health & safety – Page 83

January 24, 2008

hiking the Canadian Rockies in October

Any guidebook will tell you yer crazy to consider hiking the Rockies in “winter”. Too dangerous.

Of course that’s nonsense. Tough Canadians ski, snowshoe and even hike year round.

For example, from Ewen on the Outdoor Video magazine site:

Length: Approx 23km
Time: 2 Days
Elevation Gain: 900m total (excluding sidetrip)
Max Elevation: 2330m, (2500m side trip up Saddleback Mt)
Rating: 7/10, some tedious spots though it was overcast and cloudy
Done: End of October 2007
Book: Classic Hikes in the Canadian Rockies, Graeme Pole

Route: From Lake Louise Chateau over Saddleback Pass, into Paradise Valley, up Paradise Valley via river bottom (lower trail), return via Lake Annette and Paradise Valley Junction.

Towards the end of October 2007, UAOC (University of Alberta Outdoors Club) headed to the Lake Louise area of Banff National Park for a late-season two-day backpacking trip. The target: Paradise Valley.

…

We finished off the drive along the Icefields Parkway and registered at the Park Office in Lake Louise. Then, after a quick drive to the trailhead at Lake Louise Chateau, we were ready to get going (you can start from Morraine Lake in summer, but the Morraine Lake road is closed to cars in autumn, winter and spring). Having assessed snow conditions, we decided to leave the snowshoes at the carâ€¦a good choice seeing as we barely had to hike through any snow at all! Yet at the same elevation on the Skyline a few weeks before, we had several feet.

There’s something about Ewen’s trip reports I like. They are succinct, honest and entertaining all at the same time.

January 21, 2008

which ultralight hiking pack?

Do I deserve a new hiking pack? Lighter than my Granite Gear Virga (photo).

Yes. Because I’m worth it.

But which?

The G6 Whisper Ultralight Backpack was designed in response to Ryan Jordan’s desire for a freakishly light, subcompact, overnight pack. The G6 Whisper Ultralight Backpack is a cornerstone of Ryan’s Super-UltraLight Backpacking (overnight backpacking with less than five pounds of gear) strategy. …

The G6 Whisper, at only 3.7 ounces (99 g), is the lightest commercially-available rucksack with enough volume for overnight backpacking by the accomplished ultralight backpacker. With more than 1800 cubic inches (30L) of main packbag capacity, an expandable rear pocket, and a short extension collar, the G6 Whisper Ultralight Backpack provides enough volume for virtually any serious ultralighter out for two or three days, and enough volume for the extraordinarily disciplined ultralight hiker with a very low equipment kit volume to spend several days to a week in the backcountry. …

NO WARRANTY WHATSOEVER IS PROVIDED FOR THIS PRODUCT

Gossamer Gear G6 Whisper “Uberlite” Backpack @ Backpacking Light

What about the GoLite Ion?

The epitome of ultra-lite simplicity, the Ion was designed for ultra-lite fast-packing, summit bids, and adventure travel. Constructed of super durable DyneemaÂ® gridstop fabric and a single watertight zipper at the opening, this top-loader features spacer mesh shoulder straps for comfort, an adjustable sternum strap and webbing hip belt, a hydration tube opening and a haul loop. Extremely compact and a true minimalist piece, the Ion is a featherweight 9 ounces!

GoLite Product Detail

As the Crow Flies linked to home made gear by Samurai Joe Valesko. He uses cuben fiber.

Joe Says:

“I carried a single Blast 26 backpack my entire PCT thru-hike (2,663 miles). I carried a base weight of around 5 lbs (gear list), and generally 12-20 lbs with full food and water.

At one point I carried 35 lbs for an 11 day stretch without re-supply through the High Sierras of California. My shoulders weren’t happy about that much weight, but the pack took it like a champ! (Under 20 lbs is a more comfortable weight with frameless packs)

By the end of the five month trip the pack was quite a bit frayed, but still in very usable condition. Not bad for a 3.5 ounce backpack!”

Zpacks.com Ultralight Backpacking Gear

That water bottle side pocket is excessive, don’t you think? Could shave some grams there, Joe.

(Incidentally, Kraig, I recall pooh poohing your suggestion to use an air mattress as the frame of a backpack. But now I do it all the time with my Virga.)

Leave a comment if you have other recommendations. Thanks!

January 19, 2008

bears in Europe?

And moose?

Where have I been hiking all my life?

From Laplandica.com:

I followed the incident with my binoculars. The bear was getting closer and closer as they both came downhill and closer to the river bank and brush across from me. As the moose entered into the brush, the bear was right behind her. The brush slowed the moose down giving the bear the advantage of the situation. And, more suddenly than one would expect, I watched the bear jump up from behind onto the moose and, holding hard onto her back loins with his paws and claws, tackled and dragged the moose down into the bushes. Both disappeared.

I saw a lot of rustling in the bushes, but everything went very quickly and soon these stopped moving. For a long time I sat there and waited, watching for any movement, but there was none. As I watched, I realized how swiftly the chase, and then the kill, happened. I was awed with how fast the bear could run and the strength and power he had when pulling the moose down to kill it. And, to have sat there alone and be a witness to the whole event was something I felt almost blessed with. …

Laplandica Â» Unexpected things can happen in Laponiaâ€¦

Ah, of course. In the NORTH. That’s real wilderness.

Next, in a flash of Google magic, Philip Bethge’s article appeared on the reintroduction of bears to the Alps:

The brown bear is returning to the mountains of Central Europe, thanks to resettlement projects in Italy, Austria and France. Biologists celebrate the animals’ return as a success in endangered species protection. But the general population has mixed feelings about welcoming back the predator.

Brown Bears in the Alps: The Great Bear Comeback – SPIEGEL ONLINE

They have a long way to go …

Brown bears were once found throughout Europe and even inhabited the British Isles until the 10th century (Curry Lindahl 1972, Servheen 1990). Populations in Europe have been severely reduced and habitat has been fragmented by human modification.

GrizzlyBear.org

January 17, 2008

guided hikes in Israel

Israel Hiking offers guided walks “stressing landscapes, nature and historic sites.”

Sounds like a great way to visit the Holy Land.

… Israel is not a big country, but the range of landscapes is diverse. You can experience steep mountains, the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee, the Judean Desert, the Arava and the Negev, and of course, Jerusalem. The stories of the bible and the antiquities from various periods can be seen wherever you go. We will do our utmost to produce a trip filled with experiences that you will talk about long after you return home. …

Our guides are English speakers, who are certified guides and have experience in the regions of the trip. If you are interested in a tour in a language other than English, we will make every effort to find a guide who speaks the language and masters the professional terms so that you will be able to enjoy the trip.

About

I greatly enjoyed hiking in the Sinai and even more so in Jordan. But I’ve never been to Israel myself.

The first trip that jumps out at me is a 7-day section of the much longer Israel National Trail:

From Tel Hay to Meron on the The Israel National Trail crosses Israel from the very north to Eilat through the Countryâ€˜s principal, most beautiful sites. …

The hike ends at the Amoud River as it approaches Lake Kinnereth. From there, we will travel by car to the youth hostel on Lake Kinnereth.

The difficulty level of the hike on the Israel National Trail is medium. …

Full price: 600 Euro. See the map.

Makhtesh Ramon (Ramon Crater) – Wikipedia

Other more difficult treks that appeal are Ramon Crater to the Arava valley and the Eilat Hike from Timnah.

I assume security is not much of an issue when hiking in Israel. But it might be a good idea for a first time visitor to go with experts and learn the ropes.

homepage –hikes and trecks in israel

Leave a message if you know more about hiking in Israel.

January 16, 2008

new danger in the woods: Electric Bear Fence

Does Rocky Thompson make this stuff up?

(This can’t be for real.)

On his blog:

… Try to remember thereâ€™s an electrified fence right outside your tent when you get up in the middle of the night to take a piss. If a can of Bear Spray doesnâ€™t offer the protection youâ€™re looking for, then you might try lugging some fencing and batteries into the backcountry. The Bear Shock outfit weighs 3.7 pounds with batteries, and stretches around a 30 x 30ft area.

The website claims the batteries will last five weeks and blast someone with 6000 volts of electricity if touched. I say â€œsomeoneâ€ and not â€œsome bearâ€ since itâ€™s much more likely youâ€™ll walk into it than anything else.

Backcountry.com: The Goat Â» Blog Archive Â» Portable Electric Bear Fence to Encircle Your Campsite

more photos – Bear Shock

January 16, 2008

Prevent Ankle Sprains on the Trail

My chronic ankle sprain has not hindered in years, but I’m considering specific trail running shoes in future.

From the Sierra Trading Post blog:

An Ounce (or Two) of Prevention

So hereâ€™s the damage control. If you have a weak or dysfunctional ankle, you can reduce the likelihood of injury, and re-injury, by taping, bracing, stretching and strengthening the joint in question. If youâ€™re planning on taping your ankles, see a physical therapist or an athletic trainer who can show you how.

Ankle braces are easily found in your local drug store and can effectively fortify vulnerable joints.

Another ankle-saving consideration is in selecting the proper shoes. Jason McGrath, USATF Level 2 Track Coach, decorated ultra trail runner, and shoe expert suggests trail-specific shoes that are neutral and low to the ground. Most running shoes suitable for pavement are well cushioned; however, a thick midsole means that your feet are farther from the ground, causing less stability and increasing the probability of rolling an ankle. McGrath also warns strongly wearing â€œstabilityâ€ shoes, common on the road-shoe market. These shoes contain medial posting, or a separate material lining the instep that prevents overpronation of the foot. When running on uneven terrain these shoes place more stress on the physiologically weaker lateral (outside) portion of the ankle, making it more likely to roll. In the meantime, you will also want to add ankle strength and flexibility exercises to your workout regimen.

Trailrunner Mag: Prevent Ankle Sprains on the Trail

January 9, 2008

best hikes – The Gear Junkie

Another (older) “best hike” list posted by nationally-syndicated newspaper columnist Stephen Regenold, The Gear Junkie:

BK: What are your five favorite camping or hiking places in the U.S. or Canada? And why?

SR:
1. Minnesotaâ€™s North Shoreâ€”Lake Superior views, quiet old mossy forests. My homeland!

2. Big Sur, Calif.â€”Giant redwoods, rushing rivers, waterfalls, fog, ferns, ocean. . .

3. Red Rock Canyon, Nevadaâ€”Otherworldly sandstone valleys and mountains 25 minutes from the Vegas Strip

4. Black Hills, South Dakotaâ€”Granite spires, deep piney forests

5. Central Coloradoâ€”This countryâ€™s version of the Swiss Alps, especially in springtime

And a bonus question:

BK: Letâ€™s take water. What is your opinion on all the different ways to treat waterborne parasites and bacteria. Whatâ€™s your ultimate recommendation?

SR: I use iodine and other chemical tablets. Have never had a parasite or an incident, though most of the places I go are pretty pristine. On the Primal Quest, however, we had to filter the silt out of river water with one of my teammatesâ€™ (Roy Wallackâ€™s) underwear!

Q-and-A with The Gear Junkie :: The Daily Dose :: The Gear Junkie

(via The Adventure Blog)

January 8, 2008

trek Akshayuk Pass, Baffin Island

The Adventure Addict posted a great series of annotated photos of their trek south to the Arctic Circle.

Wow! I’ve never hiked that far North. (If only I could afford to fly to Pangnirtung. And on to Qikiqtarjuaq.)

You can’t really see from the pic, but the vertical part of the face is actually overhanging at 105Â°. This mountain has the longest vertical uninterrupted face on Earth, and is a mecca for climbers and B.A.S.E. jumpers. The vertical part is 1250m tall — yes, that’s 1.25 KILOMETRES tall. …

Thor Peak – flickr

Auyuittuq National Park, Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada. 6 intrepid/crazy hikers go for a 9 day hike in a remote, mountainous landscape in the Canadian arctic.

Akshayuk Pass hike, Auyuittuq National Park, Canada – a photoset on Flickr

Breadablik and Thor

Interested? Check an even better trip report with photos by Nestor and Lewycky.

More information:

Baffin Island. The Akshayuk Pass, formerly known as Pangnirtung Pass, is an extraordinary 100-km trek through a land recently vacated by glaciers – though they line the edges of the valley and send fingers of ice creeping into the edges of it. Mountains over 2000 metres high line a route through the finest scenery in North America. In 2004 Outside Magazine voted the Auyuittuq Backpacking trip one of the top “Trips Of A Lifetime”.

source

Friends are looking at Akshayuk for the summer of 2009. Leave a comment if you have deep pockets and might be interested in joining us. If bears scare you, we’ll need a gun. A bigger concern, actually, is drowning or death by hypothermia after river crossings.

Obviously Akshayuk is included on our list of the best hikes in North America.

January 7, 2008

climb Kala Patthar – see Mt Everest

Matsamuel posted an excellent trip report of his trek to Everest â€” actually to the summit of Kala Patthar near Everest. Ideal reading for anyone considering that trip.

Unfortunately he posted it on the ~~confusing~~ cluttered Travelpod website. (Actually, that site is very functional.)

Best starting point on Travelpod is his table of contents.

Or jump directly to the highlight of the trek â€” Everest Trek Day 10, Loboche to Kala Patthar:

… I have to admit I was a bit worried about climbing Kala Patthar. Yesterday, as we were trekking to Loboche, Noori pointed at a mountain in the distance and simply stated “Kala Patthar”. …. That’s Kala Patthar?! How the heck were we going to climb that? It looks sheer on all sides and the fact that the top is covered in a layer of ice is not easing my mind. We don’t have any equipment to make that sort of technical climb let alone the know-how or the guts.

photo source

… the top of Kala Patthar was in view and it was close. It was a real scramble across rocks upon nearing the summit but finally I had made it. I turned around to see Everest under a perfect sky. After 10 days of trekking I had made it to the top of Kala Patthar and was gazing at what is arguably the best ground view of Everest possible. That was my reward. It is just a magnificent mountain to look at. Stark black with hardly much snow with its classic triangular shape. It truly is a natural wonder. I could have stayed up there all day if it was for the fact that I was truly freezing my ass off. …

photo source

…Everest, the king of all mountains, right in front of me. I was hard to believe that I was seeing all this live and with my own eyes.

Everest Trek Day 10: Loboche to Kala Patthar – trip report

His trekking partner Mazen was sticken with severe altitude sickness and did not try for this summit. They descended as quickly as possible.

Stories like this make me want to trek at lower elevations. The heavily glaciated peaks of New Zealand or Patagonia, for example, which have almost no risk of altitude sickness.

Kala Patthar – 5545m (18,192ft) – Wikipedia

January 2, 2008

off-road motor vehicles vs hikers in Utah

I spent 2wks last year hiking out of Moab, Utah. Then got grief after criticizing the ethos of the “adventure destination” in this post: Moab, Utah – living a lie?

Comments like this offended:

Moab reminds me more of Mad Max than a desert oasis.

That town is a hub and a flash point for the off-road vehicle debate.
Two rangers are charged with policing 1.8 million acres of Utah wilderness. How well is that working, do you think?

This issue has finally hit the popular media. Most importantly in a series of New York Times articles including this one: Surge in Off-Roading Stirs Dust and Debate in West

Now in an accompanying video. Click here to watch it.

Personally, I vote to confine motor vehicles to the smallest geographic area possible. And to restrict jeeps and Hummers foremost as they cause far more damage than, by comparison, snowmobiles.

AND I would start in Moab, Utah. That town has it’s priorities wrong. It’s time to force the issue.

(via GOAT)