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Hesquiat Peninsula Trail, Vancouver Island
West Coast Wonders offers a guided fly-in hike over 6-8 days.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
It’s also known as the Escalante Trail as most hikers start at Escalante Point.
Accessing this coastal route requires either a float plane out of Gold River or water taxi from Gold River or Tofino. Or you might be able to kayak.
Hesquiat Peninsula Provincial Park is situated on the west coast of Vancouver Island and occupies most of the eastern shore of Nootka Sound. (MAP) This park is a significant tourism corridor for rugged coastal hiking, boating and sea kayaking. …
This prominent low-elevation peninsula is a significant wilderness area protecting heritage sites, representative old-growth forest stands of Sitka spruce, lodgepole pine, white pine and yellow-cedar and a freshwater lake. The park also encompasses a variety of coastal ecosystems including extensive off-shore reefs, boulder, cobble and sand beaches, sea caves, sheltered bays, kelp beds and mudflats.
This wilderness park has numerous hazards and is in a remote area of the coast. Kayaking and hiking along the shores of the Hesquiat Peninsula is recommended for experienced paddlers and hikers only. This undeveloped wilderness park has no facilities, however backcountry camping is allowed.
If you want to know more, download the Wild Isle brochure.
Trip reports:
Michael Paskevicius (2017)
Wolverine (2004)
My NEXT Backpacking Stove – the Stash
JetBoil has finally perfected the hiking stove. It’s called the STASH.
When my MiniMo (orange) finally retires, I’ll switch to the smaller, lighter Stash.
UPDATE. I just bought the Stash for my upcoming trip to Portugal.
I’ll fly with it in the box — unused — so the airline can’t claim it’s a flight hazard.
Read Adventure Alan’s detailed review.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Crossing Iceland on Foot
Łukasz Supergan posted a terrific summary of options for hiking across Iceland.
I’m looking to do some bike touring and hiking summer 2022. #research
Łukasz did the #4 route (green) in winter, for example.
He recommends we do it in summer.
Variant no. 2 may be the easiest, but it leads through the roads used by cars, which may be tiresome.
Variant no. 1 is more demanding.
Variant no. 3 is the fastest traverse from all of the options. Going east-west requires more time and planning, and it is combined with bigger difficulties (less roads, more paths and sometimes the wilderness, crossing the rivers, long distances with no water). Choose it, if you are sure of your skills and you can survive far away from people. …
Crossing Iceland. Part 1: the route and preparations
I’m also researching options for bikepacking Iceland.
Inflatable Pillow for the Tent
One option is the Drift Camp Pillow from Klymit.
BUT the regular size is 19 oz / 540 g. Bulky and heavy.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
For many years I’ve been sleeping well with an Uberlite small sleeping pad as my pillow, wrapped in a shirt.
Much smaller and lighter at 6 oz than the Drift Camp 19 oz. BUT much more expensive.
I partially inflate the Uberlite. And stuff it with clothing. An adjustable-sized comfortable pillow. Good fully inflated sitting up reading, as well as partially deflated for bed.
I sleep on a (more durable) NeoAir short. If it ever starts leaking, my “pillow” is my back-up sleeping pad.
IF I were to switch, I’d want something that weighed less than 6 oz.
Perhaps one of the Sea to Summit AEROS pillows. If you use a sleeping bag with a hood, it will probably stay inside even if you roll over side-to-side.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Proposed NEW thru hike in France
Kevin Ginisty and friends want to officially launch the Hexatrek by summer 2022. In fact, you can join them in the first year.
This 3000 km trail will connect 14 of the most beautiful nationals parks and crossing France from the Vosges to the Pyrenees.
The path follows the highest mountain regions of our hexagon, joining along the way some of the most emblematic summits, natural wonders and wildest places. …
The route has been designed to connect the most beautiful places and maximize wild camp use where it’s allowed.
They are fund-raising for the project. And the documentary.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Banff Mountain Festival 2021
Click PLAY or watch the teaser on YouTube.
The 2021 Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is happening virtually and in-person this year from Saturday, October 30 to Sunday, November 7!
Featuring over 75 films, live events in Banff and Canmore, and 30 virtual programs to watch from the comfort of your home over nine epic days. Get your festival passes, Tuesday, October 5—available to purchase only until November 2 👉
BanffCentre.ca
Fisherman’s Trail, Rota Vicentina, Portugal
I’m considering the famed Portuguese Fisherman’s Trail in November.
Leave a comment if you have advice for me.
Moon and Honey hiked in early November. Though some restaurants had closed for the season, they still felt it was not too late in the year.
76 km/47 mi.
4 days
Porto Covo – Vila Nova de Milfontes (20 km)
Vila Nova de Milfontes – Almograve (15.5 km)
Almograve – Zambujeira do Mar (22 km)
Zambujeira do Mar – Odeceixe (18.5 km)
Most stay in town each night as there are no campgrounds and wild camping is prohibited.
You can have luggage transferred each night, hiking only with a day pack.
It’s possible to extend the hike on the Historical Way of the Rota Vicentina. I’ll probably start with just the Fisherman’s Trail.
related:
Liz Boulter – Walking Portugal’s Atlantic coast 2013
Sarah Baxter – Rota Vicentina: Welcome to Europe’s empty corner 2013
#AskCicerone: Walking in Europe
Cicerone is by far the best publisher of guidebooks for hiking Europe.
Podcast episode 28 gives an overview of their 162 guidebooks to Europe.
Too many good choices in that continent. This is a good place to start.
#AskCicerone: Walking and trekking in Europe
Listen here.
Mount MacFarlane, Chilliwack B.C.
1800m elevation gain. Beast of a day hike.
The hike to the summit of Mount MacFarlane is steep, difficult and requires some scrambling. However, the hike can be shortened by stopping at Lower Pierce Lake or Upper Pierce Lake. Both lakes are worthwhile objectives of their own.
About 10 hours if all goes well.
Details on Outdoor Vancouver.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
