Author: Rick Mc

Career gymnastics coach who loves the outdoors, and the internet.
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climb Indonesian volcanoes


RING OF FIRE ADVENTURE ZONE is a fairly new site.

The editor has since 1994 hiked up more than 20 volcano’s peaks around Indonesia archipelago, mostly in Java Island. And now has set up this blog to share his knowledge.

Indonesia
Indonesia

He recommends:

SUMATRA ISLAND
1) Volcano Kerinci
2) Volcano Tujuh
3) Volcano Sibayak

JAVA ISLAND
1) Volcano Merapi
2) Volcano Bromo-Semeru-Ijen

LOMBOK ISLAND
Volcano Rinjani

BALI ISLAND
Volcano Agung

… Others interested volcanoes in Indonesia are Tambora and Krakatau. Tambora was recorded as volcano which has biggest eruption in the history of world volcano eruption. Now, Tambora is already quite and frequently visited by volcano trekkers to admire it’s natural uniqueness, that impossible to be witnessed in others places. …

Intro To Indonesia Mountains

Personally I’d love to visit Krakatau, East of Java. A mythic destination that’s been in my mind since I was a small child.

An early 19th century illustration of Krakatoa
An early 19th century illustration of Krakatoa

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Canadian Hiker’s and Backpacker’s Handbook


J.P. recommends a new volume by Ben Gadd called “The Canadian Hiker’s and Backpacker’s Handbook” (publisher, Whitecap, 2008).

The book is slanted towards Canadian terrain and weather, so the gear and other recommendations are for those types of conditions. As a result super lightweight backpacking options aren’t emphasized in this book. Gear and hiking decision making is based with hypothermia- risky weather condtions always being a factor in much of Canada.

ben-gadd-hiking-book

The Canadian Hiker’s and Backpacker’s Handbook: Your How-to Guide for Hitting the Trails, Coast to Coast to Coast

On the trail in the Canadian Rockies we call our local legend Ben God.

His Handbook of the Canadian Rockies we’ve recommended hundreds of times in the past.

… I’m gone to log in to my local library website to put a request in for Gadd’s latest book.

Thanks J.P.

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New Year’s FART Adventures


Sadly I did not make it out to the New Year’s Eve adventure party hosted by Dave and Lisa Adlard, in Idaho.

Many of my Adventure Racing Team were there. The outdoor activities were extreme due to the record snow fall in 2008.

snowshoe-trekking

… It was very interesting to snowshoe along trails that we run and bike so often during the rest of the year: your normal landmarks are muted, and distances are thrown off, but the snow makes everything look like a real winter wonderland!

At the edge of the park, we decided to make our way to Scout rocks, which we had been to countless times on foot, but never in four to five feet of snow! We were warned that if we continued, there were no more directional signs, and no groomed trails, which suited us perfectly, and off we went.

The trail, if you can call it that, is mostly uphill to the rocks for about 3/4 of a mile, and the fact that we were walking was more than made up for the fact that the snow laden branches were now at face level.

Once we got to the base of the rocks, we started our way up the near vertical cliff, covered in feet of snow, with crevasses, roots, and boulders hidden underneath! It was awesome! …

New Year’s FART Training!

hot-tub

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Socotra Island, Yemen


Dark Roasted Blend linked to some amazing pics of a place they call The Most Alien-Looking Place on Earth.

I’d love to hike there. Check out the incredible vegetation.

socotra-trees
larger version – flickr – jan_vandorpe

socotra-vegetation
larger version – flickr – jan_vandorpe

… Socotra is considered the “jewel” of biodiversity in the Arabian sea. The long geological isolation of the Socotra archipelago and its fierce heat and drought have combined to create a unique and spectacular endemic flora (which may, therefore, be vulnerable to introduced species such as goats and to climate change). Surveys have revealed that more than a third of the 800 or so plant species of Socotra are found nowhere else. Botanists rank the flora of Socotra among the ten most endangered island flora in the world. The archipelago is a site of global importance for biodiversity conservation and a possible center for ecotourism. …

The island was recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a world natural heritage site in July 2008. …

Wikipedia

The beaches look pretty sweet, too.

Qalansiyah beach
Qalansiyah beach

larger version – flickr – Valerio Pandolfo

A friend of mine (Canadian who spoke Arabic) traveled in Yemen decades ago. And loved it.

There are some trekking tours listed on the internet, including Socotra Guide.

more photos – Dark Roasted Blend – The Most Alien-Looking Place on Earth

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Planet Earth – our home

The Secret Team has created a gift for you. This clip features our beautiful Planet Earth. As you experience this clip you will emit positive forces of energy across Planet Earth that will reach every single living thing on it. You will lift yourself, and as you lift yourself, you lift the entire world.

The magnificent music was composed and graciously gifted for this clip by composer Jo Blankenburg.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks George.

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trekking Manaslu and Annapurna, Nepal


Wow. Check out a 39-day mega-trek photo trip report posted by Tubby.

And this is only PART 1 of their adventures in Nepal.

Tubby’s group connected a trek around Manaslu with the Annapurna Circuit. AND the sidetrip to Annapurna Base Camp.

They had wondrous moments. And many challenges.

Here’s the receipt from Maoist rebels for the group “donation”:

rebel.jpg

This extortion is supposed to be ended. But I expect the odd local in Nepal will still be asking for cash for the cause.

As always, the charming people were a highlight:

kids.jpg

I can’t find a way to summarize this monster trip in a short blog post. You need to check it out yourself: Trekking our arses off in Nepal #1

manaslu.jpg
Manaslu

Annapurna Circuit information page.

Annapurna is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

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adventurer rewarded for stupidity?


map-of-brooks-rangeDavid Roberts was air rescued in Alaska this past summer at a cost of over $90,000.

Though he had a lot of experience with arctic wilderness in Saskatchewan, the media is reporting that he was totally unprepared, and a “goofy guy”.

Roberts, a 54-year-old Australian, was trying to walk almost 100 miles across the Brooks Range wilderness when he set off a long-distance distress call on Friday. He’d been out there alone for two months.
…

He hauled a 140-pound sled full of supplies behind him, he said. A persistent stomach bug left him dehydrated while frequent, stabbing pains pierced his cold feet.

He traveled fewer than 40 miles in two months — far less than he’d expected.

…

Alaskans have little patience for seemingly ill-prepared adventurers, and news of the rescue prompted comparisons to another explorer who trekked into the wilderness 16 years ago — Chris McCandless. McCandless starved to death after trying to survive on his own for more than three months near Denali National Park.
…

Roberts didn’t know who would have to pay for his rescue when he made the decision to get help, he said. “I didn’t presume that somebody else was going to pick up the tab on that.” …

Anchorage Daily News – Adventurer’s wilderness trek ends with air rescue, free hotel

Roberts will not be billed for the rescue costs.