Category: snow and ice

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Tramway Trail, Albuquerque

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

I took the Sandia Peak Tramway trip on one of the snowiest days of the year.

It’s one of the top tourist attractions in New Mexico.

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I first tried hiking to the top. Planning to ride down on the Cable Car. That would have been GREAT.

The La Luz Trail (Trail 137) … on the west face of the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The trail begins at the La Luz Trailhead and proceeds approximately eight miles to either Sandia Crest or the Sandia Peak Tramway. The hike is strenuous, with 3,775 ft (1,151 m) of elevation gain and a grade of 12%. …

click for larger map
click for larger map

I started at the Tramway parking lot on the Tramway Trail (82). Planning to connect to the La Luz.

Tramway Trail, Albuquerque

It’s a pretty traverse above lovely residential homes.

Tramway Trail, Albuquerque

I’d heard a foot of snow had fallen up top. It did not look good for me getting up there.

Tramway Trail, Albuquerque Tramway Trail, Albuquerque

I – happily – backtracked to my vehicle.

Tramway Trail, Albuquerque

At one point I stumbled off trail. Easy to do in the desert. While scrambling an arroyo to regain the trail I kicked a cactus and drove a spine into my foot.

Lesson learned = STAY on the trail in the desert.

The main reason to go to Albuquerque are the 200 miles of Sandia hiking trails many of which are off limits to mountain bikes.

We’ve added the La Luz Trail to our list of best hikes in North America.

 

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trouble climbing Mt Adams

Veteran climbing guide Dave Adlard led some new mountaineers on a climb of Mt Adams, Washington.

Thousands climb it every year.

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The weather went bad.

“If you haven’t figured it out already we’re not going up. We need to get the hell off this mountain alive.” as our guide and friend, David Adlard, said to us at six in morning.

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Read the entertaining trip report on Mtn Talk – Mt. Adams: Get Down Alive

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Nepal – Dhaulagiri Circuit guided

This is a challenging trek around Dhaulagiri the world’s seventh highest mountain crossing two Himalayan passes. …

There is an option to climb Dhampus Peak at an altitude of 6,060m for those with previous mountaineering experience. If you like to climb Dhampus Peak there is an extra charge to cover the cost of the climbing permit.

The Mountain Company has organised eight successful treks around Dhaulagiri Circuit since Spring 2008 …

The Mountain Company

Cost about $150 / day for 20 days out of Kathmandu = US$2,895. Budget flights to and from Kathmandu plus extras.

Click PLAY or watch highlights of a 2013 Circuit on YouTube.

MountainIQ has independent information on this trip.

Compare Dhaulagiri to the rest of our best hikes in Nepal, many of which you can do independently for far less cost.

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Makalu Base Camp trek

by site editor Rick McCharles 

As I’ve done most of the easily accessible major hikes in Nepal next time I’m planning on Makalu. Cost most likely between $3000 – $4000. I’m hoping to do it for less with one Guide and carrying my own pack.

Sathya did it independently in 2012.

Mountain IQ has a good overview.

Though not visited by many hikers each year, there are some tea houses available now.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube. Two feet of snow on day 8 en route to Base Camp.

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trekking the Huemul Circuit, Argentina

Steve Hänsch:

El Chaltén is the trekking capital of Argentina and I spent more than 2 weeks there to do exactly that: hiking.

The Huemul circuit in El Chaltén is a lesser known route for experienced hikers and absolutely worth the efforts as you are able to experience real adventures and see massive ice fields and panoramic views that will blow your mind! …

Trekking the Huemul circuit in El Chalten, Argentina

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

related – 2 Drifting Coconuts – Huemul Circuit: Our Best Trek in South America

We’ve added this adventure to our list of Best Hikes in South America.

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5 weeks hiking, paddling Greenland solo

Willem Vandoorne has done a number of the world’s most difficult long hikes. He’s just back from Greenland.

… which was without any doubt the most beautiful I have ever made and which has impressed and touched me deeply. The feeling which I had during those weeks in the wilderness is hard to explain. As I struggled through boulderfields and moraine, watched the sun set from mountain with views unknown to human gaze, and slalommed along countless muskoxen, I no longer felt like a spectator of any kind in this vast wilderness, but was an integral part of it, obeying to the same rules and laws of nature as any animal out there.

My trip was blessed with sensational weather conditions – during the first 4 weeks of the trip I had only a few overcast days with some rain and a few mornings with sea fog – all the rest was just blue skies and warm temperatures. I hiked over 80% of the distance in t-shirt …

BACK FROM GREENLAND

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