Besthike.com was recently added to the About.com Trek, Hike and Climb South America page.
Editor Bonnie Hamre is one of the best experts on the internet for that continent. We link to many of her web pages.
Overland Track, Tasmania, Australia
In preparation for a Feb. 2007 trip to Tasmania, I’ve been consulting with John Chapman, by far the most authoritative author of Australian guidebooks.
I’ve decide to hike first the Overland Track, widely listed the best established walk in Australia. 65km (40mi) plus sidetrips, 5-6 days.
Overland Track on besthike.com
I’ll be using John’s dedicated Overland Track guidebook.
Time allowing, I want to do more in Tas. John suggests:
John even spoke of a trackless bushwalk on the wild West Coast of Tasmania from Strahan to Port Davey. On his completely undeveloped route you must swim a 1km river.
Cool!
New Zealand hiking
A great site edited by Jan Robertson, highly recommended. BestHike.com links to a number of Jan’s pages.
Click below to see his “top treks”.
New Zealand Backcountry Hikes-Tramping, Walking, Tracks, Trails
cycling tibet
A really fantastic adventure is to buy a Chinese bike in Lhasa and ride the Friendship Highway to Katmandu, via Everest.
Many adventurers are doing this — but it is technically illegal. (As is most of the hiking in Tibet.)
Interested? Check Kym McConnell’s authoritative website and guidebook.
Tibet Overland – Cycling in Tibet
Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Every hiker wants to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa at 5896m (19,344ft). It’s actually the highest freestanding mountain in the world, a volcano rising 4600m (15,000ft) above the giraffes and elephants roaming the plains.
No independent hiking is allowed. You must sign on with a trekking company — minimum cost in 2006 is US$800 on the Marangu Route. Over 80% of people choose Marangu often disparaged as the tourist route, or the Coca Cola route. This is the easiest, fastest and quickest line. And the only route where you have the option to sleep in huts.
If you can afford it, opt instead for one of the more challenging tent routes: Machame or Rongai.
The other major consideration is altitude sickness. Unlike the Andes and the Himalaya, it is difficult to acclimatize here. Best strategy is to climb lower Mt. Meru just before you start Kilimanjaro.
The snows of Kilimanjaro are melting. Get there soon.
Mt. Kilimanjaro on besthike.com
hiking out of Whistler, BC, Canada
During a one night stop at the luxury ski resort I took the opportunity to research the hiking opportunities in these fantastic mountains close to Vancouver.
I was shocked at how little hiking is being promoted. A visit to tourist information will get you only a list of short day walks appropriate for non-hikers.
Why? The problem is that Whistler has so much to offer besides hiking — especially skiing and mountain biking.
The tourist infrastructure is geared for the 2 million+ gift shop tourists each year.
No need for a serious hiker to plan on basecamp hiking out of Whistler. Head for the much less expensive climbing mecca of Squamish instead.
A day hike up granite Stawamus Chief looming over the town is an excellent warm-up.
To plan your hikes, grab a copy of “Don’t Waste Your Time in the B.C. Coast Mountains” and head for the hills independently.
cohabiting with bears
A highlight of my recent stop at Whistler Ski Resort was being entertained by a local bear, right beside the Creekside lift.
Click play on the video below or watch it on YouTube.
Nobody called the police. No one got excited. This bear appears under the luxury hotel balconies almost every morning in the Spring.
I am impressed that official policy is to cohabit peacefully with bears. Well done Whistler!
Contrast that enlightened and brave approach with that of the Lake Louise village in the Canadian Rockies. Parks Canada put up an electric fence around the campground to protect the tourists from bears. Sad.
Of course there are Grizzlies at Lake Louise, not at Whistler.
adventure travel in Africa
A great site for anyone looking at Africa is AfricaTravelResource.com
They promote an excellent selection of activities including hiking.
Check their Kilimanjaro page, which advises against the Marangu Route (also known as the Tourist Route or Coca Cola Route) used by 80% of hikers.
the ultimate New Zealand Adventure?
I want to do this!
4-days helicopter supported bike, swim, sail, kayak, hike, bike, raft, Cessna, sail.
The guides calls it only “The Adventure”.
Journeys at the Edge “The Adventure”.
CONFIRMED – Crowsnest Mountain scramble
Climber Scott Whiteside who lives in the Crowsnest Pass recommends the Crowsnest Mountain scramble in the Canadian Rockies. It’s 4-7hrs return, 1100m (3609ft), non-technical. Good fun — but no mountaineering gear needed when dry.
No map needed, just Alan Kane’s book.
A group of us are planning to do it Saturday, June 17th. Email or leave a comment if you want to join us.
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