… having travelled an estimated 74,842 km (46,505 mi). …
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Nimblewill Nomad – all 11 America’s National Scenic Trails
His quest began New Years Day, 1998.
Noon Sunday, September 9, 2012, Nimblewill Nomad reached the summit of Grand Monadnock Mountain, New Hampshire, thus completing his trek o’er the New England National Scenic Trail.
And as to the significance of that day? Well, it marks the successful conclusion of Nimblewill’s quest to hike all eleven of America’s National Scenic Trails. He now becomes the second person, behind Bart Smith, to have documented this accomplishment.
You might recall his hiking books: Ten Million Steps and Where Less the Path is Worn.
National Scenic Trails (18,734mi)
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Arizona National Scenic Trail
Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
Florida National Scenic Trail
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
New England National Scenic Trail
North Country National Scenic Trail
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail
Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
(via gossamergear)
The Way – Randall St. Germain
The Way of St. James … (Spanish: El Camino de Santiago) … is the pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried. …
… existed for over a thousand years. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times, together with Rome and Jerusalem, and a pilgrimage route on which a plenary indulgence could be earned …
.. many pilgrims continue from Santiago de Compostela to the Atlantic coast of Galicia, to finish their journeys at Spain’s westernmost point, Cape Finisterre. …
… pilgrim’s hostels with beds in dormitories dot the common routes, providing overnight accommodation …
Staying at hostels usually cost between five and ten euros per night per bed in a dormitory, although a few hostels … operate on voluntary donations. Pilgrims are usually limited to one night’s accommodation and are expected to leave by eight in the morning to continue their pilgrimage. …
Canadian Randall St. Germain did the 500mi (800km) French Way averaging 26mi (40km) a day.
Camino de Santiago in 20 Days: My Way on the Way of St. James is essential reading for anyone foolish enough to fancy the French Way.
Randall is not a professional writer. Unlike more poetic pilgrimage reports, Randall details the awful weather, dog bites, exhaustion, bed bugs, … 😦
It’s unvarnished.
Randall:
Never to be included on the final list of Pulitzer Prize nominees, or in Oprah’s Book Club, Camino de Santiago in 20 Days is not your granddaddy’s Camino book, either.
I wanted to maintain the integrity of my Camino from St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela. My writing had to be honest and based on events which actually happened. I know some of it may be dry, but I wanted to keep my journey intact and not make up anything, including dialogue. Believe me, if I made sh*t up, this book would be far more entertaining.
Randall carried a tent the entire Way — and never slept in it. Yet he hates the hostels. Hates smokers, snorers and farters. … In fact he’s not all that fond of people.
Randall’s foot problems alone are enough to turn away most pilgrims. Not to mention the lack of toilets.
Still interested? …
Check his website – Camino My Way
Or friend him on Facebook. As you might have guessed, Randall went back to the Camino …
Me? … I’m still leaning towards mountain biking The Way. Inspired and informed by Randall, I’ll be tenting it every night.
Mine was a review copy. Thanks Randall!
The Way – the film
The Way is a 2010 American drama film. It is a collaboration between Martin Sheen and his son Emilio Estevez to honour the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) and promote the traditional pilgrimage. …
Plot
Thomas Avery is an American ophthalmologist who goes to France following the death of his adult son, killed in the Pyrenees during a storm while walking the Camino …
Tom’s purpose is initially to retrieve his son’s body. However, in a combination of grief and homage to his son, Tom decides to walk the ancient spiritual trail where his son died. …
He reluctantly falls in with three other pilgrims …. Joost is an overweight man from Amsterdam who says he is walking the route to lose weight … Sarah … is fleeing an abusive husband, who says she is walking the pilgrimage to quit smoking. Jack is an Irish travel writer who when younger had desires to be great author like Yeats or Joyce but never wrote the novel he dreamed of. …
The film has been well received. It has garnered a “Certified Fresh” rating of 82% on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes …
The consensus description is: “It may be a little too deliberately paced for more impatient viewers, but The Way is a worthy effort from writer/director Emilio Estevez, balancing heartfelt emotion with clear-eyed drama that resists cheap sentiment.”
It is pretty good. I’m still leaning towards mountain biking The Way, however, rather than walking it.
I joined Netflix.ca in order to FINALLY watch this film. 🙂
swim 5700km …
Good luck with that, Dan.
In May 2012, Dan will embark on his biggest journey to date, as he attempts a Global Triathlon – swimming, cycling and running around the world. This will include a grueling 5700km swim, as Dan attempts to become the first man in history to swim the Atlantic. …
How do you swim the Atlantic?
One stroke at a time.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
(via Alister Humphries)
Gear Junkies in Patagonia
What is it like to be truly remote and pushed to your physical and emotional limits in the wilderness?
This video, culled from clips taken by our race team on the go in remote Chile during the 2012 Patagonian Expedition Race, gives a solid glimpse into that question. …
read more – Gear Junkie
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
… the team managed a third-place finish …
… . . Coming into CP17, we were four hours behind the Japanese team, and we decided to gamble on a straight-line bushwhack through a valley in the night with only two hours of tent-less sleep. In the predawn light, just before the glacier pass at CP18, we came upon the Japanese. They were clearly surprised [they had been ahead for a while] and yet they greeted us warmly, forming a line with each one of them shaking each one of our hands, smiling, and saying “Good to see you.” It was surreal. They then shared a look and bolted. [Note: Team Eastwind, from Japan, ended up beating Team GearJunkie/YogaSlackers by about 30 minutes in the 10-day race.] …
(via The Adventure Blog)
John Muir Trail documentary
A preview of a new John Muir Trail documentary from Cirque Productions. This is ideal for anyone considering the adventure, who’s never been there before.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Watch a longer preview on Vimeo. Or watch the entire feature here. ($8)
official website – highsierradoc.com
Hike Guy to Sierras
Kolby, the Hike Guy, is prepping for a June 1st start on a major trek in California:
… my plan is to hike a good portion of the Sierra, from Walker Pass to Twin Lakes, covering more than 400 miles by both trail and unmarked route. I’m estimating that the trek will take me more than 60 days to complete. Speed is not my desire. I hope to take my time to enjoy trees, flowers, and mountains. To “make its acquaintance,” as John Muir put it.
As I’m out there, you are welcome to follow along online. I hope to post updates here as well on Twitter. (@TheHikeGuy).
Gear
I’ve noticed that the more time I have for planning a long-distance hike, the more I think about upgrading my gear. …
related – Colby’s famed “Condor’s PCT Adventure in 3 Minutes” video
Pacific Crest Trail intro
The purpose of this audio slideshow (originally made for The Clymb) is to offer a glimpse into world of thru-hiking and inspire anyone considering a long distance trek to get out there and do it.
Completing the Pacific Crest Trail is an epic and life-changing experience; it can also be taxing and just plain shitty. Success often comes down to mindset and preparation.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
South Pole return on foot
Scott 2012 Expedition:
No one has ever walked from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back again.
In 2012 … Ben (Saunders) and his team mates Alastair Humphreys and Martin Hartley take on arguably the most ambitious polar expedition in the last century: the four-month Scott 2012 – the first return journey to the South Pole on foot, and at 1,800 miles, the longest unsupported polar journey in history …
Last November they spent a week training, and getting to know one another, on the Isle of Skye.
Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.
Good luck team.
(via Alastair Humphreys)
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Alastair just finished rowing across the Atlantic. How did that go?
“If you ever see me anywhere near a boat again, you have my permission to shoot me!” – Sir Steve Redgrave after winning his fourth Olympic gold medal for rowing. Four years later, he won a fifth…
“This is bloody stupid!” – John Fairfax after becoming the first person to row the Atlantic solo. Two years later, he rowed the Pacific…
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