Category: desert

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scrambling Alabama Hills, California

Rarely do I revisit hikes.

But I returned to the Alabama Hills on a recent trip to Lone Pine, California.

This landscape is so weird.

Alabama-Hills-face
larger version

OK, it’s not that weird. Kids must have painted this one.

But otherworldly. And about as realistic as an old Star Trek TV set.

AlabamaHills
TTVo – larger version

… The Alabama Hills are a popular location for television and movie productions (especially Westerns) set in an archetypical “rugged” environment. Since the early 1920s, 150 movies and about a dozen television shows have been filmed here … Gunga Din, Springfield Rifle, and How the West Was Won, as well as more recent productions such as Tremors and Joshua Tree…. In Gladiator, actor Russell Crowe rides a horse in front of the Alabamas, with Mount Whitney in the background, for a scene presumably set in Spain. Star Trek Generations was filmed here …. More recently, many parts of the film Ironman (film) were filmed here. …

I went to scramble the boulders at dusk. Gorgeous.

scramble-Alabama-Hills
djfrantic – larger version

… There are two main types of rock exposed at Alabama Hills. One is an orange, drab weathered metamorphosed volcanic rock that is 150-200 million years old. The other type of rock exposed here is 90 million year old granite which weathers to potato-shaped large boulders, many of which stand on end due to spheroidal weathering acting on many nearly vertical joints in the rock. …

Wikipedia

more interesting photos tagged “Alabama Hills”

The only geology I can compare it with are the boulder hills near Hampi, India.

91999-boulder-strewn-landscape-hampi-india

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hiking Fall Canyon, Death Valley, California

Trip report by site editor Rick McCharles.

12mi return

I was the only one on the Trail June 2nd.

Most hikers feel it is too hot in June to do valley hikes safely.

Actually, 100 degrees in the shade and zero humidity is not all that uncomfortable. I took plenty of water. And I love these slot canyons.

Fall Canyon is one of many colorful ravines in the hills surrounding Death Valley in California; shaped by occasional flash floods that flow from the higher mountains beyond, the canyon is remote and little-visited; deep and moderately narrow for many miles, with occasional shaded, cave-like passageways of great beauty. Some of these narrow, twisting sections are enclosed by smooth granitic walls with an unusual bluish tint. As with most other Southwest canyons, the rocks are layered, but quite differently to the orderly slot canyons of Utah – here the strata are multi-colored, buckled, twisted and eroded, the result of ancient geological forces. Fall Canyon is easily reached and offers a perfect wilderness experience, though it should be avoided during the summer months when the weather becomes too extreme.

more photos

The highlight comes 2.8mi in when you reach this 20ft wall.

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Actually, you’d be crazy to scale this wall without ropes.

Instead look for cairns on the right hand side of the cliff. They lead up to a relatively easy path up and over the obstacle.

The next half mile is the best section.

Location: Fall Canyon is located in the Grapevine Mountains, towards the less-traveled north end of Death Valley National Park. It is close to Titus Canyon, another colorful ravine that is popular because of the rough one-way track that extends through it – this is a 4WD route …

The American Southwest

I left my pack behind (carrying only water) before the cliff. My thinking in hanging it was to keep out scorpions and snakes.

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In fact I did see one golden snake further up the canyon. And several chuckwallas.

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that’s not Death Valley …

It was cool and cloudy in the Eastern Sierra today.

Nice.

I did several short hikes in the mountains today as a warm-up for Death Valley.

Rick McCharles with Mt Whitney in the background
Rick McCharles with Mt Whitney in the background

I’m staying tonight at the excellent new hostel in Lone Pine.

Early Sunday morning I’ll start Telescope Peak in Death Valley. (14mi return)

I’ll tent one night high up where it’s cooler.

Telescope Peak at 11,049 feet is the highest point in Death Valley National Park. The elevation gain from the valley floor to the summit is over 11,300 feet. This extreme elevation change is exceeded in the United States by Mt. Rainier at 11,600 feet, Mt. Fairweather in Glacier Bay National Park at 15,300 feet, and Mt. McKinley’s north slope at 17,000 feet.

Death Valley National Park Hiking Page

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where to hike in Death Valley?

Perhaps Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes?

dunes

Gary Hayes – larger version

Death Valley unfortunately lived up to its name earlier this week, when an Ohio hiker failed to return from a day trip in the park.

On Tuesday morning, May 19, employees at Death Valley National Park received a report of an overdue hiker in the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes near Stove Pipe Wells Village. The dunes in that area rise nearly 100 feet above the surrounding desert. …

National Parks Traveler

I’ll be careful.

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hike Angel’s Landing online

Angel’s Landing is one of our best day hikes in North America.

National Parks Traveler points us to an unique feature on the government website for Zion National Park in Utah.

Whether you want to relive a previous trip up Angels Landing, or you’ve never hiked there and want to get an idea of what it’s like, this virtual tour is the way to go. It offers a taste of the wonders of Zion—the sounds of birds calling and the soothing sound of the Virgin River, the sights of pink-hued sandstone cliffs at sunrise and the grand view from the summit.

You control your experience within our virtual tour with videos, pictures, and sounds. All these options come with a price, however—large file size. High-speed Internet access is recommended for viewing the full version of our virtual tour, which may take some time to download. You will also need to have a plug-in installed on your computer — Flash Player. We hope you enjoy your virtual visit to Zion National Park. …

Click through to eHike Angel’s Landing

wiggles
flickr – Jess J – larger original

Want to plan a trip to Utah?

Check our besthike information page – Angel’s Landing

related post – should we close Angel’s Landing in Zion?

It wasn’t included on Backpacker Magazine’s list of America’s 10 Most Dangerous Hikes, but should have been.

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Bibbulmun Track trip report


Only about 500 people have completed the Bibbulmun Track, nearly 1000kms (620mi) from Kalamunda in the Perth Hills to Albany on the south coast of Western Australia.

One of those is Dave Tomlinson who posted his 2007 trip report on Our Hiking Blog.

Bibbulmun_Track_map_large

… When I reflect on the entire time I spent hiking the track, I think the first few days were the toughest of all. There is nothing quite like the challenge of carrying a heavy pack over difficult terrain in 40 degree heat. Although the track goes through eight towns, the first one is ten days from Perth. So, my pack was very heavy with supplies and I was stiff and sore during those initial stages. But as I progressed, my muscles began to get attuned to what was expected, my pack gradually lightened and things became easier. …

albany_windfarm_bibbulman_track

… Amazingly, I completed the whole distance without even a blister. Apart from some general soreness when I first started, I didn’t have any problems at all. There wasn’t a single day when I didn’t wake up and feel excited by what I was doing. Even on the most physically demanding days I embraced the challenge and never felt any doubt about reaching Albany in good health. The weather was generally very good and my Goretex jacket was often nothing more than my pillow at night. I only had rain on four days in the entire seven weeks. …

dave_at_the_end_bibbulman_track

To learn more about this amazing tramp, here are the most important links:

» The Bibbulmun Track – a long distance hike – Trip Report – Part One

» Bibbulman Track – Southern Section – Trip Report – Part Two

» official website – Bibbulmun Track

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Ray’s recommended hikes

Ray Richardson from Phoenix took the time to send us some of his best hikes not yet added to our list of the best hikes in North Ameria.

Thanks Ray.

USA SOUTHWEST:
Havasupai
Rainbow Bridge
Escalante Route
Peralta Trail
West Fork of Oak Creek
West Clear Creek

USA ROCKY MOUNTAINS:
Chicago Basin
Mogollon Baldy

I’ve started by researching the Havasupai Trail. It leads to Navajo Falls, Havasupai Falls and Mooney Falls.

WOW.

Looks great. But I hear it’s a bit touristy.

Waterfall
The Adventure Life – much bigger version of Havasupai (Havasu) Falls

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4646km through China on foot

A brilliant time lapse video of what happens to a trekker in China … who does not shave.

Christoph Rehage from Hanover, Germany, is a cinematographer and student of China Studies.

Click PLAY or watch his China video on YouTube.

November 9th 2007 – November 13th 2008

one year on foot – 4646km through China

unlimited beard & hair growth

– All of the distance from Beijing to Ürümqi has been completed solely on foot, straight good old walking. There are instances where you can see me in the video sitting on a plane or riding a boat, but those are during breaks I had to take from walking, either to sort out bureaucracy issues or to take care of some personal things. …

– The songs I used in the video are 1) Zhu Fengbo – “Olive Tree” and 2) The Kingpins – “L’aventurier” – visit the Kingpins website if you want to know more, they are very cool I think.

– This is not a strict “1 pic a day” video, because I wanted to make it a bit more alive by adding some additional movement. Sometimes during the film you would follow me turn around, or something would happen in the background. I tried to capture these moments to make the video more interesting.

more information on his website – The Longest Way

(via vagabondish on Twitter)

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top 10 hikes in California

It’s difficult for anyone to compile a list of best hikes in California. There are too many good choices.

But Best Hikes California gives it shot:

1. Upper Yosemite Falls
2. Mt. Shasta
3. Mt. Tallac
4. Half Dome
5. Vernal Falls
6. Tomales Point
7. Cloud’s Rest
8. Four Mile Trail
9. Mosaic Canyon
10. Stovepipe Sand Dunes

Top Ten Hikes in California

Stovepipe Sand Dunes look great. The walk is below sea level.

stovepipe-dunes
more photos

I’m considering a hiking trip to Death Valley in May.