Hiking Whitsunday Coast – Great Barrier Reef

Flight Centre’s in-house copywriter Lyndon Barnett is an avid hiker. He recently visited Tropical North Queenslands Whitsunday Coast of the Great Barrier Reef, which is easy to reach with domestic flights from the major cities of Australia such as Sydney and Brisbane.

Most visitors come to the Whitsundays to relax on the islands and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef – both of which are perfectly legitimate reasons to appreciate this incredible destination. However hikers might also be interested to know that the region has some terrific day hikes.

Around two hour’s drive south of Airlie Beach is the Eungella National Park. I really enjoyed hiking the various walks through the sub-tropical rainforest – the views across the valley are spectacular. The park itself is part of the wider Great Dividing Range that stretches the entire east coast of Australia. One of the big attractions for kids of all ages is the opportunity to spot a wild platypus swimming in the nearby river.

Whitsunday Coast
Whitsunday Coast

About the Author: Lyndon Barnett has travelled independently to 68 countries and extensively throughout Australia. He currently resides in Brisbane, Queensland.

Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa

Babu Sunuwar and Lakpa Tsheri Sherpa are National Geographic’s 2012 Adventurers of the Year.

They climbed Everest, rode a paraglider off the summit, cycled to the river, then paddled to the Indian Ocean.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via The Adventure Blog)

South Pole return on foot

Scott 2012 Expedition:

No one has ever walked from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back again.

In 2012 … Ben (Saunders) and his team mates Alastair Humphreys and Martin Hartley take on arguably the most ambitious polar expedition in the last century: the four-month Scott 2012 – the first return journey to the South Pole on foot, and at 1,800 miles, the longest unsupported polar journey in history …

about

Last November they spent a week training, and getting to know one another, on the Isle of Skye.

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

Good luck team.

(via Alastair Humphreys)

_____

Alastair just finished rowing across the Atlantic. How did that go?

“If you ever see me anywhere near a boat again, you have my permission to shoot me!” – Sir Steve Redgrave after winning his fourth Olympic gold medal for rowing. Four years later, he won a fifth…

“This is bloody stupid!” – John Fairfax after becoming the first person to row the Atlantic solo. Two years later, he rowed the Pacific…

hiking Canfield, Coeur d’Alene

Trip report by site editor Rick McCharles.

Mary prepared a lovely dinner for Derek and myself.

Some of us drank a little too much wine. Those who didn’t headed — next morning — up to Coeur d’Alene Idaho’s most popular local hiking area, Mt Canfield.

A gorgeous winter day, we were surprised not to see any other hikers. Nor even dog walkers.

Did they ALL drink too much wine the previous evening?

more photos

Thanks Mary. 🙂

WildernessTrekking.com – Asia

Mick Bromley of Wilderness Trekking confirms that the Annapurna Circuit is no longer one of the best treks in the world:

… You can rent a jeep all the way to Muktinath on the West side, and much of the East is road bed. Still there is magic to be found and the environs of Manang are still stunning, but just not fair to recommend this anymore. …

Here’s a list of hikes Mick organizes, all better than Annapurna:

Top Ten Treks

Sacred Tsum Valley – Nepal
Classic Manaslu Circuit – Nepal
Everest Base Camp – Nepal
Dolpo Traverse – Nepal
Mythical Nar & Phu – Nepal
Mount Kailas Kora – Tibet
Remote Zanskar Traverse – India
Markha Valley – India
Wild Lunana – Bhutan
Phubjikha Festivals – Bhutan

details – wildernesstrekking.com

Gramicci loves the Outdoors

Gramicci was title sponsor of our Adventure Race in 2011 — Expedition Idaho.

This is a shout out for their prewashed, comfortable clothing line. A relaxed look and fit. Almost retro, it will never go out of style.

Click through to see their TREKKING clothing.

Mike Graham founded Gramicci in Southern California. Their gear has that vibe.

Support Gramicci.

ExPed Idaho and World Champion 2011 Jacky Boisset of Team Thule

Attempt on Mt Anne, Tasmania

Frank (Our Hiking Blog) recommended a fascinating Sydney-based site called Sons of the Desert – a bushwalking blog

They post gorgeous BIG photos.

click to see full size originals

They got “lucky” with the notorious weather. Except for the wind. Tasmanian wind can destroy tents. And Maytag them.

Here’s how they tried to hold down one.

This is a great readAn Attempt on the Mt Anne Circuit, posted Jan. 2012.

If you like that, check their South Coast Track trip report.

Gawd. I still remember that mud.

… Yet I’m still planning a trip to Australia for Sept / October. Can hardly wait.

lost on Mt Benson, BC

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

The top of Mt. Benson (1019 Mtrs) in Nanaimo gives great views of the Straight of Georgia, the Coast Mountains and the surrounding mountains behind Mt. Benson. There are many routes up Mt. Benson …

Trail Peak

On a sunny February day I decided to trail run Benson, my first time up the super popular peak.

Since there was no tourist information office en route to one of the trailheads, Westwood Lake, I reckoned I’d wing it.

A hike this popular must have good trail signage.

… Right?

If there is, I never found it.

At full jog I plunged into one of the many trails leading UP.

Turns out that mountain is covered with mountain biking trails.

It’s amazing to me how much work kids are willing to put into these illegal courses.

Those trails all looped or dead ended. I was eventually forced back to the lake. And finished the pretty circuit.

more photos

I’ll be a little more careful with the trip-planning next time I try Benson. 🙂