Category: cost

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hike and hot springs – Banff, Canada

When up in Banff, Alberta for the Mountain Festival, I was trail running around town each day. I had no vehicle.

Sulphur Mountain from the Upper Hot Springs is normally regarded to be the best hike within walking distance of Banff. The view is spectacular from the top. But much of the 2hr walk up is tree locked.

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larger photo – flickr – D’Arcy Norman

My advice is to instead take the Gondolla to the top of Sulphur mountain and — starting from this viewpoint — to do some ridge walking. You will likely go off-trail or even scramble at some points.

Many, many years ago I recall a friend Pat McRoberts accidentally dropping his camera off the mountain while up here. (Hang on to yours.)

It’s a wonderful thing to be delivered to the top of a mountain for $25. You’ll need another $7.40 at the bottom of the Gondola for …

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Banff Hot Springs

PS

When we were kids we loved hiking up Sulphur Mountain because the ride down on the Gondola was FREE. That’s not the case in 2007 — though they still do not check your ticket on the way down.

I’m just saying …

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trek the Himalayan kingdom of Mustang

Ever since I looked down the forbidden valley from Kagbeni while trekking the Annapurna Circuit, I’ve wanted to hike Lo Mustang in Nepal. Sadly, no independent hiking is allowed.

Kagbeni at 2810 m, spectacularly situated atop a cliff overlooking the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and the Jhong Khola rivers, is the last village in Lower Mustang and guards the entrance into Upper Mustang, visible across the Kali Gandaki riverbed. It is the northernmost village that can be visited without a permit to continue on to Mustang.

kagbeni.jpg

Northwards into Upper Mustang – larger photo on flickr – Claudia

Footprint Tours is one of the few companies who offer trekking trips:

… Until 1992 less than a dozen foreigners had been to Mustang. Now, in an effort to protect this culture, access is limited with less than 800 trekkers making the journey each year. The requirement to pay high restricted-area fees, travel with an organised group and take a Liaison Officer, together with difficult access continue to make the Kingdom of Lo an uncommon destination. …

A trek to the Himalayan kingdom of Mustang in the restricted regions of Nepal

That same site has a nice overview of Himalayan trekking for those who have never been:

tr02.jpgIn 1965 Colonel Jimmy Roberts introduced the world to trekking. As a former Gurkha Officer and Military Attaché at the British Embassy in Kathmandu he had spent years of his life walking the hills of Nepal. His idea, revolutionary for the time, was to provide tents together with Sherpas, to guide and cook.

This made Nepal and the Himalaya available to a wide community and was an immediate success.

Nowadays the formula is well established; groups travel through the hills, walking for five to six hours each day with all their equipment carried by porters or yaks; good quality meals are provided along with warm sleeping bags and comfortable tents; the trekker carries a personal pack with camera, day clothing and snacks. …

photo – Jimmy Roberts in 1996 a year before his death.

read more – What is Trekking?

At this rate, I may need to wait until independent hiking is allowed.

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the Ipsos-Reid Parks Canada $1000 prize muck-up

If you follow this blog, you know I have no confidence in Parks Canada.

Love the Parks, distrust management.

In fact, I recommend hikers go to the American National Parks instead if they want best value. (And I live next to the Canadian Rockies.)

Yet, I credit Parks Canada for at least making the appearance of listening to the taxpayers who pay their salaries. Ipsos-Reid was hired to do a survey.

angrygif.gifIt’s been a mess. I’ve been in the survey process for months, yet I have no idea when the thing will end. Is Ipsos-Reid simply milking Parks on this? What does this survey cost?

Worst of all, Ipsos-Reid managed to further disgruntle users of the Canadian National Parks when they decided to dangle a $1000 / month prize for those taking part in the survey.

Many who received an invitation to join the survey were confused when trying to log-in to the website.

I could go on-and-on … (Backtrack through earlier posts on this issue if you are interested.)

Finally today I got this email from Ipsos-Reid which clarifies some things. And leaves many other questions unanswered:

Dear Mr. McCharles,

Thank you again for bringing this issue to our attention. There are two separate links:
www.join.parkslistens.ca is the official website for individuals who have received an invitation card to join the Parks Listens panel

www.parkslistens.ca is the login webpage for individuals who have already registered with the Parks Listens panel.

In order to clarify eligibility to participate in the Parks Listens panel and the prize draw contest, we have added more information to both web pages.

If you receive any further communication from visitors who are having technical difficulties on the http://www.join.parkslistens.ca website, please direct them to our email address parkslistens-parcecoute@ipsos-reid.com and will assist them.

Sincerely,

The Parks Listens Panel Team

You cannot join the survey without an invitation. Those you can only get by visiting the Canadian Mountain National Parks and being randomly selected.

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Red’s Meadow – Mammoth, California

When I staggered into Red’s Meadow off the John Muir Trail I had — like most hikers — a wide grin on my face.

What’s not to love?

The well-stocked General Store has groceries, sporting goods, fishing tackle, sundries and souvenirs. If you’re hiking the back-country, you can have a supply package sent to yourself at The Resort.

The Mule House Cafe serves up delicious home cooked meals. Both open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. … The resort is located at the comfortable elevation of 7,500 feet.

Red’s Meadow Pack Station and Resort – A Sierra Nevada Vacation Paradise

I had dinner at the Mule House with two grizzled thru-hikers named Bigfoot and Captain America.

My only complaint — why the $18 / site camping fee at nearby Inyo National Forest Reds Meadow Campground? The night I was there every thru-hikers site had only 1 person.

Inyo has a designated camping area for thru-hikers. But it’s with the car campers!

Why not have a walk-in backcountry camp for hikers? Note that the designated hiker’s sites in Glacier National Park near the Swiftcurrent Motel are free. The camping near the hot springs at Muir Ranch is free.

If Inyo wants to encourage people to walk — reducing environmental impact — why are they not encouraging self-sufficient, low impact thru-hikers?

Why are they catering to, even subsidizing, car camping?

I’ll contact Inyo with my “suggestion”.

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Inyo National Forest

PS — Hikers generally do not complain because they are so happy with the wonderful natural hot spring showers at that campground. For some, $18 is a small price to pay.

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Best National Parks Lodges USA

If I won a million dollars I’d take a tour of the great wilderness lodges of the World.

If I won only a hundred thousand dollars I’d start with a tour of the American lodges.

Here’s the top 10 in the States as selected by Sherman’s Travel:

  1. The Ahwahnee
  2. Big Meadows Lodge
  3. Camp Denali & North Face Lodge
  4. Crater Lake Lodge
  5. Jenny Lake Lodge
  6. Maho Bay Camps
  7. Many Glacier Hotel
  8. Phantom Ranch
  9. Volcano House
  10. Zion Lodge

10 Best Lodges in the National Parks | National Parks Traveler

National Geographic chose these five:

  1. The Ahwahnee – Yosemite National Park, California
  2. Old Faithful Inn – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
  3. Big Meadows Lodge – Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
  4. Kennicott Glacier Lodge – Wrangell–St. Elias National Park, Alaska
  5. Sperry Chalet and Granite Park Chalet – Glacier National Park, Montana

National Geographic

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Big Meadows Lodge, Shenandoah National Park – Travelocity

Yes, these lists are very subjective. More conversation starters than anything else.

On my grand Lodges tour I’d put together my own definitive top 10 list.

Any other great Park hotels you would include on your own list? Worldwide? If so, leave a comment below.

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hmm – raft for $800? Or $20?

Warren Long saw I was thinking of buying an $800 Alpacka for paddle hiking.

He offered to loan me his $20 raft.

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Will a Cheap-O get me across the lake to the trailhead? Sure. In most cases.

I’m not on a 4000mi Pacific coast mega-adventure.

Well played, Warren. I’ll try a cheap raft first before buying an Alpacka.

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Parks Canada Listens, finally

UPDATED October 12, 2007

I finally heard back from The Parks Listens Panel Team (Ipsos-Reid) regarding their confusing Parks Canada survey and $1000 contest. The entire email is reprinted in the comments below.

A quick summary for those like me mightily confused:

There are two separate links:

www.join.parkslistens.ca is the official website for individuals who have received an invitation card to join the Parks Listens panel ($1000 contest)

www.parkslistens.ca is the login webpage for individuals who have already registered with the Parks Listens panel.

In order to clarify eligibility to participate in the Parks Listens panel and the prize draw contest, we have added more information to both web pages.

questions to parkslistens-parcecoute@ipsos-reid.com

original post from September 28th, 2007 below =====

I want to thank Frank Grigel of the Canada Parks Listens project.

He’s the first person who has acknowledge to me from the Project that he listens.

BACKGROUND:

I love Parks Canada — but complain consistently that their Park Entrance fees and User Fees are much higher than the USA:

  • Parks Canada Fees are too high – April 30th, 2007
  • National Parks – how much $ is too much? – December 11th, 2006

  • hike Canada or the USA? – UPDATE     – September 9th, 2006

    • So far as I can see, Parks Canada is a typical, socialist government bureaucracy unaccountable to the Canadian taxpayer.

    The one hope I might have some input into policy was an initiative called PARKS LISTENS.

    At least they made an effort to collect input from the users of the National Parks.

    Though I’ve been getting email surveys circulated by Parks Listens since the beginning, the Project to me seems to have been bungled. It’s run not by Parks Canada, but the Ipsos-Reid Corporation.

    I have no idea where the Project is going. The time line. Nothing.

    If you check the official website — www.parkslistens.ca — you will be none the wiser. (This redirects to http://iaf.ipsos.ca/iaf/parkslistens.html)

    No information is available to the general public.

    To promote the project, Parks Listens offered some $1000 prizes to those who join up to participate in their on-line surveys. The catch is … YOU NEED TO BE INVITED AND HAVE A PASSWORD. AND FIND THE RIGHT PAGE ON THE INTERNET TO REGISTER.

    This process works for some, but not for many others.

    In frustration, people ended up on this blog … venting. As am I.

    Finally Frank sent us this message:

    I work on the Parks Listens project. A person recently contacted us and said that when they tried to access http://www.join.parkslistens.ca that they were referred to this blog. I assure you that our site is operating and we receive new entries every day.

    If you type http://www.join.parkslistens.ca into a search engine (such a Google) you are referred to this blog. Please try typing http://www.join.parkslistens.ca into your browser’s address. If you are still having problems, please contact us at parkslistens-parcsecoute@ipsos-reid.com.

    I apologize to anyone who had trouble registering for the contest. It is real and the next entry deadline is October 31, 2007.

    Thanks again, Frank.

    I will refer people to the correct URL and email address.

    But, seriously, why doesn’t Ipsos-Reid explain the project — and the contest — on the website? Here’s what it looks like today:

    parks-listens.jpg
    How friendly or helpful is was this?

    Please tell Ipsos-Reid to put full information on the Project and Contest on the site. And to link to the seemingly hidden contest registration page so that those with invitations can find it.

    Yeesh … Ipsos-Reid is one of the biggest and best survey companies in the World. They have thousands of employees.

    How can they have messed up this Project so badly?

    official website — www.parkslistens.ca/

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    4WheelBob – Kilimanjaro next?

    I tried. I tried.

    On White Mountain I tried to persuade wheelchair hiker climber 4WheelBob to buy a kayak.

    KayakBob … I like the sound of that.

    Yet Bob’s persisting in his dream of ascending the highest mountain in Africa. Bob was quoted on Marion’s blog:

    “I’m not a real publicity hound by nature, so my challenge the rest of the year is to assert myself to Corporate America, hoping some businesses find some PR value in sponsoring my planned Kilimanjaro summit next summer.” …

    Marion’s Blog: Kilimanjaro after White Mountain

    (LL Bean should sponsor Bob. They’ve got PR problems with minorities. : )

    4wheel.jpgSo if you know anyone who would like to sponsor 4WheelBob, let him know.

    He is strong. No one would bet against Bob on Kili.

    4WheelBob – official website

    4WheelBob – blog

    Marangu route, Kilimanjaro – besthike information page

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    best hiking shoes EVER

    I’ve been wearing Dunham Waffles for most of the past 10 years.

    Then Dunham was bought by New Balance. The status of my favourite shoes is now in limbo.

    For this season I bought the #1 Trail Shoe as chosen by Outside Magazine from Amazon.

    As a back-up, I bought some cheap New Balance® 603 Country Walkers which fit surprisingly well (since New Balance offers shoes in wide sizes). Turned out I LOVED the inexpensive walking shoes using them on major hikes in Yukon and the Sierra Nevadas.

    I am buying 3 more pairs for the future, I like them so much.

    Men's New Balance® 603 Country Walkers Brown

    Men’s New Balance® 603 Country Walkers

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    hike Kangerlussuaq – Sisimiut, Greenland

    Lucas Girardet recommends Kangerlussuaq – Sisimiut, 180km (112mi), as one of the best hikes in the world.

    This route is the classic hike in Greenland for the hardened wanderer and others who like challenges.

    The route goes through landscapes which vary a lot. From the dry inland at Kangerlussuaq to the rolling ground with the high hills by the coast. Considering the length of the hike, approx. 7 – 10 days, it is a hard hike which should not be challenged unless you have made preparations from home.

    Sisimiut Tourist Information, Greenland – Hiking Tours

    Kangerlussuaq is the settlement with the biggest and best airport in Greenland. It’s the usual gateway for those flying into Greenland. From there, you could fly one way to Sisimiut, and hike back.

    Sisimiut is a port town known for mountains towering up from the sea, fjords and glaciers.

    The hike sounds awesome though not inexpensive. Of course the hiking season is quite short, as well.

    filipholata from the Czech Republic posted some photos of Greenland on flickr:

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    larger original