High-res version linked from this post: The NEW Greatest and Most Unusual Travel Photo of All Time – Gadling
Abel Tasman Coast Track – besthike information page
non-hiker tackles the West Coast Trail
Janet Wilson, as part of her 50th birthday fitness program, decided to walk our #1 hike in the World.
She did the research, bought the gear, finished a series of training hikes (adding 5lbs each time), grabbed her husband … and headed for the wild Shipwreck Coast.
… I suggested to my husband that for my birthday he give me, not some extravagant present or party, but his support and partnership in tackling a big physical goal: hiking the West Coast Trail.
It was something I had always wanted to do, but now I was not at all sure my aging carcass could withstand the training, let alone reach a point where it could carry a 40 pound pack over rough terrain for 7 days. But I decided to try. I read every book and web account on the trail I could find.
… we bought all the rest of our gear: the Mutha Hubba tent and footprint, Exped 7 Downmats (a bit heavy, but I knew I needed a great sleep to recover at nights), MontBlanc DownHugger sleeping bags, a SilTarp II for the inevitable rainy days, MSR’s Superfly stove and fuel canisters (3), hiking poles (purchased last and on impulse, but one of the best purchases we made) and a Katadyn Vario MicroFilter …
See Janet’s entire trip report – WesternWilson – The West Coast Trail, September 2007
Congratulations. We are proud of you Janet!
We’ve linked Janet’s trip report to our West Coast Trail information page.
Top bull
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Hiking photos traipsing right through the middle of an Elk rut. (By the look of the photos.)
“A big bull elk, with some of his progeny. Looks like one half of his antlers has been worn smooth by combat.”
From Tom Mangan’s personal blog, Busy Being Born: All day on the Marin coast.
These guys are more dangerous than bears, Tom. Be careful out there.
my long awaited hiking kayak – Alpacka Raft
For over 2yrs I’ve been researching inflatable and foldable kayaks I might carry for paddle hiking. Getting to good hiking routes by paddling across the lake rather than walking around.
It’s here. But it’s a raft. (Now to find the $800. Or a cheaper used one.)
Erin & Hig convinced me. They’re using Alpacka rafts on a 4 thousand mile charity journey from Seattle to Alaska.
more Alpacka Raft PHOTOS
Alpacka rafts come in three sizes: Small (Alpaca); Medium (Yukon Yak); Large (Denali Llama). I want the smallest, lightest, the Alpacka, likely with spray skirt.
Total weight is between 4-6lbs plus paddle. I can carry that!
Always follow the packrafting rule of “don’t float it if you can’t swim it”. These boats are incredibly tough for their weight, but they can still puncture if you are not careful. Good packrafters try to avoid hitting obstacles. (A patch kit is included.)
If interested, check out these links:
Alpacka Rafts – about
Interview – Alaska businesswoman Sheri Tingey, Alpaca Raft Inc.
Alpacka packrat – June ’07 Canoe & Kayak Magazine
packraft – Wikipedia
hike Point Lobos, California mid-September
Another great post by Tom Mangan:
This could well be the best time of the year to drop in on the Point Lobos State Preserve south of Carmel — with lingering summery warmth but just enough of the fog layer remaining to make things interesting.
… Point Lobos tends to be redundantly spectacular — there’s a dozen little coves with swirling water, crashing surf, seagulls riding pieces of driftwood and sea lions barking in the distance — so even hacker with a cheap point-and-shoot can find a few choice images.
I like Tom’s folksy though detailed writing style. And I like his “hacker cheap point-and-shoot” photos even more …
See more … Two-Heel Drive: Point Lobos on a weekday in mid-September
damn the torpedoes – Farragut State Park, Idaho
Admiral David Glasgow Farragut (July 5, 1801 – August 14, 1870) was the first senior officer of the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and full admiral of the Navy. He is remembered in popular culture for his possibly apocryphal order at the Battle of Mobile Bay, usually paraphrased: “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”.
Farragut must have been some sort of prodigy. When only 12-years-old, he was given command of a prize ship taken by USS Essex and brought her safely to port.
Many places and things are named in remembrance of the Admiral including a number of Starfleet ships on Star Trek the TV show.
Over the past couple of weeks we have been exploring Farragut State Park close to Athol, north Idaho. The Park’s a sprawling place beloved by trail runners, hikers, and mountain bikers.
The park hosted the 1965 National Girl Scout Senior Roundup, 12th World Scout Jamboree in 1967, and the 1969 and 1973 National Scout Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of America. The park still serves as the winter training “Klondyke” site for the scout troops of the Inland Northwest Council.
Farragut State Park – Wikipedia
Last Sunday we jog/hiked (“jiked”) the Highline Trail to Scout Trail, then backtracked to the Shoreline Trail. That was 90mins of jog / hiking.
Dave jumped in Lake Pend Oreille on finishing. Jeni announced she wanted to have her (future) wedding in the Park.
It is gorgeous.
Farragut State Park – official website
Superior Hiking Trail, Minnesota
The Superior Hiking Trail is a 235-mile long distance hiking trail along the rocky ridgeline above Lake Superior in northeastern Minnesota. The trail is located within the Superior National Forest on both public and private lands, and is privately maintained. The trail currently begins near Two Harbors, Minnesota, extends along Lake Superior through seven state parks, including Split Rock and Tettegouche state parks. …
Ultimately the trail will begin on the Wisconsin border near Jay Cooke State Park, and will end by connecting to the Border Route Trail, which passes through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The SHT is a proposed segment of the 4,000-mile North Country Trail.
The Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA) is currently building 40 miles of trail through the forests and ridges of Duluth, MN. 22 miles of trail have been completed in and around Jay Cooke State Park and Duluth, MN. Future plans are to complete a segment of trail between Duluth and Two Harbors. When completed the trail will measure approximately 300 miles in length.
Considered one of the best hiking trails in the country, Backpacker Magazine named the Superior Hiking Trail the trail with the “Best Trail/Camp/Shelter conditions”, the trail with the “Best Signage” in the country, and one of the most scenic trails in the nation …
If interested, get the guidebook:
Complete and up to date maps, info on campsites, and mile-by-mile description of the trail. The Guide can be used for both day hikes and backpacking.
Day hikes from trailhead to trailhead are 5-11 miles in length. A through-hike is 205 miles. Also includes the new 39-mile section of trail through Duluth built in 2004-2006. …
Guide to the Superior Hiking Trail details over 270 miles of wilderness footpath on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Mile-by-mile descriptions lead the casual hiker or ardent backpacker through hardwood forests of birch and maple, and into boreal forests of spruce, pine and fir–a region thriving with spectacular wildflowers and diverse wildlife. This landscape, once carved by ancient glaciers, is dominated by Lake Superior, the largest-area freshwater lake in the world. The Superior Hiking Trail weaves along the Sawtooth Mountain range–easily the most impressive scenery in the Midwest.
Guide to the Superior Hiking Trail provides information on trailhead access, parking accommodations, designated campsites, scenic overlooks and linkages to the seven Minnesota State Parks along the trail. Complete trail maps are included in each section. Whether you have two hours or two weeks, an afternoon or a weekend, this guide will enhance your hiking experience.
map – SHTA.org
more photos – SHTA.org
Hike the Highlands Festival, Nova Scotia
Cape Breton’s 4th Annual Hike the Highlands Festival, Sept. 14-23, 2007 is on !!
31 hikers enjoyed the first hike of the festival – the Jack Pine Trail.
Opening ceremonies went well and attracted a large crowd and registration was brisk on the first day of the festival. The festival’s blog will have daily posts/articles each day during the festival including updates on next day’s weather forecast.
The Highlands of Cape Breton are situated on the world renowned Cabot Trail and offer some of the most spectacular coastal scenery and hiking trails in the world. …
Ten of the eighteen guided hikes featured in this year’s festival hiking schedule are within the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, the second most pristine National Park in North America – ranked by National Geographic Traveler Magazine!
Hike the Highlands Festival Official Web Site, Cape Breton Island
top 10 hiking trails Big Sur, California
As recommended by the GO Blog:
… Beautiful site with stunning photos and info, all nicely put together the way a website should be designed. Elegent, but useful. Their top 10 trails are:
1. McWay Waterfall Trail (.64 mile)
2. Ewoldsen Trail (4.5 miles)
3. Pfeiffer Falls / Valley View Trails (2.4 miles)
4. Limekiln Trails (3 miles)
5. Tanbark Trail & Tin House (5.6 miles)
6. Andrew Molera Loop (8.8 miles)
7. Mill Creek Trail (3.2 miles)
8. Salmon Creek Trail (6.5 miles)
9. Cruickshank Trail to Villa Creek Camp (6 miles)
10. Pacific Valley Bluff Trail (.7 mile)Get Outdoors – Top 10 Hiking Trails In Big Sur – Getoutdoors.com Outdoor Blog
the GOW (Great Ocean Walk), Australia
Frank Wall, his partner Sue and friends blogged the Great Ocean Walk, one of the NEW best hikes Down Under.
Wikipedia has a far-better-than-usual write up on the hike:
The GOW is a 91 kilometre track which stretches from Apollo Bay to Glenample Homestead, adjacent to the 12 Apostles, (actually 8 Apostles) and passes through the Great Otway and Port Campbell National Parks.
The GOW was launched in January 2006 and has become Victoria’s iconic long-distance coastal walk attracting many national and international walkers. …
One of the unique aspects of the GOW is that walkers can ‘step on and step off’ the trail, completing short, day, overnight or multi-day hikes, ranging from easy walks to difficult treks.
To complete the entire linear walk (approx. 91 kilometres) would take approximately eight days and seven nights.
Walkers will experience spectacular coast and forest scenery including rocky platforms, sheltered beaches, rivers, forests and coastal heathland.
Frank reports that water was a bit of a problem. Weather and snakes a concern. But for Australia this is a cruisy walk. Using a vehicle to shuttle gear from campsite to campsite is easy.
Check Frank’s entertaining trip report and other posts tagged with Great Ocean Walk.
