Category: alpine

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Tasmania – Cradle, Ossa, Acropolis

Scrambling adjacent mountain peaks is one of the reasons we love the Overland Track in Tasmania.

The three best sidetrip climbs are Cradle Mountain, Mt. Ossa and The Acropolis. We’ve posted our photos of each of those three.

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more Cradle Mountain photos on flickr

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park – Wikipedia

Ossa is the the highest mountain on the island, but the easiest of the three scrambles we did.
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more Mt. Ossa photos on flickr

Mt. Ossa – Wikipedia

The sidetrip to climb The Acropolis adds a day to the regular Overland itinerary. Staying one extra night at Pine Hut is highly recommended.
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more Acropolis photos on flickr

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Overland Track, Tasmania – trip report

Rick McCharles

We named Overland one of the top 10 hikes in the world for good reason.

It’s one of the best walking adventures anywhere.

I could not have been more excited to get started when I arrived in Hobart. I immediately purchased the best guidebook (Chapman) and a map.

Transportation to and from the trailheads is provided by Tassielink bus. An early morning departure would get me to the trailhead and started same day.

This is me trying to hitch a ride after being forgotten by the bus driver en route.

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Apparently I was the first passenger left behind in 7 years.

Not an auspicious start to the hike.

The bus company rerouted me overnight, arranging a bed at a popular backpacker’s hostel. There my chicken lunch for the next day was stolen from the communal fridge — the first time I have ever had anything taken from hostel or campground.

Yeesh.

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Next morning another Tassielink bus arrived at 5:30AM.

But this time things went smoothly and I was delivered to the Cradle trailhead without a glitch. The weather was perfect.

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First priority was to scramble Cradle Mountain, the most photogenic peak in Tasmania.

I had seen many photos of the Overland Track, but the reality was far, far better. Unique, stunning scenery.

The infamous wet, stormy weather … seems to be a fabrication. Hard to believe it can snow here any day of the year.

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One of the best reasons to travel to Australia for hiking is the fantastic, diverse animal life. Friendly wallabies hang out at every hut.

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Much of the talk on the trail is deciding which sidetrip peaks to climb. Decisions are based mainly on weather. (No use climbing up into the clouds.)

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Hikers have the choice to tent … or stay in loud, crowded, smelly huts. (Bring your earplugs if you decide on the huts.)

Since the weather stayed clear, I tented every night.

And when the weather is good this hike is fairly easy. It even provides the most modern solar composting toilets.

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And the Overland Track continues to get more accessible for more hikers as muddy sections are covered with boardwalk.

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Certainly the Overland Track is one of the best hikes of my life. If you want to organize a trip there check our Overland information page.

Check flickr to see all photos from this trip annotated in full resolution

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aerial photography of the Andes

Washington Post Staff Writer Marie Arana got the chance to fly over the second highest mountain range in the world.

What a stroke of luck! Or is it?

Bobby Haas, a seasoned aerial photographer, was on the seventh leg of a year-long project to take bird’s-eye views of all of Latin America for a lavish volume to be released in September.

When, in e-mail correspondence with him, I casually expressed an interest in seeing the mountains of Peru from that vantage, he invited me to go along. Now, I’m no high-risk adventurer and actually prefer the comforts of a good tub to the rigors of the road …

Winging It in the Andes of Peru – washingtonpost.com

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alternative trails to Machu Picchu

Not a bad article on Inca Trail Trek to Machu Pichu in the New York Times:

As it runs through craggy mountain passes and ancient Incan ruins, the fabled Inca Trail in Peru reveals surprise after surprise to travelers hiking its length to the lost city of Machu Picchu. But here’s a new one: To set foot on that fabled Andean footpath, you’ve first got to fight through a three-month waiting list. …

A few years ago, the Inca Trail was becoming the Long Island Expressway of central Peru, brimming with trash, tourists and growing concerns about overuse. So the Peruvian government began enforcing strict limits on the number of people allowed on the trail. Right now, only 500 people a day may enter — about 200 tourists and 300 guides and porters.

And so, “alternative” Inca Trails are gaining popularity with travelers unable or unwilling to book a slot three to six months in advance. These treks can be booked a day or two in advance and can cost less than half as much as a hike on the Inca Trail.

Taking the Back Roads to Machu Picchu – New York Times

We agree that most serious hikers would prefer one of the alternatives to the Inca Trail.

The standard is Salcantay which was good when we did it in 2004, but is degrading rapidly. And now also regulated.

Far better and far more difficult is Choquiquirao to Machu Picchu. Hurry on that adventure, however. Peruvian officials are already looking at it.

At besthike we have high hopes for Bolivia. Trekking there is as yet very little developed due to government instability. But one day …

Check our full list of the best hikes in South America.

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day 2 – Choquequirao to Machu Picchu – Zusk’s trip report

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when can I hike Wonderland?

I’ve wanted to hike the Wonderland Trail since first hearing of it from a Washington State friend.

One group took 12 days in 2005 to circumambulate Mt. Ranier 90mi (145km). But they planned for resupply by having a friend walk in to meet them from the opposite direction.

Good idea.

Summerland to Indian Bar was an “incredible scenic route”. And at Indian Bar they saw 3 black bears.

Sadly, terrible flooding in November 2006 wrecked havoc. Hopefully the trail will be passable by summer 2007. But damage had not even been assessed in December.

Check out the trip report and 65 photos from the Wonderland Trail.

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Wonderland Trail – besthike information page

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hiking Angeles National Forest, California

Escaping the smog of LA is not so tough.

You could drive up to Mt. Whitney.

Or what about Timber Mountain via Icehouse Canyon in Angeles National Forest?

Modern Hiker posted a terrific trip report with photos, video, Google map, a flickr photo set, … (Is this blog GREAT, or what!)

Theirs was a challenging 10mi day hike with the wind blowing hard. But you could do a multi-day trip via Ice House Saddle if you prefer.

I opened the door to the Mount Baldy Visitor’s Center and walked inside. The warm, dark wood interior was a welcome respite from the howling winds outside. The rangers stood behind their desk – a bearded man and blond woman – smiling at me.

“Hi. I’d like a permit for the Cucamonga Wilderness.”

Still smiling, the woman said, “We are not recommending anyone go up there today.”

“Oh?”

The man chimed in. “We’re measuring wind gusts at 60 miles an hour. I almost got knocked down today.”

“But of course, we can’t do anything to stop you,” said the woman. Still smiles, that one.

I reached for a ballpoint pen and started filling out our Wilderness Permit. “I’m going to try for Ontario Peak. Is it more windy in the canyons, or on the ridge?”

“It’s windy everywhere.” The man with the beard was not smiling. All gravitas, he.

“What about ice?” …

Timber Mountain via Icehouse Canyon – Modern Hiker

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trekking to Everest – recommended

Baxter Gillespie is just back from 3 weeks walking to a trekking peak in the Himalayas.

Yes he encountered the Maoist rebels.

Yes he still recommends Nepal.

In fact, Baxter is planning to return next season to bag another peak.

…

Our plan was to carry all our own equipment but to hire a guide and stay in the guest houses for the three week trip to the 18,192′ summit of Kala Pataar which overlooks Everest Base Camp.

Over the course of the trip our guide, Depak, became a great friend and ambassador to his mountain world.

The Nepali people were very open and taught us much about their culture. The scenery was overwhelming. Even after seeing photos of the Himalayas for years, I was awed by the magnitude when viewing them in person. …

The trip turned out to be a fantastic experience. We had incredible adventures from snake charmers in Kathmandu to dealing with Maoist rebels on the trail and bargaining with Tibetan traders in the town of Namche City. We are completely hooked on traveling in Nepal and are now planning a more technical climbing trip back for next Fall.

If you are even contemplating going to Nepal, do it. I’ll see you there next year!

Backcountry Blog: Nepal Trek – A Journey to Everest

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video – Huayhuash Circuit trek in Peru

by Rick McCharles, editor

When we named our top 10 hikes in the world, #11 was the Huayhuash Circuit.

Personally, it’s been my most dramatic, inspiring hiking adventure, of all.

While there my camcorder / camera broke half way around the 11-day trip. The tape was somewhat damaged, as well.

Happily, I’ve salvaged a few clips. (Featured are our pack horses and fantastic mule driver who spent his days worrying about getting us back alive.)

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Interested?

WHY WE LOVE HUAYHUASH

* PERU, all things considered, offers the best alpine hiking in the world

* the remote, forbidding Huayhuash range was made famous when Joe Simpson & Simon Yates climbed Siula Grande in 1985. The book & film Touching the Void were both hits.

* getting high at Punta Coyoc pass 5490m (18,012ft) !!

* Peru’s second highest summit, Yerupaja (6634m)

* non-stop vistas — entire Circuit is above treeline

* intensely glaciated, intensely beautiful

* condors and other wild birds

* fantastic natural hotsprings half way round the Circuit

* limited road access, few people

* travel in Peru for as little as US$20 / day

* a trip with pack animals is good value

* lifetime experience you will never forget

CONSIDERATIONS

Huayhuash is dangerous. Hikers have died there. This is arguably the best hike in the world but is appropriate only for robust, experienced high altitude trekkers.

The greatest danger is altitude sickness. We hired horses instead of mules so we could evacuate by horse, if necessary.

Huayhuash Circuit in Peru – besthike information page

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pioneering a trek to Kachenjunga, Nepal

Søren Viit Nielsen hosts a wonderful website documenting his many trekking adventures. (Danish and English)

In 2002 Søren hiked to both south and north basecamps of Kachenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world. (map)

He used Cicerone: Kangchenjunga: A Trekker’s Guide by Kev Reynolds.

Even if your Danish is rusty, the gorgeous pictures tell the story.

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Søren returned in 2004 to guide 10 Danish clients and a Nepalese staff of about 30 people (guide, cook, sherpas, kitchen staff, and porters). But this time he chose a new route, just opened because new suspension bridges were built in 2003-04 across the Tamur River. None of his group had been this way before. (map)

Tibetan culture and interactions with mountain peoples were big highlights.

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BlueDandelion.net – Søren Viit Nielsen