Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
This is 800lb Brutus with his buddy Casey Anderson.
source – picture is unrelated
See the entire fascinating story of their relationship in an LA Times video – Meet Casey Anderson — and his best friend, an 800-pound bear
Unsurprisingly, Anderson does not like to be compared with “Grizzly Man”, Timothy Treadwell, who was killed in 2003 by a Griz. Or two.
An author of Lonely Planet Taiwan, Robert Scott Kelly also edits a blog called PASHAN HIKING THE MOUNTAINS, VALLEYS, RIVERS AND JUNGLES OF TAIWAN.
Taiwan offers more hikes, on more varied terrain, within one compact region, than almost anywhere else in the world.
In 2005 Robert and a friend climbed Snow Mountain (Xueshan, 雪山) and posted a detailed trip report on the standard 3-day hike.
I was particularly interested to read about his startling a bear.
Bears in Taiwan?
Yes, a few Asian Black Bears survive there.
I’m definitely planning on hiking Taiwan one day.
It’s a good read – Snow Mountain (Xueshan, 雪山)
We named New Zealand the best hiking region in the World.
When researching where to tramp Down Under, start with our list of the best hikes in Australasia.
Next, browse the excellent New Zealand Tramper website.
It’s sprawling, chock full of information. Use the SEARCH function on specific topics. For example, Stewart Island Kiwi.
You don’t need to be a member to use the main site.
Check it out – New Zealand Tramper – home page
I’ve been considering the Ursack system for protecting food from bears.
Those who try Ursack seem to like the product. But it’s not currently approved for use in the Sierras.
I currently use a 2 lb 9oz Bear Vault. It’s great.
details – Amazon
… On the other hand, the Ursack V27 that holds almost as much food weighs only 7.5oz. (Recommended is to use a small Brillo pad squeezed under the opening to protect your yummies from mice and insects.)
Calipidder posted a terrific comparative review of all the available systems.
(via Two-Heel Drive)
Happy Earth Day.
The Walt Disney Studios will celebrate Earth Day 2009 (April 22nd) with the debut of “Earth,” the first feature-length nature documentary from its new production banner, Disneynature. …
Follows the epic migratory journeys of four animal families as well as the earth’s journey around the sun and the massive influence it has on all life on the planet, from the Arctic spring to the Antarctic winter.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
The WARNING SIGNS on this trail are over zealous. From one trip report circulated by email:
It was a beautiful day, no rain and warm sun shining down on the steamy well watered ground.
We decided to take full advantage of the rare sunny day in Ohio. Just a piece up the road is Wayne Forest State Park.
We set out for the park and to our delight a hike around Lake Vesuvius. The map showed a fairly flat 8 mile trail all the way around the lake.
Perfect!
The fearless leader Scott jumped out in the lead and set a good pace, until……
the WARNING sign……..
Would we be able to make it? Should we turn back now? OH MY 7 more miles to go EEKKK! I quickly calmed Scott down and told him we would be just fine! Let’s just enjoy the beautiful early spring flowers and push on ahead!
So we hiked on looking for the perfect place to have lunch.
We resisted the lunch recommended to us by the nice Forest Service man, Mr. Boggs. He said in a heavy Kentucky accent “Ain’t nothin’ better then sittin’ on a log with a good Balona’ sandwich, yew should russell yer selves up one”
After lunch we continued hiking and then It hit us…..
THE SECOND WARNING SIGN!
6 MILES! Maybe we should turn back? The sign says it will take us another 5 hours! That’s about 1 mile per hour how could we ever do that?
But the healthy lunch I made for Scott wasn’t full of Balona’ and this time he was the one to say we should press on!
And so we did, up little hills, around big rocks, through a few mud bogs. The sun was warming up the ground and Canada Geese were defending their soon to hatch eggs.
We never saw another hiker. I was sure it was because these Ohio hikers can’t handle the big miles. Look at us we’re doing just fine!
But I spoke too soon! that was not it at all,
And we soon found out.
Now, I can’t say for sure. But maybe, the nowhere to be found, other hikers knew something we didn’t?
like what was waiting up around the next bend!
Now this California girl had no idea what this nice specimen of a snake was, but my fearless leader Scott knew just what it was. A COPPER HEAD!
We turned around and headed back to the car. Not that we couldn’t do the miles, but just in case the warning was more about the snakes!
Back at the Ranger Station, Mr Boggs informed that indeed that is a Copper Head, “Out early this year!”
GREAT! I hope they like Balona’ Sandwiches better then hikers in shorts exposing bare skin for the first of the season bite!
Animal behaviourist Kevin Richardson, pictured on the photo … swimming with a lioness in the Crocodile River, near Johannesburg, South Africa. …
details – treehugger
UPDATE: Actually, these photos were taken near Homer, Alaska. That makes much more sense.
My Mom emailed me these pics of an unusual gathering of eagles near my parent’s home town, Parksville, British Colombia.
I’m not sure what was attracting them together.
But it sure reminds me of scenes in Alaska.
Photographer Conny Ellison loves Lake O’Hara in the Canadian Rockies.
We agree it’s the most photogenic hiking area of all, the best place to take first time visitors to the region.
Check out a slideshow to see for yourself.
No doubt about it: Lake O’Hara is our most favourite place (“Happy Place”) on this planet. We have been very fortunate and been able to make a trip here at least once every year since 2002 (getting seats on the bus into O’Hara can be a bit of a hassle). Often there is too much snow on the alpine traverse and we have to “make do” with the Lake Oesa and Opabin trails. The highline is definitely our favourite trail though!
see the rest of the photos on Pbase – LAKE O’HARA
Our besthike Lake O’Hara information page.
Polly Evans posted a terrific trip report on Great Outdoors.
80mi, 9 days — this trip was epic.
… The Donjek Route, Parks Canada emphasizes, is not a trail. “Wilderness travel experience is essential, including excellent route finding skills, map and compass skills, and creek/river crossing skills,” the rangers insist in their literature. I had none of these estimable qualities. …
read the entire article – Into the Yukon’s Kluane National Park
Polly recommends this guidebook:
Kluane National Park Hiking Guide by Vivien Lougheed.
Polly Evans an award-winning travel journalist and author. Her latest book, Mad Dogs and an Englishwoman, tells the story of her attempts to learn to drive sled dogs in Canada’s Yukon Territory.
besthike.com 