besthike.com - the blog

Will this help open up the country to independent hikers?
A political party seen as the more royalist of two groups seeking power swept the first parliamentary elections ever held in this secluded Himalayan kingdom, Bhutan’s election commissioner said Monday.
The Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party took 44 of the 47 seats in the new parliament, Election […]

Bad news for me.
I’ve been waiting on Bhutan to open up for independent trekking. Planning on being one of the first to get a hiking permit.
It was Rogier Gruys of BluePeak.net who first got me interested in hiking Bhutan.

original - BluePeak on flickr - more photos
Now Kira Salak penned a wonderful […]

The demise of the beloved National Parks Pass cost the National Park Service more than $1.3 million last year, although agency officials expect revenues to rebound as folks grow accustomed to the America the Beautiful Pass.
According to Jane Moore, the Park Service’s fee program manager, 2006 sales of the $50 National Parks Pass, good for […]

When up in Banff, Alberta for the Mountain Festival, I was trail running around town each day. I had no vehicle.
Sulphur Mountain from the Upper Hot Springs is normally regarded to be the best hike within walking distance of Banff. The view is spectacular from the top. But much of the 2hr walk up […]

Ever since I looked down the forbidden valley from Kagbeni while trekking the Annapurna Circuit, I’ve wanted to hike Lo Mustang in Nepal. Sadly, no independent hiking is allowed.
Kagbeni at 2810 m, spectacularly situated atop a cliff overlooking the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and the Jhong Khola rivers, is the last village in Lower […]

If you follow this blog, you know I have no confidence in Parks Canada.

Love the Parks, distrust management.
In fact, I recommend hikers go to the American National Parks instead if they want best value. (And I live next to the Canadian Rockies.)
Yet, I credit Parks Canada for at least making the appearance of listening […]

When I staggered into Red’s Meadow off the John Muir Trail I had — like most hikers — a wide grin on my face.
What’s not to love?

The well-stocked General Store has groceries, sporting goods, fishing tackle, sundries and souvenirs. If you’re hiking the back-country, you can have a supply package sent to yourself at […]

If I won a million dollars I’d take a tour of the great wilderness lodges of the World.
If I won only a hundred thousand dollars I’d start with a tour of the American lodges.
Here’s the top 10 in the States as selected by Sherman’s Travel:

The Ahwahnee
Big Meadows Lodge
Camp Denali & North Face Lodge
Crater […]

Warren Long saw I was thinking of buying an $800 Alpacka for paddle hiking.
He offered to loan me his $20 raft.

Will a Cheap-O get me across the lake to the trailhead? Sure. In most cases.
I’m not on a 4000mi Pacific coast mega-adventure.
Well played, Warren. I’ll try a cheap raft first before buying […]

UPDATED October 12, 2007
I finally heard back from The Parks Listens Panel Team (Ipsos-Reid) regarding their confusing Parks Canada survey and $1000 contest. The entire email is reprinted in the comments below.
A quick summary for those like me mightily confused:
There are two separate links:
www.join.parkslistens.ca is the official website for individuals who have […]