going squirrely waiting for summer hiking

I cannot recall a winter when I was more looking forward to summer outdoor adventures. We had a freak blizzard in Calgary, Canada yesterday. Sigh …

Boston.com has an excellent photo blog called Big Picture. Here’s a series of pics dedicated to the “Signs of Spring”.

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see all 29 photos

bald eagles in Comox, B.C.

UPDATE: Actually, these photos were taken near Homer, Alaska. That makes much more sense.

My Mom emailed me these pics of an unusual gathering of eagles near my parent’s home town, Parksville, British Colombia.

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I’m not sure what was attracting them together.

But it sure reminds me of scenes in Alaska.

incredible aerial photography

You certainly have seen this famous photo.

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It was published by National Geographic. The photographer is George Steinmetz and the image is called Larger than Life.

Here’s another of his photos.

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They are included in a slide show published on a new blog the adventure life by Steve Casimiro, who is an editor for National Geographic Adventure. (I’ve just subscribed by RSS.)

Details on this post – the adventure life – PHOTOGRAPHY: The Aerial Art of George Steinmetz.

Watch the must see gorgeous slide show here.

(via The Adventure Blog)

View from 7 Highest Peaks

The Sierra Trading Post blog linked to a terrific photo article on the 7 Summit.

Only a select few have conquered the Seven Summits, a grueling challenge that involves climbing the highest peak of every continent. They’ve seen the spectacular mountain-top views firsthand, and now you get a chance to soak in the scenery too as we go on a whirlwind tour of images captured by these exceptional mountaineers. …

But first, an explanation: Because of conflicting continental border definitions, there are actually two lists of the Seven Summits; the first was created by Richard Bass and the second revised by Reinhold Messner shortly after. Without question, six of the seven peaks on each list match, although one is disputed: Bass chose Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m) as the highest peak in Australia whereas Messner decided on the more challenging Carstensz Pyramid (4,884 m) in Indonesia as the top of Australia-New Guinea.

In any case, bravo to the 229 people who have completed all seven on either list …

Aconcagua
Aconcagua
Carstensz Pyramid
Carstensz Pyramid

Click through to see photos of all 8 Seven Summits: Environmental Graffiti – The View from the Seven Highest Peaks on Earth

Rockies hiking pics – Lake O’Hara


Photographer Conny Ellison loves Lake O’Hara in the Canadian Rockies.

We agree it’s the most photogenic hiking area of all, the best place to take first time visitors to the region.

Check out a slideshow to see for yourself.

No doubt about it: Lake O’Hara is our most favourite place (“Happy Place”) on this planet. We have been very fortunate and been able to make a trip here at least once every year since 2002 (getting seats on the bus into O’Hara can be a bit of a hassle). Often there is too much snow on the alpine traverse and we have to “make do” with the Lake Oesa and Opabin trails. The highline is definitely our favourite trail though!

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see the rest of the photos on Pbase – LAKE O’HARA

Our besthike Lake O’Hara information page.

hiking Coyote Buttes in winter


Fantastic photos.

These rock formations are just “wow”

The hike was difficult at times. Not difficult as dangerous, just difficult as in trying to figure out ways of getting up the rocks without sliding and falling. Well, there was a bit of sliding as I mentioned before and yes, there was some falling too. We were not in any danger at any point and time.

… So having done this hike I have to say that this so far is one of the best hikes I’ve ever done. Hardly any people, tons of spectacular jaw dropping scenery – I must have taken over 400 photos during the hike.

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more gorgeous photos and the trip report – excessivelocity – Arizona: Hiking Coyote Buttes in the snow

National Geographic best Park photos


More pretty, pretty pictures.

We’ve found the most beautiful places in the National Park System and located them for you with GPS coordinates. Check out these photos, then send us your best national park shot for the chance to get published and win gear prizes.

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To enter the contest … or, submit your own photos, … or, see the rest of the photos, click through to National Geographic Adventure – Best of the National Parks: The Most Beautiful Places