It took some time to get the spines out of these shoes.
I threw the socks in the trash.
dinosaur trek
via Walking Home From Mongolia on Facebook
… Rob Lilwall and Leon McCarron on a 5,000 km winter expedition …
They emerged from the Mongolian Gobi and crossed the border back into bleak, freezing China.
It sounds horrible.
amazing time lapse video – desert
… I was checking out the Sierra Trading Post blog, and stumbled up this breathtaking time lapse video of landscapes in Arizona and Utah. …
Be sure to click “Full Screen” in the lower right corner – it looks even more phenomenal!
Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.
Landscapes: Volume Two from Dustin Farrell.
Here’s volume 1 (VIDEO).
I try to get to the S.W. USA for hiking at least once a year.
Coyote Buttes – The Wave
Bill has a website dedicated to one of our best hikes in the world, The Wave on the Utah / Arizona border:
… There are two great photographic locations in Coyote Buttes North (The Wave and The Second Wave) and numerous minor ones including Top Rock Arch, Melody Arch and the Grotto, the Hooters, The Alcove, Sand Cove, and Fatali’s Boneyard.
The Wave is best photographed midday so as to minimize the extensive shadows, the other areas listed above are best photographed mid-late afternoon. …
Due to the fragile nature of this natural resource, it’s very difficult to get a hiking permit.
Bill’s site offers this advice:
… Your chances are better if you’re going alone, or in December – February. If you do not win the lottery I suggest you get one for Coyote Buttes South, or go to the White Pocket which is east of Coyote Buttes South.
I know of one person who was lost overnight in Coyote Buttes South, so use a GPS, mark the trailhead, and stay with your party. While a two wheel drive vehicle is adequate for the North Buttes, four wheel drive is required for the South due to deep sand. …
read more on TheWave.info
Bill adds this bit of news:
The upcoming 2012 Disney film “John Carter” was shot in the area across Wahweap Creek near the town of Bigwater. Other locations include Canyonlands and Factory Butte (near Capitol Reef). A 3D movie. The arid region will stand in for Mars.
Kraig Becker – Atacama photos
On his second attempt, The Adventure Blogger Kraig Becker did make it to Chile’s Atacama Desert. And back.
See his photos on Picassa.
That’s the finest outdoor scenery in the world, I reckon.
best hikes in Arizona
ArizonaHiking.org Weekend Warriors has a good, personalized list:
Best Easy Hikes
Best Medium difficulty hikes
Best Hard hikes
Best Fall leaf watching hikes
Best hikes for solitude
Best hikes for spectacular views
Best water hikes
etc.
See the full FULL LIST of hikes
See more interesting photos tagged “Arizona Hike” on flickr.
Ringbolt hot springs, Vegas
trip report by besthike editor Rick McCharles
WOW. You can hike slickrock slot canyons. And be rewarded with natural hot springs only a few miles from the Hoover Dam.
I started late in the afternoon, running most of the 3mi to the river. As a result, I didn’t capture any decent photos.
But here’s the goal, a steel ladder leading you up to a series of clear hot springs, each hotter than the last.
Happily, Bird and Hike has detailed information & photos on hiking options … and an excellent map.
I took the regular route, in and out via White Rock Canyon.
… 3.25-mile hike (one way) to hot springs near the Colorado River. The route runs down a deep, narrow, geologically interesting canyon for 2.75 miles to the Colorado River, turns to run downstream for 0.5 miles to the next major canyon, then ascends that canyon for about 5 minutes to a 20-ft waterfall and a ladder.
… This hot spring sometimes is called Ringbolt Hot Springs, a reference to Ringbolt Rapids that lie just upstream from Hot Spring Canyon.
But the better option would be to loop in Hot Spring Canyon and out White Rock. Check Bird and Hike – Hot Spring Canyon Route
This hike is all good. It’s in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, but no Park pass is required as trailhead parking is just outside the boundary.
Note: It can be difficult to find the hot springs. I was directed there by kids who had arrived by river, camping on a school trip.
Sterling Pass / Vultee Arch, AZ
4.8mi return
1120ft elevation gain
Designated “Strenuous”, though only because of the elevation / altitude.
Park Pass required to park a vehicle
Of many good (better, in fact) alternatives out of Sedona, Arizona, I chose Sterling Pass … because it led to a natural Arch.
I’m a sucker for natural Arches.
That’s not me on the arch. It’s from this trip report:
From 89A, locate the rusty metal Sterling Pass #46 sign which marks the start of the trail. The well maintained trail climbs moderately to steeply up through a nicely forested area of pine, juniper and oak. As you continue up the canyon the path becomes steeper and climbs about 1000′ in a little over a mile to Sterling Pass. There are several use paths at the pass, stay straight on the trail that immediately begins descending down the other side. The path descends moderately to steeply through more forest, eventually leveling out somewhat to travel beside a small stream, which was flowing when I was here. Soon you’ll reach a trail junction and sign pointing back to the right for Vultee Arch (2.4 miles), the Sterling Trail continues straight another 1.6 miles to the Dry Creek Trailhead (the more popular and easy route to this point).
You are not allowed to climb the Arch. I didn’t.
Unless you are an Arch fanatic, I’d suggest hiking elsewhere on the slickrock. This route has a lot of elevation gain relative to the quality of the views. Here are a couple of pics I liked, though.
Sterling Pass does not have good parking. The exact trailhead is signed, but you’ll stumble along the highway for a while looking … unless you check with someone at Manzanita Campground across the highway.
In the end, I wished I’d done the far more popular Cathedral Rock Trail, instead.
Leave a comment if there’s a longer Sedona must hike scenic that I missed.
West Fork Oak Creek, Sedona
Next time down to Sedona, Arizona I’ve been recommended a perennial stream in Oak Creek canyon. It can be done any time of the year, even in the heat.
• Elevation change: about 400 ft gradual gain.
• Distance: 3.0 miles one way.… You’ll cross the creek several times during this hike, while walking through a lush and tree lined canyon. The rock hopping across the creek is the most challenging part of this hike (not including finding a parking spot).
You can continue upstream from the first big pool, but to continue includes lots of wading, swimming, and boulder hopping.
In the fall, the leaves changing colors adds a whole new dimension to this hike. Enjoy!
See many, many more Arizona Hikes.
climbing Bear Mountain, Arizona
trip report by besthike editor Rick McCharles
Length: 2.5 miles one way
Rating: Strenuous
Season: All year
Hiking time: 4 1/2 hours round trip
Pass required to park at trailhead
After checking with the Rangers in the Sedona Visitor Centre, very quickly I settled on Bear Mountain as my first hike in the region.
LOVED it.
But the weather was unsettled. I feared lightning (check a trip report by Justin Wright – Hiking In A Lightning Storm) but, happily, I only got a few drops of rain.
In good weather I’d call it a challenging hike due to elevation, but certainly no scramble. On the other hand, some hikers have had to be rescued. And one medic was killed by a chopper blade during evacuation. Heat emergency is the greatest danger as there’s very little shade.
Happily, I had a cool day.
I left a Summit Stone in a tree. (PHOTO)
more photos from this day hike
besthike.com 