lake Tahoe is very cold and blanketed with sparkling snow. During the summer there is sparkling sun and stunning beaches.**

Winter:

When traveling to an amazing place like this it is important to always carry a camera with you, you could also use your phone. Although no camera or cell phone will ever capture the true beauty of Lake Tahoe. Along with your camera, you will want to be sure to bring your heavy winter coat, snow pants, hats, gloves, scarves, and anything else you like to layer yourself with. Snow boots/winter boots are also very important for every or almost every time you walk outside the house. Fuzzy or warm socks are also a necessity to make your trip more enjoyable for you and your traveling companion(s).

• You will need to bring under layers to go underneath the coats and snow gear. How many of each article of clothing depends on how long your stay is, but you will want to bring intimates, t-shirts and/or long sleeves, leggings and/or sweatpants, sweatshirts (hoodies are super comfy), and your toiletries.
• There are lots of fun things to do in Lake Tahoe while visiting during the colder months. From personal experience, I love going skiing and snow tubing since it is so fun and everyone enjoys it! You could also just play in the snow and have snowball fights or make a snowman. Just wait and see what summer brings!

Summer:

In addition to winter, there are also many exciting activities you could be a part of including relaxing and swimming at the beach in the crystal clear water, beach bonfires, boating, small road trips around the lake, and so much more.

• In order for you to pack appropriately for the summer onths you will bring the opposite that you brought for the winter. T-shirts, shorts, sandals/flip flops, and bathing suits are what you need to bring. You could also throw a couple sweatshirts and a pair of sweatpants in your suitcase incase the temperature drops at night. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and all your toiletries are also needed for this trip to Lake Tahoe. No need for your winter coat and snow pants for the incredible warm weather! I hope you enjoy your experience in this lovely area as much as I loved living there for most of my life, maybe you will even want to move here yourself!

Plane activities:

There are many simple but entertaining things you could do to keep you and your traveling mates occupied while flying. Playing card games, listening to music, watching movies, chatting, reading, even sleeping! The list could go on and on.

Car activities:

While in the car driving to Lake Tahoe, you could play the alphabet game! It is quite simple but will keep the people with you occupied while they try and find each letter of the alphabet around them on anything they can see. You could also play card games, that don’t require the cards to be put on a flat surface, as well as watching movies, chatting, listening to music, and sleeping.

**All in all, no matter what season it is I guarantee that you as well as your friends and/or family will have an amazing time visiting Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Since there is a large selection of activities and things to do, everyone will be satisfied with the trip. You might also find some entertaining things to do on the plane or car ride there!**

Let me know if there are any questions about what to bring, activities, or anything else you’re concerned about for your journey. And if you found this post helpful for your travels, be sure to share it around so that others can experience the same joy and fun for their trip!:))

5 Things you need to know Before Backpacking/Hiking

Drip, drip, drip. “Mom! The tent is leaking!” It was our first trip together backpacking as a family. It was awful. We hiked 4 miles up to the site then quickly set up the tent in the dark and crashed. And now the tent was leaking. My back was super sore from my backpack and my little sister was whining the whole time we were walking. And now the tent was leaking.

Backpacking/hiking can be miserable if you do it wrong, but it can be super fun and a great experience if you do it the right way. Just listen to these 5 tips, and your backpacking trip will be so much better than it was before.

1. Minimal Stuff:

Make sure you have as minimal stuff as possible. Like the character in the story above, it can be bad for you if you have too much stuff. It can make the trip so much slower because you have to stop more often. When you are packing, just remember… you have to carry it all. So maybe next time don’t take the quilt or the 1,000 page book.

2. Pick a good Campsite:

Imagine this. You just went on a super long trip and you are so tired and sore, you could sleep on the cold hard ground. It’s getting dark, so you find a clear-ish area and start setting up your tent. In the middle of the night, you wake up to the discomfort of a rock in your side. Also, even worse, your tent ripped. TAKE YOUR TIME. I know its hard and you want to just lie down, but you will get a much better night’s sleep for it. Stop before dark. Like the person in this story, you may have kept going and set up your tent in the dark. It’s so much harder that way. Even if you don’t rip it and pick a good campsite, you have to position your light source in a high spot you you can see. Just stop before it gets dark and take time setting up the tent.

3. The whining sister tricks:

Maybe you are on a big day hike, 7 miles lets say. You are traveling with your younger sibling, who is 9. She does not want to hike. She is whining and crying and complaining. Here are 4 things I have found to be infinitely helpful when traveling with the young.

• Play games. This is probably the best tactic to getting her to keep going. It can also help YOU pass the time on a long trip. She will get distracted and think about something else besides her tired feet. Consider games like riddles, or even make up a game. (Give a new name to all unfamiliar flowers you see on the trail).
• Race her. I don’t mean running. That could be dangerous if you’re hiking in the mountains. Walk race her. Set a landmark far away on the trail, but not too far away that she will think it’ll take forever. It’s amazing how much energy she doesn’t know she has when she has a goal.
• Carry her. I know it can seem impossible when you are just as tired as she is, but give it a try. It doesn’t even have to be that long. She will be able to walk for a long time after it, she thinks she just had a big break.
• Encourage/compliment her. It really is all in her mind. She is certain that she can’t take another step, but when you compliment her, she suddenly thinks it is not all that bad. (This works especially well if you tell her how well she is doing compared to a sibling/parent she recently had a fight with.)

4. WATERPROOF:

Check your gear before you leave. You don’t want to find out 5 miles up a trail that your tent has a hole in it, or your hiking boots are on their last leg. Also, if it’s raining, these 3 things might save you life.

• A rain jacket. It seems obvious, but it is very important. Even if there is no rain on the forecast, bring a rain jacket. These articles of clothing are light and they can fit into a surprisingly small space.
• Good Boots. Very important- not only for your comfort, but for your health. If you are hiking in snowy/cold areas, wet feet could be unhealthy. Do research on the boots before you buy them to make sure you are getting good quality.
• Food. Who doesn’t love soggy bread or squished cheese as a good snack? Pack food into a waterproof bag and make sure it’s sealed. You’ll thank me.

5. Food

Sorry. You can’t eat the 5 course meal you are maybe used to having when you are at home. Camping food is not luxurious, especially if you are backpacking. Pack canned food because it will fit easier and will be unlikely to leak while you’re walking. Here are two good camping meals.

• Chicken curry. Use canned pineapples and raisins with the chicken. You can also use a few choice spices to enhance the flavor.
• Rice and beans. Beef and beans and rice with onion are all that goes into this simple meal. You can cook the rice in a pot and the beans in a pan.

To travel on foot like backpacking and hiking and have a good time doing it, you’re going to want to keep in mind these 5 points. Minimal stuff, picking good campsites, sister tricks, and keeping gear waterproof can all go a long way toward making your hiking trip better than ever. This way, you won’t end up like the unfortunate girl in the story above.

–Posted by Savannah