Manaslu Circuit – new cantilever trail section

The guided Manaslu Circuit trek in Nepal is one of the very best hikes in the world.

Some good news.

The April 2015 earthquake triggered landslides that destroyed many sections of the Budi Gandaki Trail, cutting off Upper Gorkha, affecting the movement of local people and trekkers on the Manaslu Circuit.

Now, engineers have used cantilever technology to restore damaged sections of the trail along the narrowest and steepest parts of the Budi Gandaki gorge. …

Nepali Times 

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(via Manaslu Circuit Trek)

Sherpa – directed by Jennifer Peedom

… charting the disastrous Everest season of 2014. The director aimed to get a Sherpa’s point of view on climbing Everest after the famous flareup of 2013, and instead was on the ground to document the appalling loss of life and resulting Sherpa strike the following year. …

David Lintern

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

West Coast Trail, Canada

Mike and Lara are MB Guiding.

They’ll organize your hike to many different destinations in B.C.

For example they’ll guide you on the West Coast Trail for C$1650 in 2017.

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The West Coast Trail is our #1 hike in the world. A life changing adventure.

Experienced hikers can easily do it independently, however. The MB WCT information page is an excellent resource for everyone.

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Thanks Hendrik.

Makalu Base Camp trek

Chris Townsend:

This trek to the base of the fifth highest mountain in the world is my favourite of the three treks I’ve done in this part of the world. …

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Out There – The Pictures 1: Trekking to Makalu Base Camp

That trek was guided. But you can now do Makalu independently.

climbing Mt. Bisoke, Rwanda

In my experience there are few places with less horizontal ground than Rwanda, which truly earns its nickname of “Le Pays de Milles Collines” (the land of a thousand hills). The third-highest of those approximately thousand hills, at 3,711 meters (12,175 feet), is known alternatively as Mt. Visoke or Mt. Bisoke, and is the subject of this trip report. …

My experience in Rwanda was that a guide was always required. For everything. Car safaris, gorilla trekking, even short 2 mile hikes to see some waterfalls in the rainforest. While this goes very much against the independent, take-care-of-yourself-in-the woods attitude of myself and, I would imagine, the majority of the users of this site, there’s really not a lot you can do about it. Embrace it – even if a guide is completely unnecessary, they will certainly have more knowledge about the local plants, animals, and people than you can possibly hope to retain. So ask lots of questions, tip well, and enjoy. …

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Summit Post – Hiking in the Virungas – Mt. Bisoke

related – A journalist’s gruelling hike to the summit of mighty Mount Bisoke (2015)

trouble climbing Mt Adams

Veteran climbing guide Dave Adlard led some new mountaineers on a climb of Mt Adams, Washington.

Thousands climb it every year.

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The weather went bad.

“If you haven’t figured it out already we’re not going up. We need to get the hell off this mountain alive.” as our guide and friend, David Adlard, said to us at six in morning.

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Read the entertaining trip report on Mtn Talk – Mt. Adams: Get Down Alive

Nepal – Dhaulagiri Circuit guided

This is a challenging trek around Dhaulagiri the world’s seventh highest mountain crossing two Himalayan passes. …

There is an option to climb Dhampus Peak at an altitude of 6,060m for those with previous mountaineering experience. If you like to climb Dhampus Peak there is an extra charge to cover the cost of the climbing permit.

The Mountain Company has organised eight successful treks around Dhaulagiri Circuit since Spring 2008 …

The Mountain Company

Cost about $150 / day for 20 days out of Kathmandu = US$2,895. Budget flights to and from Kathmandu plus extras.

Click PLAY or watch highlights of a 2013 Circuit on YouTube.

MountainIQ has independent information on this trip.

Compare Dhaulagiri to the rest of our best hikes in Nepal, many of which you can do independently for far less cost.

Makalu Base Camp trek

by site editor Rick McCharles 

As I’ve done most of the easily accessible major hikes in Nepal next time I’m planning on Makalu. Cost most likely between $3000 – $4000. I’m hoping to do it for less with one Guide and carrying my own pack.

Sathya did it independently in 2012.

Mountain IQ has a good overview.

Though not visited by many hikers each year, there are some tea houses available now.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube. Two feet of snow on day 8 en route to Base Camp.

LIFE is an ADVENTURE

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That excellent video was a promo piece for the (now inactive) Adventure.com, a peer-to-peer tours and activities marketplace.

It features community-sourced photos, videos, and first-person narratives as it sits in maintenance mode. Adventure.com CAMPING.

Here’s the story – Adventure.com Failed But What Did It Do Right and Wrong?