Category: alpine

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Inca Trail, Peru

No list of the great hikes of the world is without the Inca Trail. It may well be the single best known trek in the world.

But serious hikers are advised to take a close look at alternative routes to Machu Picchu. We much prefer Choquequirao and Salcantay.

Choquequirao is the better of these options — but longer. You need 7 nights minimum to visit both the Choquequirao ruins and Machu Picchu on one trek.

If you want to hike independently without pack animals, Salcantay is the best choice.

Get an overview of your options on this site. But wait until you get to Cuzco in Peru to book any specific trek. Do not hand over any deposit money until you are very confident in the agency. A personal, recent recommendation is best.

If you insist on hiking the Inca Trail, get the up-to-date details on besthike.com Inca Trail.

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Machu Picchu

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Chilkoot Trail, Alaska

Every man has a dream.

For one of our contributors, Kelly Mock from Whitehorse, it was to carry a “Bubba” (mini keg of beer) over the Golden Staircase to Happy Camp.

Arriving on the solstice, he bought a round for the house.

I hiked the Chilkoot with Kelly in the late 1990s and, at that time, I thought it was impossible to carry more booze (photo).

I stand corrected.

The Chilkoot is without doubt one of the very best hikes in the world. The trip to Skagway is half the fun.

Details on besthike.com Chilkoot

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the Golden Staircase – photo Kelly Mock

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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:

  • Walls of Jerusalem (2-4 days)
  • Pine Valley (2-3 days)
  • Walls of Jerusalem to Overland Track (6-8 days)
  • Cheyne Range (4 days)
  • Eldon Range (9-12 days)
  • Traveller Range (7-9 days)

    • 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!

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    More Overland Track photos by Paul Lenehan on Flickr

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    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

    A Route and Planning Guide for Mountain Bikers andOther Overlanders

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    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

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.