Category: health & safety

Posted on

Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal

My buddy Grant Assenheimer just emailed:

Leaving tomorrow for the Annapurna Base Camp.  Have to get my permits today, pick up a sleeping roll and sleeping bag and some chocolate and I’m good to go.  Haven’t managed to find anyone to go with me yet but I’m not going to let that slow me down.  Should be able to find someone in Pokara and, if not, surely on the trail!  No guide or porter…I agree with you and don’t think it is needed at all!!
 
I’ll send you a pic!

abc.jpg
larger version – flickr – mikemellinger

more interesting photos of Annapurna Base Camp

My own solo trek to ABC in Nepal was one of my personal best hikes.

Here’s an excerpt from my 1998 trip report:

… Access to the Sanctuary is via an intensely scenic gorge; a narrow, winding trail through dense bamboo and huge trees. You scramble over river boulders; gnarled, polished hardwood roots; traverse the most recent avalanche tracks; climb bamboo ladders.

There are no permanent settlements here. This is the only major trekking route in Nepal subject to serious avalanche risk. Occasionally backpackers are trapped at basecamp when tons of snow collapse into the gorge from the unseen. On November 11, 1995 a freak early winter storm resulted in the death of 63 people in Nepal. This caused a bit of unease when it started raining, hailing, and snowing while I ascended to the notch of the Sanctuary gate.

The basecamp itself is bleak. An eerie calm. No wind, though clouds swirl in every direction up on the mountain tops. The scene is dominated by huge, white, vertical Annapurna — one of the most difficult faces ever climbed. On Christmas day 1997 an avalanche here killed Anatoli Boukreev, the Tiger Woods of high altitude, and subject of the best seller, The Climb. …

Annapurna Sanctuary – trip report

annapurna.jpg
original – flickr – Gianni Scopinaro

related: besthike Annapurna Circuit information page

Posted on

trek the Pakistan / India border?

The Indian army has gone ahead with plans to allow trekkers to visit the disputed Siachen glacier, despite protests from Pakistan. Three civilians were among 42 members of an expedition which left Leh in Ladakh on Wednesday for the glacier area, an army spokesman told the BBC.

It is not the first time that civilians have been to Siachen, between Pakistani and Indian-administered Kashmir.

But new Indian plans for “adventure tourism” there have angered Pakistan.

The two sides have fought and argued over the 5,500m-high glacier – described as the world’s highest battlefield – for decades. …

The expedition has been made possible because of a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan which has held for almost four years. …

Officials say that India has decided to open 200 peaks, including four on Siachen, to climbers as part of a national “adventure park” project to attract more tourists.

BBC

‘Adventure park’ is the term being used now by India. But some dreamers have called the proposal a “peace park“.

This looks more like posturing to me. I doubt I’ll be heading for the Kashmir border — the World’s Highest Battle Field — any time soon.

India has perhaps 5,000 troops on the Siachen glacier, while Pakistan has fewer than half that number. Harsh weather in claims many more lives than fighting.

siachen.jpg
original – flickr – more photos from this set

It must be a beautiful, but boring, military outpost.

The beautiful coincidence point of Siachen and Baltoro glaciers (75 km & 64 km respectively).The two longest non-polar glaciers in the world.More than 60 peaks (above 7000 metres) of Karakoram mountain range are clustered around the both two.Baltoro glacier contains 28 peaks above 7000 metres with 4 even above 8000 metres & the Siachen glacier contains 32 peaks above 7000 metres.

glaciers.jpg
larger version – flickr – Heartkins

more interesting photos tagged “Siachen glacier” on flickr

Posted on

beautiful Mt Sanqingshan, China

Mount Sanqingshan National Park was recently added to the World Heritage List.

The photos are beautiful.

… a unique array of forested, fantastically shaped granite pillars and peaks …

saningshan.jpg
larger original – flickr – Genek´s cards

It has some crazy cliffside pathways similar to those of Mount Hua (Hua Shan).

china.jpg
larger original – flickr – Vincent H P Liu

more interesting Sanqingshan photos on flickr

Mount Sanqing (Chinese: 三清山; Pinyin: SānqÄ«ng Shān) or San Qing Mountain – Wikipedia

(via The Adventure Blog)

Posted on

trip report – Ausangate Circuit, Peru

Ausangate is our #4 best hike in the world.

That’s a demanding 70km (43.5mi) plus sidetrips recommended only for confident hikers acclimatized at high altitude.

The best trip report I’ve seen yet was posted on Photodiary of a Nomad. That’s a couple who have documented “4000km of walks, with detailed descriptions and over 8000 photos”.

From Ausangate Circuit (part 1):

ausangate.jpg

At 6372m, Nevado Ausangate is the highest mountain in the Cuzco Region.

The mountains were sacred to the Andean people and Apu Ausangate was considered one of the most important deities, the origin of alpacas and llamas and the source of many legends. It stands somewhat isolated from the rest of the Cordillera Vilcanota, a massif with several distinct peaks and many glaciers lining the hollows and slopes between them.

To circumnavigate this massif, you need to cross four major passes, two of which are over 5000m, while the valleys that head off in different directions are home to quechua-speaking mountain people whose daily lives have changed little in centuries. To trek the Ausangate Circuit provides not only the opportunity to experience the alpine landscapes of the high Andes, but to see how life was, and still is, like in its harsh environment. …

ausangate3.jpg

The scenery is stunning.

ausangate2.jpg

I highly recommend you click through to check it out: Ausangate Circuit (part 1)

What to hike Peru yourself?

Check our besthike Ausangate information page.

Posted on

flying tents

Nothing like a good “Maytag” tent photo.

This tent belongs to the West Virginia Civil Air Patrol … All the cadets placed their day equipment into this tent, but no one noticed that it was not staked down. When all the cadets removed their equipment, a gust of wind knocked the tent over. (The top of the tent is facing down.) At the top of the tent is a screen so the tent was more like a parachute. The tent was in the air for about 15 seconds and reached an altitude of 30 feet. Photo by Rocco S. Rossetti

flying_tent.jpg

(via EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2006 Photo Gallery)

And another:

… at Maker Faire Austin, the lights went out. All power was lost in one whole area of the fairgrounds. It turned out that a dome tent from the camping area had taken flight in a dust devil and crashed into the power lines. Fernando Rizo got a couple of great shots of the tent moments before impact.

MAKE

tentfo102308_1.jpg

tentfo102308_2.jpg

(via The Piton)

Leave a comment if you’ve ever had your tent take flight.

Posted on

hiking in Lebanon?

Not once have I heard of any hiking in Lebanon.

lebanon-map.jpg

Yet before the Lebanese Civil War started in 1975 it was called the “Switzerland of the East”. Beirut the “Paris of the East.”

Even today Lebanon has six ski resorts. It’s a beautiful country.

2423850364_0a54a08f27.jpg
larger version – flickr – LLP

Guided walks are advertised: Hiking and Trekking – LebanonTourism.com

There’s even a long distance trek: Lebanon Mountain Trail – 44okm (275mi)

Fareed Abou-Haidar suggests that this country could be a major draw for hikers. (If only their security could be ensured.)

2419511034_80525132f8.jpg
larger version – flickr – LLP

See more gorgeous photos of Lebanon on the Dark Roasted Blend blog.

Posted on

climber found alive on Mt Adams

We climbed Mt Adams this summer. It was a walk in the park.

Not so for Derek Mamoyac who fell when snow gave way under his feet.

2008281289.jpgA 27-year-old Oregon climber who survived five days on southern Washington’s Mount Adams with a broken ankle told rescuers he ate centipedes and drank water from creeks as he tried to crawl to safety. …

… ate centipedes and other bugs after running out of food early in the week. He drank water from creeks.

He was wearing water-resistant pants, insulated boots and gloves but was still very cold. …

adams.gif

Missing climber found alive on Wash. mountain – AP

Thank God for the search dog.

(via Sierra Blogging Post)

related news reports – Google

Be careful out there.

Posted on

hike Cougar Creek, Canmore, Canada

I posted a few photos from our Saturday Autumn day hike.

cougar-creek-canmore.jpg
larger version – flickr

We walked to this spot in less than half an hour out the door of Kelly and Lexi’s new home in Canmore, Alberta. Very close to the headquarters of the Alpine Club of Canada. Canmore is one of the best outdoor adventure towns in the world.

It’s ideal for dog walking … except that Cougar Creek is named such for a reason. Pets are at risk in this part of the mountains.

ash.jpg
Ash

Fall is my favourite season for mountain walking. No bugs. Crisp, clean air. Magical.

cougar-creek.jpg

see all my photos – hiking Cougar Creek, Canmore, Alberta, Canada set

Posted on

Taiwan ridge walk – Bijia Shan

I did some research on hiking in Taiwan earlier this year.

Here’s a trip report on the Pashan blog called Bijia Shan: A Ridge Walk from Maokong to Shiding.

taiwan.jpg
larger version

I particularly liked this photo:

leaches.jpg
He collected about 20 leeches en route.

I’ve only had leeches once on a hike (Sri Lanka), but it was a very interesting experience.

Check the rest of the photos from Robert Scott Kelly – Bijia Shan: A Ridge Walk from Maokong to Shiding

Posted on

trekking the Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda

I would love to have joined in on this 2005 guided trip in the Rwenzori Mountains:

The plan is simple. 6 days total: 3 climbing, 1 day at the top, 2 days to go down. 3 huts. 8 trekkers, 15 porters, 2 cooks and 2 guards.

media_file_17464.jpg

The second hut marks the end of rivers. At 3500 meters, we are above the evening clouds. …

media_file_17452.jpg

… surrounded by three park guards and our two cooks.

media_file_17447.jpg

see the rest of the photos posted by Canadian Kim Gjerstad now living in Uganda.

Easier, perhaps, though you still need armed guards, would be trekking the Central Circuit:

The main trail, known as the Central Circuit, can be completed in about 4-10 days, depending on the itinerary one chooses. …

rwenzori.jpg

Renzori.com hiking