I’ve hiked it at least 100 times — though it’s been rerouted in recent years.
Only 4km one way to an impressive pedestrian-cyclist suspension bridge from my favourite beach on Vancouver Island, Rathtrevor.
Normally I don’t start from Rarthrevor. I skip the road walking and begin at the “I” information sign. That’s the trailhead parking lot: 175 Allsbrook Rd, Parksville.
Saysutshun (Newcastle Island Marine) Park is a family friendly adventure, accessible only by foot passenger ferry or your own boat from Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.
I put my bike on an intercity bus. Then rode the fantastic Nanaimo bike trails to get to the ferry.
It’s a quick, scenic trip over to Saysutshun.
Many simply kayak over to the island. It’s quite protected and safe.
I believe it’s obligatory 😀 to take a photo at the first totem pole.
There are a number of trails to explore on foot and (some) on bike. I did both.
Most day trippers spend about 2 hours walking the trails.
With frequent stops for photos.
Surprisingly, coal was mined here 1853 – 1882. Hence the name, Newcastle.
The rocky shelf is perfect for exploration.
Most fun for me was exploring some of the boat wrecks at low tide.
As you can see 😀, I pushed this one boat back into the ocean.
You are almost certain to see some of the Nanaimo ferries.
Sandstone quarrying began on Newcastle Island 1869. There is plenty of evidence of that stonework, even today.
Happily, you can still see some huge old growth trees.
I saw many deer. A few rabbits. None of the worrisome racoons.
For the first time at Saysutshun, I camped one night.
18 walk-in campsites are located in a quiet forested area a mere 5-minute walk from the docks.
Five group campsites are also available that can accommodate up to 50 guests.
Potable water is available along with flush and pit toilets, hot showers, and food lockers to protect your rations from local raccoons!
With no cars allowed on the island, the quiet is serene, with nothing but the sound of the ocean, birds and wind in the trees. And with no bears or cougars on the island, there is little worry of any alarming wildlife encounters.
Sites are available on a first-come first-served basis, but reservations are highly recommended.
I unexpectedly got free-to-me access to the BEST A.I. VIDEO generating tool as of May 2025 — Google Veo 3.
… It costs U.S. $250 / month as I post. 😳
I first asked for audio and video of a hiker crossing a river in a rain storm on Vancouver Island.
NEXT I was offered anA.I. enhanced version of that same prompt:
Atmospheric and moody cinematic scene, reminiscent of a Pacific Northwest indie film. Overcast day, with a soft, diffused light filtering through the dense canopy of evergreens. Cool blues and grays dominate the color palette. Medium shot of a lone hiker, seen from the waist up, mid-stream in a rushing river. The hiker is wearing a waterproof hiking jacket and a backpack. His face is partially obscured by the rain and the hood of his jacket. The river is rocky and fast-flowing, with the water churning around the hiker’s legs. The background consists of a lush, green forest with ferns and moss-covered trees. The camera slowly pans to follow the hiker as he makes his way across the river. The sound of the rain and the rushing water create a sense of immersion and isolation.
Finally, I changed the last enhance prompt to have the hiker in deeper water. 😀
We love Australia. Who doesn’t? What’s not to like? It’s paradise Down Under.
What an exotic treat to have kangaroos and wallabies hanging about your campsite!
A.I. generated image
“Stunning rocky headlands and perfect beaches, lush rainforests, sun-sharpened deserts and the muted beauty of the bush waking to the trail in Australia offers a kaleidoscope of colours, terrains and adventures for walkers of all levels.” – LP
You have such a wealth of choices: the Blue Mountains (NSW), Whitsunday Islands (QLD), dense subtropical rainforest in Lamington National Park (QLD), Larapinta Trail (NT) out of Alice Springs, wild Kakadu National Park (NT), the rugged Cape-to-Cape (WA) or pretty Wine Glass Bay in Freycinet National Park (TAS).
I saw guided groups on e-bikes in Tuscany 2023. They had accommodation and recharging booked for a multi-day tour. And had a maintenance van following. 😀
Distance: 48.3 miles (77.7 km) Lee Pass to East Rim / 37 miles (60 km) Lee Pass to The Grotto
Days Needed: 1-5 days
Peak Elevation: 7,441 feet
Low Elevation: 4, 327’
Elevation Gain/Loss:6,334’ ascent and -6,646’ descent
Best Travel Time: April-May or September-October
Permits: Required (see below)
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
… The Zion Traverse, also called the Trans-Zion Trek, is not a single trail but a group of trails linked together …
This is a stunning maze-like landscape of steep echoing canyons, soaring Navajo sandstone monoliths, and high plateaus. Every possible place where flora can grip the earth is packed with pine and juniper, high-desert flowers, sipping from seeps, springs, or making the most of a bit of rainfall. This is a fascinating geological journey that will ignite a love for desert wildernesses.
One of the national park’s more logistically complicated hiking options, the Zion Traverse offers many rewards for the effort …
quick and easy to switch between riding and carrying your bag
can accommodate bags from 30 to 110 litres
compact when folded for planes, trains, buses, etc.
particularly suited to the military, rescue services, photographers, mountain guides and any other professional or amateur who needs to carry equipment in the wild
MIGHT be an option for hikers with physical problems where they cannot carry a backpack
A Modern Guide to Hiking Gear and Techniques for Active Adults
I’m over age-60 and still a keen hiker. It’s one of the recreational activities that skews to a higher age demographic.
If you want to start hiking as an older adult or you hiked as a youth and are just getting back onto the trails, you’ll quickly discover that the hiking gear and skills used by today’s hikers have changed significantly in the past 20 years. From lightweight gear, footwear, and clothing to advances in GPS navigation and satellite communications, nearly every aspect of the hiking experience has been transformed, making hiking more accessible than ever for older adults.
Written by Philip Werner, the founder of the highly acclaimed hiking website SectionHiker.com, Hiking Over 60 will bring you up to speed on the hiking gear and techniques that modern hikers use today.
Since retiring in 2010, Philip has hiked ten thousand miles in the United States and Scotland. An older hiker himself, he has a unique grasp of the physical challenges that mature hikers may face on the trail. …
besthike.com 