I cycle, run and/or hike every day while on Vancouver Island, Canada.
The risk of tick-borne disease here is low. But I’m still tucking in my pants before going out.
Mine are very light weight, slippery nylon. (Light coloured clothing would be better as it’s easier to spot ticks.)
The biggest danger in my neck of the woods is the western black-legged tick. It can transfer Lyme disease.
Western Black-Legged Tick
Fortunately for me, in order for a human to be infected by the bacterium, the tick must be attached for approximately 36 to 48 hours. I shower and check after each workout.
Check the tick risk where you are adventuring. There are about 30,000 new cases of Lyme Disease each year in the States. The number seems to be increasing with global warming. New species of ticks are becoming known.
Check your pets for ticks.
If you get one, gently remove a tick embedded in your skin with tweezers. Firmly grasp the tick’s head without squeezing and pull upwards. Save it in a plastic sealed bag. Use a felt pen to write the date, name and address of person bitten. I’ve only ever found one once.
Note that this good article includes sponsored gear links.
Redding is a hot spot for adventurers all over the world, due to its sheer beauty, fresh air, and much more. However, with so much to offer it can be difficult to narrow down options.
1. Burney Falls Loop Trail
You don’t need us to tell you just how breathtaking these mythical-looking falls are; just refer to former president, Theodore Roosevelt, who described them as the “8th wonder of the world”. While the falls can be seen from the parking area, the 1.3-mile hiking loop is going to take you right to the base of the 129-foot sight to behold.
No matter what experience/fitness level you’re at currently, you’ll be able to take this hike. Due to this, it’s a popular choice for families. If you’d like to stay overnight, there are plenty of cabins and campground sites.
Burney Falls
2. Lassen Peak
If you’re looking for something more challenging or more of an all-day hike, then check out Lassen Peak. The roundtrip distance is 5 miles and can take anywhere from 3-5 hours on average.
The trail starts right at the parking area, all the way to an elevation of 8500 feet. If you’re into history, you may know that it was the culprit of eruptions in 1914-1917. The still-existent odor of hydrogen sulfide near the top will provide you with a little reminder that it’s still an active (though dormant) volcano.
3. Castle Lake
What’s better on a sunny, summer day than a strenuous hike and a refreshing dip? Located in Castle Crags Wilderness, it begins at the lake, winding up to Mount Bradley, offering incredible vistas of Mount Shasta and the rest of the Cascades which surround you.
This is another challenging adventure, so make sure you’re confident and have quite a bit of stamina. You’ll find many steep climbs summing up to around 2,300 feet in elevation gain. It will be more than worth it. Just remember to pack along something to swim in and some water shoes as it can get a bit rocky!
4. Kings Creek Falls
If you’re looking for something moderate, give Kings Creek Falls a shot. Located 64 miles from Redding, the adventure totals 2.8 miles.
The 30-foot falls cascade over glistening layers of black volcanic rock, which makes the journey more than worth it. Just remember to bring a waterproof backpack in case you decide to get up close and personal with them.
The return also offers the chance for a scenic loop which travels along the creek by means of a steep staircase of stone. It’s a bit more difficult, but it sure is beautiful!
5. Keswick Trails
Located east of the Keswick Reservoir, there are over 25 miles of tracks which connect the dam to the Sacramento River Trail. Much like our first adventure, the Keswick trails are perfect for all ages and entire families.
The Hornbeck Trail is quite possibly the most popular of the bunch, following the path of a historic mining railroad right on the side of the serene river. This rail line was used up until the early 1900s to carry loads of quartz naturally found in the area, for copper smelting at Kennett.
Some other favorites are the Upper and Lower Sacramento Ditch Trails, which follow along an old water ditch. That may not sound too appealing, but it’s actually really pretty out there. This one has moments where you’ll encounter steeper terrain, though, so they may not be suitable for very young children.
Kanchenjunga, the world’s 3rd highest mountain, is on the border of Nepal and India. It’s possible to hike starting from either nation though Sikkim, India is more popular.
Because of Kanchenjunga’s remote location very few trekkers make this trip compared with other high Himalayan peaks.
Trevor and Emma run Cut Lunch Adventures based in Sydney, Australia.
The trail crosses eight named passes that exceed 11,200 feet (3,414 m) elevation and many other smaller saddles and ridges. …
… the striking character of the trail is its openness and expansive views …
An excellent documentary on the hike began streaming April 7th on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Vimeo, Vudu, and Microsoft Video. It’s also available on DVD and Blu-Ray.
The hiking infrastructure for foreign tourists is not nearly so well developed. There are far fewer hiking guidebooks.
You need to do much more research when planning a hiking trip to India. The easiest jumping off point is Leh, Ladakh — a region administered by India as a union territory, and constituting a part of the larger region of Kashmir.
Stok Kangri seen from Leh
AT A GLANCE
Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttaranchal in the west
Darjeeling and Sikkim in the east
many peaks over 7000m (23000ft)
every serious hiker wants to travel to Nepal. The savvy trekkers to the Indian Himalaya, as well.
though challenging, India is a wonderful tourist destination
English is widely spoken
public transportation is slow at best, downright terrifying at worst
getting to the trailhead may be much more dangerous than anything you do on the trek. Take the train rather than a vehicle whenever you can.
best for experienced, confident, self-sufficient high altitude hikers
hiking season somewhere May-Nov (though micro-climates vary greatly). Many treks are not recommended Jul-Aug — though you can hike most places in Ladakh most of the year.
besthike.com 