Why would anyone want to trek to north Base Camp in Tibet? 😦
The views from the north side are far, far superior.
The climate is dryer. The trekking season longer.
On the other hand, guided tours on the Tibet side are dodgy at best. Altitude sickness delays or stops many tours. It’s a gamble to sign on to one of those.
1956 Winter Olympics host Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, is the jumping off mountain town for visitors arriving to enjoy a region of jagged mountain spires, far more striking than the Alps.
Sleep in Cortina, then catch an early bus to the trails. Of many great options, the best panorama for lunch just might be from the Nuvolau mountain hut (Refugio) built 1883, first in the Dolomites. It’s impossibly located on the very top of a 2600 meter (8530 foot) cliff.
To get there you need the hiker’s shuttle bus to drop you at passo Falzarego on the SR 48. At least six different paths of varying difficulty get you to Nuvolau. Look first at Alpine Trail #439 via the Rifugio Cinque Torri (5 Towers). The Refugio offers 26 cramped beds. But with bus access this convenient, it’s best to day hike out of Cortina. (There have been many complaints from those sleeping at Nuvolau.)
Bring your own gourmet Italian food and drink from town. Or order from the hut menu. Nuvolau is only open during the hiking season, June 15 to September 30. August is busiest. That’s when Italians holiday.
Do your shopping at Cooperativa di Cortina, founded 1893. But count your change. The ladies at the till were shortchanging foreign tourists last time we were there.
If you are flying in, book the direct Cortina Express bus from Venice’s main airport, Marco Polo.
Happily, there’s a great new Cicerone guide published Dec 2012.
Known as “Little Tibet” for both its landscape and culture, Ladakh lies at the northern tip of India.
The region is bisected by the great River Indus and neighbours Tibet and Kashmir.
This quiet corner of the Himalayas has developed a strong trekking culture over recent years for adventurous trekkers. Trekking in this remote, high-altitude region is extremely challenging, as paths are not signed and there are only a limited number of villages. However, its magnificent landscape (a huge area full of limitless trekking possibilities), hospitable people, rich heritage and limited number of tourists make Ladakh an amazing destination.
The guide includes background information on local culture, history and religion, as well as all the planning detail you need on crucial aspects such as environmental responsibility, health and safety in the mountains, trekking practicalities and preparation for altitude.
For multi-day wilderness adventures, Rangers told me the higher, dryer east half Olympic National Park was best. Many options depending on how many days you have.
Just looking at a map, I’m thinking to start at Deer Park trailhead (5400ft) because it’s high. Decide where to exit based on Ranger’s advice, weather and the number of days I’ll have.
Leave a comment if you’ve hiked overnight on the East side of the Park.
A federal judge has dismissed most of a widow’s claims against the federal government after her husband was killed by a mountain goat while hiking in Olympic National Park …
Robert Boardman, 63, of Port Angeles was trying to protect his wife and other hikers when the 370-pound male mountain goat fatally gored him in the thigh on a trail at Klahhane Ridge on Oct. 16, 2010.
The goat is believed to have been one that harassed hikers in the park for years …
The mountain goat then stood over Boardman for about 30 minutes, staring and pawing at the ground, making it impossible for … hikers to reach him, according to park ranger reports of the incident.
Boardman died from blood loss in about five minutes, the reports said. The goat was later shot and killed by a ranger. …
A necropsy on the animal showed it was healthy and in rut for the mating season …
After Boardman’s death, park rangers warned hikers to keep at least 50 yards away from goats and not to urinate on trails.
The park said the urine creates a long salt lick, attracting the animals. …
Park Rangers have shot aggressive Elk in the past. But this is not typical of mountain goats.
I’m content the law suit was not successful.
This death has changed regulations, however.
… an Olympic National Park ranger operating under new mountain goat management rules shot and killed a mountain goat that had refused to leave a campsite near the park’s Upper Royal Basin for three days. …
The views from the north side are far, far superior.
#1) 
besthike.com 