Category: lists

Posted on

Jasper vs Banff: Alberta National Park Showdown

Intrepid Escape:

If there’s one thing Alberta Canada is known for, its the stunning National Parks in the Rocky Mountains, an area surprisingly accessible to the UK and Europe. In one corner of the ring we have Jasper, the smaller town but larger National Park, with over 11,000 square kilometres of intrepid wilderness. And in the other it’s Banff, with 6,600 square kilometres to explore, but rich in history and a larger more vibrant town. Both Jasper and Banff are UNESCO World Heritage sites, but which one is best? …

Jasper vs Banff National Park, Alberta Canada
Jasper vs Banff National Park, Alberta Canada

Jasper-vs-Banff-Intrepid-Escape-3.jpg-nggid03962-ngg0dyn-0x0x100-00f0w010c010r110f110r010t010

Click here to see the winner. 🙂

Hiking wise, I’d say Banff is superior. Scenery is slightly better in Jasper. But access and logistics are superb from Banff townsite. It’s the jumping off point for one of our top 10 hikes in the world – Sunshine to Assiniboine.

Thanks Alison.

Posted on

Top Australian bushwalks

From mountain traverses to sand islands and outback tracks, these are the best long Aussie bushwalks. As chosen by Australian Geographic in 2010.

1. LARAPINTA TRAIL

Larapinta
Larapinta

2. THORSBORNE TRAIL

3. AUSTRALIAN ALPS WALKING TRACK

4. FRASER ISLAND GREAT WALK

5. WILDERNESS COAST WALK (Mallacoota to Wonboyn)

6. OVERLAND TRACK

7. EASTERN ARTHUR RANGE

8. WESTERN ARTHUR RANGE TRAVERSE

9. CAPE TO CAPE TRACK

10. SOUTH COAST TRACK

Posted on

top 10 trekking peaks

We’ve updated our top 10 section. With input from Kraig Becker, of the Adventure Blog. He’s recently back from his second climb of Kili. 🙂

Top-10#1) Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania 5895m
#2) Cotopaxi, Ecuador 5897m <wiki><pb><sp>
#3) Island Peak, Nepal 6189m <wiki><pb><sp>
#4) Mera Peak, Nepal 6476m <wiki><pb><sp>
#5) Stok Kangri, India 6153m <wiki><pb><sp>
#6) Huayna Potosí, Bolivia 6088m <wiki><pb><sp>
#7) Misti Volcano, Peru 5822m
#8) Mt. Toubkal, Morocco 4167m <wiki><pb><sp>
#9) Mt. Rainier, USA 4392m <wiki><pb><sp>
#10) Mont Blanc, France 4810m <wiki><pb><sp>

Aconcágua, Argentina 6,960.8m can be a walk-up. But not many would be willing to call it a trekking peak. 🙂

Trekking peaks are mountains under 7,000 metres (22,970 ft) climbable by anyone with a moderate amount of mountaineering experience and minimal gear.

Others considered for the top 10:

  • Chimborazo, Ecuador 6,268m <wiki><pb><sp>
  • Khüiten Peak, Tavan Bogd, Mongolia 4374m <wiki><sp>
  • Mt. Elbrus, Russia 5642m <wiki><pb><sp>
  • Lhakpa Ri, Tibet 7045m <pb>

Leave a comment if your favourite walk up peak is not listed.

Posted on

South Coast Track, Tasmania

We’ve added an information page for those wanting to organize for the famed South Coast Track in Tasmania, one of our top 10 coastal hikes in the world.

World → Austalasia → Australia → South Coast Track

The South Coast Track is a challenging walk in a region of Tasmania exposed to harsh weather conditions. There are no huts along the track. Track conditions are often difficult. Walkers must be fully self-sufficient, well-equipped and experienced.

New Harbour Lagoon

TasmaniaAT A GLANCE

  • surreal, unique Tasmanian seascapes
  • entirely within Southwest National Park
  • flying in, walking out, the standard route is 82km (51mi)
  • 6-8 days Melaleuca to Cockle Creek
  • best months December to March

tastrails SCT map

South Coast Track information page

Posted on

100 Classic Hikes

36 countries on 6 continents.

Cam Honan:

Listed below are 100 multi-day hikes that I have had the good fortune of doing from 1995 to the present day. In my opinion they are all “great”  or “classic” hikes, however I have refrained from assigning them any type of order other than alphabetical. How can one compare the jaw-dropping grandeur of high alpine regions to the stillness and timeless quality of the desert?

The Hiking Life

Cam

___

editor: I’ve started clicking my way through Cam’s impressive list.

By comparison, I’ve only done about 35 of those, in part or in whole.

Leave a comment if you know of any hiker who’s done MORE of the world’s best hikes?

Posted on

U.S. long-distance hiking trails

Hiking has gone Hollywood with the film adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s bestselling backpacking memoir Wild – and the Pacific Crest Trail is its real star. If the film inspires you, here are 10 trails that explore the stunning US wilderness

Pacific Crest Trail: California, Oregon and Washington, 2,663 miles

John Muir Trail: California, 210 miles

Continental Divide Trail: New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, 3,100 miles

Appalachian Trail: 14 states from Georgia to Maine, 2,185 miles

The Long Trail: Vermont, 272 miles

The Hayduke Trail: Arizona and Utah, 812 miles

The Grand Enchantment Trail: Arizona and New Mexico, 770 miles

The Ozark Highlands Trail: Arkansas, 218 miles

The Ice Age Trail: Wisconsin, 1,200 miles

The Superior Hiking Trail: Minnesota, 296 miles

Guardian – Top 10 long-distance hiking trails in the US

Click through for a brief summary, links and shorter highlights of each.

Grand Enchantment Trail - Photograph: Prisma Bildagentur/Alamy
Grand Enchantment Trail – Photograph: Prisma Bildagentur/Alamy
Posted on

December, January & February hikes

Adventures Within Reach recommends some of the best hikes during each month of the year.

December

Our Top Trek Recommendation: Vietnam Trekking

Runner Up: Mount Meru, Tanzania

January

Our Top Trek Recommendation: Aconcagua, Argentina

Runner Up: Hill Tribes, Thailand

February

Our Top Trek Recommendation: Torres del Paine, Patagonia, Chile
Runner Up: Gorilla Trekking, Rwanda

A Trek For Every Month: Top Hikes Around The World (December, January & February)

Aconcagua
Aconcagua

While it’s possible to hike all the way to the top of Aconcagua, we’d recommend you hike around the great peak instead. 🙂

Posted on

best treks in Nepal

Updated after our November 2014 visit.

NEPAL TOP 10

There are many more great hikes in Nepal! … This list just scratches the surface.

I’m looking at Makalu Base Camp for my next trip. Perhaps November 2015.

Rick farewell Nepal

%d bloggers like this: