February 2, 2006 Rainbow at Elam Bend (McFall, Missouri)
top 10 travellers
1. CAPTAIN JAMES COOK
2. XUANZANG
3. SIR RICHARD BURTON
4. IBN BATTUTA
5. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
6. CHARLES DARWIN
7. FRIDTJOF NANSEN
8. YURI GAGARIN
9. MICHAEL PALIN
10. APHRA BEHN
There is no doubt Cook is the greatest of them all. His 3 voyages of discovery are unmatched.
The rest of the top 10 can be argued.
Certainly Michael had it a little easier than the rest.
weird world maps
In 2003, 665 million international tourist trips were made. … Western Europe is the most popular destination for international tourists: 46% of world tourist trips. At the other extreme 0.1% of world tourist trips are made to Central African territories.
Size shows proportion of world international tourist trips to that territory.
wikitravel.org
I am a big fan of wikipedia. There is no better example of what can happen if you simply get out of the way. Let people do what they want.
The much publicized problems with the site? I’ve never had a glitch. The few minor mistakes that irked me, I corrected.
Wikipedia is the encyclopedia that anyone can edit.
Now I stumbled on to Wikitravel.org
Interesting. But why not simply include all this travel content in wikipedia?
hiking – Abbot Pass hut, Rockies
Alpine Club of Canada – Abbot Pass Hut
At 9,598 feet, it is the second highest permanent structure in Canada. Built in 1922, how is it that I still haven’t been there. It’s just up the hill from Lake O’Hara.
Might be the extreme scree gully / avalanche shoot approach.
TV – Globe Trekker, Pilot Guides
Globe Trekker (also called Pilot Guides outside the United States and originally broadcast as Lonely Planet) is adventure tourism TV. This British series was inspired by Australian Lonely Planet travelbooks and has been in production for over 10-years. It is broadcast in over 40 countries across 6 continents.
Commercial TV generally depresses me. If I had a gun I’d shoot the TV, or myself.
A great exception to the rule is this program which I love. A huge success, it is phenomenally accurate at showing what it is like to travel the backpacker circuit. No need to go yourself, actually.
Now when will we have decent hiking television?
want to hike South America?
Next week I will announce the besthike.com South America page. A resource for any hiker wanting to get started organizing a trek. I focused on South America first as it is the best neglected continent by hikers. Information on hikes in the Andes is more critical than in the Alps, by comparison.
Best hikes & treks in South America.
My favourite photo on South American hikes was professionally published by Radek Tezaur. This is the Dientes Circuit in Patagonia, perhaps the world’s most southern major hike.
Goliath Expedition
The longest hike ever?
Karl Bushby is walking around the world. 12 years. 36,000 miles.
He started in Patagonia, Nov. 1st, 1998 with about $800 in his pocket. And started walking north.
HEY, he crossed from Alaska into Siberia over an ice “bridge” on the Chukchi Sea (north of the Bering Straits).
But his expedition is in trouble. The Russians are threatening to throw him out due to problems with his paperwork. (BBC newstory April 6, 2006)
I expect after putting in 7 years on this project, Karl will find a way to finish it. Good luck.
world’s toughest foot race
Have you heard of the Marathon des Sables?
Racing 142 miles over seven days in the Sahara. 120F heat. Wind storms. Carrying all your own gear & food. One guy got lost for over a week last year.
great pics of Bolivia
Lee Chai has a good eye.
My buddy Grant climbed Volcan Licancabur. It’s much tougher and higher than it looks. 5916m (19404ft)
besthike.com 