Author: Rick Mc

Career gymnastics coach who loves the outdoors, and the internet.
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Hiking Westernmost Europe – Cabo da Roca Lighthouse

Trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

Cabo da Roca or Cape Roca forms the westernmost point of the Sintra Mountain Range, of mainland Portugal, of continental Europe, and of the Eurasian landmass.

It’s a popular day trip from the tourist town Sintra and from Lisbon.

Most photographed is Cabo da Roca Lighthouse situated on a promontory that juts out into the ocean.

Many hike both north and south from here. Villages are conveniently connected by bus.

I actually took the bus from Sintra for some late afternoon day hiking. It’s crowded. But a lovely spot.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The other great hike is away from the Sintra National Palace itself. Up to the Pena Palace.

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Jet Suit Mountain Rescue

We proved you can scale a Lake District Mountain (3100ft Helveylln) in 3mins 30 seconds, despite very poor visibility that would have grounded a HEMS Helicopter.

The Mountain Rescue foot response is over 70 minutes typically.

The route was 1.2 miles and 2200ft of height gain.

This is the latest in a series of Paramedic Response Exercises to prove capability in parallel with training up real Paramedics to provide first response Critical Care in hard to reach geographies.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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R.I.P. Dervla Murphy

An Adventure Badass I much admired, I was sad to hear Dervla is gone.

Of her many travels, I think I liked best those she did with her daughter. Trekking Peru, for example, in Eight Feet in the Andes, over 1,300 miles high altitude with a mule.

Dervla Murphy (28 November 1931 – 22 May 2022) was an Irish touring cyclist and author of adventure travel books, writing for more than 50 years.

Murphy took a break from travel writing following the birth of her daughter, and then wrote about her travels with Rachel in India, Pakistan, South America, Madagascar and Cameroon.

…. In 2005, she visited Cuba with her daughter and three granddaughters.

Murphy normally travelled alone without luxuries and depending on the hospitality of local people. …

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Gocta Falls, Peru

Gocta (Spanish: Catarata del Gocta) is a perennial waterfall with two drops located in Peru‘s province of Bongara in Amazonas, …

… its existence was not made known to the world until after an expedition made in 2002 by a German, Stefan Ziemendorff, with a group of Peruvian explorers. …

Citing various encyclopedias, reference books, and webpages accessible through Google, Gocta Cataracts are unofficially listed as the world’s fifth-tallest, after adding Ramnefjellsfossen (Norway) and Mongefossen (Norway).

Furthermore, The World Waterfall Database ranks Gocta as the 16th tallest. …

Tourists can now hike the trails by foot or horse to the misty base of the waterfall. The nearby town of Chachapoyas is located at an altitude of 2,235 meters (7,333 feet). 

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Pico da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro

Climbing Rio’s highest peak in Tijuca National Park reveals interesting rocky formations and viewpoints overlooking the city’s North zone, Guanabara Bay, Bico do Papagaio Peak, Pedra da Gavea, Maracanã stadium and Serra dos orgãos mountains.

Here’s the famous photo op on a steep section.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

related – trip report – Rio de Janeiro Pico da Tijuca Hike

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Zenbivy Bed 2.0 – a unique sleeping system

Kraig Becker on The Adventure Blog is one of my most trusted gear reviewers.

He’s been using this innovative sleeping system since 2018:

… The model I tested was rated for use in 10ºF (-12ºC) and the entire system (sheet and comforter) weighs just 3 lbs, 13 oz. (1.73 kg) for a large model. An equivalent-sized version rated for 25ºF (-4ºC) temperatures weigh more than a pound (.45 kg) less. Make no mistake, there are other sleeping bag options that weigh less, but few will deliver this much comfort. …

It looks great. Ideal for adventures where weight is not a major issue: Bikepacking, Kayaking, car camping, etc.

For long hikes I’ll stick with the lighter (more expen$ive) Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt.

Read Kraig’s review – Gear Review: Zenbivy Bed 2.0 10º Sleep System

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Testing my NEW DRONE – Mavic Mini SE

The (Mavic) Mini SE is the entry level model. Only CAD $349.

It has no obstacle avoidance.

… How long before I break it? 😀

Al l footage is my own aside from one professional stock video clip. Can you guess which one I did not shoot?

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.