volcanoes – Page 25 – besthike.com

August 28, 2006

Colca, Peru: The grand, GRAND canyon

This is real adventure. Not for the faint hearted.

Colca is a 5-day trek (difficult & dangerous) over a 5100m (16,732ft) pass. It’s only 60km (37mi) but you will likely need to hire pack animals due to the rugged, remote terrain. And altitude.

Noel Wigdor posted one of the best trip reports we’ve seen in a while.

Wow what a week.

Exactly a week ago I left for Colca Canyon for what is considered one of the hardest, but most rewarding, hikes in South America. Here is the breakdown of one of the most amazing, exhausting, and trying experiences of my life. Day 1 Ohad, my Israelli hiking partner, and I woke at 2:45 to catch a 3:30 bus to Cabanaconde, the starting point for our hike. Although we were both very nervous about this hike (we had both read that it is extremely hard), I was especially nervous because I was starting the whole thing with a bad case of diarrhrea … read more

Colca Canyon: The grand, GRAND canyon

If you are up for this kind of challenge, check out the details on besthike.com Colca Canyon.

August 19, 2006

Mt. Etna volcano smoke rings

Dvorak Uncensored Â» Cool Pics of A Volcano Blowing Smoke Rings

August 5, 2006

climb Mount St. Helen’s

Here’s a unique way to learn about the climb up famous Mount St. Helen’s volcano in Washington State.

Click a series of photos to “climb”: Mount St. Helens VR Tour and see the 360 degree summit vista.

More details on besthike.com Mount St. Helens

July 22, 2006

video – Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone

Arriving at Mammoth Hot Springs late in the day, I found it an eerie place.

Click PLAY on the video below or watch the clip on YouTube.

Music by Enigma.

July 20, 2006

video – Grand Prismatic, Yellowstone

Our favourite vista in Yellowstone was over Grand Prismatic Spring. We were cycling to Prismatic when others on the trail recommended we climb a nearby hill.

Click PLAY on the video below or watch the clip on YouTube.

July 19, 2006

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone

Old Faithful erupting is the signature attraction of Yellowstone National Park.

But we thought Grand Prismatic Spring was even better.

The outrageous colours reminded George of the Ring Nebula.

July 18, 2006

Yellowstone photos

The colours are amazing at Yellowstone National Park:

Our photos on Flickr.com

Yellowstone is mostly in Wyoming, touching on Idaho and Montana.

There is some good hiking in Yellowstone. But we recommend nearby Teton Crest Trail as the best in the region.

July 17, 2006

video – “Old Faithful”, Yellowstone

We saw Old Faithful erupt twice at Yellowstone National Park.

Click PLAY on the video below or watch the clip on YouTube.

I found the volcanic landscape similar to that around Rotarura in New Zealand. But Yellowstone is even larger and more impressive.

June 17, 2006

Every hiker wants to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa at 5896m (19,344ft). It’s actually the highest freestanding mountain in the world, a volcano rising 4600m (15,000ft) above the giraffes and elephants roaming the plains.

No independent hiking is allowed. You must sign on with a trekking company â€” minimum cost in 2006 is US$800 on the Marangu Route. Over 80% of people choose Marangu often disparaged as the tourist route, or the Coca Cola route. This is the easiest, fastest and quickest line. And the only route where you have the option to sleep in huts.

If you can afford it, opt instead for one of the more challenging tent routes: Machame or Rongai.

The other major consideration is altitude sickness. Unlike the Andes and the Himalaya, it is difficult to acclimatize here. Best strategy is to climb lower Mt. Meru just before you start Kilimanjaro.

The snows of Kilimanjaro are melting. Get there soon.

Mt. Kilimanjaro on besthike.com