Category: health & safety

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Ugreen’s 145W, 25,000mAh Power Bank

Increasingly on the trail, I need reliable power.

My latest purchase is Ugreen’s 145W 25,000mAh portable power bank.

… 3 ports: a USB-C port for charging the unit at a maximum power of 65W — capable of being fully recharged in 2 hours using a 65W AC charger — and for outputting up to 100W, another USB-C port that supports outputs up to 45W, and a USB-A port that allows for outputs up to 18W. 

… a small LED panel designed for a singular purpose — to display the battery capacity …

  • Battery capacity: 25000mAh
  • Total output: 145W
  • Charge protocols:
    USB-C1
    USB-C2
    USB-A
  • Bi-directional charging: Yes
  • Dimensions: 16 x 8.08 x 2.67 cm
  • Weight: 505 g (1.11 pounds) !

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

There are other better, heavier, and more expensive options.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Dangerous Treks?

Here’s a list of some of the established hikes known to have caused deaths and injuries in the past.

Of course if you are experienced and cautious, I’d call most of them ‘safe’.

Of the list, I’ve done 5 myself and would recommend them.

El Caminito I’d call SUPER safe in 2025.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Hiking the Southernmost Trail in the World

Kraig Adams and 2 friends hiked the Dientes de Navarino trail, Chile, March 2025.

It’s more of a route than a fixed trail. Bushwhacking required.

FIRST ➙ make your way to Puerto Williams, Chile.

Kraig’s is the best video I’ve seen yet of that remote adventure. I tried and failed to complete the Circuit myself in 2019.

The trail was covered over with snow, and I had no guide to lead the way. I only tented one night. Awoke with a a bad stomach ache. Then turned back.

AT A GLANCE

  • world’s most southerly major hike?
  • circumambulate the jagged spires of Cordon de los Dientes
  • out of Puerto Williams, Chile, on Isla Navarino (pop. 2,262 last time we counted)
  • recommended 5 days, 4 nights in the past. Most hikers are doing it in 4 days, 3 nights now as the route is better cairned and signed. Kraig did it in 3 days, 2 nights.

To find out how to do this trip yourself, click over to our Dientes Circuit information page.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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300 km Pekoe Trail, Sri Lanka

The Pekoe Trail is a NEW 22 stage hike through Sri Lanka’s tea plantations.

You can walk it — or sections — year round. Low altitude. Mostly easy, scenic walking.

The major complaint I’ve heard is about leeches on rainy days.

I can relate. I once spent a month in Sri Lanka and was sometimes removing leeches with salt water while still on the move. 😀


ThePekoeTrailSriLanka.com

Home

AllTrails – Pekoe Trail

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Mountain Kingdoms offers a 2-week walking holiday that follows the most scenic and culturally interesting sections of the Pekoe Trail including Horton Plains, the tea capital of Nuwara Eliya and the fabulous views from Ella Rock.

Fully supported, you walk between small hotels, original bungalows and mountain lodges carrying just a day pack, with all transfers, meals and sightseeing included.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.


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Top 10 Hiking Destinations ➙ Patagonian Andes

Patagonia is massive and bleak. Yet we love the Patagonian Andes, 2000km (1243mi) in length, but averaging less than 100km (62mi) in width. You could take years exploring just the eastward (drier) side of the mountains.

Towering granite peaks, untouched lakes, massive glaciers, huge volcano trekking peaks. This land is phenomenal.

Mirador del Pliegue Tumbado, Fitz Roy, Argentina

Trekkers target five areas:

  • The Araucania
  • Lakes District
  • Central Patagonia
  • Southern Patagonia
  • Tierra del Fuego

Start in Mendoza, Argentina and visit the highest mountain outside Asia, Aconcagua. Next bus to the Switzerland of South America (Lake District). Some of the highest volcanoes of the world are here. Finally, work your way south by air and ferry to the granite spires at the south tip of the continent.

Trekking season here is Nov-Apr. (Feb-Mar often the best weather) That said, the wind and weather in Patagonia is notorious. Independent hikers need be prepared for anything and everything.

Conversational Spanish highly recommended for those travelling independently.

More information on our new Patagonia information page.

Our favourite hike in the Patagonian Andes is the Paine Circuit in Chile.


John Grey Pass, Paine Circuit – flickr – Patagonia set – Michael Bollino

See our Paine Circuit Information page.

Our original hiking bible is the now discontinued Lonely Planet Trekking in the Patagonian Andes:

Lonely Planet Trekking in the Patagonian Andes
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Heights of Alay Mountains, Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a fantastic hiking destination — BUT we wouldn’t recommend you trek there independently.

The Pamir Trail is a proposed 1000km+ route. A work in progress.

Jan Baaker, author of Cicerone Trekking in Tajikistan, hopes to connect the entire route soon.

Shorter and logistically easier to organize, is the Heights of Alay Mountains trail.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Top 10 Coastal Hikes ➙ Kalalau Trail, Hawaii

Kalalau Trail, on the Na Pali Coast of Kaua‘i is one of our top 10 coastal hikes in the world.

Why?

  • 11mi (18km)
  • hike any month of the year
  • trail sometimes closed due to weather
  • maximum elevation gain 800ft
  • Keʻe Beach to the Kalalau Valley
  • can be done as a long day hike though officially you are only allowed to day hike as far as Hankapiai beach
  • 3 days, 2 nights recommended
  • most people camp at least one night at either Hanakoa Valley (6 mile mark) or Kalalau Beach.
  • in Nā Pali Coast State Park
  • limited number of permits issued for camping

Francis Hehle’s video will give you a good idea of what the trail is like.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

For details, click over to our Kalalau Trail information page.

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Juan de Fuca Trail, Vancouver Island

The West Coast Trail ALTERNATIVE.

The most famous hiking adventure in Canada is the West Coast Trail out of Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island.

Port Renfrew is also the trailhead for the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail — yet no reservation is required. It’s the best back-up plan if you can’t get a reservation for the WCT.

And it’s open year round, unlike the WCT which closes in winter.

Be prepared for serious mud and rain.

Vancouver Island experts MB Guiding have a Juan de Fuca Marine Trail Guide online.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

IF you plan to hike Juan de Fuca, be sure to read our Juan de Fuca Information page. Especially details on the tides.

This is one of our best hikes in North America.

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Dangerous Trails Around the World

Here’s a list of some of the established hikes known to have caused deaths and injuries in the past.  

Of course if you are experienced and cautious, I’d call most of them ‘safe’.

Of the list, I’ve done these myself and would recommend them. 

  • El Caminito del Rey, Spain
  • Drakensberg Traverse, South Africa
  • Kalalau Trail, Hawaii
  • Huayna Picchu, Peru
  • Mount Washington, USA

El Caminito I’d call SUPER safe in 2025.

Huayna Picchu is a bit sketchy.  A couple of days before I climbed, a tourist from Russia was killed by lightning. 

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.