Category: alpine

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lost on Mt Benson, BC

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

The top of Mt. Benson (1019 Mtrs) in Nanaimo gives great views of the Straight of Georgia, the Coast Mountains and the surrounding mountains behind Mt. Benson. There are many routes up Mt. Benson …

Trail Peak

On a sunny February day I decided to trail run Benson, my first time up the super popular peak.

Since there was no tourist information office en route to one of the trailheads, Westwood Lake, I reckoned I’d wing it.

A hike this popular must have good trail signage.

… Right?

If there is, I never found it.

At full jog I plunged into one of the many trails leading UP.

Turns out that mountain is covered with mountain biking trails.

It’s amazing to me how much work kids are willing to put into these illegal courses.

Those trails all looped or dead ended. I was eventually forced back to the lake. And finished the pretty circuit.

more photos

I’ll be a little more careful with the trip-planning next time I try Benson. 🙂

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“A Life Ascending” – the movie

Megan Michelson:

On January 20, 2003, seven people were killed in a class 3 avalanche on a peak called La Traviata near Selkirk Mountain Experience, a backcountry hut and guiding operation outside Revelstoke, BC. The guide that day was SME owner and lead guide, Ruedi Beglinger, a Switzerland native with the highest level of mountain guiding certification and decades of experience. Until that day in 2003, SME had never had a serious injury or death during its then 18 years in business. …

… a new feature-length documentary called ”A Life Ascending” about the life and family of guide Ruedi Beglinger has been released on the film festival circuit. It recently won the audience choice award at Colorado’s Docuwest Film Festival …

ESPN

The DVD goes on sale Feb. 28th.

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

A Life Ascending

social media – Facebook | @alifeascending

I’ve subscribed to the blog, too.

RIP Rob and Mark Glaser, friends of mine killed by avalanche in 2011.

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climbing Ben Nevis, Scotland

Walking the West Highland Way in September 2009, the weather suddenly cleared.

… this was unexpected.

I abandoned that over-rated route, and caught the first bus to Ben Nevis.

What luck. That peak is infamous for foul weather. Yet thousands got to the top clear of clouds that day.

My trip report – Mt Everest of Scotland – Ben Nevis

Some of my photos from that day were used in a Walk Highlands guide page – Ben Nevis by the Mountain Track

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hiking John Muir Trail with Skurka

I’m on Andrew Skurka’s mailing list, getting updated on future adventures he’s leading personally.

… uber-hiker Andrew Skurka and Gerry Mortion, President/CEO of EnergyFirst, hiking the 224-mile (360km) John Muir Trail. The two mean were able to cover the entire distance, from Yosemite Valley to the Mt. Whitney, in just seven days, averaging an impressive 32 miles (51.5km) per day.

The video serves as a great introduction to the trail …

Adventure Blog

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The John Muir is our #2 trail in the world.

(via Adventure Blog)

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6 barefoot hikers summit Kili

Ross proved the doubters — including me — WRONG:

On Saturday, 29 January, at 12.45 South Africa time, our entire team of six barefoot climbers, … and four support crew (in shoes) reached Uhuru Peak, at 5,895m, the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro and the highest point in Africa. …

Barefoot Kilimanjaro: Mission Accomplished – The Video Diary

Respect.

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Last Wild Race – Patagonia

I have friends packing for the annual Patagonian Expedition Race Feb. 14-22, 2012. You fly to Punta Arenas.

… I’m tempted to go as “media”.

Watch the 2011 race trailer on YouTube.

I’ve only hiked Patagonia once, tripping back and forth across the Chile / Argentina border.

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

(via Kraig on Gadling.)

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New Zealand’s Routeburn Track

Though the Milford Track gets more recognition, nearby Routeburn Track might be even better.

Kyle Ellison – trip report:

… This past year Lonely Planet listed the Routeburn Track as one of it’s top ten treks in the world, and the heavily trodden track has seen it’s annual numbers climb to over 13,000 walkers per year.

… the Department of Conservation limits the number of people who can through-hike the 20-mile route by only providing 50 beds in each of the 4 backcountry huts scattered along the trail. During the summer months, the no-frills huts (mattresses and gas stoves are provided) run a pricey $40 US per person/night and reservations are absolutely crucial. …

Gadling

Permits are needed. Click over to Routeburn Track — official website — for information on how to tramp independently or guided.

There are plenty of good trekking guidebooks. Amy McGinnis recommends one I’ve not used — NZ Frenzy: New Zealand South Island by Scott Cook.

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Ganden to Samye trek, Tibet

Peter Soons recommends trekking company Himalayan Leaders:

… The service was perfect, they even carried satellite phones, and foremost the cook knew his job. Group size was 4 pax and from their headquarters in Kathmandu, they called in every day to see how we were doing. …

They did this classic, one of our best hikes in Asia.

… an unforgettable 4 days to walk from Ganden to Samye in one of the most beautiful areas of Tibet. …

The Samye Monastery trek

Ganden Monastery

We trekked Ganden to Samye in 1998, independently and illegally. There were no guided tours at that time. 🙂

And we loved it.

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Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail, Glacier Park

Colleen Contrisciane-Lewis, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania won an all-expenses-paid grand prize from Backpacker magazine: an assignment to hike—and report on—her dream trip.

Read about her 85-mile, weeklong transect of Glacier National Park on the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail:

Naturally, Rowan and I want quality time alone–we eloped just weeks before our hike, and this Continental Divide-crossing route will not only be my Reader Leader dream trip, but also our honeymoon. …

… When I backpack solo, I can do breakfast and pack in 30 minutes. With Rowan, it takes two hours, and my frustration is building to a boil. …

… “Would you mind silencing your bear bell?” Rowan asks. “The incessant jingle is grating. And I’d love to see a bear.”

Who am I to argue with a man who’s lived with lions? So, against my better judgment, I silence my bell, and zip my lips. We hike 30 minutes before seeing a grizzly 20 yards off the trail …

read her trip report – GLACIER MAGIC

Bowman Lake in Glacier National Park (Jeremie Hollman)

That’s one unforgettable honeymoon!

Backpacker posted 7 more reader submitted trip reports:

Shoal Creek Loop, Gros Ventre Wilderness, WY

International Appalachian Trail, Parc National de la Gaspesie, Quebec

Creekside Loop, Pisgah NF, NC

Evolution Loop, Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP, CA

Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, Castle Rock SP, CA

Grasshopper Glacier, Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness, MT

Appalachian Trail, 100-Mile Wilderness, ME

details

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barefoot to Kilimanjaro

The barefoot movement is going too far with this project.

Ross on Science of Sport:

Only 3 days to go before I jet off to Kilimanjaro to tackle Africa’s highest summit, and the world’s highest free-standing mountain…barefoot…

My mission is to help get ONE person to the top barefoot, and to do it safely. …

The Barefoot Kilimanjaro Challenge

It’s an attention getter, that’s for sure. Funds raised go to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in South Africa.

related – Killian Jornet record for summitting Kilimanjaro in light shoes – 7 hours 14 minutes return. (VIDEO)