Category: alpine

Posted on

Was Nepal right to ban solo trekking in the Himalayas?

That’s the title of a thoughtful article on National Geographic:

Part of the magic of trekking in Nepal used to be how easy it was to get started, but on 1 April 2023, the government imposed a radical shake-up of the country’s trekking rules. Whereas previously travellers could hike alone anywhere in the country, now they must hire a guide to walk through Nepal’s 12 national parks and six conservation areas, including the popular Everest Base Camp and Annapurna …

 “For less-experienced trekkers, having a good guide can definitely enhance your trekking experience, but guides aren’t trained to a consistent standard in Nepal,” says Bradley Mayhew, author of Lonely Planet’s Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya guidebook. “Encouraging trekkers to hire a guide by providing better-trained guides would be a smarter approach than forcing all trekkers to take a guide, regardless of their experience.” …

Nat Geo

As an experienced hiker who’s been to Nepal more than 10 times, I’ll switch to the Indian Himalaya.

But there are certainly some advantages in requiring a guide for new trekkers.

related – Our guide to INDEPENDENT trekking in Nepal — back when it was still allowed.

Posted on

Long Range Traverse, Newfoundland

The Long Range Traverse is the best route in remote Gros Morne National Park.

Thomas Coldwell documented his summer 2022 adventure, along with 4 others. And put together this VERY useful document for anyone wanting to plan a Traverse for themselves:

Your Complete Guide to the Long Range Traverse in Newfoundland

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Posted on

Eiger Trail, Grindewald, Switzerland

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

Click PLAY or get a glimpse of my June hike on YouTube.

I did the Jungfrau region right in 2009, wild camping 3 days, 2 nights across the face of the mountains.

So 2023 was a re-visit.

Grindewald is one of our top 10 hiking towns in the world. Everyone either going to, or coming from, a hike. Everyone is happy — despite the high Swiss prices.

I stayed at the excellent and inexpensive Grindewald hostel. It’s a fair walk uphill from town. But you can take the hourly bus for free.

Of many excellent day hike options, I decided on the Eiger Trail starting in Alpiglen, climbing 800m. Lazy this time, I took the expensive Jungfrau Railway up to Alpiglen. (A woman I’d spoken with had hiked it to and from Grindewald the day before — MUCH tougher.)

My route was only a 12.9-km loop — but it might take 5 hours as you stop so often for the fantastic vistas both UP and DOWN.

While hiking, I listened to the The Eiger Sanction, the 1972 thriller novel by Trevanian set right here.

Time allowing, I’d hike all the way back to Grindewald and save some Swiss francs.

Click PLAY or see the route on YouTube.

Unfortunately, the typical afternoon rainstorm broke just before I sprinted into Kleine Scheidegg near the top.

I ended up buying an expensive train ticket back down to Grindewald. And enjoying Swiss soup at Kleine Scheidegg while I waited out of the rain.

Weirdly, the weather broke right after soup. I could have easily hiked down — but could not get a refund on the train ticket as it came out of a machine.

I do feel the Eiger Trail is the best hike out of Grindewald.

Posted on

Hiking Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

Click PLAY or get a glimpse of my June hike on YouTube.

I hiked the Jungfrau region right in 2009, wild camping 3 days, 2 nights across the face of the mountains. A surprising highlight for me on that adventure was descending down into Lauterbrunnen.

In fact, this unique U-shaped valley, (German: Lauterbrunnental), is what I remember most fondly. In places the cliff walls are up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) high. It’s very popular with all the action sports where people jump off cliffs. 😀

On this trip I walked the valley 3 times. Back and forth in the evening. Then next day as part of my major hike. Lovely.

I tented at Camping Jungfrau near town. An excellent campground.

There are no bad hikes out of Lauterbrunnen. But I did one version of what’s probably the most popular. Lauterbrunnen ➙ Mürren ➙ Gimmelwald ➙ Stechelberg ➙ and back down the valley to Lauterbrunnen. A loop. You could do it in either direction.

There are many ways to do it. I took the cable car up to Grütschalp, to start.

There are terrific views of the Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau, and many other high peaks from up on those cliffs.

Tourists are all happy here. All impressed that the culture is being somewhat preserved. Farmers are working as they have been for hundreds of years.

I was surprised too that it’s quite possible to find spots with no people. Huge trees.

There are dozens of impressive waterfalls. I liked best Staubbach Falls, close to the village of Lauterbrunnen.

This area has 136 days of rain or snow per year. Be prepared. Sunny. blue sky in the morning can develop into a serious lightning storm in the afternoon.

Posted on

#6 day hike – Alpine Circuit, Lake O’Hara, Canada

One of our top 10 day hikes in the world.

Why?

Many feel this is the most beautiful of the Canadian Rockies trails.

  • Yoho National Park in British Columbia near Banff, Alberta.
  • mid-June through the end of September (start and end dates vary) for example, bus operated for hikers and campers from June 19 to October 4, 2018
  • 11.6 km
  • perhaps 9 hours
  • perhaps 900 photos 🙂
  • highest point 2528 m
  • elevation gain 1012 m

World → N America → Rockies → Canada → Alpine Circuit, Lake O’Hara

For details click over to our Alpine Circuit, Lake O’Hara information page.

Posted on

Hiking Val Gardena, Italy

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

Val Gardena is a valley in northern Italy, in the Dolomites, one of our top 10 hiking regions of the world..

The 3 alpine towns are Urtijëi, Sëlva, and Santa Cristina.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse of my 3 days in the valley on YouTube.

There are no bad hikes out of Val Gardena. But the highlight for me was getting to the famed ridge vista of the Odles/Geisler Group from Secede (2518m).

I hiked up early, the first person to reach the ridge on this morning. I wanted to beat the cable car day hikers. That expensive lift started up at 8:30am in 2023.

Here’s that famed vista on a clear day.

Amazing views in the Dolomites mountains. Views from Seceda over the Odle mountains are spectacular.

Another good option is to stay late in the day, after the cablecar stops at 5:30pm.

Of course it’s a long steep descent. 😀

There’s heated debate in the Dolomites whether or not you should use the cable cars. Personally, I’m OK with them — if you have the money.

But on this one I climbed down over a vertical kilometre back to the valley. Step by step.

I fuelled up with a couple of thousand calories at the Daniel Hut restaurant.

I’d started with a plan. BUT — as usual in the Dolomites — I ended up changing it en route. Easy to do when there are so many clearly marked alternatives.

Another day I took the cablecar from Ortisei to the Alpe di Siusi up to what’s claimed to be the largest high altitude Alpine meadow in Europe. It is high, huge, and green.

You can’t lose hiking Val Gardena. It’s fantastic.

Be ready for afternoon thunder and lightning, however. Don’t get stuck up high in a storm.

Posted on

#5 best hiking region in the world is the …

Central Andes

Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia

Hiking holidays in Peru are hot right now. More popular than ever. Political stability since the leader of the Shining Path terrorist group was captured in 1992 resulted in a booming tourist industry.

The second highest mountain range on Earth is fantastic. Broad valleys and endless vistas. You are always above the tree line. Arid desert to the west, Amazon jungle to the east.

Our contributors have hiked most of the major treks in Peru the past few years. The peaks, glaciers and canyons are outrageous. Everyone is thrilled with the Andes.

Unfortunately, management of treks is atrocious, the Peruvian government seemingly bent on ruining their fantastic tourist draw. Do your homework before booking a flight to Lima. Or sign on with a trekking company with which you have had a strong, recent recommendation.

Ruminahui in Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador

The weather in the Andes can be deadly, of course, but sometimes you get weeks of sunny blue skies, especially in the Cordillera Blanca out of Huaraz, Peru. The best weather for the high peaks out of Huaraz (the best jumping off point for hikers in the Central Andes) is the drier “Andean summer”: May-Sept.

In fact, there are good hikes somewhere in this region year round.

More information on our new Central Andes information page.

Our favourite hike in the Central Andes is the little known Ausangate Circuit in Peru, our #4 best hike in the world. Quite a few trekkers have decided on Ausangate (instead of the over-hyped Inca Trail) based on our recommendation. And all have been happy with that decision.

See our Ausangate Circuit Information page.

The best guidebook for the Central Andes, by far, is Lonely Planet:

Lonely Planet Trekking in the Central Andes

Lonely Planet Trekking in the Central Andes

Note that Bolivia is not nearly as popular as it should be due to lack of infrastructure for tourism, security concerns and political instability. Honestly, unless you know the language and culture well, it’s better to hike Peru. Or much neglected Ecuador.

Posted on

BestHike #6 – Glacier North Circle, USA

Glacier North Circle in Montana is one of our top 10 hikes in the world. Even better if you add a side trip to Waterton National Park in Canada.

Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute introduction on YouTube.

Glacier North Circle

Of the many great American Rocky Mountain hikes, this is our favourite.

Highline Trail vista

AT A GLANCE

  • 7 days, 6 nights recommended
  • 65miles (104km) plus side trips
  • best months July-Sept
  • well-signed
  • medium difficulty hiking
  • recommended for experienced multi-day hikers

Read more on our Glacier North Circle information page.