Ridiculous.
planning for the Pacific Crest Trail
Most PCT thru-hikers will start from Campo on the Mexican border after the annual kickoff party in late April or early May and hike northbound to Manning Provincial Park along the U.S-Canadian border in 5 to 6 months, averaging about 20 miles a day. Some PCT thru-hikers will finish in 4.5 months–starting in mid-May and finishing in late-September, averaging about 22 miles a day with a zero (rest) day every 7-10 days. Planning to do it this quickly, however, doesn’t factor in time for contingencies like illness and other medical issues.
plan your trip on the pacific crest trail – Backpacker
Patagonian Adventure
This Patagonia guided adventure is recommended by South American Explorers. That’s good enough for us.
Sweet itinerary:
Santiago Night Train
Pucon
Pucon
Ensenada
Villa La Angostura
Bariloche
Bariloche
Los Alerces National Park
Los Alerces National Park
Bajo Caracoles
Chalten / Fitz Roy
Chalten / Fitz Roy
Chalten / Fitz Roy
Calafate
Calafate
Torres del Paine Nat’l Park
Torres del Paine Nat’l Park
Torres del Paine Nat’l Park
Punto Arenas
Altoids tin survival kit
Salcantay Trek, Peru now (over) regulated
As reported by South American Explorers:
The Instituto Nacional de Cultura (INC) has instituted new rules for the Salkantay trek. Now it is only possible to do this trek with an agency and additionally, they have implemented a new change of 120 soles ($36), therefore expect the price of the trek to increase accordingly. There have been other price changes. For entrance to Machu Picchu, the price is now 118.50 soles ($36).
… It is expected that in the next year, there will be similar changes to other alternative inca trails. For up to date information, please contact the Cusco Clubhouse, cuscoclub@saexplorers.org.
What a drag.
Our advice is to avoid the Machu Picchu treks and hike out of far-less-regulated Huaraz, Peru instead.
UPDATE: Jesse posted a 2006 trip report.
INKAFEST Mountain Film Festival
From August 10th to 12th, Huaraz, Peru played host to the 2nd annual festival of movies about mountain sports and adventure. INKAFEST will then be coming to El Colegio de los Reyes Rojos in Barranco, Lima from the 24th to 26th of August; and Arequipa and Cuzco in September.
For further details check with South American Explorers.
panorama photos – Jan Zieba
new all-terrain Segway
Another mode of transport to regulate on hiking trails.
I’m not sure if I like it not. The geek in me thinks “coolâ€, but the hiker in me can only forsee paths cut everywhere for these things so the fat and lazy can pretend to interact with nature.
The Segway Personal Transporter x2 provides enhanced performance on varied terrain with minimal environmental impact. Featuring all-terrain tires, a robust fender design, lithium-ion batteries and specially tuned software, the rugged Segway x2 will go practically anywhere in the wild that you want to go, whether it’s along nature trails, over hilly terrain or on the beach.
As an electric vehicle, the Segway would have a minimal impact on noise and emissions, but it does need a wider path than a bike or person on foot. It would be great on snowmobile trails in the summer, though.
Dvorak Uncensored » Newest Segway targets the off-road crowd
the “flying kayak” – flyak
I am searching for a portable kayak to be used in future hiking / paddling trips.
This is not the one.
But it is cool. Norwegian design, it’s already proven it’s speed advantage in race conditions.
Twin hydrofoils are designed to raise the hull clear of the water and increase the speed.
besthike.com 