Choquequirao trek Peru, independently

Stingy Nomads:

Choquequirao is quite big, you need at least one full day to explore it.

… buildings with steep roofs, terraces, massive walls.

… views to the valley and canyon from the ruins are stunning, specially at the sunset.

What we really liked about Choquequirao is its quietness, in all day we saw 6 people, you have ruins all to yourself. Unfortunately Peruvian government is planning to build a cable car all the way to the ruins, it’ll bring a lot of money for the region which is good, but at the same time will destroy unique atmosphere. …

Choquequirao trek without a guide, independently

May 20, 2016May 16, 2016

Stingy Nomads – Everest Base Camp

You have two main options on how tho do the trek to Everest Base Camp, you can either do it through an agency or do it yourself.

Doing an organized tour through an agency is easy but expensive, you will probably be in a big group with someone carrying your bag and organizing where you stay.

Doing it yourself is not hard and plane tickets from Kathmandu to Lukla is the only thing that you have to organize. You follow a very clear path, everybody stays in the same little “towns” with many tea houses, it is not necessary to pre-book anything. …

Everest Base Camp Trek on a Backpacker budget

May 10, 2016May 8, 2016

trekking the Everest region, Nepal

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Cost is about $40 / day / person in 2016 staying and eating in Tea Houses. Carrying your own pack. There’s no earthquake damage in that part of the Himalaya.

Check our Everest Base Camp / 3 Passes information page.

(via The Longer, The Better – Three Pass Trek)

April 6, 2016March 28, 2016

Kungsleden trail, Sweden

Cody Duncan:

While the Kungsleden trail is one of the most popular hiking routes in Sweden, as August passes to September and the end of the short arctic summer nears, the crowds begin to thin and the trail grows quiet as the land awaits the coming of winter.

The arrival of September sees the birch forests turn a golden yellow and the blueberries glow bright red, while the wide valleys rise to snow-capped mountains. The days become cold and the air crisp as snow flurries blow over you. The nights become dark again and northern lights once again dance in the sky.

Female hiker with snow covered mountains and autumn colors in southern end of Tjäktjavagge on Kungsleden trail, Lappland, Sweden

Autumn is a wild, colorful, lonely, exhilarating, adventurous, time to experience the wilds of Sweden’s north. …

The mountain huts are seasonal, typically closing in mid September. September 21 for 2014.

Candlelight illumintes room Singi mountain hut at night, Kungsleden trail, Lappland, Sweden

The longest distance between any two huts is 21 km, Alesjaure – Abiskojaure. The average distance for the rest is about 12-14 km.

The price for a bed while the huts are open is between 295 – 330 SEK (in September).

Hiking the (Northern) Kungsleden Trail from Nikkaluokta to Abisko in Autumn, Sweden

300 SEK is about US$40.

February 7, 2016February 12, 2016

Chili volcanos – Villarrica Traverse day 0

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

day 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Traverse info page

Santiago > Pucón

The goal was The Traverse, one of Chile’s best hikes. In fact I now rate it second best after Paine in the far south.

81km
demanding

A classic longer trek along the rugged volcanic spine of Parque National Villarrica.

I took a night bus semi-cama. That’s almost a bed, but not quite. About 9 hours. I’ll take FULL cama next time. 🙂

Arrived Pucón early morning. Groggy and disoriented.

My hostel – ¡École! – restaurant was not even open as yet for coffee. But I dropped my bags.

I recommend this excellent low cost accommodation. Folks from the Banff Mountain Film festival were there at the same time.

Pucón is one of the great mountain tourist traps of the world. Picture Banff, Canada with volcanos rather than Rocky Mountains.

If you hate tourists, you might hate Pucón. Young people come mostly for the party.

Personally I loved Pucón. The infrastructure for foreign tourists is superb. And as a jumping off point for wilderness, it’s ideal.

We shopped for groceries. Packed for the trail.

day 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Traverse info page

January 26, 2016January 25, 2016

AquaRoo waterproof passport case

I’ve been using my new AquaRoo for the past couple of weeks. Works perfectly. I recommend it. 🙂

100% WATERPROOF – No amount of rain, sweat, or spilled drinks (picture yourself on vacation) can penetrate the Aqua Quest AquaRoo. A removable clear ‘Joey’ pouch comes included, offering you an additional layer of protection in case you’re venturing into the water. Even under temporary submersion, your stuff will be completely dry!

… 3 ounces (95g) …

AquaRoo Money Belt

January 18, 2016January 16, 2016

NZtracker – Milford | Kepler | Routeburn

It can be difficult to get a booking for these famous New Zealand hikes. Especially Milford.

nztracker.nz will send you email alerts for available huts so that you can immediately book the most beautiful tracks in the world.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

nztracker.nz

January 5, 2016January 5, 2016

Hendrik Morkel – NO new gear?

Hendrik is one of the few gear testers I follow.

But inspired by Craig Wisner in 2012, Hendrik is going to try to do 2016 without buying anything new.

Just the other day I was in REI, swearing not to make any purchases. Yet left with new ultra light Powerflyte Gloves. (They were HALF PRICE! 🙂 )

What’s the upside of taking a year off shopping?

… Next year, in 2017, you can purge on the latest and greatest outdoor gear, which will most certainly be better than in 2016!

In 2016 you can actually test and use all the gear you have already!

You can go on more trips, because you’ll save hundreds of €£$ on not buying new equipment …

Hiking in Finland – No Gear Year

Good luck, Hendrik.

December 17, 2015December 14, 2015

Decline of Mountain Equipment Co-op

Canada’s Mountain Equipment Co-op has offered the best shopping for hikers for decades. I’d argue it’s still the best hiking shop in the world.

But anyone in one of their stores in 2015 would concur it’s not as good as it once was. The staff is much younger and less experienced in the wild than in the past. Prices are higher. There’s too high a percentage of yuppie, urban crap on the shelves.

Outdoor gear for city folks who have no intention of going to any mountains. Click through to Canadian Business magazine for a history of the change through to 2013.

MEC without the Mountain

Outdoors retailer goes mainstream

December 11, 2015December 7, 2015

top 10 detours off the Everest trek

Though I spent 15 days on the Everest trek already, I’m tempted to go back and side trip off the main trail.

Ama Dablam Base Camp looks great.

Lonely Planet – Top Ten Detours off the Everest trek

The Everest trek was not much affected by the earthquakes of 2015. If interested in doing this life changing adventure yourself, start with our Everest Base Camp / 3 Passes information page.

No guide required. It’s easy and inexpensive to hike Everest on your own.