Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
Smiths Medical today announced the opening of a new high altitude medical laboratory. Located at 11,154 ft (3,400m) on Mount Everest’s slope, Smiths Medical High Altitude Laboratory’s initial research will include studying nine healthy British kids and how they react to a low oxygen environment. …
Smiths, I volunteer to replace these poor young people.
Cure your fear of bears by pretending you are the mighty hunter and have slayed the terrifying bear. Then strut around the room wearing the huge bearskin to show off your prowess. OR take the sleeping bag camping and you can scare the be-jezuz out of your friends when they wake up next to you.
Both are possible with this incredible new sleeping bag by artist Eiko Ishizawa. This fun design is so cool (and a little creepy looking) that we just had to share it with all of our readers. …
I’ve often doubted the effectiveness of expensive sun block.
Here’s a product even I will pay big bucks for ….
Sierra Summits High Altitude Adventure Sunscreen, a zinc oxide mineral blocker for face and body. Oil free and Fragrance free, SPF 40, won’t burn eyes, has light elegant feel on skin. Formulated for sensitive skin types to perform and protect at altitude, on water, and closer to the equator, where UV rays are more intense.
For shipping only, they will send you a free sample.
Himalayas?
Andes?
Nope. The UK.
Icy conditions in the fell country lead to seven trekker deaths on Wales’ Mt. Snowdon and the English Peak and Lake Districts.
Terrible.
I had no idea that winter walking in the United Kingdom was so dangerous.
The lesson here? Easy is all about conditions. When the slopes and trails are wet, or muddy, or icy, or the lightning’s flying and the wind’s howling, your easy hike just turned into a big deal. Whenever you go into the woods in winter, never scrimp on safety and travel equipment like poles, crampons, axes, skis, snowshoes, gaiters, goggles, bivy gear and clothing.
You have two choices out there: If you’re ready for the conditions, have fun. If you’re not, turn around. It’s a simple decision, but one that people often have a hard time making. If you let desire pull you onward when you’re not prepared….well, you can learn from the examples above, or learn it on your own. Always do your suffering vicariously.
Hike safe. – Steve Howe
Backpacker – Danger in the British Isles
Anouk Zijlma on About.com posted a terrific list of the Best Hikes and Treks in Africa.
… Africa’s most popular trekking destination is Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain on the continent. Lesser known ranges like Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains offer an incredible array of snow-capped peaks right next to the equator.
Other fantastic hikes in Africa that don’t necessarily involve great heights include the Wild Coast (South Africa) and the Fish River Canyon (Namibia). …
Others on the list:
Mount Kenya
Simien Mountains, Ethiopia
The Drakensberg, South Africa
Mount Meru, Tanzania
Mount Elgon, Uganda and Kenya
Mount Cameroon, Cameroon
Mulanje Mountain, Malawi
Click through for more information, links and recommended guides – About.com Best treks in Africa
Most foreign trekkers prefer to go with a guiding company to ensure their safety.
Mt. Stanley – Sylwia Duda/Creative Commons
Mulanje Mountain, Malawi – larger original – flickr – fffriendly
Compare this About.com list with our own Best Hikes in Africa
Hank Leukart posted a magazine quality essay on one of our top treks in the World, the Paine Circuit.
Adopted by Kiwis in Chilean Patagonia. How to hike the Torres del Paine Circuit on someone else’s family vacation
… The only thing standing between us and views of 270-square-kilometer Glaciar Grey was Paso John Garner, a steep and rocky pass through the Patagonian Andes Mountains. My brother Brian and I looked up nervously at the severe mountain crags and glacial ice surrounding us, and though we hadn’t been able to substantiate the rumors of a lost hiker’s death during a blizzard in the pass three days before, the gossip made us uneasy. We knew that some hikers had turned back, failing to conquer the pass due to dangerous weather. …
read the 3-part series article on Without Baggage
Especially if you want to find out why Hank decided to climb on to an iceberg.
related posts – more Without Baggage trip reports
The best video of this hike I’ve seen yet.
Robin takes off to China to find the source of one of the web’s most amazing photos, and see if Mount Hua is indeed the world’s most dangerous hike. More gonzo madness at www.moderngonzo.com
Travel Writer Robin Esrock now has a TV Show, as well, called Word Travels showing in Canada on OLN, and in dozens of countries worldwide on National Geographic Adventure.
Where will you find this guy?
Fattest Cities (according to Men’s Fitness)
1. Miami
2. Oklahoma City
3. San Antonio
4. Las Vegas
5. New YorkFittest Cities
1. Salt Lake City
2. Colorado Springs
3. Minneapolis
4. Denver
5. Albuquerque
source – USA Today
How do think this turned out?
Mail Online – Chilling game of hide and seek with a hungry polar bear
(via Sierra Blogging Post)
Wow. Check out a 39-day mega-trek photo trip report posted by Tubby.
And this is only PART 1 of their adventures in Nepal.
Tubby’s group connected a trek around Manaslu with the Annapurna Circuit. AND the sidetrip to Annapurna Base Camp.
They had wondrous moments. And many challenges.
Here’s the receipt from Maoist rebels for the group “donation”:
This extortion is supposed to be ended. But I expect the odd local in Nepal will still be asking for cash for the cause.
As always, the charming people were a highlight:
I can’t find a way to summarize this monster trip in a short blog post. You need to check it out yourself: Trekking our arses off in Nepal #1
Manaslu
Annapurna Circuit information page.
Annapurna is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.
besthike.com 