coastal – Page 37 – besthike.com

November 2, 2011October 30, 2011

Hiking Wakkanai, Japan

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

My “plan” was to travel to northernmost Japan and catch the ferry from Wakkanai to the remote island Rishiri-Zan.

In my dreams, I’d camp one night. Then do the 8hr, 18km coast-to-coast over this volcano (1712m). (Oshidomari track up, Kutsugata track down)

more photos by le.sdf.free.fr

Certainly this is one of the best hikes in Japan. And that photo is a postcard, not reality.

… Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to pull off this hike later than September due to: unstable weather, hostels & campgrounds being closed and/or trails being impassable due to snow or washout.

I only conceived the faint hope of trying for it late October because I saw a fleeting TV weather report showing a smiling sun over the north tip of the island. …

Waking early the morning of my intended day hike, the weather was normal — grey and drizzling. I went back to sleep.

Depressed at having yet another of my hiking plans dashed, I defaulted to a lazy day wandering the town. Then catching the train and abandoning northern Japan altogether.

Unexpectedly, the weather cleared up. And I had an excellent day hike walking directly from the train station after locking up my pack.

First stop a tranquil Temple much adorned with gardens and statuary.

Fall colours were a highlight of the day.

I climbed up above town to Wakkanai Kōen (稚内公園) park. That’s the “Russian” island of Sakhalin, in the distance.

How about this?

I began to wonder whether I should have jumped on the ferry. Nope. Here’s the micro-climate cloaking the volcano:

Instead I decided to walk the bluff, then descend down to the coast via animal trails.

Here are the animals.

This region is famed for kelp though there wasn’t much drying end of October.

In peak times these racks might be covered with kelp.

Like other parts of the world cold and inhospitable, locals like bright colours, making long winter nights less depressing.

This turned out to be one of my best hiking days in Japan :). … But I still caught the train south when it got dark.

Rishiri-Zan volcano must wait.

See more photos from my day hike of Wakkanai.

related – Climbing Rishiri-Zan trip report (2004) by Cameron L. Martindell

October 7, 2011October 7, 2011

hiking Big Island, Brazil

Ramon Luiz da Cruz Inacio Quevedo writes to ask what we’ve got against Brazil?

We have a amazing hike, next to Rio de Janeiro / São Paulo. …

WHY YOU DO LIKE THIS HIKE

– Beaches almost wild on rain forest;
– It is not only hike: you do can just relax on beach when you want;
– If you fell tired, you can pause and relax some days on sand with a cold bear;
– You can stop your hike at any moment. If you want, there are small local boats in each place to hire and go to another place without hike;
– There are montains to view the sea and around, the major is pico do papagaio (means parrot summit);
– There is a lot kayaking and snorkeling;
– Birds, little monkeys, etc are common.

CONSIDERATIONS

– The biggest problem is the language: Knowledge some words in Portuguese may help.
– The weather is predictable some days forward but it’s possible one week later your sunniest beach vacations turns to a week wettest on mud.
– Watch out with snakes and spiders
– Camp on beach is forbidden, you must camp next a local house or camp site.
– Summer (dec-mar) is hotter, but there are more rain. Winter is drier and tiny cold, but with some luck maybe hot like summer.

Summit Post:

Ilha Grande ( Big Island ) is one of the Brazilian paradises.

The Island is covered almost 90% by original Atlantic Forest, one of the last places preserved. Majestic trails, mountains, wild beaches, the perfect place to feel the Nature. Today, Ilha Grande receive more than 8.000 visitors every month. 20 years ago, the number was 600 people per month. …

Mountainous topography with several peaks. … These areas are extensively vegetated and you can also find dense forests, headlands, steeps, plains, rivers and caverns.

It’s very easy to go to Ilha Grande!

… from Rio de Janeiro.

Barcas S/A is the official company to make traverses from the Island, two times, every day. The ticket costs US$ 3 and 8 ( weekends ). The ship will go to Abraão beach, the main village. All the trails start in this place. All the trailheads are very well marked with plates and maps. It’s very easy and pleasant to hike and walk by beautiful trails close to the Atlantic Ocean. …

Summit Post – Ilha Grande

I’m convinced. No doubt we’ll hear much about ILHA GRANDE in the lead up to the 2016 Olympics.

September 1, 2011September 1, 2011

best hikes Asia – Hong Kong

by site editor Rick McCharles

I’ll be hiking in Asia for about 2 months this Fall.

Where should I go?

Hong Kong is my home away from home in Asia. I’ve hiked there before …

Tim Cheung just posted the best article I’ve seen yet on hiking Hong Kong:

… Tourism campaigns for Hong Kong rarely champion its hiking trails and yet 300 kilometers of designated trails, varying in length and difficulty, traverse the territory and many locals hike religiously.

To really experience Hong Kong get out to one of the four major hiking trails: the MacLehose Trail, Wilson Trail, Hong Kong Trail or Lantau Trail.

read more on CNN International – Top spots for hiking in Hong Kong

Dragon's Back Trail, Hong Kong — Dragon's Back Trail

(via Meanderthals)

August 9, 2011August 10, 2011

Juan de Fuca Trail threatened

Krista hiked the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail this summer. Loved it.

But there’s a big debate in progress between those who want to protect the Trail … and a proposed housing development by Marine Trail Holdings.

Search Google News for “Juan de Fuca Trail” for the latest update.

Another public hearing will take place in Sept 2011. You can weigh in with your opinion by mail:

Marine Trail Public Hearing
c/o Juan de Fuca Area Planning
PO Box 238
Sooke BC V
9Z 0S9

Or email CRD Board Chair G.Young gyoung@victoria.ca
copy: jdfinfo@crd.bc.ca

Also, you could ask Christy Clark, Premier of BC, to buy the land … premier@gov.bc.ca

June 29, 2011June 21, 2011

inspired by Iceland

My most poignant inspiration in visiting Iceland was a music video called Glósóli by Icelandic band Sigur Rós.

Magic. Exotic. Ethereal. Stark.

That’s Iceland.

I posted a few tips for visiting if you have it on your bucket list.

June 25, 2011June 21, 2011

Látrabjarg bird cliffs, Iceland

The major bird cliffs of Iceland ranked #1 on a Lonely Planet list of the greatest wildlife spectacles worldwide.

1. Látrabjarg bird cliffs, Iceland

The famed white cliff s of Dover get their hue from the chalk stratum. At Látrabjarg, the very far western extremity of Iceland (and Europe), the rock faces – some over 400m high, and about 12km along – aren’t naturally white. When you hear that these cliff s host the summer roosts of millions of seabirds, you’ll guess what those stains are: an unbelievable quantity of guano. The swirling, squawking cacophony of puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars, cormorants and kittiwakes is extraordinary; even if you’re not into birdwatching, the comic antics of the puffins and the sheer scale of the mob are mesmerizing.

Access is easiest with a car, though a bus runs three times weekly from June to August from Isafjordur, the Westfjords region’s main town. …

see more of The greatest wildlife spectacles

Click PLAY or see a feature YouTube.

There’s a wonderful hike along the cliff top.

June 13, 2011June 9, 2011

Hellnar to Arnarstapi, Iceland

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

5km return

The Snaefellsnes Peninsula, close to Reykjavik, is a popular hiking destination.

Of many possible coastal walks, I chose the most popular, Hellnar to Arnarstapi.

It’s busy, but I still loved it. You can drop non-hikers in your group at the trailhead Coffee shop.

There are restaurants at either end of the trail, as well. Here’s pretty Arnarstapi.

The Visitor Centre is in Hellnar. I got good advice there.

This section of the coast is famed for “weather worn caves and sea arches“.

The vistas are gorgeous, for sure.

I nearly tripped over one of the supposedly rare Arctic Foxes. (That’s my 3rd in 4 days. How rare could they be?)

The fox was picking up an easy lunch. Dumber birds hatch eggs too close to the cliff top. I could have collected enough for an omelet, myself, without scrambling.

I’m happy with the photos from this day hike. See the rest on flickr. They are geotagged automatically by my new camera.

June 10, 2011June 9, 2011

Snaefellsnes volcano, Iceland

Jules Verne’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth starts at Snaefellsnes volcano.

Earlier Icelandic sagas are set here, too.

Mystics and spiritualists oft list this as a ‘Power Place’ of sorts.

Another story tells of a slam poetry contest between a great Icelandic writer named Kolbeinn Jöklaskáld and the devil. The devil lost the duel and had to throw him self to the bottom of the sea near this spot (north of Hellnar).

I scrambled up and left a Summit Stone on the stark volcanic outcropping.

June 9, 2011June 9, 2011

Látrabjarg bird cliffs, Iceland

trip report by besthike editor Rick McCharles

The most popular hike in the Westfjords.

The cliffs of all cliffs, Látrabjarg, are home to birds in unfathomable numbers. This westernmost point of Iceland (and Europe if Greenland and the Azores are not counted) is really a line of several cliffs, 14 kilometres long and up to 441m high. And it’s as steep as it gets, dizzyingly so. Safe from foxes, the birds are fearless, and provide stunning photographic opportunities from close range. Bird photography for dummies, you might say. The puffins are particularly tame (VIDEO) …

Látrabjarg is thus deservedly the most visited tourist attraction in the Westfjords. The cliffs are easily accessible by car and when you’re there, a walk along the cliffs awaits. The whirling sensation will not fade, and neither will the memories.

westfjords.is

Looking top down at a bird colony …