Category: alpine

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Great Hikes in Switzerland

– Hörnli Hut: A challenging ascent to the base of the iconic Matterhorn, where I soaked in the majestic views.

– Limmernsee: A hidden gem with stunning turquoise waters surrounded by towering cliffs.

– Lauterbrunnen Valley: A picturesque valley with cascading waterfalls and charming alpine villages.

– Oeschinensee: A serene mountain lake with crystal-clear waters, perfect for a peaceful hike.

– Schynige Platte: A classic Swiss trail offering sweeping views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau and a botanical alpine garden featuring the edelweiss flower. (It’s close to the fantastic Harder Ridge / Hardergrat)

– Schäfler Hut: Perched high above the clouds, offering panoramic views of the Swiss Alps.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Here are 5 more.

  1. Hardergrat
  2. Via Alpina
  3. Tour du Mont Blanc
  4. Santis Peak / Schafler Ridge
  5. Glecksteinhutte

    Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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    Ausangate Trek, Peru, without a Guide

    Now that Nepal required you hire a guide for almost all high altitude treks, Peru might offer the easiest logistics for similar independent adventures.

    Of many great options in Peru, we like the Ausangate Circuit best. You can side trip to the Rainbow mountain, if you like. And nearby Red Valley. AND Red Lake.

    Megs from Wisconsin has traveled over 70 nations. Here’s how she trekked Ausangate independently.

    • Mileage: Around 45 Miles, depending on route
    • Difficulty: Extremely Difficult
      • The Ausangate trek without a guide is extremely difficult due to the trail’s remoteness, altitude, and being unmarked. Additionally, the weight of carrying all your gear and food for at least 5 days
      • This high-altitude trek in Peru never dips below 14,150 feet (4,000m)
      • The weather can change fast at this altitude and there are risks associated with doing the trek guided or not. NEVER HIKE ALONE
    • Duration: 5 – 7 Days

    The most popular time to hike Ausangate is between the months of April to October. Peru has two main seasons, dry and rainy. In general, dry season is from May to October, while rainy season is from November until April. …

    The altitude of the Ausangate trek is insane. Remember, this trek never drops below 14,000 feet!

    Many of the passes are grueling and top out at over 16,000 feet. The mountains are Apus, or Gods, to the Indigenous, so go in with the mindset of respecting them. By the way, the mighty mountain of Ausangate is a staggering 20,945 feet (6,384 m).

    Acclimation is key …

    How To Hike the Epic Ausangate Trek Without A Guide | 6 Days

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    TOP 10 Hiking Towns ➙ Grindelwald, Switzerland

    I stayed in Grindelwald again in 2023. What a terrific hiking town.

    Most hikers arrive by train from Interlaken. They share that journey with hundreds of thousands of camera clutching tourists all en route to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe.

    Grindelwald is a municipality in the district of Interlaken in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The village is located at 1,034 metres (3,390 ft) above sea level in the Bernese Alps. …

    Long famed as a winter tourist destination with slopes for beginners, intermediates and the challenges of the Eiger glacier for the experienced, there are activities for the non-skiers, from tobogganing to groomed winter hiking tracks. It is the usual starting point for ascents of the Eiger and the Wetterhorn. Nowadays Grindelwald is also a popular summer activity resort with many miles of hiking trails across the Alps. …

    Grindelwald has a population (as of 2007) of 3,809 …

    Many experienced hikers would pooh pooh Grindelwald as too touristy, basing themselves instead out of Lauterbrunnen, Mürren or even (our pick) tiny Gimmelwald, accessible only on foot or by aerial tramway.

    There are no bad hikes out of Grindelwald. It is fantastic in every direction.

    vista from the Grindewald hostel

    But the Tour of the Jungfrau Region, a 2wk ultimate adventure, is our best recommendation.

    See more “best hikes” in the Alps.

    The best day hike is the Eiger Trail.

    Click PLAY or get a glimpse of my June hike on YouTube.

    Most hike June to mid-October but, surprisingly, there are trails open year round close to Grindelwald.

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    TOP 10 hikes ➙ 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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    Top of Innsbruck, Austria

    Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

    Directly from Innsbruck city centre, you can ride the Nordkette Cable Car to Hafelekar station (2,269m).

    I did the surprisingly rugged hike from the Top of Innsbruck to Pfeishütte — for a delicious pasta lunch.

    Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

    It’s called Goetheweg: Karstube to Pfeishütte on AllTrails.

    • 6.8km one way (13.6 return plus side trips)
    • 330 m elevation gain one way
    • see Zugspitze: the highest mountain in Germany

    You might guess the challenge is ridge walking — but there’s nothing with exposure.

    I was wearing trail running shoes in late June. And they were NOT sufficient for the snow, ice, and loose scree. At minimum wear approach shoes. Most Europeans were wearing light hiking boots.

    Poles would help for sure. If I did it again I’d carry YakTrax, just in case.

    The weather kept changing. My jacket went on and off a dozen times.

    Your lift ticket includes entry to the Alpenzoo which we did on the way back to Innsbruck.

    It’s small, but well worth the stop. The focus is on animals indigenous to the Alps, though there are over 150 animal species. It’s built on the vertical slope of the mountain.

    I was most enthusiastic to see the European Brown Bear and Lynx.

    If you get to Innsbruck, this hike is highly recommended. A terrific hiking day.

    Note ➙ it’s Europe, so there are easily a dozen variations to this route. You do not need to backtrack, for example. 10Adventures suggests hiking late in the day — sleeping at Pfeishütte — and walking out day two.

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    TOP 10 Hiking Towns ➙ Chamonix, France

    One of our Top 10 Hiking Towns in the World.


    photo – ptpotts

    Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix … was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics. The commune’s population … around 9800 …

    … Mont Blanc, at a height of 4810 metres, is the third most visited natural site in the world …

    … well known and loved by skiers and by mountain enthusiasts of all types. …

    Chamonix is located 80 km southeast of Geneva, Switzerland …

    Chamonix Place Balmat

    More interesting photos tagged Chamonix.

    You can hike out of town in any direction. And be blown away by wonderful mountain vistas. Here I am just above town on a trail run.

    fit hiker in the Alps

    The most famous “best hikes” in the region are:

    • Chamonix to Zermatt – Walkers’ Haute Route <my trip report> (top 10)
    • Tour of Mont Blanc (TMB – top 10)

    More best hikes in the Alps.

    Best time to hike is late June to early October.

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    Hiking the Hahnenkamm, Kitzbühel, Austria

    Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

    You’ve head of Hahnenkamm above Kitzbühel as it hosts one of the top downhill ski races every January.

    The Hahnenkammrennen is the classic downhill course, the Streif (streak, or stripe), which many regard as the most demanding on the World Cup circuit.

    One section has a slope of 85 degrees!

    Like many hikes in the Alp, you can catch a cable car in the summer. Hike near the top of the mountain, and either ride down — or WALK down, as I did.

    Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

    I generally followed Hahnenkamm – Seidlalm – Ganslernalm on AllTrails. But diverged a number of times if any other trail heading downhill looked more interesting.

    The Seidlalm reservoirs were a highlight, slightly off that route.

    With good weather I did find it an easy day. Starting at the top of the mountain (2000m) and finishing in Kitzbühel (762m), it IS a lot of downhill. 😀

    IF headed for Austria, do some research into tourist passes.

    For example, many hostels and hotels can give you a FREE tourist card.

    Out of Kitzbühel, that means free train and bus travel.

    Free transportation over this area.

    With that card, next check for deals on lift tickets. Over 3 days. Over 5 days. Etc.