Category: alpine

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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

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I have a 2021 PCT Permit

BestHike editor Rick McCharles

I applied online during the first few minutes applications opened for sections 500 miles or longer.

BUT I reckon there’s less than a 50% chance I’ll actually get on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2021:

  • could be cancelled due to COVID, as in 2020
  • travel could be impossible due to COVID
  • forest fires are often an issue
  • might decide travel is unethical in 2021

BUT hope for the best, plan for the worst.

I’m hoping for at least 500 miles.

Starting mile 702 – Kennedy Meadows – starting July 10th heading north towards the Oregon border.

That’s good timing for the John Muir Trail, the best section of the PCT.

http://musashe.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Overview-Map-CA.png

I watched Tim Seymour‘s excellent John Muir Trail northbound video for tips on how to get started on my way up to Whitney.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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BestHike #4 – Ausangate Circuit, Peru

Ausangate Circuit is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute introduction on YouTube.

Ausangate Circuit

Our favourite hike in the high Andes. Doing it independently only recommended for confident, self-sufficient hikers experienced at high altitude. It’s remote.

alpacas

AT A GLANCE

Peru
Peru
  • circle sacred Ausangate massif (6372m, 20,905ft), the highest peak in southern Peru
  • 4 high passes between 4757m – 5165m
  • 70km (43.5mi) plus sidetrips
  • almost everyone does Ausangate with a guide, but it’s quite doable independently if you are acclimated 
  • many options to extend this trek
  • best months are the May-September dry season
  • Tinqui is 5-8 hours now only about 3.5hrs by bus on a new road, about 100km S.E. of Cusco
  • sidetrip to the “rainbow mountains” of Vinicunca

Read more on our Ausangate Circuit information page.

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BestHike #5 – Sunshine to Assiniboine, Canada

Sunshine Meadows to Mt Assiniboine is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute introduction on YouTube.

Sunshine to Assiniboine

Our favourite hike in the Canadian Rockies. 

Banff to Sunshine Meadows Ski Resort by bus or tram. Then head for the Matterhorn of the Rockies.

AT A GLANCE

banff_map
  • recommended route 6 days, 5 nights. Shorter options are possible and popular.
  • 56km (34.8mi) plus side trip day hikes
  • July to mid-September
  • moderate difficulty
  • accessed only on foot or by helicopter
  • heavenly alpine meadows
  • It can snow any day of the year. Or it can be 30°C (86°F).

Read more on our Sunshine to Assiniboine information page.

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BestHike #9 – Haute Route in the Alps

The Haute Route, from France to Switzerland, is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute introduction on YouTube.

Haute Route

Chamonix to Zermatt, Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn – in two weeks of mountain travel you will see the greatest collection of 4000 metre peaks in the Alps!

AT A GLANCE

  • also known as the Walker’s High Route
  • Alpine charm: valleys, lakes, glaciers
  • great food, history, culture
  • from Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe (4810m, 15,781ft)
  • to the Matterhorn, the most beautiful peak in the alps
  • 9-15 days
  • 180+kms (112mi)
  • best months June-Sept
  • crosses 11 passes, gains more than 12,000m elevation
  • difficult hiking

Read more on our Haute Route information page.