Category: long hikes

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Cicerone – The Pacific Crest Trail

1st edition (November 14, 2010) by Brian Johnson aka Ancient Brit.

Crow recommends a new guidebook to the 2700-mile Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, Mexico to Canada …

Amazon

Brian is an inveterate walker, having completed the PCT three times, backpacked round the coast of Britain, hiked from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean across the Pyrenees and also completed all the Scottish Munros in a single summer. A retired physics and sports teacher, he is also a keen cyclist and canoeist and has led groups climbing and hiking in Britain, the Alps, the Pyrenees and California. This is his first guide for Cicerone.

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Samuel H Gardner All-out

Sam set out in January on a 12,500mi proposed route he called the “All-In Trek”.

Many were dubious he’d be able to complete such an ambitious project without much previous experience.

He even suffered scorn and abuse on White Blaze.

On March 6th, day 64:

Today I made a very hard decision. I have chosen to leave the trail to seek medical care.

He’s currently documenting his recovery and formulating a plan.

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Appalachian Trail a Green Tunnel

Of the major thru hikes, the AT is least interesting to me. I don’t like being tree trapped.

A six month journey along the 2,200 mile long Appalachian Trail, condensed and reinterpreted into five minutes of stop-motion.

A full quality version is available for purchase on DVD. Go to smtgltd.bigcartel.com​ and look for it on Stephen Vitiello: Soundtracks.

Green Tunnel from Kevin Gallagher on Vimeo.

I’ve not heard any complaints, however, from anyone who’s done the A.T.

(via The Goat)

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remind me never to hike with Skurka

Andrew Skurka is the world’s greatest hiker, famed already for his 6,875mi Great Western Loop.

That was nothing compared to his most recent achievement.

The Adventure Blog:

…his 4679 mile (7530km) Alaska-Yukon Expedition set a new standard for all others to follow.

The route passed through some of the most remote places in the U.S. and Canada, crossing eight national parks and several mountain ranges in the process. As is typical, Andrew went alone and spent 176 days on the trail hiking, skiing, and rafting his way through the unforgiving wilderness.

Now, his full story is finally being told in the pages of National Geographic Magazine, which will feature Skruka’s adventure in the March issue that will be hitting newsstands soon. …

It was harsh.

Nat Geo already has the article online – Alaska Yukon Trek

more photos

Check the cool interactive map.

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first person to hike the PCT?

The Pacific Crest Trail … follows the highest portion of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range, which parallel the Pacific Ocean by 100 to 150 miles (160 to 240 km). The Pacific Crest Trail is 2,650 miles (4,260 km) long …

In 1970, Eric Ryback, a 17-year-old student, was credited as the first thru-hiker on the trail and his 1971 book The High Adventure of Eric Ryback: Canada to Mexico on Foot focused public attention on the PCT.

Wilderness Press, publisher of guide books “The Pacific Crest Trail: Volume One and Volume Two”, raised in those books specific doubts about Ryback’s claim and produced evidence that he accepted rides for some of the journey. Ryback and Chronicle Publishers sued Wilderness Press but the suits were dropped in 1974.

The first person confirmed to have thru-hiked the entire PCT, as well as the first person to hike from south to north, was Richard Watson, who completed the trail on September 1, 1972.

The first woman was Mary Carstens, who completed the journey later in 1972 …

Eric’s book is sadly out of print.

(via Hiking Lady)

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Via Alpina trek 111 days

Do you know the Via Alpina?

After decades of hiking some of the world’s great trails, über-adventurer Brandon Wilson heard about the Via Alpina, paths running the length of the Alps across eight countries. Besides offering immersion into Alpine life and wilderness, it’d be the ultimate physical challenge. It meant climbing nearly 700,000 feet from valley to peak—over 111 days and more than 1200 miles.

Intrigued, he imagined it was a sort-of European Appalachian Trail, only with better wine.

Brandon and his wife in 2009 did 111 days across 8 countries.

Their adventures are chronicled in a new book, Over the Top & Back Again: Hiking X the Alps.

Sounds GREAT.

Read some review excerpts.

Why have I not heard of this author?

Backpacking Light has a new review with terrific photos – Via Alpina: Not Another Walk in the Woods

Brandon’s the award winning author of Along the Templar Trail. I’m adding both to my TO READ list.

Check out his website for photos and info.

UPDATE: “Over the Top & Back Again: Hiking X the Alps” received the 2010 Book of the Year Bronze Award (travel essay category) from ForeWord Reviews at the American Library Association conference in New Orleans.

For everyone who has gone digital, it has also just been released on Amazon Kindle (lighter to pack that way!).

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walking 12,500mi across the U.S.

Sam’s goal:

click for larger version

… 25-year-old Samuel Gardner will embark on a journey, starting the New Year off with a resolution unlike any other. On January 1st, Gardner will begin hiking westward from New York on the North Country trail–starting his more than 12,500-mile journey that will take him, solo, by foot, across the four longest walking paths in the United States.

This epic hike is called the All-In Trek, and, according to Gardner, it’s never been done before in this manner. He plans to do it entirely unassisted, and to hike each trail end-to-end and back-to-back. The route will take him through three mountain ranges and one desert, from the east coast to the west. Gardner hopes to finish his goal in one year’s time but his ultimate goal is to finish it all in one continuous trek. …

WEND

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superwoman Jennifer Pharr Davis

I’m just browsing articles on this six foot tall thru hiker.

Seems to me she must be the #1 female hiker in the world.

2005 – Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike

2006 – Kilimanjaro Summit, Africa

2006 – Pacific Crest Trail Thru-Hike and Fundraiser ($10,000)

2007 – Hike for Habitat Fundraiser ($10,000)

2007 – Machu Picchu and Cotahuasi Canyon, Peru

2007 – Unsupported Long Trail Record (7 days, 15 hours)

2008 – Unsupported Bibbulmun Track Record, Australia

2008 – Supported Appalachian Trail Record (57 days and 8 hours – an average of 38 miles per day.)

2009 – Colorado Trail

2010 – Foothills Trail, GR20, Tour du Mont Blanc, Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, West Highland Way

Jennifer has hiked over 9,000 miles of Long Distance Trails. She has trekked on 6 continents and currently holds endurance records on The Appalachian Trail, Long Trail and Bibbulmun Track.

about

The link I most enjoyed features a number of articles written by her – Girl Gone [Into The] Wild

She sets speed records when possible in order to get back to her hubby as quickly as possible.

She’s just published her first book – Becoming Odyssa: Epic Adventures on the Appalachian Trail

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HIKING – Samuel H Gardner the next Skurka?

Andew Skurka is the most accomplished “hiker” of all time.

Andrew’s 6,875-mile Great Western Loop ranks as the #1 thru hike of all time, in my books.

He’s currently doing Alaska / Yukon, 4,700 miles in 7 months via skis, foot, and a packraft.

… Now unknown Samuel H Gardner is setting out in January on a 12,500mi proposed route he calls the “All-In Trek”.

… end-to-end and back-to-back the four longest trails in the U.S. This involves starting the trek on snowshoes on January 1st on the North Country Trail Westbound, then the Pacific Crest Trail Northbound, then the Continental Divide Trail Southbound and finally hiking the Appalachian Trail Southbound. It is my intention to hike the 12,500+ miles continuously in one trip. It is my goal is to finish in one calendar year. However, the four trails have never been hiked back-to-back before so the “journey” is more important to me then the speed record. Simply, I intend on walking quickly to avoid most of the deep snow in the mountains. …

Ambitious, or what?

I’m not sure even Skurka would attempt it.

That comes from an excellent interview on CheapTents.com.

Gardner’s official website is called – the INITIATIVE

(via The Adventure Blog)

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decided – I’ll thru hike Continental Divide Trail, Colorado

by site editor Rick McCharles

I’ve done enough investigation this summer.

My first thru hike will be this:

… The CDT passes through many of the highest and wildest mountain regions of Colorado, such as the San Juan Mountains and the Sawatch Range. …

It is concurrent with the Colorado Trail for approximately 200 miles. The Continental Divide itself in Colorado meanders some 650 miles. There are many stretches of the Continental Divide in Colorado that have no distinct marked or named trail. …

Continental Divide Trail, Colorado

All I need now is TIME one summer. And a solar powered, satellite blogging device.

Advice?

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