Category: uncategorized

Not nearly the best hike in Peru, none-the-less, everyone still wants to do the famous walk to Machu Picchu.

… the trek is full up until September. Restrictions imposed by the Peruvian government on the number of people allowed to hike the trail haven’t diminished its popularity and this year’s peak season sold out with unprecedented speed.

… in 2005, the government acted to limit those trekking the “classic” four-day route to 500 a day as the rapidly growing number of walkers threatened to overwhelm the route’s infrastructure and damage Inca ruins. In reality, only around 200 people can now set out every day on what was previously a virtual free-for-all because the necessary expedition support staff are included in the permitted total. These include guides, cooks and the legendary local porters, whose ability to trot around the trail carrying three times their own body weight with only sandals on their feet never ceases to amaze trekkers struggling to carry a water bottle while clad in state-of-the art hiking gear. …

A Guardian article suggests some of the standard guided alternative treks:

Salkantay Trail

Lares Valley

Colca Canyon

Cordillera Huayhuash

They recommend some Trekking and volunteering itineraries, as well.

Here’s our own list of best hikes in Peru:

Ausangate Circuit TOP 10

Huayhuash Circuit

Alpamayo

Santa Cruz Trek

Inca Trail

Salcantay to Machu Picchu

Choquiquirao to Machu Picchu

Ticlla Circuit

Colca Canyon

Misti

Gran Vilaya (Kuelap)

Peru is one of the best destinations in the world for hikers. There are MANY wonderful choices.

Huayhuash Circuit – original – flickr

If you are looking to one-up your hiking buddies, this might do the trick.

As quoted by Treehugger:

… this is din-ink. A set of pen caps, including a fork-cap, a knife-cap and a spoon-cap, that replaces the normal pen cap …

Dining in 2015: Din-Ink

A year ago, we did a Christmas countdown of our top 10 hikes in the world.

It’s almost holiday time again.

Starting December 16th, besthike.com will post our list of the best hiking regions in the world starting with #10.

We’ll reveal one each day culminating Christmas morning with the #1 hiking region on Earth.

That’s it. Our Christmas present to regular readers.

Leave a comment below if you care to nominate any specific region. Or to hazard a guess at which region we’ve chosen #1.

Greenland? Antarctica? Kalahari?

Walking and camping the remote Scottish islands?

Are you crazy? The weather is TERRIBLE.

In September 2003, I started my attempt to become the first person to sleep on all of the 162 Scottish islands over forty hectares.

On 29 August 2007, I completed the UK’s greatest ever challenge, when I left Soay St. Kilda. …

I do not believe that what I have achieved will ever be repeated.

Island Man – Adventurer Exploring Scottish Islands | Island Man

Andy is planning an even bigger island adventure.

Decorator bags all 162 in four years – and throws down the gauntlet to others

After Munros, a new challenge: a night on every Scottish island – Guardian

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.)

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

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.

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.

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

more information – Corsica.forhikers.com

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