Category: health & safety

Posted on

trekking in Afghanistan?

I’d love to get to Afghanistan for hiking.

This article from the Time’s Online says it’s only for the very adventurous at this point:

Afghanistan is bursting with potential as a future tourist destination. Its mountains could rival Nepal as a trekking destination, while Silk Road cities like Herat with their brightly tiled mosques are the match of more celebrated rivals like Samarkand or Isfahan. The jewelled lakes of Band-e Amir are itching to have feet dipped in them. Nomads lead their camel caravans past the broken remains of tanks. The promise is there, and Afghans and travellers alike are just waiting for the right moment to finally return.

…

How to holiday in Afghanistan | Asia – Times Online

Of course the late, great Eric Newby went in dangerous times. One of my favourite hiking books:

A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush

A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush – Amazon

Posted on

Eco – Eco, Eco, Eco, Eco, Eco … EEK

Oct 15 is Blog Action Day. Bloggers are asked to post something to do with the environment…

Bloggers Unite - Blog Action Day

GREEN is GOOD !!!

You see … I learned from TreeHugger.com that putting the word “Eco” in a blog post title brings in the readers. Don’t feel duped. Reading this post shows you care about the environment.

Remember, GREEN is GOOD.

eco-treehugger.gif
screenshot

This blog produced with 100% recycled pixels.

Yes, the ecology is a good cause. Hikers are great advocates for wilderness.

But this is one blogger who has ECO-fatigue.

My latest tirade against branding with the word ECO are the EcoTaxis in Mexico. They drive around, empty, harassing tourists that conspicuously do not want a cab at the moment. A mobile oxymoron.

The real Ecotaxis are in Rome.

Posted on

hiking Skyline Trail, Jasper in OCTOBER

So, the University of Alberta Outdoors Club in Edmonton decided to hike the Skyline Trail in Jasper National Park in the Fall.

That’s crazy, man!

This — our favourite hike in the Canadian Rockies — is difficult enough in August.

Did they survive?

Check the trip report by Ewen on his Outdoor Video Magazine site:

… When I awoke in the morning, I discovered the rain had turned to 4 inches of snow over night, and everything was frozen solid. A temperature somewhere between -5C and -10C coupled with the rain the night before meant people had to resort to licking tent poles to get them to collapse, and I had to spend nearly 10m de-icing the bear hanger before we could get our food down.

…

Outdoor Video Magazine » Hiking the Skyline Trail- Jasper National Park

skyline.jpg

We’ve linked to Ewen’s trip report from our Skyline Trail information page.

Posted on

PCT late season hike – Freezer Bag Cooking

Sarah’s Freezer Bag Cookingâ„¢ | Outdoor Food Simplified site is #1 for hiking food in my opinion.

But Sarah’s a hard core hiker, as well.

Check these photos from her latest trip report:

My friend Steve and I set out to do the section hike of Chinook Pass to White Pass on the PCT here in Washington. We headed southbound on this section. It is roughly a shy 30 miles. …

We left Chinook Pass in a snowstorm, the only vehicle besides us up there was the snow plow.

cwp4.jpg

bumpingriverme.jpg

Would you go out this late in the year?

Snow on the PCT – trip report and more photos

Posted on

hike Half Dome, Yosemite

What are the best day hikes in the world? Certainly you must include:

  • Tongariro Crossing, New Zealand
  • Angel’s Landing, Zion
  • Half Dome, Yosemite

    • may906_077-250x187.jpgRick Deutsch is the author of One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome, our recommended guidebook to one of the most exhilarating hikes anywhere. (See video)

    Rick has a dedicated website as well — hikehalfdome.com — focused on the Half Dome hike and related topics.

    One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome

    Yosemite's Half Dome

    HikeHalfDome.com

    Posted on

    hike and bushwhack the Donjek Route, Yukon

    Owen (the fool with wit) is a big time Canadian hiker.

    His favourite Canuck hike is little known Donjek Glacier in Kluane National Park.

    On a 2005 adventure during high season, Owen was told there were only 10 people in Kluane’s 22000 square kilometers!

    … No signage. No one around but bears, wolves and mountains.

    … creek crossings in frigid conditions. Pure good times.

    Fantastic Donjek photos and video clips are posted on his unique website: eyecsed.com

    donjek.jpg
    eyecsed.com

    After my own Tombstone hike in the Yukon this past summer, the Donjek Route appeals. It’s next on my list.

    The Donjek is almost a loop if you access the trail off the Alaska Highway at Duke River and finish 11km (7mi.) south of where you started at Copper Joe Creek.

    I’ll check these details with Owen:

    The 96-kilometre (60-mi.) advanced wilderness trek requires map and compass abilities and good trail-finding skills. It takes you across rolling open meadows, up and down steep ridges and through deep gullies before arriving at the sprawling glacier mass.


    Distance:100 km (approx.)
    Time:8 -10 days
    Maximum Elevation: (7100′) …

    Note: A route is not a trail. Routes are not marked with signs or maintained in any manner. The route described here is only a suggestion that may help guide you on your trip. It describes only one of many options for hiking to the Donjek Glacier. …

    Overview:

    One of the most popular hikes for wilderness enthusiasts is the Donjek Route. Rising over the vast alpine of the Burwash Uplands and then descending to the toe of the Donjek Glacier, this hike typifies “pristine mountain wilderness“.

    … The route follows creek and river drainage for the most part with some sections along an old road, horse and wildlife trails, and some sections, without any obvious trail at all. Route finding abilities and solid wilderness experience is essential …

    Parks Canada – Kluane National Park and Reserve of Canada – Activities – Hiking – Summary of Trails and Routes – Donjek Route

    If you need more inspiration, Patrick Verheyen also posted photos of his 2003 hike in the region: A walk in Kluane National Park – PBase

    ruth.jpg
    Ruth with her pack – larger original

    UPDATE: Owen recommends Kluane National Park Hiking Guide by Vivien Lougheed. Check the COMMENTS on this post for more of Owen’s advice.

    Kluane National Park Hiking Guide

    On Owen’s recommendation, we’ve added Donjek Glacier to our list of best hikes in North America.

    Posted on

    video – climbing Half Dome, California

    Includes a bear at Little Yosemite campground.

    Description: For some people, it’s the hike of a lifetime. It’s 5000 feet straight up to an unforgettable view of the legendary Yosemite Valley. For the full travelogue on Yosemite Park’s Half Dome Trek, including related videos, interactive map, and useful links, visit WWW.OPENROAD.TV

    Click PLAY or watch it on Travelistic.

    Yosemite’s Half Dome: Everything You Need to Successfully Hike Yosemite’s Most Famous Landmark | National Parks Traveler

    Posted on

    newfangled water purifiers – I am CONFUSED

    I’m fed up with traditional water filters.

    Are any of the too-good-to-be-true innovations worth trying?

    If so, leave a comment below this post.


    MSR Miox Water Purifier with Batteries
    MSR Miox Water Purifier with Batteries – Amazon

    istraw.jpg
    iStraw – official website

    steripen.jpg
    SteriPEN products – official website

    (via Darren Barefoot)

    Posted on

    non-hiker tackles the West Coast Trail

    janet.jpgJanet Wilson, as part of her 50th birthday fitness program, decided to walk our #1 hike in the World.

    She did the research, bought the gear, finished a series of training hikes (adding 5lbs each time), grabbed her husband … and headed for the wild Shipwreck Coast.

    … I suggested to my husband that for my birthday he give me, not some extravagant present or party, but his support and partnership in tackling a big physical goal: hiking the West Coast Trail.

    It was something I had always wanted to do, but now I was not at all sure my aging carcass could withstand the training, let alone reach a point where it could carry a 40 pound pack over rough terrain for 7 days. But I decided to try. I read every book and web account on the trail I could find.

    … we bought all the rest of our gear: the Mutha Hubba tent and footprint, Exped 7 Downmats (a bit heavy, but I knew I needed a great sleep to recover at nights), MontBlanc DownHugger sleeping bags, a SilTarp II for the inevitable rainy days, MSR’s Superfly stove and fuel canisters (3), hiking poles (purchased last and on impulse, but one of the best purchases we made) and a Katadyn Vario MicroFilter …

    See Janet’s entire trip report – WesternWilson – The West Coast Trail, September 2007

    Congratulations. We are proud of you Janet!

    janet2.jpg

    We’ve linked Janet’s trip report to our West Coast Trail information page.

    Posted on

    TracMe Personal Locator Beacon

    UPDATE: Check the comment by Kevin Stoltz. He is very negative on this device:

    … how TERRIBLE this device is as an emergency rescue device. The ONLY positive thing is it’s size. It is a low power radio beacon which means someone else has to initiate the search (whether or not you’re actually in need of help). The TracMe is only useful once rescue parties get close. PLBs on the other hand are activated by the individual in distress and result in a distress signal (including location coordinates) being sent to satellites which in turn are relayed to the appropriate search and rescue organization. PLBs operate at 406MHz and have an extremely low false alarm rate.

    =======

    original post:

    The Hiking Ideas – Wilderness Trailcraft blog is investigating methods of sending for help in case of emergency.

    This is the first device small enough for me to seriously consider:

    tracme.jpgOn Monday I posted a story about the Spot Satellite Messenger device and I got a comment from Kevin Stoltz from PLB Rentals. He helped differentiate the category of PLBs from other messenging devices by saying the PLBs have more transmitting power – therefore they are a better safety device.

    He also mentioned to me to check out another device called TracMe.

    So I did. Here is a shot of the TracMe and here’s what the TracMe website lists as the unique features of their device:

    • Voice beacon – can be monitored by anyone on the existing radio emergency channel.

    • Does not automatically instigate a search and rescue – about 98% of distress alerts detected from inadvertently activated beacons are false.

    • Extremely small and light weight.

    • Low cost – less than half the cost of existing beacons.

    • Very low cost for the Search and Rescue (SAR) crews.

    • A search can be performed with a single aircraft and one ground crew of 2 to 3 people.

    • Will operate continuously for about 7 days – this gives the rescuers ample time to locate the beacon.

    • Single use – once the unit has been activated, it can be deactivated but not reused.

    • Shelf or storage life should be up to 10 years.

    TracMe Personal Locator Beacon

    – Hiking Ideas – Wilderness Trailcraft