Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
The land mass of Bermuda is small.
And it’s very heavily populated.
Yet there are many good short hikes available — especially off the Railway Trail which runs the length of the country.
Hiking on a very windy day was FUN and DRAMATIC. In this short video you’ll see the wind blast my camera tripod. 😀
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Alone (TV series) … follows the self-documented daily struggles of 10 individuals (seven paired teams in season 4) as they survive alone in the wilderness for as long as possible using a limited amount of survival equipment. …
They may “tap out” at any time, or be removed due to failing a medical check-in. The contestant who remains the longest wins a grand prize of $500,000. …
Seasons 1, 2 and 4 were shot on Vancouver Island.
The first season premiered 2015.
They were dropped on Quatsino Sound in Northern Vancouver Island, Canada, only accessible by boat or float plane.
As I hike and cycle a lot on the Island, I was keen to see how mere mortals could live off the land in a remote rain forest.
Starting a fire was the first big challenge. EVERYTHING is wet all the time.
Food was the long term challenge.
Lucas was by far the most skilled in season 1. He built a boat, yurt and even a musical instrument.
But Lucas didn’t take home the $500K first prize. That went to the contestant that was psychologically strongest. I do believe he could have lasted weeks longer — though he lost over 60 pounds.
The 10 people selected for season 2 were better prepared. The challenge was the same — remote, wet Vancouver Island. Though the weather was better.
The final four all found ways to last a long time. But as winter approached, the food supply dwindled.
Nicole was one of my favourites. Marine biologist. Expert in intertidal zone ecosystem. Knows what plants to eat. What plants not to eat.
She had the luxury of letting a big salmon go free one day. Wow.
I was cheering Jose, as well, a Spaniard who had adopted the ways of the North American indigenous peoples. His kayak is amazing.
In the end, missing loved ones at home was the final reason to tap out.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Season 4 had seven teams of family members competing against one another.
Same geographical location.
Personally, I found the pairs stories less interesting. Did not finish the season.
It’s 2022.
By now we should reduce dangers for search and rescue teams by using drones.
Here’s one example in Reno, Nevada.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
GearLab awarded the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 2 Hoody Editors’ Choice award for the best overall down jacket.
But I bought mine after seeing how many thru hikers use it on the Continental Divide Trail. They can beat this up for months without destroying the warm layer.
I am a little worried about the ultralight zipper.
NOT CHEAP. I paid CAD $341 including taxes and shipping. But it will be well used on adventures where weight and bulk are critical.
On colder trips, I’ll bring it along with my beloved Helly Hansen LifaLoft jacket.
Click PLAY or see the original Men’s Ghost Whisperer on YouTube.
Personally, I don’t like the form fitting shape — so bought the XL. For me it fits much like a normal jacket.
Read the full review.
Harder Ridge in Switzerland, also known as Hardergrat (… grat is ridge in German) is our pick for the very best day hike on Earth.
Check our Harder Ridge information page.
let’s go outdoors is posting flyovers of some of the world’s best hikes on YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch one route on Harder Ridge on YouTube.
I did the John Muir Trail in 2021 and had a good chance to check out thru hiker’s gear in person.
Most surprising to me were the increased number of sun hoodies.
Mac posted his annual Pacific Crest Trail Hiker’s Survey, interviewing 654 thru hikers.
Click through for details.
A survey of more than 700 John Muir Trail thru-hikers gave researchers insight into what makes a hiker more likely to get injured or ill while backpacking. …
First off, the (2018) study didn’t find sex to be a determinant of getting hurt or sick on the trail.
Here are the factors correlating with injury:
Surprisingly, older hikers reported fewer adverse events on the JMT.
… Often abbreviated as BMI, body mass index is a measure of the size of the human body, calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms dividing by the square of their height in meters. …
The study’s authors found that base pack weight correlated with an increased risk of illness and injury; the heavier the pack, the greater the likelihood of morbidity.
This Study Predicts Who Is Most Likely to Get Hurt in the Wilderness
I hiked the John Muir Trail myself in 2021 at age-63. And found myself ‘healthiest’ on finishing after 19 days. I got in ‘shape’ by hiking.
Kraig Becker sent me an early prototype of a Helly Hansen LifaLoft jacket for my 2019 trip to Patagonia. I wore it non-stop for a couple of months cycling and hiking in wet, windy and sometimes cold weather.
LIFALOFT™ is not down. It’s arguably lighter and warmer.
The idea is to trap a maximum amount of air in a small space. And due to the hydrophobic properties of LIFA®, LIFALOFT™ has an inherent water repellency that should keep you warm, even when wet.
It worked for me as advertised.
The best test came when I got caught in a surprise downpour while hiking without my shell. I was worried.
But next morning the LifaLoft looked and felt 100% perfect.
UPDATE: I bought two more LifaLoft jackest – in different colours and sizes. I often wear two rather than a heavier down jacket.
I machine washed and dried one jacket. It come out looking like new.
Kraig sent me this to replace my FAILED Columbia OutDry down jacket. It was useless after 7 months.
The Helly Hansen is far superior. The Colombia failed — I think — because it couldn’t handle being frequently compressed into a stuff sack. The HH LifaLoft seems much more durable.
In Patagonia Helly Hansen is the go-to brand for serious sailers and outdoors-people. Developed in Norway, HH is tested under the worst weather conditions.
For future hikes in moderate weather where weight is a big consideration, I’ll be carrying the LifaLoft and just a waterproof ultra-light Frogg Toggs shell.
Stein Valley is one of the best hikes in North America.
It’s high on my personal list of hikes to do … SOON.
Wild and remote, the “route” is about 90km and has a total elevation change of at least 4300m. High elevation is about 2150m.
It’s tough. You probably want to schedule 7 days. Perhaps 9 days to enjoy some side tripping. Carry ALL your food.
Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.
Without question you should purchase the only guidebook. And perhaps maps, as well.
My own strategy to avoid friction — to reduce blisters — is to wear oversize shoes, but tied tight to the ankle. I also buy the widest hiking shoes I can get.
If you haven’t found a system that works for you, start with understanding the mechanism of how and why blisters form.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
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