besthike.com - the blog

There are many great hiking guidebooks for New Zealand including our top pick Lonely Planet Tramping in New Zealand.
Rather than compete directly against LP, a new speciality guide takes a different focus:

The reality for most New Zealand trampers is that their tramping often has to be fitted into weekends.
In recognition, Nick Groves, a leading […]

Michelle Waitzman is the author of “Sex in a Tent: a wild couple’s guide to getting naughty in nature” (Wilderness Press, Oct. 2007)
She lives in Wellington, New Zealand although she is originally from Toronto, Canada. She loves spending time in the great outdoors.
Hiking, backpacking (or ‘tramping’ as they call it here in NZ), […]

I have been quite happy with my Jetboil stove, after learning the quirks.
Last year Ryan Jordan on the Backpacking Light Magazine podcast did a detailed review of the Jetboil and two copycat competitors.

When you next comparison shop for a new camping stove, be sure to include those three on your list.
“Backpacking Light Trends (Audio […]

There is talk of closing Angel’s Landing in Zion and Half Dome in Yosemite.
The controversy with the first two (American hikes) is rekindled — not surprisingly — each time a tourist falls to their death. Access is simply too easy for the inexperienced and under-prepared.
But if you (like us) feel you are capable […]

The best web overview of hiking in the land of the original “trekkers” is Safari Now.
With over 1,950 listed hikes, South Africa is a fantastic hiking destination.
… All laid out hikes are signposted, usually with painted icons on rocks, and most hiking authorities supply maps. Most multi-day hikes offer accommodation in basic, but […]

Sad news.
Clem Lindenmayer is author of one of my favourite hiking guidebooks, Lonely Planet Trekking in the Patagonian Andes.

Clem Lindenmayer, 47, disappeared while hiking near Minya Konka mountain, also known as Gongga Shan in Sichuan province.
China’s official Xinhua news agency said villagers found his body on July 19.
Mr Lindenmayer’s family said they last heard […]

I recall when I first heard the name “Wild Pacific Trail”.
I conjured images of another West Coast Trail. Or at least Juan de Fuca Marine Trail.
Unfortunately, this “hike” would be more accurately called The “Ucluelet Municipal Walk”.
I feel the official website, brochure and other tourist bumpf misrepresent this hike (though at least it is […]

Alaska Podshow has introduced a Hike of the Week feature. It’s well done
To see a sample, check out the 7min video for Flat Top Mountain close to Anchorage, the most popular day hike in the State:
We take you to the famous Chugach State Park! This park offers 495,000 acres of forests, lakes, mountains and valleys […]

Since the relaunch of the National Parks Traveler blog, it’s become one of my favourite sites.
These bloggers are passionate about the Parks. Extremely knowledgeable. And the depth and breadth of coverage is amazing.
This recent post, for example, I found very interesting:

Top 10 Most Visited National Parks

Rank
Park Name
Visitation

1

Great Smoky Mountains NP

9,289,215

2

Grand Canyon NP

4,279,439

3

Yosemite NP

3,242,644

4

Yellowstone […]

Richard Nichols of California Coastal Trail links to other great coastal walks including these:
* Olympic National Park, Washington: Coastal Trail
* Nootka Island Coastal Trail, Vancouver Island
* West Coast Trail, Vancouver Island
* Western Australia – Bibbulmun Track, 600 […]