Category: video

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Indonesia – Bromo Volcano at Dawn

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

I’ve long wanted to get to this famous vista.  It didn’t disappoint. 

Mount Bromo 2,329 meters (7,641 ft) is an active somma volcano and Hindu pilgrimage site in East Java, Indonesia.

The name Bromo comes from the Javanese pronunciation of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Getting there is a wild ride.   Almost everyone signs up for a jeep tour.  Only these small Toyota Landcruiser Jeeps are allowed up the mountain.

I departed my hostel in Malang City at 12:45am.  It was a scary Mad Max ride over dirt tracks before reaching the viewpoint at 3:15am. 

They get you there so early in case of road problems.  And jeep breakdowns.  It happens. 

They also hope you’ll rent warm jackets and blankets.  Or buy some souvenirs.  

It’s well worth being there at very first light through dawn, in any case.  The volcano vista keeps changing.  Every photo a possible postcard. 

Here are just a few of the dozens I shot. 

It’s crowded!  Everyone scrambling for the best position.  

The adventurous bushwhack down the hillside looking for more unique framing. 

I’ll never forget Bromo. 

From here the jeep takes you down to the smouldering caldera for a crowded, dusty climb up stairs.  I was disappointed with this and the sea of sand beneath.  There are many better volcanoes to climb in Indonesia.

DETAILS

Of a number of 1, 2, or 3 day options, I ended up doing the most popular ➙ Bromo Sunrise Tour. Very inexpensive at CAD $50 which includes entry fees.

Itinerary:

  • 00:30: Prepare for pick-up from Malang hostel by 4×4 Jeep
  • 01:00: Journey to Penanjakan (sunrise viewpoint by jeep).
  • 03:30: Arrive at the viewpoint and wait for sunrise
  • 05:00: Witness the magical sunrise from Penanjakan.
  • 06:30: Drive down to the Bromo crater area.
  • 07:00: Free time exploring the Bromo Crater.
  • 08:30: Visit the Sand Sea area and the Savanna.
  • 09:00: Begin the journey back to Malang.
  • 11:30: Approximate arrival back at the hostel.

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Northover Ridge Loop Trail, Canadian Rockies

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

This is the cool Canadian Rockies hike these days. BUT it’s more of a route than a trail.

As evidence, I bumped into two of the top hiking YouTubers below the ridge — Eric Hanson and Justin Outdoors. We were heading opposite directions. Surprised and excited, I got a bit tongue twisted while chatting with them.

Slightly dangerous, Northover is not promoted by the Parks people.

I followed the route on AllTrails offline. No navigation problems.

My first tip is to WAIT for good weather. You don’t want to be on this narrow ridge in high wind and poor visibility.

Northover Ridge Loop Trail is 34km, 2290m in elevation gain. Most people do it in 2 or 3 days.

Foolishly, I did it in a day and a half. 😀

On the drive up to the trailhead in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, I had a good look at momma bear and 2 young ones. I saw another juvenile bear on the drive out. None on the trail.

I booked at Aster Lake Campground before driving up. By doing this I’d decided to hike it clockwise looking down at the map. But you can do the loop in either direction.

Peter Lougheed Provincial Park NOW requires a Conservation Pass if you have a vehicle. In 2025:

  • Daily Pass: $15 per vehicle
  • Yearly Pass: $90 per vehicle

My campsite pass was checked by Rangers. They do a great job here.

Click PLAY or watch my Northover on YouTube.

A great adventure. I highly recommend Northover IF you have good weather.

Here’s how the same 2 days went for Eric Hanson and Justin Outdoors. Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Related – trip report by HikeBikeTravel

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Farewell Rathtrevor Beach, Vancouver Island

Over the years, I’ve taken thousands of photos Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park close to Nanaimo, Vancouver Island.

Most of those near dawn. I’d enjoy my first coffee of the day on the beach.

BUT summer 2025 I’m relocating back to my home town ➙ Calgary, Alberta.

I’ll miss those Rathtrevor mornings.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. Montage of some of my favourite photos.

See more of my favourite Rathtrevor pics on Flickr.

Of course I’ve made many VIDEOS on Rathtrevor, as well.

My favourite of those is Vancouver Island at Dawn — 4 Seasons 🎵.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

When I first got into serious VIDEO editing — during COVID — this 2020 edit is another favourite. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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A.I. VIDEO – Hiker Crossing River

I unexpectedly got free-to-me access to the BEST A.I. VIDEO generating tool as of May 2025 — Google Veo 3.

… It costs U.S. $250 / month as I post. 😳

I first asked for audio and video of a hiker crossing a river in a rain storm on Vancouver Island.

NEXT I was offered an A.I. enhanced version of that same prompt:

Atmospheric and moody cinematic scene, reminiscent of a Pacific Northwest indie film. Overcast day, with a soft, diffused light filtering through the dense canopy of evergreens. Cool blues and grays dominate the color palette. Medium shot of a lone hiker, seen from the waist up, mid-stream in a rushing river. The hiker is wearing a waterproof hiking jacket and a backpack. His face is partially obscured by the rain and the hood of his jacket. The river is rocky and fast-flowing, with the water churning around the hiker’s legs. The background consists of a lush, green forest with ferns and moss-covered trees. The camera slowly pans to follow the hiker as he makes his way across the river. The sound of the rain and the rushing water create a sense of immersion and isolation.

Finally, I changed the last enhance prompt to have the hiker in deeper water. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Whether we like it or not, A.I. video will be increasingly included in movies, television, and YouTube videos.