Hot Springs Rim, Big Bend TX

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

Note: We were there Jan 2017. Accessibility may change depending on what happens with Trump’s border wall promise.

One highlight of Big Bend National Park you should not miss are the Hot Springs.

A reminder of the park’s past volcanic turmoil, the Langford Hot Springs (or just “hot springs”; everyone will know what you’re talking about) is a small, jacuzzi-sized pool of naturally occurring 105°F (41°C) water from deep below the earth. …

It’s a short walk from the parking lot. Bring a flashlight at night.

Even better is to hike the Hot Springs Rim trail first. Finishing with a dip.

The trailhead features the amazingly well preserved buildings from the Livingston family days.

Hotsprings Trail, Big Bend

I started up the Hot Springs Trail.

Hotsprings Trail, Big Bend

Continued on to the Hot Springs Rim Trail high above the Rio Grande.

Hotsprings Trail, Big Bend

I left a Summit Stone at a nice viewpoint.

Hotsprings Trail, Big Bend

Relaxed there looking over the river into Mexico. Very tranquil.

Hotsprings Trail, Big Bend

I backtracked to the Hot Springs just in time for dusk. 🙂

This is the life.

January 5, 2017February 1, 2017

West Coast Trail reservations start Jan 9, 2017

Our #1 hike in the world is the West Coast Trail.

wct_logo_large

AT A GLANCE

75 km (47 mi), 5-7 days traditional route
3-5 day routes possible via Nitinat
southwestern edge of Vancouver Island
Pacific Rim National Park
Permits required May 1 – ~~September 16~~ September 30
extremely rugged, requires a high level of fitness
6,000+ backpackers / year
permits limited and in high demand — WCT Trail reservations
- The reservation system opens 8am PST on January 9, 2017, for example.
… most expensive hiking permit in Canada

January 2, 2017January 2, 2017

hiking Ferry Reach Park, Bermuda

Close to the airport and St. George, I quite enjoyed wandering these trails.

ferry-reach-park

This 64 acres park area is the second largest in Bermuda and has wonderful walking trails, forest areas with endemic plantation, a nice lake, a bay with a lovely beach, and a few historic forts. Other than the sounds of airplanes flying overhead at times, this place has remained as a serene and peaceful parkland over the years. …

Bermuda Railway Trail passes through the park and goes along the western coast line. …

At the western most tip … Ferry Island which can be accessed from the park on a small wooden bridge. It was in Ferry Island where the ferry dock was built way back in 1600s. Ferries transported people across to the other side known as Coney Island which connects to the main island of Bermuda. For over 250 years, ferry was the only transport that connected St. George with the main island.

It ceased to operate once the Causeway was built in 1871. …

In 1823, Martello Tower came up on the high ground behind the two forts where soldiers could survey the surrounding coastline and the land area. …

Bermuda Attractions

A friend told me they had some terrific drinking parties at Martello Tower back in his misspent youth. It’s all locked up now.

December 28, 2016December 24, 2016

West Coast Trail, Canada

Mike and Lara are MB Guiding.

They’ll organize your hike to many different destinations in B.C.

For example they’ll guide you on the West Coast Trail for C$1650 in 2017.

The West Coast Trail is our #1 hike in the world. A life changing adventure.

Experienced hikers can easily do it independently, however. The MB WCT information page is an excellent resource for everyone.

Thanks Hendrik.

December 16, 2016December 15, 2016

cycle hiking Pacific NW islands

This cycling book includes a pretty good overview of hiking trails on each island. I recommend it.

Amazon

December 5, 2016December 2, 2016

hiking Spittal Pond, Bermuda

Spittal Pond Nature Reserve is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Bermuda …

It is one of 13 parks or reserves managed by the Bermuda Department of Conservation Services which protects and conserves environmentally critical areas and habitats. …

…unique characteristics such as its lagoon which is permanently brackish, ecology featuring wet grassland and mangrove forests, seasonal shorebirds, other waterbirds and European eels. …

The winter season provides one of the best vistas for visitors walking along the many small trails in the park.

I was there in November. The only visitor on the trail.

I did see feral cats.

Though short, I would say it’s the best hike in Bermuda.

“Spanish Rock”, (also known as “Portuguese Rock”) a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean with inscriptions of the year 1543 AD … This rock piece has been taken out and replaced by a bronze plaque. …

The only other wildlife I spotted were wild chickens.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

official website

November 25, 2016November 23, 2016

El Faro Lighthouse in Mazatlán, Mexico

If you visit Maz don’t miss the best day hike in the city.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

September 21, 2016September 16, 2016

5 weeks hiking, paddling Greenland solo

Willem Vandoorne has done a number of the world’s most difficult long hikes. He’s just back from Greenland.

… which was without any doubt the most beautiful I have ever made and which has impressed and touched me deeply. The feeling which I had during those weeks in the wilderness is hard to explain. As I struggled through boulderfields and moraine, watched the sun set from mountain with views unknown to human gaze, and slalommed along countless muskoxen, I no longer felt like a spectator of any kind in this vast wilderness, but was an integral part of it, obeying to the same rules and laws of nature as any animal out there.

My trip was blessed with sensational weather conditions – during the first 4 weeks of the trip I had only a few overcast days with some rain and a few mornings with sea fog – all the rest was just blue skies and warm temperatures. I hiked over 80% of the distance in t-shirt …

BACK FROM GREENLAND

September 8, 2016September 6, 2016

hiking the Canary Islands

Walking Womad:

The first 5 and a half days of our trip we spent on La Gomera. Gomera is THE hiking island. It’s small, pretty quiet compared to Tenerife, hitching is soooo frikkin easy (the mostly german tourists all have a rental car and they will pick you up the moment you get your thumb out), and the hiking paths are really well marked. …

gomera5p

gomera4j

On Tenerife we continued along the GR 131 and some local trails. …

Read the trip report – Hiking on the Canary Islands ‘La Gomera’ and ‘Tenerife’

July 24, 2016July 23, 2016

cycle hiking San Juan island

Cycle hiking the Islands – trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

Due to ferry schedules I arrived Friday Harbor late in the day. The town’s name originates from Joseph Poalie Friday, a native Hawaiian.

I purchased food for dinner and headed out to find a place to camp.

Next morning early I was back at the Bean Cafe. These free wifi spots are my longest breaks during each day.

Tourist information told me the south was more scenic than the north, so I headed towards American Camp.

There are a number of trails. I opted to start towards Grandma’s Cove and made my own loop back.

It’s very popular.

American Camp is a legacy of the Pig War, a confrontation in 1859 between the United States and Great Britain over the Canada-U.S. border. Over a pig. Not kidding.

This was my first really hot, sunny day on the bike.