Category: alpine

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Envirofit clean-burning cook stove

Kraig Becker promotes the Himalayan Stove Project.

Check this article to see what they are doing to make the world a better place:

The problems the Project are addressing and solving are obvious. Inefficient cookstoves in the fragile high Himalayan environment (and elsewhere) cause

1.) indoor air pollution and related health issues due to smoke inhalation,

2.) personal safety hazards to families and their children,

3.) deforestation,

4.) climate change and

5.) economic and other social issues.

The Himalayan Stove Project is a U.S. public charity staffed totally by volunteers who pay all their own expenses, including travel to Nepal. In addition, a growing community of institutions, corporations and individuals supports its very pragmatic mission of making a difference now.

Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) is the planet’s 4th-largest public health threat after malaria, clean water and HIV-Aids.

Changing the World One Cookstove at a Time –

Click PLAY or watch one of the clearer technology stoves on YouTube.

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Tongariro Circuit, New Zealand

Tongariro Northern Circuit is the best hike in the best trekking region in the world — New Zealand.

How can that be?

Why do we like the circuit better than the dozens of other awesome Kiwi walks?

These videos make it clear. 🙂

Click PLAY or watch a wonderful GreatWalks.co.nz promo on YouTube.

And another. Click PLAY or watch Dave and Tim on a snowy Circuit on YouTube.

We’ve updated and moved our Tongariro Circuit information page. Click through if you might want to organize your own Tongariro Circuit.

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NEW – John Muir Trail

We’ve updated and moved our JMT information page.

AT A GLANCE

  • one of our top 10 hikes in the world
  • start in stunning Yosemite, Muir’s “Range of Light”
  • 223mi (360km) to Whitney Portal adding sidetrips to Half Dome, Vermillion Resort and Mt. Whitney 14,505ft (4,421m)
  • 15-21 days recommended
  • most hikers carry their own food and tent (pack animals can be hired, however)

Rick on the JMT

… read more here

If you’ve hiked the John Muir recently, check that page for accuracy. We’ve not been there since 2007. Too long.

 

 

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BBC Natural World – Himalaya

Kraig Becker:

…The video below is a full episode of that series which happens to be focused on one of my favorite places – the Himalaya. If you have 49 minutes to spare, you’ll get a great look at those mountains and the people that live there, with some of the most breathtaking scenery you’ll find anywhere. So sit back, turn up the volume and enjoy the show. It is one of the greatest on Earth.

Adventure Blog

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I’m doing some research for a planned trip to the BIG mountains.

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Overland Track, Tasmania

It’s on our list of top 10 hikes in the World. It’s on many top 10 lists.

What’s it all about?

Discover Tasmania calls this the best Overland tramping video they’ve ever seen. Kids, rain, mud, snow … and plenty of FUN on a family adventure. 🙂

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.
http://vimeo.com/30842951

If interested in making the pilgrimage to Tasmania yourself, check our NEW Overland information page.

It’s been updated with advice from local expert Warwick Sprawson.

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NEW – GR 20 Corsica

We’ve posted a new information page on the GR 20 in Corsica, France.

I hiked the more difficult, rugged northern half in 2011.

Europe’s toughest trek250px-Corse_in_France.svg

… The trail (conceived by Michel Fabrikant back in 1970) is long (even if you walk half of it) and tough. Don’t underestimate it! You need to be fit, well trained but most of all you must be highly motivated. …

 

The path is basic: i.e. there actually is no real path underfoot for 98% of the time. So much that on many occasions if you don’t see the next waymark or cairn you won’t know where to go. Seriously. In addition to that forget the flat path you’re probably used to; most of the time you’ll walk on rugged and tormented terrain, rocks, stones galore, granite slabs … you get the idea. Get used to it. …

 

The huts are basic. If we leave out the minor exceptions of the decent buildings at Haut Asco and Castel de Verghio, the huts are small rudimentary (some of them) bergerie-style buildings with small suffocating dormitories …

My advice instead is to bring your own tent. …

AT A GLANCE

  • corsicamorenkop one of the best treks in the world
  • 180km
  • 15 days (many hike only half)
  • 19,000m of ascent and descent
  • sleep in tents or mountain huts (refuges or gîtes)
  • hiking permit not required. Reservations for the refuges recommended.
  • located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the Italian island of Sardinia

GR_20_map

read more – BestHike GR 20 information page

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Red Rock Canyon, Waterton

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

Three teens from Calgary SOMEHOW had never been to Waterton Lakes National Park, even though it’s only 3hrs drive from their homes.

teens

Almost immediately we came upon 4 bears grazing the hillside.

bears

Like adjacent Glacier National Park, Waterton is a great place to see wildlife.

Due to bear problems in the National Park campgrounds, tenting was not allowed at Crandell Mountain Campground in 2013. We decided to stay outside the Park at Crooked Creek.

Crooked Creek

car camping eggs

We shared the Creek with a family of Beavers.

Beaver

Red Rock Canyon is a classic day hike, an easy loop.

More adventurous is to follow the Canyon up the mountain for as long as possible.

Red Rock

Red Rock 2

The guys ended up scrambling over and under logs, getting wet and generally having a blast.

Red Rock logs

All and all, a pretty good introduction to the joys of Waterton National Park.

more Red Rock Canyon photos

more Waterton photos

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Crypt Lake trail

Highly recommended. 🙂

We had a terrific adventure.

The Crypt Lake Trail is one of the premium hikes in Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is accessed by a dedicated ferry service operating from the Waterton Park Townsite. …

Voted “Canada’s Best Hike” in 1981 …

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The crux comes at the top.

… ledge is about 50 cm wide, and continues over to a steel ladder and access to the tunnel. For nearly 100 ft you crawl through a natural mountain tunnel before arriving at the cable traverse. This section of the hike involves a scramble along a sheer cliff, with the assistance of a steel cable. …

The hike is a total of 17.2 km round trip, with a gradual 2,300-foot elevation gain. …

full resolution photos

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Wildflowers of Banff Park

By luck we ended up camping next to outdoors author / photographer Ian Wilson. He and wife Jacinthe Lavoie self-published Wildflowers of Banff Park in 2012.

Here’s a sample photo — a Western Wood Lily.

Western Wood Lily - 3

Click through to see a SAMPLE of the entire book online.

We bought 2 copies and some Scenic Wildflowers Cards.

Best trails near Banff for wildflowers:

Johnson Lake

Spray River

Sunshine Meadows

Healy Pass

Bourgeau Lake

Eiffel Lake

The Plain of Six Glaciers / Lake Agnes trail

Molar Pass

Helen Lake

Nigel Pass

banff-bookcover

details on WildflowersOfBanff.com

Actually, we met Ian near Waterton. They had been there for months researching their next book — Wildflowers of Waterton Park.

Looking forward to that one! 🙂

If you have any questions, comments, or would like information regarding book orders or special edition books, please email hyacinthpress@gmail.com