Category: alpine

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Witchcraft Lake to Mt Benson, Nanaimo

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

Mt Benson looms over Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.

Though folks make this climb year round, I waited for great weather in May. 😇

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

There are several routes to the summit, but quickest and most straightforward begins at Witchcraft Lake.

Knowing that the summit is busy on a nice day, I camped on Crown Land the night before. Was first starting up the trail in the morning.

I used AllTrails for navigation and only managed to detour on to a side trail one time. 😀

It’s a steady climb. Interesting terrain with a number of viewpoints on the way up.

From the summit most cameras take in the panorama over Nanaimo. Here’s the OTHER vista — looking inland.

Watch a LIVE STREAM of the Benson summit on YouTube.

related trip report – sea2peak

  • 8km round trip
  • 730 meter elevation gain
  • 3-5 hours
  • difficult
  • dogs allowed on leash

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Va’ Sentiero – 7000 km through Italy

Va’ Sentiero is a grassroot project, thanks to the spontaneous contribution of thousands of people.

Three friends — Yuri, Sara, Giacomo — invented the route.

Today they are documenting the adventure with a team of seven.

So far, at least 1500 hikers have joined them at various stages. It’s open to all.

details – asentiero.org/en

Click PLAY or watch a promotion on Vimeo.

Thanks Jeff.

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Walking Banff’s Rivers in Winter

By BestHike editor Rick McCharles.

In Banff, Alberta for medical tests — all labs in the big city of Calgary booked for weeks — I made time to walk all the hikes available directly from the Rocky Mountains townsite.

Gorgeous.

I’m now convinced that April is the best month for the local town hikes. It’s fascinating to watch the spring breakup of rivers.

One night I saw elk crossing on Bow River ice. A few days later it was liquid.

Click PLAY or watch 1 minute of River highlights on YouTube.

related – more Banff winter hikes

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Goecha La Trek, India

Goecha La (el. 4940 mt or 16,207 ft) is a high mountain pass in Sikkim, India in the Himalaya range.

The southeast face of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountain, can be viewed from the pass, which is also a base camp for those aspiring to scale the mountain. …

The basic itinerary:

  1. Drive from SILIGURI TO YUKSOM
  2. YUKSOM to SACHEN (10 km hike)
  3. SACHEN to TSHOKA (7 km hike)
  4. TSHOKA to DZONGRI (10 km hike)
  5. Rest and hike to DZONGRI LA PASS (4417 m)
  6. DZONGRI to THANSING (10 km hike)
  7. THANSING to GOECHA LA PASS and back (14 km hike)
  8. THANSING to TSHOKA (16 km hike)
  9. TSHOKA to YUKSOM (17 km hike)
  10. Drive back to SILIGURI
vista from Goecha La

Seems it’s impossible to do this trek independently.

But rather than sign on with a company from home, you could simply show up in Gantok or Darjeeling and start asking around the various agencies to join a group that will give you the best rate.

India Hikes, for example, charged about US $230 in 2021.

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Hiking Banff’s Sulphur Mountain in Winter

Climbing Sulphur Mountain from Banff, Alberta is popular year round. But during the winter you can ride the Gondola back down for FREE. 😇

It’s easy to get to the very top of a Rocky Mountain peak.

Magical.

Click PLAY or watch a short video on YouTube.

655 metres elevation gain on switchback trails — easy in the summer, but potential slippery and dangerous with snow and ice.

Once you reach the Sulphur Mountain Gondola top station, the best is yet to come. A network of trails along the ridge, and viewing decks at the gondola station, provide stunning views of Banff, the Bow Valley, and 360-degree views in every direction.

The highest point is the historic Cosmic Ray Station.

On return to the bottom, consider the short walk over to Banff Upper Hot Springs. Let’s call it recovery.

Click PLAY or see the Gondola and the Above Banff interpretive centre on YouTube.

related – Banff Blog – How to Hike Sulphur Mountain (Alternative to Banff Gondola)

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Hiking Tunnel Mountain Banff in Winter

Tunnel Mountain 1,692 m (5,551 ft) is located in the Bow River Valley of Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The mountain is nearly completely encircled by the town of Banff and the Banff Springs Hotel grounds. 

Climbing Tunnel is super popular year round as the trail is well graded. In winter many folks bring hiking poles and ice cleats as there are slippery and icy sections.

4.3 km (3 mi) round-trip.

You’ll often see Elk on the way up as I did.

Banff Township seen from Tunnel Mountain

related – Banff’s Tunnel Mountain Hike is Wonderful in Winter