recommended survival gear – 2 oz. AeroVestâ„¢

Larry Smith of AeroVestâ„¢ asked me to test their ultralight, air inflated survival vest.

It works exactly as advertised. I highly recommend this product. And it’s very inexpensive at $15.

I tested it in the Tombstone mountains in the Yukon, not far from the Arctic Circle, inflating the vest in the evening and then sleeping in it all night. (This is me the following morning.)

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As you can see, I survived.

AeroVest Survival Vest

The 2 oz. AeroVestâ„¢ is compact, lightweight and inexpensive insurance against emergencies. It packs up smaller than a deck of cards yet inflates into a full sized emergency vest that shields you from wind and rain. The silver lining refects radiated heat back to you while the 18 air pokets insulate you from the cold. …

* 18 air pockets help keep heat in, cold out.
* Your 98.6 degree breath provides instant warmth
* Bright Yellow/Orange exterior for increased visibility in an emergency
* AeroVestâ„¢ comes in a single size that can fit teens and adults up to XL (men’s 46 jacket)

PreparedPilot.com

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It’s not necessarily something you need to add to your basic hiking kit — but the AeroVest would be ideal for a hiker to keep in the trunk of a vehicle, in a boat or at the cabin. Any place in fact where hypothermia is a risk.

hiking coast-to-coast across Corsica

Say that you’re planning to walk across Corsica and many assume that you’re heading for the GR20, a challenging 110-mile trail that bisects the mountainous island from north to south. As a relative beginner, I opted instead for the 50-mile Mare a Mare Sud, a gentler path that winds from Propriano in the south-west to Porto Vecchio in the south-east.

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Where to stay:

Walker’s hostels called gites d’étappe provide basic but clean accommodation and decent food for about €35 per night.

In early May the hostels were half-empty and advance booking wasn’t necessary, but from June to August they can fill up quickly and reservation is recommended. Some of the hostels close from October to April. There are also some guest houses along the route, which need to be booked in advance as they may close without notice if business drops off. Each of the stop-off points has a campsite, but camping outside these areas is not allowed.

When to go:

Late spring and early autumn are the best times for walking. The route is passable for most of the year but is more difficult in the winter, when snow covers the higher stretches. In July and August the route is busy despite the heat.

Walking coast to coast across Corsica – Times Online

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more information – Corsica.forhikers.com

two hiking events I WISH I could attend

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Great Southeastern Hiking Festival Conference (fee)
May 3 – 6, 2007
Montreat, North Carolina

and

FREE Public Festival
Saturday May 5
From 9 AM – 7 PM
In Downtown Black Mountain, NC

American Hiking Society: Alliance: Southern Appalachians Initiative

(Thanks Sandra. Florida Hikes)

Appalachian Trail Days
May 18-19-20 2007

Damascus, Virginia

Trail Days celebrates the Appalachian Trail and the hikers, former hikers and aspiring hikers who converge there each year.

official website

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Tongariro Northern Circuit in 10.5hrs

Craig Stanton from New Zealand is preparing to start the Pacific Crest Trail in April. He’s got a great website — PCT2007.org — and looks very organized.

Looks like Craig will be ready for the PCT. He blazed through one of our top 10 hikes.

Yesterday I completed the challenge I was unable to finish last week.

Under perfect skies I hiked, and at some points ran, the Tongariro Northern Circuit in one day.

Less than 10.5 hours actually, and I’m pretty pleased with that because usually it is billed as 3-4 days … (read more)

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leaving comments on blog posts

Bloggers greatly appreciate feedback, positive or negative.

And leaving a comment tells search engines like Google that the post was worthy of your attention, positive or negative.

We got some feedback by email, response form and by comment on a recent post:

the top 10 treks in the world – 5 months?

That discussion (cost, time, difficulty level) will be kept in the comment section of that post.

In fact, we were even inspired to add a new feature. You can now “subscribe” to any comment you leave on this blog. More dialogue is a good thing.

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Note that we do not use a CAPTCHA on our commenting system. No need. This blog is 100% protected by amazing anti-spam service called Akismet.

Roraima, Venezuela

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Roraima

Originally uploaded by txago.

One day …

You too should climb to the Lost World, Roraima on the border of Venezuela, Brazil & Guyana.

It’s the highest “tepui” (flat-topped, cliff-edged mountain) at 2810m (9219ft). Recommended 6-day, 5-night round trip trek to the summit.

information page – besthike.com

climbing Aconcagua independently

What does it take to climb the highest peak outside Asia independently?

It took the Pfluegl brothers 2 years of passion, dedication and commitment.

It cost them about US$5000 each.

But how did they feel on summit day?

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Pfluegl brothers Dec. 27th, 2006

To “climb” Aconcagua they trekked 22 days, 70km (43mi) return with pack weights of up to 42kg (92lbs)!

For details positively Teutonic, check the trip report by Manfred Pfluegl.

More information on trekking (not climbing) Aconcagua. – besthike.com

heli-hiking Berg / Robson in Canada

One of the best hikes in the Canadian Rockies is Berg Lake / Mt. Robson.

Of many highlights, getting a shower under majestic Emperor Falls is special. I’d actually never heard of these Falls before I hiked Mt. Robson. The are the most impressive Falls in Western Canada.

Heli-hiking is the best way to do Robson. A chopper is available twice a week to deliver you to Berg Lake. From there you want 3 days to explore the high alpine and another day to walk out.

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Olivier George – Berg Lake from the Mumm Basin trail – Wikipedia

Apocalypto – the trek

The new Mel Gibson movie Apocalypto (2006) brought public attention to the Mayan ruins of El Mirador in Guatemala close to the Mexican border.

The 5-6 day hike to the fabled ruins of El Mirador is one of the best hikes in the world — we think.

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National Geographic illustration of the original Mayan city

Our one attempt to get there, independently, we postponed. It’s a tough slog reports Ben Brazil:

Spider monkeys had hurled branches at us from treetops. Clouds of mosquitoes dogged our every step with the mechanical persistence of zombies. Although the jungle had wowed me with its ecological diversity, it had mainly stung me, sucked my blood and dehydrated me.
source – L.A. Times

For now we recommend you sign on with trekking company:

Trekking to El Mirador is a no-frills experience that demands toughness and good physical condition. You’ll need a guide and at least five days, round-trip — six to see the Nakbé ruins, which are on a different trail. Expect long days (six to 10 hours of walking). Pricier tours may offer a combination of walking and horseback riding.

Maya Expeditions … The American-run company offers seven- to 10-day treks costing $625-$1,085 per person with a four-person minimum. …

Martsam Travel … has five-day treks for $350 per person or seven-day treks for $460 per person for groups of four. English-speaking guide is extra. It also arranges guided, one-day helicopter trips to El Mirador, which cost $1,420 for up to four people if a helicopter is available in Flores. Often the helicopter must come from Guatemala City, raising the cost dramatically.

Many travel agencies in Flores sell cut-rate trips. Be careful: Some have sent clients without sufficient food or water, and service may be surly or worse.

source – L.A. Times

Read the full L.A. Times article – Atop the world of the Maya

Images from an entertaining 2003 trip report by Dave Howard in the Waterbury Observer.

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tarantula