Grand Canyon – Thunder River/Deer Creek Loop

Thunder River/Deer Creek Loop is one of the best hikes in North America.

Epic. 🙂

Click PLAY or watch a guided trip on YouTube. (8min)

Read the Backpacker.tv trip report.

This 21.5-mile clockwise loop in Grand Canyon National Park strings together faint trails and an Eden of waterfalls and swimming holes.

Backpacker

map

The biggest problem with this adventure isn’t the navigation, it’s getting one of the few permits available. 😦

independent trek – Huayhuash Circuit, Peru

Megan “Hashbrown” Maxwell did Huayhuash alone and independently. She’s one tough hiker.

Still … she felt Huayhuash was the toughest hike of her life.

The Huayhuash Circuit is a beast of a trek. I would only recommend it if you have done a trek before and have an idea of what you’re getting into. I would only recommend going guide-less if you are at a confident level of backpacking experience, have taken the time to acclimatize, and are physically fit and able to carry a pack loaded with a week of food.

The guidebook for this trail is Peru’s Cordilleras Blanca & Huayhuash, available on Amazon. I found this to have all the information I needed …

This circuit goes over a pass everyday, ranging from 15,400 to 16,500 feet (4,690 to 5,050 meters). This means you will be hiking slower than usual, due to the altitude, and the walking itself is physically taxing. This also means that you will have spectacular views of the Andes every single day. …

Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit: Planning and Preparing

Huayhuash
Huayhuash

Huayhuash map

That adventure was the best hike of my life. If you want know more, click over to our Huayhuash information page.

attacked by a Grizzly

YEESH. 😦

Todd Orr:

I took an early morning hike in the Madison valley (Montana) to scout for elk. Knowing that bears are common throughout southwest Montana, I hollered out “hey bear” about every 30 seconds so as to not surprise any bears along the trail.

About three miles in, I stepped out into an open meadow and hollered again. A few more steps and I spotted a sow Grizzly bear with cubs on the trail at the upper end of the meadow. The sow saw me right away and they ran a short distance up the trail. But suddenly she turned and charged straight my way. I yelled a number of times so she knew I was human and would hopefully turn back. No such luck. Within a couple seconds, she was nearly on me. I gave her a full charge of bear spray at about 25 feet. Her momentum carried her right through the orange mist and on me. …

read more on Facebook

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

Wazoo Survival Gear belt

If Drumpf becomes President, I’m going to update my survival gear. Prepare for the end of the world. 🙂

This proposed Cache Belt looks great.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

See more of their products.

via GearJunkie – Survival Situation? Check Your Belt

hiking the Stairway to Heaven, Oahu

The Haʻikū Stairs, also known as the Stairway to Heaven or Haʻikū Ladder, is a steep hiking trail on the island of OʻahuHawaii. The total 3,922 steps span along Oahu’s Ko’olau mountain range. …

The City and County of Honolulu has stated that there is currently no plan to open the stairs for public use, citing liability concerns …

Dozens of people, however, routinely hike up the stairs every day …

Andy Beth Miller hiked it.

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trip report – Hiking Oahu’s Forbidden Stairway to Heaven