Documentary – Into the Canyon

Premiered February 2019.

VERY entertaining.

You might be able to find it on the National Geographic Channel.

In 2016 filmmaker/photographer Pete McBride and writer Kevin Fedarko set out on a 750-mile journey on foot through the entire length of the Grand Canyon.

From the outset, the challenge was far more than they bargained for. More people have stood on the moon than have completed a continuous through hike of the Canyon.

… But their quest was more than just an endurance test – it was also a way to draw attention to the unprecedented threats facing one of our most revered landscapes. …

Uranium mines, tourist development, maintaining indigenous flora and fauna. Native peoples are interviewed thoughout.

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

February 10, 2020February 8, 2020

History of climbing K2

In advance of a trek to K2 Base Camp and Gondogoro Pass, I’m doing some reading about those insane alpinists that dare to climb the second highest peak in the world.

So much tragedy.

The 1954 Italian Karakoram expedition finally succeeded in ascending to the summit of K2 via the Abruzzi Spur on 31 July 1954. …

… 23 years after the Italian expedition, Ichiro Yoshizawa led the second successful ascent, with Ashraf Aman as the first native Pakistani climber. …

The third ascent of K2 was in 1978, via a new route, … by an American team led by James Whittaker …

I recommend K2: Life and Death on the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain. (2010) by Ed Viesturs.

Ed’s the Mount Rainier alpine guide who went on to become the most accomplished American high altitude climber.

Cautious and lucky, Ed survived 30+ expeditions to the world’s highest peaks. And he’s climbed Rainier over 200 times.

February 6, 2020January 28, 2020

Great Himalaya Trail vlog

In 2019 David Brophy and Mathilde Godbout spent 5 months trekking the Great Himalaya Trail.

David plans to post videos on YouTube, 125 episodes – one for each day, one day at a time. Subscribe to his channel if you’d like to see how it went.

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

Since then David has been adventuring in Antarctica.

February 3, 2020January 23, 2020

Makalu Base Camp … independently

I’m researching a possible independent trek to Makalu Base Camp, Nepal for November 2020, the 5th highest mountain in the world. (8,485m)

Since 2016 at least there have been simple teahouses and meals of dal bhat all the way up.

I’d carry a tent and food, as well, just in case.

Not many hikers are choosing this destination in Nepal yet. And very few are doing it independently, so far.

Click PLAY or watch a video by guides Mountain Kingdom on YouTube.

Check our Makalu Base Camp information page.

February 1, 2020January 21, 2020

HIKE the Dragon’s Back, Hong Kong

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles (2011)

The Dragon’s Back is more than a hike, it’s a “tourist attraction”.

The Dragon’s Back (Traditional Chinese: 龍脊) is a ridge in southeastern Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, between Wan Cham Shan and Shek O Peak. It lies within the Shek O Country Park. In 2004 the Dragon’s Back Trail was selected by TIMEasia as the best urban hiking trail.

See reviews on Trip Adviser.

Despite all that popularity, I loved it.

Who wouldn’t love a ridge walk on a tropical island?

Many start up the Hong Kong tram and hike down to Big Wave Bay, but I followed the longer and more difficult 8.5km route recommended in The Inside Guide to Hikes and Walks in Hong Kong, a free publication from Hong Kong Tourism.

If you get to Hong Kong, the Dragon’s Back is a must hike.

Friends, loved ones and unloved who don’t want to go can wait at the finish, Big Wave Bay Beach.

see more photos from my day hike

related – Hiking the World trip report (2016)

January 31, 2020January 31, 2020

best hiking gear on the PCT 2019

Mac posted his 7th annual survey — this year 846 Pacific Crest Trail hikers were interviewed.

The Altra Lone Peak was the most popular shoe on the PCT this year – used by nearly a third of PCT hikers. It’s a zero-drop shoe and, on average, hikers who completed the trail used 4.65 pairs – nearly $600 in shoes (at full retail price).

On the other hand, there were plenty of complaints about Lone Peaks.

Personally, I prefer sturdier Merrell Moabs.

FAVORITE PCT GEAR

Backpack: ULA Circuit
Shelter: MSR Hubba NX
Sleeping bag: Western Mountaineering Versalite
Sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm
Insulated jacket: Rab Microlight Alpine Down Jacket
Shell: Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid Jacket
Stove: SOTO WindMaster
Water treatment: Sawyer Squeeze
Trekking poles: Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork
Ice axe: Black Diamond Raven Pro
Traction device: Snowline Light Chainsen Crampon
Bear canister: Bearikade Weekender
Shoes: HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat

MOST COMMON PCT GEAR

Backpack: Osprey Exos
Shelter: Zpacks Duplex
Sleeping bag: Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20
Sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite
Insulated jacket: Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (Hooded)
Shell: Outdoor Research Helium II
Stove: MSR PocketRocket 2
Water treatment: Sawyer Squeeze
Trekking poles: Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork
Ice axe: C.A.M.P. USA Corsa
Traction device: Kahtoola MICROspikes Traction System
Bear canister: BearVault BV500
Shoes: Altra Lone Peak

The Pacific Crest Trail Gear Guide: Class of 2019 Survey

January 28, 2020January 3, 2020

GUEST POSTS on BestHike.com

By site editor Rick McCharles

Every week I decline requests for sponsored posts. Those are mostly advertisements that look like a regular post.

But we do post guest articles.

So, if you’d like to summit something to this site, here are our guidelines for submissions:

What Content Do We Want?

Information of interest to independent hikers.
Things that are NEW. DIFFERENT. ORIGINAL.
Insider information not available elsewhere.
Hikes in parts of the world not well covered on the internet now: Africa, China, Russia, etc.
Technology / Apps being used by hikers

The more succinct, the better. But include visuals: graphics, photos, videos.

Send an email to RickMcCharles (a) gmail.

Include the following:

Your hiking history. Any links you’d like included.

If your post is simply to sell some hiking gear, it’s not likely it will be posted on this site.

There’s no payment or remuneration of any kind. This site now runs ad free.

January 27, 2020January 25, 2020

Wild & Scenic Film Festival 2020

I attended the 3rd Annual (Gainesville FL hosted) Wild & Scenic Film Festival (WSFF).

It was hosted by The Florida Trail Association. Good people.

For this outdoor screening, we chose a unique program of environmental and adventure films that illustrate the Earth’s beauty. They also show the challenges facing our planet and the communities working to protect it.

It was clear to me too that diversity was important in the selection of the 14 films.

Hillary Van Dyke & Angie Riviere of Outdoor Afro were there, for example.

Hilarious stories of how African Americans are greeted on the trail. 😀

Please white folks: “Just say HI.”

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

The 1400+ mile Florida Trail is mostly maintained and improved by volunteers. YOU could join a work crew. Sign up here:

floridatrail.org/volunteer/

January 24, 2020January 25, 2020

hiking Kamchatka, Russia

There are certainly fantastic treks and volcano climbs on Kamchatka Peninsula.

Climbing Koryaksky (3456m) close to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is quite doable, for example.

You can find a number of trekking guides with Google.

But are they reliable?

It’s possible to hike Kamchatka independently.

But we’ve not yet talked to anyone who’s hiked there. (Leave a comment below this post if you have more information on Kamchatka.)

In the meantime, check some photos from Dark Roast Blend:

Wilderness without bounds, in a typical Russian style.

There is a place in the world so remote and so wildly beautiful, that very few decide to go there and those who do, carry the enchantment for the rest of their lives. Land of towering volcanos and magnificient Pacific coastline, as boundless and pristine as the Canadian North, but far less known and definitely less travelled. Life is harsh there, and ghosts of communist past are never too far behind.

With the exclusive permission of “Kamtravel” – Kamchatka photography site, we give you some examples of its exhilarating terrain:

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski lies in the shadow of Avacha volcano

more photos – Dark Roasted Blend: Kamchatka – Magnificient Russian Far East