#8 – Everest Base Camp / 3 Passes, Nepal

Everest Base Camp via 3 Passes is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

Why?

Of dozens of fantastic treks in Nepal, the 3 Passes route is best of the best.

October to November best months
beginning of March to mid-May next best
16-18 days minimum for 3 Passes. 21 days would allow for rest / illness / sidetrip / and other unanticipated delays.
if you don’t have time, it’s recommended 14 days just to get to Base Camp and back safely.
wonderful photographic opportunities
it’s fun to leave the main trails, take to the paths less traveled
very little gear is needed
you can easily get pack weight down to 10kg (22lbs)
walk with no tent, stove or food. Stay in lodges, eat in simple restaurants. Books are often available for rest days.
safe and easy to hike solo
no need to speak Nepali, only English
food is good and quite safe (compared with Kathmandu)
Everest is the goal. But our favourite peak is Ama Dablam, much more visible en route.

World → Asia → Nepal → Everest Base Camp

Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute preview on YouTube.

For details click over to our EVEREST BASE CAMP / 3 PASSES information page.

April 28, 2022

Winter Hiking #FAIL

Sundance Canyon is a popular, easy day hike directly out of Banff townsite in the Canadian Rockies.

On a lovely Spring day in April I set off to enjoy the afternoon.

Some of the approach is along the lovely Bow River.

Everyone stops en route at the (now closed) Cave and Basin National Historic Site. And nearby boardwalk trails down to the river.

I popped into 3 Mile Cabin.

My #FAIL came when I reached Sundance Canyon itself. I’d forgotten to bring my Yaktrax® up to the mountains. They were essential this day. 😀

I was forced to quit.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

April 11, 2022April 8, 2022

Tramping to Mueller Hut, New Zealand. In Winter.

This is Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

March 21, 2022February 26, 2022

VIDEO – how to “hike” Aconcagua

You don’t HAVE to climb the highest mountain outside Asia. Instead, you can HIKE to Base Camp without a guide.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

My 2018 trip report.
Our information page is a starting point for those who might want to plan their own Aconcagua adventure in future.

March 2, 2022February 5, 2022

#4 – Ausangate Circuit, Peru

Ausangate (or Auzangate) is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

Why?

Our favourite multi-day tramp in our favourite hiking region of the world — glorious New Zealand. 😎

circle sacred Ausangate massif (6372m, 20,905ft), the highest peak in southern Peru
4 high passes between 4757m – 5165m!
70km (43.5mi) plus sidetrips
almost everyone does Ausangate with a guide, but it’s quite doable independently if you are acclimated
many options to extend this trek
best months are the May-September dry season
Tinqui is ~~5-8 hours~~ now only about 3.5hrs by bus on a new road, about 100km S.E. of Cusco
sidetrip to the “rainbow mountains” of Vinicunca

World → South America → Central Andes → Peru → Ausangate

Click PLAY or watch a 1-minute introduction on YouTube.

For details click over to our Ausangate Circuit information page.

March 1, 2022February 22, 2022

500 Days in the Wild

Dianne Whelan is making a film about her solo adventures on the non-motorized Great Trail (the Trans Canada Trail).

From pushing 150-pounds of bike and packs over rocks, to hiking through flooded bogs, paddling the largest lake in the world, snowshoeing through dense coniferous forests, skiing across wind-blown plains, the trail beckons.
Dianne travels the ‘Old Way’, the slow way of the turtle,seeking wisdom from those that live close to the land, asking the questions “what have we forgotten?”
“What do we need to know?”
500daysinthewild.com

Click PLAY or watch a teaser on YouTube.

related – Is it called the Trans Canada Trail … OR Great Trail?

January 13, 2022January 13, 2022

14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible

Kraig Becker followed this project from the beginning on the Adventure Blog.

Kraig said most mountaineers thought it was impossible — but hoped they were wrong.

Kraig noted that Nims didn’t have enough money to see the project through, even after mortgaging his house.

Must Watch

14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible is a 2021 documentary film …
… Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja and his team as they attempt to climb all 14 eight thousander peaks within a record time of under 7 months. (The previous record was over 7 years.) …
Purja was supported by a rotating team of Nepalese climbers, several of whom are introduced in the film, including Mingma David Sherpa, Geljen Sherpa, Lakpa Dendi Sherpa, and Gesman Tamang, however, only Purja would complete the summit of all 14 eight-thousanders …

I liked the film much more than expected.

The video editors did a terrific job putting together something so good from mostly bad GoPro footage.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Nims wife Suchi Purja is a treat.

He’s super talented, of course. Yet irreverent, profane, and funny. A great leader in the face of life and death.

Nims reminds me of a young Mohamad Ali. So confident. So cocky. 😀

Mountaineers might be even more impressed with his later winter summit of K2.

His team consisting of Mingma David Sherpa, Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, Geljen Sherpa, Pem Chiri Sherpa, Dawa Temba Sherpa and himself, joined by the team of Mingma Gyalje Sherpa (Mingma G), Dawa Tenjin Sherpa and Kilu Pemba Sherpa, and Sona Sherpa from Seven Summits Treks.

Nims was the only one to summit without the use of supplemental oxygen.