Rick Mc

June 24, 2014June 24, 2014

author Karen Sykes – dead of hypothermia

😦

Brian J. Cantwell of The Seattle Times described hiking expert and author Karen Sykes as “a tough old bird, dogged in pursuit of topics that would get more people outdoors.”

An avid explorer of the Northwest forests and mountains, Sykes wrote about hiking in all of its guises; wildflower hikes, hikes for kids, hikes for novices, you name it. She was a teacher and an inspiration. …

After having been reported missing last week in Mount Rainier National Park, her body was found three days later. She died of hypothermia, according to the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s office. …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC), 16,911 deaths in the United States were associated with hypothermia between 1999 to 2011. …

Mother Nature

June 23, 2014June 20, 2014

Huayhuash – South America’s Finest High-Altitude Trek

ramblin’ boy posted the best Huayhuash trip report I’ve yet seen.

15 days

… Most of the 125-km long trek is on trails above 4000m and above the tree line so you have a very stark mountain scenery. It is obviously much more of a commitment than, let’s say, hiking the Monte Fitz Roy area near El Chalten in Argentina’s Patagonia; it is also more demanding physically than the eight-to-ten-day Torres del Paine Circuit in southern Chile.

However, the reward is even more stunning scenery– and nobody is there!

It is not everyone’s cup of tea; but if, like me, you enjoy the idea of “leaving” civilization behind while donkeys carry your gear for a couple of weeks of wandering along incredible mountain trails then look no further! …

At Llamac we met the arrieros (muleteers) and their burros, all ten of them. They would carry the bulk of our stuff for us; we would walk with day packs containing rain gear, cameras, and a water bottle. I cannot imagine doing this particular trek unsupported, weighed down by all the things you’d need to bring. …

read more – The Huayhuash Circuit: South America’s Finest High-Altitude Trek (2010)

We’ve updated and moved our Huayhuash information page. 🙂

June 22, 2014June 22, 2014

West Coast Trail – new access

… Parks Canada has officially declared Nitinat Narrows the third access point to the iconic West Coast Trail, a place where broken hikers cannot only exit, but where fresh ones can start, choosing an abbreviated trip of a few days while creating new revenue potential for the Ditidaht. …

Anyone entering from Nitinat Narrows must still receive an orientation from the First Nations, and are recommended to be as experienced and prepared as someone tackling the entire trail …

Vancouver Sun

Formerly a maximum of 60 hikers could start the WCT each day. An additional 8 / hikers day can now start via boat from Nitinat Narrows.

The Narrows have always been an “unofficial” exit point.This makes it official.

We’ve updated our WCT information page.

June 17, 2014June 14, 2014

Skåneleden Trail in Sweden

A reader recommends this adventure. 🙂

The Skåneleden Trail is a long distance footpath through the beautiful countryside of Skåne. The Trail is over 1000 kilometres long and is divided into five separate trails, with total of 89 sections. …

en.skaneleden.se

Weekend hikes

Röstånga – Åstorp

Fantastic trip that goes through one of Skåne’s most beautiful national parks called Söderåsen ( known as Skåne’s Grand Canyon ). A lengthy hike but not too hard if you are in OK shape. About 45 kilometers. …

wikitravel

June 16, 2014June 13, 2014

Tour de Great Himalayan Trail

I mountain biked 2 days of the GHT (Annapurna) last year. Glorious. But tough.

Stretching for more than 1700 km (1056 miles) across Nepal, the Great Himalaya Trail is making a bid for becoming one of the top long distance trekking routes in the world.

While the infrastructure along the trail is still being built, it has already become a mecca for adventure.

In the video below, we get a 4-minute look at the GHT from some mountain bikers …

Adventure Blog

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Facebook page.

June 15, 2014June 16, 2014

running the Drakensberg Grand Traverse

“Travailen” follows Ryan Sandes and Ryno Griesel on their attempt of the Drakensberg Grand Traverse (DGT) in South Africa.

Travailen – Official Trailer

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

related – National Geographic – North Drakensberg Traverse, South Africa/Lesotho, uKhahlamba/ Drakensberg Park

(via Outside)

June 9, 2014June 5, 2014

Dave at the Lost City

… a good 4 to 5 day hike. We had great weather with no rain, which meant hot afternoons. In the mornings, we were up around 5am to be on the trail by 6am. This was to avoid the heat and catch the sun rise. Although hiking in the heat was hard work, the waterfall swimming pools at the end of every day (except the last) were a magnificent reward. Amazing water and then catch some rays in the sun. …

Ciudad Perdida, Colombia – The Lost City

June 7, 2014May 28, 2014

Milford Track, New Zealand

We’ve just updated our Milford information page. If you know the adventure, check the details to see if it’s up-to-date.

Great Walk

Click PLAY or watch a short promo video on YouTube.

Lonely Planet Hiking & Tramping in New Zealand has been updated by Slater, Bennett & DuFresne for 2014, by the by.

June 6, 2014May 26, 2014

South Coast Track mud

Located in the Southwest National Park, Tasmania, Australia the 82 km track roughly follows the coast between Cockle Creek and Melaleuca. Most people fly into Melaleuca and walk out to Cockle Creek. This is usually to avoid being trapped at Melaleuca in bad weather without food. There are only three ways to get to Melaleuca, by boat, walk in or fly. …

In 2010 David Murphy created a video of his adventures on the South Coast Track. …

All the good bits (mud, leeches, blood, rivers and rain) are in the second half…..

Our Hiking Blog – South Coast Track – mud, leeches and lots more!

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.