Kelly and Lexi love Waterton National Park in the Canadian Rockies.
They just hiked one of our best hikes in the world — the little known Carthew-Alderson Trail.
And both raved about it.
Colca, Peru: The grand, GRAND canyon
This is real adventure. Not for the faint hearted.
Colca is a 5-day trek (difficult & dangerous) over a 5100m (16,732ft) pass. It’s only 60km (37mi) but you will likely need to hire pack animals due to the rugged, remote terrain. And altitude.
Noel Wigdor posted one of the best trip reports we’ve seen in a while.
Wow what a week.
Exactly a week ago I left for Colca Canyon for what is considered one of the hardest, but most rewarding, hikes in South America. Here is the breakdown of one of the most amazing, exhausting, and trying experiences of my life. Day 1 Ohad, my Israelli hiking partner, and I woke at 2:45 to catch a 3:30 bus to Cabanaconde, the starting point for our hike. Although we were both very nervous about this hike (we had both read that it is extremely hard), I was especially nervous because I was starting the whole thing with a bad case of diarrhrea … read more
Colca Canyon: The grand, GRAND canyon
If you are up for this kind of challenge, check out the details on besthike.com Colca Canyon.
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
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.
climbing Mount Whitney, California
UPDATE: Just posted over 100 photos of the hike.
I was for a few seconds the highest man in America when I stood atop Mt. Whitney.
Mount Whitney – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mt Whitney is the highest point in the contiguous United States at elevation 14,505ft (4,421m). It’s just 76mi (123km) west of the lowest point in North America, in Death Valley (282ft (86m) below sea level), and rises over 2mi above the valley floor.
Outside Magazine – The Mess on Everest
All serious hikers should check the September edition.
Outside Magazine, September 2006 | Outside Online
more besthike photos
I just added another batch of our favourite hiking photos to the besthike Flickr stream. You can see our frequently updated photo collection by clicking on the Flickr thumbnails in the right hand navigation.
photo George Novak
10 years after failing to summit Storm Mountain, Ray returned and would not be denied. Only 3 of the 8 hikers who started got to the top, including Ray. But it was a tough day for all. Ray was reminded that the descent is much more dangerous on a scramble than the climb.
329 Lake O’Hara photos
I missed the big trip. Looks like they got some RAIN in the Canadian Rockies.
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walking Saskatchewan Glacier
I’m not sure how I got talked into it — but the Glaser boys convinced me to put on crampons and harness to walk atop a melting, receding glacier in the Canadian Rockies. It requires a lot more gear and hassle than regular hiking.
Walking the glacier was pretty cool, actually. But the hike in was even better.
More photos on Flickr.
besthike.com 