His most EPIC video yet, I’d say.
Plenty of drone footage.
River crossings were his greatest challenge. Happily, Kraig had comparatively good weather.
This is definitely the BEST and most POPULAR trek in Iceland.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
NEW smaller Bear Canisters
Mac:
BearVault has just released two new products, the BV425 “Sprint” and the BV475 “Trek“.
Both bear canisters meet Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) grizzly bear testing standards as of May 2022 and are approved for use on the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail.
… hikers now have twice as many options on offer from BearVault to help protect their food (and protect the bears) in the backcountry. …
Halfway Anywhere
Though canisters are bulky, I certainly do appreciate having a CAMP CHAIR when I carry one. 😀
#8 – Everest Base Camp / 3 Passes, Nepal
Everest Base Camp via 3 Passes is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.
Why?
Of dozens of fantastic treks in Nepal, the 3 Passes route is best of the best.
- October to November best months
- beginning of March to mid-May next best
- 16-18 days minimum for 3 Passes. 21 days would allow for rest / illness / sidetrip / and other unanticipated delays.
- if you don’t have time, it’s recommended 14 days just to get to Base Camp and back safely.
- wonderful photographic opportunities
- it’s fun to leave the main trails, take to the paths less traveled
- very little gear is needed
- you can easily get pack weight down to 10kg (22lbs)
- walk with no tent, stove or food. Stay in lodges, eat in simple restaurants. Books are often available for rest days.
- safe and easy to hike solo
- no need to speak Nepali, only English
- food is good and quite safe (compared with Kathmandu)
- Everest is the goal. But our favourite peak is Ama Dablam, much more visible en route.
World → Asia → Nepal → Everest Base Camp
Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute preview on YouTube.
For details click over to our EVEREST BASE CAMP / 3 PASSES information page.
ANYmal – the Hiking Robot
… scientists and engineers at ETH Zurich, a university in Switzerland, announced they created a fully autonomous robot that’s able to hike. The implications may be a bit frightening to some, but they’re also super-exciting, as they may have extremely useful implications for what hiking and national park trips look like 20 or 30 years into the future. …
Scientists Taught a Robot To Hike. Here’s What That Means for Future Adventure Travel.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
#7 – Otter Trail, South Africa
The Otter Trail is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.
Why?
Lush forests, rugged shorelines, river crossings, waterfalls and fragrant fynbos make this adventure at the southern tip of Africa unique. It’s strenuous, with lots of ups and downs …
- non-stop superb hiking
- one of our top 10 coastal hikes in the world
- Storms River Mouth to Nature’s Valley
- 42km
- 5 days, 4 nights
- huts or tenting
- permits are difficult to get as only 12 hikers start each day. December and Easter holidays are highest demand.
- Recommended to book 12 months in advance. (Because folks book so early, it’s often possible to get a last minute cancellation spot.)
World → Australasia → New Zealand → Tongariro Circuit
Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute preview on YouTube.
For details click over to our Otter Trail Information page.
Jet Suit Mountain Rescue
We proved you can scale a Lake District Mountain (3100ft Helveylln) in 3mins 30 seconds, despite very poor visibility that would have grounded a HEMS Helicopter.
The Mountain Rescue foot response is over 70 minutes typically.
The route was 1.2 miles and 2200ft of height gain.
This is the latest in a series of Paramedic Response Exercises to prove capability in parallel with training up real Paramedics to provide first response Critical Care in hard to reach geographies.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Ammonite Falls the HARD WAY 😀
Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles.
Keith and I headed out to Ammonite Falls near Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.
Having failed badly my previous time there 😀 out of the Weigles Road trailhead, this time I tried the Jameson Road trailhead. We immediately got lost.
Doh.
Happily, returning hikers explained how we could do a bit of road walking to get to the actual trail to Ammonite Falls.
A nice walk.
Below is my original trip report from January 2021:
Without checking in advance, I cycled out for my first visit to Ammonite Falls near Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.
Most convenient for me was the Weigles Road trailhead.
January 15th was the best weather we’ve had in 2021. A perfect day.
And it’s an easy day hike.
What could go wrong?
Turned out the BENSON CREEK trail to the Falls was closed for MAJOR improvements. I had to find another way.
Later I found out that other trails to the top of the Falls were open. 😀
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
related – Outdoor Vancouver – Ammonite Falls Hike
Click PLAY or watch the hike from the Jameson road trailhead on YouTube.
American Youth Outdoors are Happier
- Among youth who spend only 1-5 hours outside per week, just 31% rated their happiness level in the 8-10 range on a 10-point scale. 42% put their stress level that high.
- But among youth who spend 11 or more hours outside weekly, the results flip: 51% are in the 8-10 happiness range and stress drops.
Winter Hiking #FAIL
Sundance Canyon is a popular, easy day hike directly out of Banff townsite in the Canadian Rockies.
On a lovely Spring day in April I set off to enjoy the afternoon.
Some of the approach is along the lovely Bow River.
Everyone stops en route at the (now closed) Cave and Basin National Historic Site. And nearby boardwalk trails down to the river.
I popped into 3 Mile Cabin.
My #FAIL came when I reached Sundance Canyon itself. I’d forgotten to bring my Yaktrax® up to the mountains. They were essential this day. 😀
I was forced to quit.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Hiking Bermuda on a WINDY Day
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.
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