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Cliff walk El Camino del Rey (King’s pathway) in Spain.

Originally built in 1901, this walkway now serves as an approach to makinodromo, the famous climbing sector of El Chorro.

… The walkway has now gone many years without maintenance, and is in a highly deteriorated and dangerous state. It is one meter (3 ft) in width, and is over 700 feet (200 m) above the river. Nearly all of the path has no handrail. Some parts of the walkway have completely collapsed and have been replaced by a beam and a metallic wire on the wall. Many people have lost their lives on the walkway in recent years. After four people died in two accidents in 1999 and 2000, the local government closed the entrances. However, adventurous tourists still find their way into the walkway.

Caminito del Rey - Wikipedia

I want to do it!

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Trails.com is one of the very best hiking sites on the internet. I was once a member, but am no longer. I don’t like “walled garden” websites. (members only)

The results are in! After analyzing over 10 million “votes” from users over the past year, Trails.com is proud to announce its annual Top Trails list (learn more about Top Trails), based on trail popularity and usage. This list represents the most popular trails and outdoor destinations in North America. …

These are good hikes. But not at all the best hikes in North America. Popularity by members seems not to be a good way to rank hikes.

Perhaps I’m wrong. Look over the list for yourself:

#1. Breakneck Ridge Trail
In Hudson Highlands State Park, this trail makes a rugged ascent from river-level to roll along a knobby ridge, gathering vistas and reaching a lookout.
Beacon, NY - Hiking - 9.6 miles

#2. Glacier Gorge
In my opinion this is the most beautiful spot in Rocky Mountain National Park. Spectacular scenery, beautiful wildflowers, cascading waterfalls, and beautiful alpine lakes …
Estes Park, CO - Hiking - 9.6 miles

#3. Mount Whitney
This expedition takes you to the top of the highest peak in the contiguous United States, and to unparalleled views….
Lone Pine, CA - Hiking - 22 miles

#4. Appalachian Trail: The Pinnacle
Walk the Appalachian Trail for spectacular views of Hawk Mountain, the Lehigh Valley, and Blue Rocks.
Hamburg, PA - Hiking - 8.7 miles

#5. Appalachian Trail: Springer Mountain to Hightower Gap
The summit of Springer Mountain, a broad dome with thin oak woods and a rock outcrop, has excellent northwest views of the Cohutta Mountains.
Suches, GA - Hiking - 9 miles

#6. Appalachian National Scenic Trail - Pennsylvania Section
Rouzerville, PA - Hiking - 232 miles

#7. Conundrum Hot Springs
A secluded collection of pools in a beautiful wilderness location. Essentially undeveloped, wilderness location. Conundrum is one of Colorado’s most exquisite settings …
Aspen, CO - Hot Springs - 18 miles

#8. American River Confluence to Lake Clementine
Contrasting dynamics and a wild-river canyon take center stage on this hike. You’ll encounter raging rapids, soothing pools, a loud waterfall at a dam, and a tranquil lake.
Auburn, CA - Hiking - 6 miles

#9. Furnace Mountain / Trayfoot Mountain Overnight Loop
If you like mountaintop views and camping along streams, this loop is for you. Head north on the Appalachian Trail (AT) and turn west toward Austin Mountain, with many views of your destination.
Waynesboro, VA - Hiking - 20.6 miles

#10. Dolly Sods Wilderness
Make this loop in the renowned Dolly Sods Wilderness. This slice of the Monongahela has nearly everything …
Petersburg, WV - Hiking - 19.4 miles

See the rest of the top 100 on Trails.com

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We wrapped up our first day of hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park and noticed the following:

1. A thunderstorm was approaching.
2. Sunset wasn’t far away, either.

I figured we might get some interesting light on the Trail Ridge Road. I was snapping some pics of the alpenglow on mountains off to the East. I turned around to see perhaps the most amazing beam(s) of light in my life. The light lasted around 5 minutes until the rains came.

original - flickr - AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker

From Pennsylvania:

Looking southwest from Pine Hill (elevation approximately 2265 feet [690 meters]), Lackawanna State Forest, Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties.

original - flickr - Nicholas_T

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But does Tom Mangan actually carry Tom Mangan’s 10 Essentials for Day Hiking the Bay Area on the trail?

I’ve assembled my version of the 10 things I need for a happy hike in the Bay Area, where the notable absence of such climate annoyances as blizzards and hurricanes means we don’t have to dwell on the 10 Essentials for Wilderness Survival unless we really, really screw up.

1. A water supply
2. A reliable map
3. Comfortable socks
4: Comfortable shoes
5. Underwear that doesn’t chafe
6. Something to keep crud out of your shoes
7. Nylon hiking pants
8. Something to block the sun
9. Nourishment
10. The real 10 Essentials

I’d love to tell the world that Tom actually hikes barefoot — with only a Diet Coke for provisions. But it was not so on our hike last weekend.

Tom Mangan

Unfortunately for me, Tom walked the talk on the first 9 of 10. (I’m only assuming his underwear were comfortable.) Tom even had healthy snacks. (I stopped at Rotten Ronnie’s on the way to the trailhead.)

Once again, Tom Mangan makes me, the best hiker, look bad by comparison.

Dang.

Here are a few of the 10 real essentials Tom left at home:

3. INSULATION.
4. ILLUMINATION.
5. FIRST-AID SUPPLIES.
6. FIRE.
7. REPAIR KIT AND TOOLS.
10. EMERGENCY SHELTER.

Mangan’s 10 Essentials for Happy Hiking - Two-Heel Drive

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We headed across the Golden Gate Bridge en route to Point Bonita Lighthouse, touted in my guidebook the “most sensational easy hike in the Bay area”.

Tom concurred.

It’s only open a few hours each day, access blocked by a locked tunnel. Once through the rock, you need cross a suspension bridge deemed so untrustworthy that only two hikers (or three) should cross together at one time. If it collapses, this is what you face below.

We wandered several more miles, enjoying the atypically sunny Spring Sunday.

California Poppy

California Quail

See the rest of my photos from this hike on flickr.

Tom’s excellent trip report and photos.

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But NOT the entire 165mi loop.

TahoeRimTrail.org posted a poll: “What’s your favourite section to hike?”

If you have any advice for me, please leave a comment.

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… the trek is full up until September. Restrictions imposed by the Peruvian government on the number of people allowed to hike the trail haven’t diminished its popularity and this year’s peak season sold out with unprecedented speed.

… in 2005, the government acted to limit those trekking the “classic” four-day route to 500 a day as the rapidly growing number of walkers threatened to overwhelm the route’s infrastructure and damage Inca ruins. In reality, only around 200 people can now set out every day on what was previously a virtual free-for-all because the necessary expedition support staff are included in the permitted total. These include guides, cooks and the legendary local porters, whose ability to trot around the trail carrying three times their own body weight with only sandals on their feet never ceases to amaze trekkers struggling to carry a water bottle while clad in state-of-the art hiking gear. …

A Guardian article suggests some of the standard guided alternative treks:

Salkantay Trail

Lares Valley

Colca Canyon

Cordillera Huayhuash

They recommend some Trekking and volunteering itineraries, as well.

Here’s our own list of best hikes in Peru:

Ausangate Circuit TOP 10

Huayhuash Circuit

Alpamayo

Santa Cruz Trek

Inca Trail

Salcantay to Machu Picchu

Choquiquirao to Machu Picchu

Ticlla Circuit

Colca Canyon

Misti

Gran Vilaya (Kuelap)

Peru is one of the best destinations in the world for hikers. There are MANY wonderful choices.

Huayhuash Circuit - original - flickr

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Serious hikers definitely want to overnight on the Kalalau Trail, the best hike in Hawaii. The highlight of my 3wks on Kauai.

I was there 3 days, 2 nights.

You need a camping permit ($10 / night). I picked mine up in person at the DOFAW office in Lihue. They sell maps, as well, but a guidebook map is enough. Far better would be to apply for your permit months in advance as the quota is often sold out.

I hiked all 11mi (17.7km) the first day. That’s the best itinerary — but you should get an early start. There’s a public bus on Kauai, but it does not go all the way to the trailhead. The closest campground is Haena Beach Park about a mile from the start.

Kalalau is surprisingly more difficult than it looks.

I fell once each day. Total, I saw 3 seriously injured hikers. This was in PERFECT weather. It would be very sketchy in wet weather.

The trail is sometimes closed due to rain. But most often storms like this blow in and right over the trail, settling on the high peaks above.

Even in perfect weather, there are a many places where an unexpected stumble could hurtle you to your death.

Some say the cliff trails are eroded to the point where the Kalalau should be closed. I wouldn’t go that far. And I did see maintenance guys working on it while I was there.

It’s dangerous. But not as dangerous as the West Coast Trail in Canada, in comparison.

I thought the views might be wonderful, but similar. All massive green cliffs.

Not at all. It is terrifically varied. Over the 11mi you go from lush rainforest to an almost arid environment.

I set up camp at the very end of the Kalalau. Paradise?

The camping area is over a mile long, the beach huge. It was not particularly crowded when I was there.

Here I had something of an odd experience. Logically I knew, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” Yet I was emotionally unmoved by paradise. (Perhaps being a blogger is making me too analytical on these trips.)

Next day I moved on to investigate side trips including Hanakoa Falls.

Gorgeous.

Just as good, I thought, but further to reach, is Hanakapiai Falls.

There’s too much to highlight in one post. If you’ve been waffling about heading to Hawaii for hiking, I say go for it. Kauai, of course.

I did get back safe-and-sound to my rent-a-car at Haena Beach Park campground.

====

I used Kathy Morey’s guidebook, the best overall, Kaua’i Trails.

Great on flora and fauna. Less than perfect when it comes to written descriptions of trails.

Here’s what Kathy’s got to say about this hike:

“The Na Pali Coast’s Kalalau Trail is sometimes touted as one of the world’s most beautiful hikes, but I disagree. Those wishing to see the Na Pali Coast as it’s typically shown in calendars, travelogues, and coffee table books may find that helicopter of boat trips are better at providing the experience and scenery they expect. Being on the Na Pali Coast’s Kalalau Trail is a very different experience, often far from idyllic. It’s the difference between looking at a beauful animal from a distance and being a flea on that animal.

… Camping areas are filthy, overused, crowded, and bug-and-toad infested. …

… once notorious for its resident population of hippies and their ultra-casual, clothing-optional lifestyle. Those days are over. Nudity has always been illegal at all Hawaiian beaches. Expect to find a resident caretaker in the Kalalau area who will keep an eye on visitors and educate them …

… Call me an iconoclast, but I regard backpacking the Kalalau Trail … As a poor use of the limited time most visitors probably have on Kauai. … you’re better off day hiking it.” …

I beg to differ. Everyone I’ve spoken with loved this hike. Many told me it was the greatest hike of their lives.

Certainly in March I saw no mosquitoes, no toads, no bugs. The campsites are littered as is much of Kaua’i, but it in no way ruined the experience for me.

One “hippy” approached me for leftover food. Another I saw fleeing inland. (The police were around organizing the evacuation of a hiker with a sprained ankle.) Since Kathy wrote the book, authorities have cracked down on illegal camping.

I did see both topless and nude women at the beach and in the waterfall — that in no way ruined the experience for me, either.

Had a wild boar checking out my campsite at dusk. I took care of that brute, though.

Chased after him with my camera. (This pig some hunter had left to dry beside the highway.)

Check the annotated photos from my Kalalau hike on flickr.

If you’re wondering if this trail is safe enough for you, read more on these two posts:

Kalalau Trail Conditions - A Kaua’i Blog

More Kalalau Questions - A Kaua’i Blog

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