Category: health & safety

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Huayhuash Circuit, Peru

I hiked Huayhuash in 2004. (annotated PHOTOS) It’s my BEST HIKE to date.

Extreme.

I recommend it only to the most experienced and adventurous trekkers.

Much better is a detailed 2010 trip report by ramblin’ boy:

huayhuash-from-above-shot

… The satellite image above shows you the mini-range of Huayhuash in the shape of a T; it is about 30 kilometers from one end to the other with six peaks over 6000 meters and a couple of dozen over 5000. It’s like walking in Sagarmatha National Park but without the prayer flags!

Most of the 125-km long trek is on trails above 4000m and above the tree line so you have a very stark mountain scenery. …

Huayhuash map

Our trek began with a ride to the new trail head at Llamac in a mini-bus with room for the seven clients, the two guides and cook and his assistant and a whole lot of tenting equipement and food. …

At Llamac we met the arrieros (muleteers) and their burros, all ten of them. They would carry the bulk of our stuff for us; we would walk with day packs containing rain gear, cameras, and a water bottle. I cannot imagine doing this particular trek unsupported, weighed down by all the things you’d need to bring. …

Huayhuash lakes

read on – The Huayhuash Circuit: South America’s Finest High-Altitude Trek

Those marvelous 15 days cost only $1350 / person. A great deal since they had a larger group.

They did the Circuit plus climbs of two trekking peaks: Pumarinri and Diablo Mudo.

Sweet.

Check our  Huayhuash information page.

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erecting tents in the rain

Warren Long:

Figured that I might as well see how it was to set up our (expected) West Coast Trail tents in the rain. This was a good thing to do. The good tent got pretty wet inside, before I got the fly on. Next time I will be much faster getting the fly on correctly the first time….

The old tent is old, and the fly is no longer water tight. I ended up with puddles inside it after it had been in the rain for a few hours. I have now purchased and sprayed on some new waterproofing. Time for another test.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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training to HIKE

We have 11 spots booked for August on our #1 hike — the West Coast Trail.

Four of us did it together in 1999.

Warren got us out today for a “TRAINING hike”.

Warren

We marched the bank of the North Saskatchewan river.

North Saskatchewan

3.5km with full packs? … That ought to be enough. Right? 🙂

hikers

WCT hikers

See more photos from this grueling training session.

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why I sleep in a tent, if I can …

… there may be a big disadvantage to sleeping in a shelter versus choosing a tent. Hantavirus! This nasty affliction is spread by rodents, especially mice. Mice habituate shelters, and hikers tolerate them. …

Take a Long Hike – Shelter or Tent?

tent

Privacy – You aren’t a stuffed sardine when it gets crowded.

Warmth – A tent with a rainfly is warmer than an open shelter.

Better Sleep – You are not poked, or kicked, or outsnored.

No Mice – Those critters can drive you nuts!

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Ganden to Samye, Tibet

 
Unforgettable trekking in one of the most beautiful areas of Tibet. A pilgrimage between two holy sites.

Ganden Monastery to Samye Monastery.

Ganden

AT A GLANCE

  • one of the most popular treks in Tibet
  • 4-5 days
  • best months April – October
  • tenting is required
  • independent hiking is illegal, though some foreigners do it anyway
  • Ganden Monastery 4,300m to Samye 3540m  is a traditional pilgrimage route
  • you’ll suffer many hassles traveling in totalitarian China

Map.ChinaTibetread more on our new Ganden to Samye information page

We’ve updated (and moved) that page.

It’s been 15 years since we’ve done it. Leave a comment if you know of a more recent trip report.

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fatal mountain goat attack 2010

A federal judge has dismissed most of a widow’s claims against the federal government after her husband was killed by a mountain goat while hiking in Olympic National Park …

Robert Boardman, 63, of Port Angeles was trying to protect his wife and other hikers when the 370-pound male mountain goat fatally gored him in the thigh on a trail at Klahhane Ridge on Oct. 16, 2010.

Robert

The goat is believed to have been one that harassed hikers in the park for years …

The mountain goat then stood over Boardman for about 30 minutes, staring and pawing at the ground, making it impossible for … hikers to reach him, according to park ranger reports of the incident.

Boardman died from blood loss in about five minutes, the reports said. The goat was later shot and killed by a ranger. …

A necropsy on the animal showed it was healthy and in rut for the mating season …

After Boardman’s death, park rangers warned hikers to keep at least 50 yards away from goats and not to urinate on trails.

The park said the urine creates a long salt lick, attracting the animals. …

Federal judge dismisses most lawsuit claims in fatal mountain goat attack in Olympic National Park

Lake Angeles trailhead
Lake Angeles trailhead

Park Rangers have shot aggressive Elk in the past. But this is not typical of mountain goats.

I’m content the law suit was not successful.

This death has changed regulations, however.

… an Olympic National Park ranger operating under new mountain goat management rules shot and killed a mountain goat that had refused to leave a campsite near the park’s Upper Royal Basin for three days. …

related – What should you do if you’re attacked by a mountain goat?

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PCT day 2 – Mount Laguna back to Lake Morena

trip report by editor Rick McCharles

I knew next to nothing about PCT hiking strategy.

But it seemed a no brainer to catch one of the many available Angel rides up to Mt Laguna at mile 43. And hike downhill to Lake Morena at mile 20 … rather than uphill.

A_elev

Yet very few hikers did so.

Rick

Beautiful country.

trails

PCT

cactus

flowers

I passed hundreds of sweaty, hot thru hikers climbing. It was interesting to check their gear. And their hiking systems.

hikers

No mountain bikes are allowed. But trail riders and beasts of burden are welcome.

beasts

Several hikers had seen Rattlesnakes. I saw 3 of these guys. A gopher snake, I believe.

click for larger version
click for larger version

It seemed to take FOREVER to get back to the Kick Off campground. Yeesh.

campground

I grabbed a shower. Then enjoyed free chile provided by Trail Angels.

Feet sore. Some blisters. Confidence shaken. … I wasn’t at all sure I’d be able to hike day 3. 😦

more photos