Author: Rick Mc

Career gymnastics coach who loves the outdoors, and the internet.
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Triple Crown of Waterton, Alderson-Carthew

by site editor Rick McCharles

Third time lucky?

My first two attempts this past summer to hike the Triple Crown: Akamina Ridge, Alderson-Carthew and Crypt Lake … went awry.

This was to be my last chance. Snow was threatening.

Arriving mid-day, Alderson-Carthew was first on my rushed itinerary:

… One-Way hike from Cameron Lake to the Waterton townsite. It is about 16km long and takes between 5 to 7 hours depending on your urgency.

The highest elevation is about 7500ft(2300m) …. It is recommended that you take a shuttle from the townsite or have a friend drive you to the start of the trail. …

Unfortunately for me, the shuttle only runs with a minimum of 4 people. And I was friendless.

No matter, I would dash up the trail from Waterton town, return. Then do the other half return next day from the other end.

It starts at pretty Cameron Falls.

Cameron Falls, Waterton

Those are my two chocolate milk “hand weights” (nutrition and hydration). I would do it as a trail run to save time. … OK, a trail run down. I walked most of the way up.

Despite the snow, it was a gorgeous Autumn day.

Alderson-Carthew hike, Waterton

I love the Fall colours.

Alderson-Carthew hike, Waterton

It climbed up, and up, and up.

Alderson-Carthew hike, Waterton

At my highest point it was, as the last time I was here (VIDEO), very WINDY.

Alderson-Carthew hike, Waterton

see more photos from my half hike of Alderson-Carthew.

… I STILL have a chance to finish the Triple Crown this hiking season.

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best National Park – Waterton

Perhaps I’m biased having grown up in nearby Calgary.

But Waterton Lakes National Park, is my favourite anywhere I’ve hiked in the world.

Magical setting.

Waterton National Park 2009

Waterton #2 - "HDR-like"

It’s one of the best Parks anywhere for seeing large mammals.

Waterton National Park 2009

Now this is fishing.

See more interesting photos tagged “Waterton” on flickr.

Wikipedia – Waterton

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Five Favorite Places to Hike in Italy

by site editor Rick McCharles

I’m in Naples, now. Headed out to the Amalfi Coast in a couple of days.

Hiking guide Madeline Jhawar recommended these short hikes as not as crowded as many of the famous walks:

1) The Vièl del Pan path in the Dolomites
2) The Greenway, along Lake Como
3) Camogli to Portofino, Amalfi Coast
4) Path of Gods, Amalfi Coast
5) Sicily: Stromboli Volcano

Quoted on Why Go Italy. There is more information on each on that page.

Stromboli fumante

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Reel Rock Film Tour

This is the 5th year that the Banff Mountain Film Festival has sent a mini-festival of their best climbing films on the road.

Click PLAY or watch the extreme trailer on YouTube.

Ueli Steck, Paul Robinson, Daniel Woods, Lisa Rands, Dean Potter, Peter Croft, Chris Sharma, Cedar Wright, …

international calendar

official home page

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gorgeous Iceland hiking photos

We previously linked to Alastair Humphreys Laugavegur trek trip report.

Now check out Iceland: Paddling to the ocean – the end of the expedition

Here’s the accompanying slide show video with commentary.

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

Laugavegur should be one of the top 10 hikes in the world, don’t you think?

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another death on Longs Peak

When I scrambled the 15th highest mountain in Colorado in August, I was surprised at how DANGEROUS it is:

… It gets hairy, quickly. Exposure. Potential rockfall. … Many have been killed on this mountain.
I slipped badly on black ice here, the rock still frozen. …

In fact, I slipped badly just past the Keyhole. (The sun had not reached the other side.)

climbing Longs Peak, Rocky Mtn National Park

According to the National Park Service:

A hiker along the Keyhole Route of Longs Peak has been killed in a fall of about 300 feet …

The was at least the third fatality on Longs Peak this summer, and the second that occurred near the Keyhole …

National Parks Traveler

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Rawson Lake Trail, Alberta

Eric on Scenic Travel Canada posted a hike in my own backyard … that I’d never heard about.

The Rawson Lake Trail is an easy hike to a scenic and secluded mountain lake in Kananaskis Country, Alberta. Perched in the front ranges of the Rocky Mountains, the Rawson Lake hike is a 5 kilometer trek with a rewarding view of a picturesque green lake at the base of a towering peak – a quintessential Canadian postcard picture.

Rating – Easy
Distance – 5 kilometers
Elevation Gain – 320 meters
Duration – 3 hours round trip
When to go – mid-summer to early fall (mid July to October); snowshoe in mid-winter (December – March) …

details – Rawson Lake Trail – An Easy & Rewarding Hike in Kananaskis

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world’s SCARIEST hikes

As selected by Stephen Regenold, the Gear Junkie:

1. Half Dome’s Cable Route, Yosemite National Park
2. West Coast Trail, Vancouver Island, Canada
3. Mount Huashan Trail, China
4. Rover’s Run, Anchorage, Alaska
5. El Caminito del Rey, Spain
6. Devils Path, NY
7. Peekaboo Gulch, Utah
8. Kalalau Trail, Kauai
9. Pacaya Volcano, Guatemala
10. Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea

Travel & Leisure – World’s Scariest Hikes

(Thanks for the link HikingintheSmokys.com)

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Soldiers Summit, Yukon

This is not a best hike.

But no hiker should skip a quick trot up to this historic vantage.

Soldier's Summit, Yukon

The Alaska Highway was dedicated here November 20, 1942 at Soldiers Summit.

The vista over Kluane Lake:

Soldier's Summit, Yukon

… The attack on Pearl Harbor and beginning of the Pacific Theatre in World War II, coupled with Japanese threats to the west coast of North America and the Aleutian Islands, changed the priorities for both nations.

On February 6, 1942 the construction of the Alaska Highway was approved by the United States Army and the project received the authorization from the U.S. Congress and President Franklin D. Roosevelt to proceed five days later. Canada agreed to allow construction as long as the United States bore the full cost, and that the road and other facilities in Canada be turned over to Canadian authority after the war ended.

The official start of construction took place on March 8, 1942 after hundreds of pieces of construction equipment were moved on priority trains by the Northern Alberta Railways to the northeastern part of British Columbia near Mile 0 at Dawson Creek.

Construction accelerated through the spring as the winter weather faded away and crews were able to work from both the northern and southern ends; they were spurred on after reports of the Japanese invasion of Kiska Island and Attu Island in the Aleutians. …

The amazing story is documented in historic photos like this one:

Soldier's Summit, Yukon

Highly recommended.