As of March 20, 2020.
Trekking permit for foreign national(s) has been temporarily halted in a bid to prevent possible spread of the COVID-19 in the country …
The excellent visa-on-arrival service at Kathmandu airport has also been suspended.
American thru hikes cancelled for 2020
Mac:
… The Pacific Crest Trail Association, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy have all officially requested hikers to postpone or cancel their thru-hikes
… (in related news, the Arizona Trail Association and the Great Divide Trail Association have done the same). …
Your Pacific Crest Trail Thru-hike Is Canceled
You can certainly still day hike. And should be able to plan multi-day hikes.
BUT check camping and resupply options. California State Parks, for example, has closed all campgrounds.
NEW Great Walk in New Zealand – Paparoa Track
Fully opened March 1, 2020.
Bookings will open on Wednesday 10 June 2020 at 9:30 am, for trips from 1 October 2020 to 30 June 2021.
The Paparoa Track is a 55.7 km (34.6 mi) shared hiking and mountain biking track located in Paparoa National Park in the South Island of New Zealand.
The track was created as a memorial for the 29 miners who lost lives in the Pike River Mine disaster.
The track is the tenth Great Walk to be created …
Highlights
-
-
-
Explore the spectacular Pororari River Gorge with dramatic limestone cliffs, beech forest and glades of subtropical nīkau palms.
-
Sit back and enjoy in incredible sunsets over the Tasman Sea from the Moonlight Tops Hut.
-
Follow in the footsteps of gold miners on the historic Croesus Track. Take a side trip to Garden Gully to see gold-mining remains.
-
Enjoy the stunning views. You’ll spot the Lone Hand rock formation on the way to Pororari Hut.
-
-
Hiking Water Treatment Options
Jade “Darth Jader” Cabrera on the PCT
Before my hike I never went outside without makeup. I feel much less stress now about my hair, career, or car.
Family and friendships are my new priorities. …
GO HIKING – Doctor’s orders
It’s true because I want it to be true. 🏕 🙂
… medics found that severely ill flu patients nursed outdoors recovered better than those treated indoors.
A combination of fresh air and sunlight seems to have prevented deaths among patients; and infections among medical staff. …
Research shows that outdoor air is a natural disinfectant. Fresh air can kill the flu virus and other harmful germs. Equally, sunlight is germicidal and there is now evidence it can kill the flu virus. …
Coronavirus and the Sun: a Lesson from the 1918 Influenza Pandemic
popular gear on the Continental Divide Trail
With “social distancing” being recommended around the world, I’m personally looking at doing even more hiking than usual in 2020.
The objective of social distancing is to reduce the probability of contact between persons carrying an infection, and others who are not infected, so as to minimize disease transmission …
One of the earliest references to social distancing dates to the seventh century BC in the Book of Leviticus, 13:46: “And the leper in whom the plague is…he shall dwell alone; [outside] the camp shall his habitation be.”
Mac annually posts a Continental Divide Trail Thru-hiker Survey.
Click through to find out what gear was most popular in 2019.
For example … SHOES:
- Merrell Moab 2 Vent (Hiker Rating: 5/5)
- La Sportiva Wildcat (4.80/5)
- Salomon XA Pro 3D (4.64/5)
- Altra Timp (4.29/5)
- Altra Lone Peak (4.28/5)
I wear various Moab shoes as I find them so much more durable than trail runners. Merrell comes in very wide sizes, as well, which I need due to bunions.
Warren Doyle to Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame
Warren Doyle, of Mountain City, Tennessee, has hiked the entire 2,180-mile Appalachian Trail 18 times, including nine thru-hikes. …
He also led eight group thru-hikes of the AT, seven of which saw a 100 percent completion rate among the hikers. …
The class, which will be formally inducted on Saturday, May 2, during the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Banquet at the Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, also will include Chris Brunton, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; the late Thurston Griggs, of Baltimore, Maryland; and the late Jim Stoltz of Helena, Montana.
Winter trek of Mardi Himal, Nepal
Mardi Himal is one of our favourite hikes in high season.
… What about winter?
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
(via Adventure Blog)
Kilimanjaro Uncovered by Alexandra Tanbai
I read this book in preparation for our own Kilimanjaro climb scheduled for September 2020.
Alexandra penned Kilimanjaro Uncovered in real time while preparing and during her climb on the Northern Circuit, a little-known hiking route away from the crowds to the top of Kilimanjaro.
She provides valuable guidance for those interested in climbing themselves and tells a broader story of a truly life-changing experience.
Alex is a rookie mountain climber. She over-prepares. Is cautious and thoughtful about every aspect.
The book is very informative for anyone who has never done a serious multi-night tent trip.
I admire her courage in planning that big adventure on her own. I admire her honesty and vulnerability sharing fears and problems on the trek, big and small.
Alexandra Tanbai made the summit. In fact everyone in her guided party made the top though one had a serious ankle injury. No helicopter was available for evacuation.
Less than a year after publishing Kilimanjaro Uncovered, Alexandra founded KiliGATE.com—the first and only online Kilimanjaro tour booking platform committed to responsible tourism.
Her goal—make it easy for tourists to book their climb with a responsible tour operator and promote fair porter treatment.
I do feel this book is too long.
It’s available in paperback and Kindle formats.
besthike.com 