Category: snow and ice

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Annapurna out, Everest in

by site editor Rick McCharles

For years the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal has been one of our top 10 hikes in the world. I loved my own trip there in the 1990s.

But, year after year, road building has degraded the experience.

Here’s one of Andrew Ostrowski’s photos from the ‘Circuit’ …

We’ve replaced Annapurna on the top 10 with …

Everest Base Camp / 3 Passes

There’s NO shortage of information on how to hike to Everest Base Camp (5,320m / 17,450ft) in Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal.

But the best route is fairly new, via three high passes:

Kongma La (5,535m)
Cho La (5,380m)
Renjo La (5,388m)

You can do one, two or three of those.

If 3 Passes are not challenging enough, you can opt to side-trip 3 trekking peaks:

Gokyo Ri (5,483m) … similar vista to Renjo La
Kala Pattar (5,545m)
Chukkung Ri (5,550m)

Pokalde Peak 5806m (19,048ft) is an option, too. But requires a Climbing permit as does the much more popular Island Peak 6,189 m (20,305 ft).

The sacred Gokyo Lakes is a superb side-trip. Don’t miss it.

everest-3-passes-mapdetails – Everest Base Camp / 3 Passes

The focus of that page is the difficult 3 Passes route. For independent trekkers.

Pokhalde Base Camp on the Kongma La 5535m

related – our updated top 10 best hikes list.

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Race me to the Pole

Here’s a twist to the charity Adventure theme:

In April 2013, Gavin Bate will be trekking 550km from Resolute Bay in Canada to the Magnetic North Pole.

You can race him to the pole by donating to the charity Moving Mountains Trust.

Every £1 you donate equates to 25 metres of progress by Team MM! The target is £22,000. The aim is to beat Gavin to the Pole!

map

Gavin’s the real deal.

He’s already climbed the Seven Summits. And is planning for the ‘Explorers Grand Slam’.

The 7 — and both Poles. 🙂

details on the official website – racemetothepole.com

Thanks Hannah.

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rest in peace Mark and Rob

Lifelong friends, Rob and Mark Glaser, were killed in an avalanche on Saturday, January 15, 2011 in the area of Burstall Pass, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country, Alberta.

The families of Mark and Rob Glaser are in deep shock at the news of their tragic passing. Both were loving husbands and fathers and will be greatly missed by their families and legions of friends. Both were seasoned back country hikers and skiers who shared a deep passion for the outdoors.

Mark lived in Calgary and was in the oil and gas industry for over 25 years including senior management positions in recent years. Rob lived in Bragg Creek and was a captain in the Calgary Fire Department.

Mark Glaser

Rob was a firefighter, expert in all things backcountry. They had left their avalanche beacons in the car making family speculate that this ski was intended to be simply a short warm-up.

Saskatchewan Glacier

Over 30 years (1978–2007), avalanches have been responsible for 329 deaths in Canada, with a recent rate of 14 deaths per year. …

Avalanche accounts for over 90% of outdoor recreation deaths, most of those in Alberta or B.C.

Be careful out there.

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cycling to the South Pole

Polar adventurer Eric Larsen next month will saddle up on the snow and pedal south. Way south. The goal of his solo expedition, which starts in December, is the geographic South Pole and a world record as the first man to do the trip on two wheels.

New gear in the world of bikes, namely fat tires and the frames to support them, allow riders to make tracks easier on snow. Larsen picked the Surly Moonlander bike, which has 5-inch-wide tires and can haul copious gear on racks and panniers. …

Man prepares to Ride special ‘Fat Bike’ to South Pole

Click PLAY or check the bike on YouTube

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Dientes Circuit trip report

Sebastian Irazuzta via email:

… In 2010 I was inspired by the trek you have posted on Navarino Island in the South of Chile. After some research my wife and I decided to take our Canadian winter vacation to Southern Chile and Argentina and see the wilderness of Navarino Island for ourselves. I have posted a short description along with some photos and videos of this trip on Everytrail. …

That’s an interactive map. Click on the image to see it.

I should mention that the weather was sometimes amazingly harsh.

Despite this, I think it was one of the nicest wilderness treks I have
done. I think you may find this post interesting in that I have
uploaded my GPS tracks for the entire trail. This is something I wish
I had had when I was on the trail myself as some sections were
difficult to navigate by map alone due to bad weather.

Thanks Sebastian!

Check out Dientes information page.

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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 …

about

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)

_____

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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hiking Canfield, Coeur d’Alene

Trip report by site editor Rick McCharles.

Mary prepared a lovely dinner for Derek and myself.

Some of us drank a little too much wine. Those who didn’t headed — next morning — up to Coeur d’Alene Idaho’s most popular local hiking area, Mt Canfield.

A gorgeous winter day, we were surprised not to see any other hikers. Nor even dog walkers.

Did they ALL drink too much wine the previous evening?

more photos

Thanks Mary. 🙂