Category: books and magazines

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Nimblewill Nomad – all 11 America’s National Scenic Trails

His quest began New Years Day, 1998.

Noon Sunday, September 9, 2012, Nimblewill Nomad reached the summit of Grand Monadnock Mountain, New Hampshire, thus completing his trek o’er the New England National Scenic Trail.

And as to the significance of that day? Well, it marks the successful conclusion of Nimblewill’s quest to hike all eleven of America’s National Scenic Trails. He now becomes the second person, behind Bart Smith, to have documented this accomplishment.

nimblewillnomad.com

You might recall his hiking books: Ten Million Steps and Where Less the Path is Worn.

National Scenic Trails (18,734mi)

Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Arizona National Scenic Trail
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
Florida National Scenic Trail
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
New England National Scenic Trail
North Country National Scenic Trail
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail
Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

(via gossamergear)

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The Way – Randall St. Germain

The Way of St. James … (Spanish: El Camino de Santiago) … is the pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried. …

… existed for over a thousand years. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times, together with Rome and Jerusalem, and a pilgrimage route on which a plenary indulgence could be earned …

.. many pilgrims continue from Santiago de Compostela to the Atlantic coast of Galicia, to finish their journeys at Spain’s westernmost point, Cape Finisterre. …

… pilgrim’s hostels with beds in dormitories dot the common routes, providing overnight accommodation …

Staying at hostels usually cost between five and ten euros per night per bed in a dormitory, although a few hostels … operate on voluntary donations. Pilgrims are usually limited to one night’s accommodation and are expected to leave by eight in the morning to continue their pilgrimage. …

Canadian Randall St. Germain did the 500mi (800km) French Way averaging 26mi (40km) a day.

Camino de Santiago in 20 Days: My Way on the Way of St. James is essential reading for anyone foolish enough to fancy the French Way.

Randall is not a professional writer. Unlike more poetic pilgrimage reports, Randall details the awful weather, dog bites, exhaustion, bed bugs, … 😦

It’s unvarnished.

Randall:

Never to be included on the final list of Pulitzer Prize nominees, or in Oprah’s Book Club, Camino de Santiago in 20 Days is not your granddaddy’s Camino book, either.

I wanted to maintain the integrity of my Camino from St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela. My writing had to be honest and based on events which actually happened. I know some of it may be dry, but I wanted to keep my journey intact and not make up anything, including dialogue. Believe me, if I made sh*t up, this book would be far more entertaining.

Randall carried a tent the entire Way — and never slept in it. Yet he hates the hostels. Hates smokers, snorers and farters. … In fact he’s not all that fond of people.

Randall’s foot problems alone are enough to turn away most pilgrims. Not to mention the lack of toilets.

Still interested? …

Check his website – Camino My Way

Or friend him on Facebook. As you might have guessed, Randall went back to the Camino …

Me? … I’m still leaning towards mountain biking The Way. Inspired and informed by Randall, I’ll be tenting it every night.

Mine was a review copy. Thanks Randall!

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Long Beach, Vancouver Island

Randall St. Germain loves the rugged west coast of Canada:

… One of my favorite photos. I don’t remember ever seeing a cloud reflection on the beach before. Looking toward toward Combers Beach with Wickaninnish Beach in the distance. …

see more pics – BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAYS AT LONG BEACH, PACIFIC RIM NATIONAL PARK

Randall’s the author of Camino de Santiago in 20 Days, by the way.

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Charles Dickens was a walker

Sports Illustrated:

Charles Dickens, an avid walker, logged 20 miles a day

Dickens was from childhood an avid, even compulsive, walker. …

Scarcely a day went by that Dickens didn’t flee his desk and take to the streets of London and its suburbs. …

(his) passion for walking did not diminish with age. He was 55 when he began the second of his tours of America, in 1867, and despite a dizzying schedule of 76 readings in about 150 days ranging from Washington to Buffalo to Portland, Maine, he still made time to walk daily. …

Frisky As The Dickens (1988)

Come and follow his follow his trails to discover the locations of Great Expectations, David Copperfield en de Pickwick Papers. Tour 1 will take place 10-15 June 2012 Including one day of the Medway Dickens Festival Price: € 295

(via Kottke)

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Unforgettable Walks Before You Die

Unforgettable Walks to Take Before You Die is the fifth title (2008) in an exciting series of books that will help you search out essential sights and experiences around the world.

Photographers and writers Steve Watkins and Clare Jones draw on their years of international travel experience in selecting thirty of the world’s most inspiring, spectacular and beautiful walks, each of which can be done within the space of a two-week break. …

Amazon

… not “hiking guidebooks” but certainly inspirational.

Some of the worlds best walks are included in this volume.

Yellowstone
Tour du Mont Blanc (Alps)
Tiger Leaping Gorge (China)
Amalfi Coast (Italy)
Routeburn (New Zealand)
etc.

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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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best hikes in Japan

UPDATED with information from Wes Lang, editor of Hiking in Japan.

by site editor Rick McCharles

If you were to plan a hiking vacation in Japan, here’s my advice.

First, get a copy of Lonely Planet Hiking in Japan, the best guidebook in English.

Plan your itinerary scheduling more time than you expect getting to and from trailhead. (It’s easy to miss a bus connection and get stuck overnight somewhere.)

You’ll almost always lose a day due to bad weather.

An ideal trip, in my opinion, would include these 4 routes:

1) Tate-Yama to Kamikochi (6 to 10 days)
“Hike the length of the North Alps — top hike in Japan!

2) Daisetzu-zan Grand Traverse (4-7 days)
The ultimate long hike across the roof of Hokkaido.

3) Kita-dake to Huiri-dake (2-10 days depending on route)
Rough and remote traverse the length of the South Alps

* Mt Fuji is a must too, of course.
A wise man climbs Mt Fuji …

climbing Fuji - photo by Matthieu LIENART

To do all of those you should be there July – September. … you can get away with going in June if you’ve got a pair of light crampons. May if you’ve got skis.

Questions? Suggestions?

If you’ve hiked Japan, what do you think?

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Walter Weston – father of mountaineering in Japan

I’d never heard of Walter Weston. Have you?

The Reverend Walter Weston (25 December 1860 – 27 March 1940), was an English clergyman, missionary, and mountaineer. …

Weston and Edward Bramwell Clarke are the westerners identified with the emergence of mountain climbing as a new sport in Japan. By the end of Weston’s life, some British climbers referred to him as ‘the father of mountaineering in Japan’.

In 1937, Emperor Hirohito conferred on him the Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasures (fourth class) and the Japanese Alpine Club erected a bronze tablet in his honour at Kamikochi in the Japanese Alps. …

… He published Mountaineering and Exploring in the Japanese Alps (1896). As a writer and lecturer he continued to introduce Japan to an overseas audience. He gave universal currency to the term Japanese Alps, though it was first used before he came to Japan. …

Walter Weston statue - Mount Ena Park

He’s honoured at an annual festival in Kamikochi the first Sunday in June.

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Africa Trek – Alexandre & Sonia Poussin

Alexandre and Sonia Poussin are two impressive adventurers.

I’ve just finished vol. 1 of their 3yr, 14,000km, walk of the length of Africa epic. They traveled the Rift valley.

Amazon – Africa Trek I: From the Cape of Good Hope to Mount Kilimanjaro

Here are some video highlights. Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Volume 1 was translated very quickly into English resulting in some interesting word usage. Most entertaining en Anglais.

I’m keen to follow up with Africa Trek II: From Mount Kilimanjaro to the Sea of Galilee. Unfortunately it’s not available as an audio book in English, so it I may never get to it. These days it’s pretty much audio or nothing, for me.