Category: desert

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hiking the Galápagos Islands

The Galápagos is a protected enclave.

Right?

Actually, 40,000 people live there!

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Some of those were lucky enough to join in on a trek to Sierra Negra crater on Isabela Island, the largest of the chain.

From a trip report by Ruth Holliday:

… Looming over the island is Sierra Negra, a vast and active crater volcano. Its last eruption in 2005 churned out enough ash and lava to threaten several species of giant tortoise, not known for their powers of speedy escape.

I am one of 12 volunteers living in this uncanny and exquisite setting. We are mostly British, share a single house and divide into two groups – one helping at the island’s tortoise sanctuary and the other teaching basic English at a local school.

Together, we decide to tackle the trek to the crater. …

Telegraph – The grown-up gapper: trekking the Sierra Negra crater

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larger version – flickr – massulo

The caldera of Sierra Negra has a diameter of 10 kilometers and is one of the largest in the world. The crater walls and bottom are covered by low growing plants and only a few small animals inhabit this environment.

more interesting Sierra Negra photos on flickr

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Death Valley photos – James Gordon

Death Valley: The name is forbidding and gloomy. Yet here in the valley, much of it below sea level, you can find colorful badlands, snow-covered peaks, beautiful sand dunes, rugged canyons, and the hottest driest spot in North America.

Just a few of James’ wonderful pics:

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Death Valley California photo set – flickr – James Gordon

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Chill Factor hats for hikers

Keep cool on the Trail.

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Kevin Pringles of Chill Factor Clothing emailed:

We have developed a cooling hat that keeps people cooler and safer in the heat, so it is perfect for hikers. The hats have a crystal material inside that absorb water and turn into a cooling gel. When soaked in ice water, the hats get very cold and they can protect people from heat related injuries. For more information, check out the following link:

Chill Factor Clothing – hydro crystal

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more hat styles – photo Gallery

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section hike the Hayduke Trail, Utah

Backpacker magazine recommends a 55mi stretch of the infamous 800+mi Hayduke Trail in the American S.W.

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The otherworldly terrain in southern Utah’s labyrinthine canyon country–slots, hoodoos, mesas, bizarre sandstone formations–is as confusing as it is captivating. Get off-track or miss one of the infrequent water sources, and you have real problems. This 55-mile, roughly eight-day stretch of the Hayduke Trail serves up both extremes. You’ll travel mostly off-trail, with steep, loose scrambles, deep sand slogs, and a paucity of distinctive terrain features. Long stretches are waterless–including the first 25 miles. In return, you get bragging rights for a spectacularly remote and rarely traveled journey.

Tech assist Use ExpertGPS (expertgps.com) to plot routes using topo and aerial photographs, then send data to your GPS. Plan best-case routes and alternates, since the complex terrain may present obstacles you can’t identify on screen. Example: See backpacker.com/hayduke for our custom file with multiple off-trail routes.

Start in Canyonlands’s Needles District, where multicolored sandstone towers stand like 200-foot candles above the desert. You’ll pass under Seldom Seen Bridge and trek by the cliff dwellings and rock art of Fable Valley. Mark water caches (drop one pretrip to avoid carrying three days’ supply at the start) and critical water sources (at miles 24.7, 34.1, and 42).

Tip: Waypoint your vehicle at trip’s end as well. …

read more – Backpacker

I’m currently reading The Monkey Wrench Gang (P.S.), the book that inspired this adventure.

I’m no Brian Frankle. This 55mi section for wimps sounds plenty tough enough for me.

(via The Adventure Blog)

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trekking the Simien Mountains, Ethiopia

A hiking buddy from Peru, Grant Assenheimer, is off to work for Medicines Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) in Ethiopia.

His partner Chantelle is going to visit in December. There they will head for one of my most sought after future hiking destinations. Click through to see the pics.

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Martin Wierzbicki

more Photos by Martin

UPDATE: Grant emailed from … Bangladesh. What’s with that? Someone tell him the hiking is better in Ethiopia.

UPDATE 2: Grant emailed again to confirm he was reassigned due to RAT INFESTATION. Yup. The last rat plague was in 1959. They are back.

Villagers must eat the rats as they have very little other food. Grant must hike many miles, actually, as 3 of his assigned villages are accessible only by foot.

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trek the south Sinai Mountains in Egypt

Pierre Dehaene wrote to tell us of an EU supported local trekking company.

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Sheikh Sina offers hikes and excursions in the Deserts and High Mountains of South Sinai. With 25 different routes to choose from, there is something for all levels, from adventure seekers to leisure vacationers. Customers may enjoy 10 day, 5 day and 3 day excursions in various regions.

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Sheikh Sina, a Bedouin run trekking company, strives to offer the best hiking and trekking experience in the South Sinai Mountains. We remain sensitive to the local environment and its people by promoting responsible travel in protected areas that have been selected as World Heritage sights by UNESCO.

Start on their Treks page. It details options in the Galt Region and the Umm Shomar Region. Some are open year round.

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Sheikh Sina Bedouin Treks

I was there once in 1994 and — foolishly — went snorkeling and scuba diving instead of hiking. Friends set off to Saint Catherine’s Monastery. I went to the beach.

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I love the desert.

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best hikes in Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas

Every time I get to Lost Wages, I spend at least one day at Red Rock. It’s only a few miles from the strip to 197,000 acres of beautiful desert wilderness.

While most outdoors folk go for the bouldering, you can quickly access great hiking, as well.

Branch Whitney posted his favourite hikes there:

Easy Hikes

  • Calico Tank
  • Fern Canyon
  • Las Vegas Overlook

    • Moderate Hikes

  • Juniper Peak
  • Boot Boulder
  • Terrace Canyon

    • Advanced Hikes

  • Bridge Mtn via Ice Box Canyon
  • Mt. Wilson via Cleaver Crack
  • Rainbow Peak without the Ledges

    • It’s Prime Time for Red Rock Canyon! – Hiking Las Vegas blog

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    larger original

    That excellent website content is available to members only. But non-members can still read their blog in advance of a trip to Sin City.

    I am hoping to get there in April, myself.

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    Scentists: Meteor Created Upheaval Dome in Canyonlands – I could have told them THAT

    Elmar Buchner and Thomas Kenkmann say the key to their finding was tiny grains of “shocked quartz” — basically, quartz that has a different microscopic structure from normal quartz due to undergoing extreme pressure of some sort — that was created by the impact.

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    National Parks Traveler

    Having hiked the superb Syncline Loop last year (trip report), it seems obvious it was a meteor crater.

    Yet final proof was quite an accomplishment, I understand.

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    rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park

    Joshua Tree is NOT most famous for hiking. It’s set-up more so that casual day hikers won’t get lost and die of dehydration.

    Nor is it most famous for Joshua trees.

    JT is most famous for climbing. Photos I took close to Hidden Valley Campground:

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    larger version – flickr

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    larger version – flickr

    Joshua Tree National Park is one of the most popular rock climbing areas in the world. More than 4,500 established routes offering a wide range of difficulty are concentrated within about 100,000 acres of park land.

    Rock Climbing – National Park Service

    Even for a manic hiker like myself, the most fun I had in the park was scrambling.