besthike.com - the blog

Through besthike recommendations, people have bought hundreds of Lonely Planet guidebooks. They reinvented the genre, in my opinion. Never buy any other company without first comparing against LP.
Sadly, for the past 6-7 years I’ve started to notice problems.
LP author Thomas Kohnstamm has a new book coming out this week:

A Swashbuckling Tale of High Adventures, […]

I’m giving a mixed review to my new $55 day pack:
Weighing only 10 ounces, the ultra-lightweight Mountain Hardwear Scrambler is the perfect approach bag to stash in your pack. Ergonomic S-curve shoulder straps and a removable EVA back panel make the Scrambler comfortable for peak ascents and long day hikes.
Details
* Removable […]

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 […]

I’ve always been suspicious of “waterproof socks” for hiking:

Seirus Stormsock Waterproof Sock
Crow confirms “they stink”: Waterproof socks: A bad idea
She likes neoprene socks. As do I.
It was an accident that started me wearing neoprene, actually. I took normal hiking footwear and water walking shoes on the West Coast Trail. And ended up wearing my […]

Do I deserve a new hiking pack? Lighter than my Granite Gear Virga (photo).
Yes. Because I’m worth it.
But which?

The G6 Whisper Ultralight Backpack was designed in response to Ryan Jordan’s desire for a freakishly light, subcompact, overnight pack. The G6 Whisper Ultralight Backpack is a cornerstone of Ryan’s Super-UltraLight Backpacking (overnight backpacking with less […]

Does Rocky Thompson make this stuff up?
(This can’t be for real.)
On his blog:

… Try to remember there’s an electrified fence right outside your tent when you get up in the middle of the night to take a piss. If a can of Bear Spray doesn’t offer the protection you’re looking for, then you might try […]

After 5-days at the Banff Mountain Festivals 2007, here’s my FINAL review:
This was my first trip to Banff for the festivals.
THE GOOD:
bringing together so many outdoors enthusiasts
Banff and the Rocky Mountains
food available on site
sponsors, especially National Geographic and New Balance
“reading rooms” for previewing the books
TV monitors showing the performances for those without tickets
no […]

Chris on the Hike Alberta blog has been researching the dangers of Nalgene bottles leaching bisphenol.
Goodbye to my Nalgene Bottles | Hike Alberta
Click through if you want to see the details.
It’s the first I’ve heard of this hazard. I normally carry one Nalgene, one soft drink bottle.

UPDATE: Turns out Sarah on the […]

This week you’ll see a lot of press like this:
Bear Grylls is back with a new one-hour special and the second season of MAN VS. WILD, airing Fridays at 9 PM (ET/PT) beginning November 9. Bear travels to the Himalayas for BEAR’S MISSION EVEREST, where this past spring he attempted to fulfill a dream […]

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 […]