Category: blogs

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Trailspotting does Hawaii

I often ask, why is Trailspotting better than Besthike?

Quality control.

Simple.

… Every trail you find on Trailspotting has been hiked, charted and photographed by us, which is how we can provide you with the most accurate and comprehensive information possible. After returning from our recent trip to Maui, we’re now proud to be able to boast about our coverage of three major islands in the Hawaiian chain. …

hawaii-map.gifStill my favourite format for a hiking blog, I’m pleased to see Trailspotting doing the advance footwork for me in Hawai.

Before I went to Kauai, Trailspotting had been there.

Now I’m looking towards a hiking vacation in Mauai. Trailspotting has already scouted the island.

If you are thinking about Hawaii too — here’s the Trailspotting overview post: Hawai Trails Special Feature

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why has the besthike blog been down?

In WordPress, the best platform for blogging, I feel … one of my settings had somehow been changed from this:

OPTIONS > Miscellaneous > Store uploads in this folder: wp-content/uploads/image.png

To this incorrect setting …

Miscellaneous > Store uploads in this folder:/../../../../../../../../../../../../../../../../../tmp/image.png

Settings → Miscellaneous – WordPress documentation

I only mention this on the blog because it may be the mischief of a “hacker”. No doubt one of our bitter rivals in the highly lucrative outdoor blogging niche.

Just kidding.

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trailspotting top 10 popular outdoor adventures

The hiking blog I most admire in terms of it’s layout and special features is trailspotting.

And I’ve been reading it closely during the last 3wks. Studying their many posts on Kauai, Hawaii, researching my own hikes.

trailspotting.jpg

Here’s a recap of our most viewed hikes during March 2008:

1. Big Sur – Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
2. Tahoe Region – Castle Peak Snowshoeing
3. San Francisco Peninsula – San Bruno Mtn Summit Loop
4. Big Island, Hawaii – Kilauea Crater
5. Kauai, Hawaii – Alaka’i Swamp Trail
6. Tahoe Region – Donner Memorial SP Snowshoeing
7. Mendocino County – Russian Gulch State Park
8. Tahoe Region – Mt. Ralston Peak
9. Kauai, Hawaii – Hanakapiai Falls
10. Napa County – Sugarloaf Mountain Trail

read more on trailspotting

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Kaapoko tunnel hike, Kauai, Hawaii

A local recommended an excellent, unique — but extreme — hiking adventure:

tunnels05_sm.jpg

Get used to the mud. Most of the time, it’s easier just to go right through the middle while looking for submerged rocks and logs. If you do have hiking boots, it’s best to avoid overtopping them.

Maybe too extreme, or too dirty, for me.

tunnels12_sm.jpg

What’s reassuring is that the 0.9 mile-long (1.5 km) tunnel is perfectly straight and you can see the light at the other end the whole way. It takes 20-30 minutes to reach that light. When you get there it is like a door onto another world.

details: Kaapoko Tunnel Hike (part 1) – A Kauai Blog

It’s called Secret Tunnel to the North Shore in the The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook

There are actually a second. And a third tunnel. Rarely visited. Difficult to find.

details: Kaapoko Tunnel Hike (part 2)

Thanks to Andy Kass for posting these trip reports.

I think I’ll go lie on the beach instead.

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best hikes in Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas

Every time I get to Lost Wages, I spend at least one day at Red Rock. It’s only a few miles from the strip to 197,000 acres of beautiful desert wilderness.

While most outdoors folk go for the bouldering, you can quickly access great hiking, as well.

Branch Whitney posted his favourite hikes there:

Easy Hikes

  • Calico Tank
  • Fern Canyon
  • Las Vegas Overlook

    • Moderate Hikes

  • Juniper Peak
  • Boot Boulder
  • Terrace Canyon

    • Advanced Hikes

  • Bridge Mtn via Ice Box Canyon
  • Mt. Wilson via Cleaver Crack
  • Rainbow Peak without the Ledges

    • It’s Prime Time for Red Rock Canyon! – Hiking Las Vegas blog

    rainbow_peak.jpg
    larger original

    That excellent website content is available to members only. But non-members can still read their blog in advance of a trip to Sin City.

    I am hoping to get there in April, myself.

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    walking Long Beach, British Columbia

    One of the great coastal walks of the world is Long Beach on Vancouver Island. I try to get out there at least once every year.

    It’s the gorgeous section of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve between Tofino and Ucluelet.

    long-beach-map.jpg

    What do you think?

    long-beach.jpg
    larger original – flickr

    more amazing photos of this wonderland by Bravewest

    My friend, journalist Kate Zimmerman was out last year for the first time en route to the Tofino Food and Wine Festival. Here’s what she wrote:

    … It’s the beach, though, that cries out to you. One glimpse of its broad, silken sands, bracketed by rocky outcrops topped with bravely coping conifers, and staying indoors seems ludicrous. We dashed out to glory in the crashing waves and enjoy the driftwood seating so thoughtfully provided by nature. The boys danced in the surf while we shivered just watching them and we all tossed sticks, seaweed and even mussels for leash-free mutts who thought they were in paradise. Another day, at low tide, the small pools at one end of the beach were jeweled with anemones and starfish while crabs scuttled to safety as the dogs splashed about. …

    Go West, Young Men, Dogs and Gourmands – Kate of Late

    Leave a comment if you have your own fond memories of Long Beach.

    There are many great hikes nearby, most famously the West Coast Trail.

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    take a Mcflurry spoon hiking

    Currently I’m carrying only a light metal spoon as “cutlery”. (Once in a while I use my Swiss Army Knife in the kitchen, too.) But Mcflurry spoons have done the trick in the past for me.

    Another great idea from As The Crow Flies:

    img_2568.jpg

    read more – Mcflurry spoon doubles as long handled spoon and tent stake holder

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    things white people like – Outdoor Performance Clothes

    This blog is going crazy on the interwebs right now:

    #87 Outdoor Performance Clothes

    … When white people aren’t working, they generally like to wear Outdoor Performance Clothes. …

    When you see white people wearing these, it is important that you do not discuss business matters. Instead you should say things like “where did you get that fleece?” and “what’s that thing holding your keys to your shorts?” White people will be more than happy to talk to you about their sustainably produced possessions.

    The main reason why white people like these clothes is that it allows them to believe that at any moment they could find themselves with a Thule rack on top of their car headed to a national park. …

    white-people.jpg

    If you plan on spending part of your weekend with a white person, it is strongly recommended that you purchase a jacket or some sort of “high performance” t-shirt, which is like a regular shirt but just a lot more expensive.

    things white people like

    Faux outdoors people.

    What are you going to do?

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    5 of the Best Walks in Europe

    The Rambling Traveler posted 5 major hikes he would like to do in future.

  • Italy- Alpe di Siusi in the Dolomites between Val di Fassa and Val Gardena (many day hikes)
  • Switzerland- Alpine Pass Route from Sargans to Montreux (350km/220 miles)
  • Norway- Hardanger Plateau DNT Trail from peak to fjord (5-7 day hike)
  • Scotland- West Highland Way from Milngavie to Fort William (152km/95 miles)
  • England- Coast to Coast Walk (C2C) from St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay (304km/190 miles)

    • If you have other recommendations, please share them in the comments on the Rambling Traveler blog post.

    Cabin in the middle of nowhere, Alpe di Siusi, Italy

    siusi.jpg

    original – flickr – Alaskan Dude

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    Hiking and Backpacking in Hawaii Blog

    A Google search for “Hawaii Hiking Blog” gets you to the #1 site: the Hiking and Backpacking in Hawaii Blog.

    A place to read about hiking in Hawaii, backpacking in Hawaii, and trails in Hawaii. Read Hawaii hiking stories, Hawaii hiking information, information about Hawaii trail locations and conditions on the Big Island (Hawaii island), Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai. Find out about the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands.

    It’s good. I’ve just started working backwards through the many posts, looking for the the best hikes in Hawaii.

    Dayle, the site editor, has great knowledge of the islands. He and his wife Jacqueline lead hikes for the Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club (HTMC).

    Of the best hikes in Kauai specifically, Dayle says most people name Kalalau and Awawapuhi-Nualolo.

    He posted another GREAT hike on that island that appeals to me:

    honopu1.jpg
    Photo credits: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/fu-kei

    A lesser used trail but one that is equally fantastic is the Honopu Ridge Trail located in the Kokee area of Kauai. …

    Along with my wife Jacque, I did this a few years ago and the payoffs at the end were fantastic views of the Na Pali Coast far below plus some awesome ridge hiking on some thrilling sections of trail. A very interesting and unexpected finding at the end of the trail are benches and lounge chairs made of sticks and slats of wood that have been lashed together. If you are like me, you’ll be amazed to find something like those manmade benches there.

    This area is the domain of mountain goats (literally). Very likely, if you hike the Honopu Ridge trail you will encounter, or at least hear, these horned denizens of the cliffs. …

    If you are looking for an adventure off the well-trampled paths used by most tourists, then Honopu Ridge is for you.

    Honopu Ridge Trail on Kauai

    Of course I have subscribed by RSS feed.