Amazingly, Nalgene is 70 years old.
Yet their classic is still my water bottle of choice.
They are selling limited edition 70th anniversary bottles for USD $11.54.
Or you can enter the contest to win one.
best hikes in Kashmir, India
India and Pakistan both dispute ownership of the Kashmir Valley, and political violence can flare up without warning. Because of ongoing security problems, many foreign governments advise against all travel, or all but essential travel, to areas outside of the cities of Srinagar and Jammu, and your travel insurance may be invalid if you ignore this advice.
For increased personal safety you could sign up for a guided trek with India Hikes:
The top question on everyone’s mind is whether they … do the Kashmir Great Lakes trek (KGL) or the Tarsar Marsar trek. …
Which Kashmir Trek To Choose?
HIKER or HOMELESS?
Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. 😀
Copper Creek Trail, Kings Canyon CA
Kings Canyon National Park, California
The following is a hike discussed in detail by Riley Smith on his new audiocast, Broken Laces: A Hiker’s Podcast.
Subscribe here, or find on your favorite podcast provider (iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, etc.).
Alternatively you can listen on Podbean.
Most who arrive at Roads End Ranger Station in Kings Canyon National Park end up doing the popular Rae Lakes loop, which in of itself, is an amazing Sierra Nevada trail.
For a more strenuous and less-traveled hike, head to the Copper Creek trailhead.
This is not a day-hike. You’ll put the effort in at the beginning to enjoy near solitude, granite crag, and alpine lakes at every turn. To start, the ascent is steep. You spend the first 7.5 miles climbing 6,000 feet, gaining great views of the valley below (including the Sphinx) until you reach the Lip. At that point, feel free to go off trail and find a campsite at a nearby lake (ex. Grouse Lake). You just did the hard part!
Now, you can use this as a basecamp, because you have several day hikes available. Spend some time at Granite Lake perched on its own plateau, or follow the ridge line along Goat Crest and across several glacial alpine lakes. Bring your favorite route-finding devices and skills as you can truly make your own adventure at 10,000+ feet. At this point, you may not see anyone, so soak your feet in a lake, go for a swim, or just enjoy the serene landscapes that the Sierras provide.
Should you want to make a loop of it, you can pick up basecamp and finish out Kennedy Canyon, where you’ll end up back at Cedar Grove Village. You’ll be several miles away from your car, so either be comfortable with hitchhiking, or have two cars available to shuttle yourself from trailhead to trailhead.
For the full story on how two intermediate hikers prepared for this hike and how they tackled this trail, listen to Broken Laces‘ episode 1 on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, or you favorite podcast provider.
The Greater Patagonian Trail … is HARD
The 1,900-mile-long thru-hike winds through the southern Andes from Santiago to the climbing mecca of Mount Fitzroy. To complete it, adventurers need a lot more than physical stamina.
In late 2017, I contacted explorer and (Swiss) German engineer Jan Dudeck, who was just completing a decade-long quest to create a new long trail through South America. The Greater Patagonian Trail (GPT), as he named it, would come to be 1,900 miles, stretching through the southern Andes from Santiago to the Argentinean climbing mecca of Mount Fitzroy.
“This trail rewards the humble,” Dudeck replied in his e-mail to me, “and humiliates the proud.” …
I set out on my own GPT attempt in the summer of 2017. I quickly learned that Dudeck’s creation bears little resemblance to the famous thru-hikes of the U.S. …
It’s still a very rare occurrence to meet other GPT hikers. …
Outside – The Quest to Complete the Greater Patagonian Trail
Washington Park, Portland OR
One of the best urban hiking areas in the USA.
Washington Park is the #1 TripAdvisor attraction in Portland.
It includes a zoo, forestry museum, arboretum, children’s museum, rose garden, Japanese garden, amphitheatre, memorials, archery range, tennis courts, soccer field, picnic areas, playgrounds, public art and many acres of wild forest with miles of trails.
I walked from my hostel and then did about 10km of run / walk between some of the attractions.
The trails are excellent. No bikes allowed.
Early April blossoms are the highlight. There were plenty of cameras out.
The Oregon Holocaust Memorial was dedicated in 2004.
It’s very well maintained. Public picnic spaces superb.
Giant Sequoias.
Don’t miss this park if you get to Portland.
Getúlio Felipe climbs Marmolada
Getúlio Felipe is a 14-year old kid born with cerebral palsy. That didn’t stop him climbing the highest mountain in the Italian Dolomites 3,343 m (10,968 ft).
… At the age of four, he was advised to start using a wheelchair, which he refused. He told the world he was going to learn to walk.
Age 5, nothing. Age 6, nothing.Age 7, Getulio took his first steps. This in itself was an achievement no one saw possible, but in his own words, “the impossible does not exist”.
His sheer determination has inspired people around the world, giving people hope when they had lost it. …
… climbing Marmolada involves crossing a glacier with huge crevasses and then a steep climb requiring ropes, crampons, and ice axes. Just to add to the difficulty, there was a deep snowpack …
Accompanying Getúlio on this journey were Pedro McCardell, creator of Lyfx, an app that conects travelers to local guides, Alessio Nardellotto, an experienced climber from the Dolomites, Alberto Benchimol and Stefano Fabris, who worked as a separate support team for safety and image capture.
Great Hikes in 50 States
Outside Magazine posted an interesting listicle:
Best Hike in Every State
(via Adventure Blog)
Four Pass Loop, Maroon Bells-Snowmass CO
The Four Pass Loop in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness is one of the premiere backpacking loops in Colorado.
At 28 miles in length, this loop is typically hiked over the course of 3 to 5 days depending on your fitness level. During the trek you hike over four high elevation mountain passes, reach a peak altitude of ~12,500 feet, and climb nearly 9,000 feet …
Highlights of the Four Pass Loop include epic views of the Maroon Bells and several nearby mountain peaks, expansive views from atop mountain passes, summer wildflower blooms, and views of alpine lakes and idyllic rivers. …
FOUR PASS LOOP – MAROON BELLS SNOWMASS WILDERNESS, CO (28 MILE LOOP)
Bear canister required.
tramping Stewart Island, New Zealand
There are three main multi-day hiking trails on Stewart Island:
Rakiura Track (3 days)
North West Circuit (9-11 days)
Southern Circuit (6 days)
Stewart Island can be visited all year round, and it possible to do the aforementioned hikes at any time of the year. But, our recommendation is to visit sometime during the peak summer months, when the weather is warmer, sunny days are (slightly) more likely, and the daylight hours are longer.
We suggest visiting December through March. …
Ultimate Gear Lists – STEWART ISLAND HIKING GUIDE
The weather is notorious. But your biggest problem is not likely to be mud … it will be sandflies.
besthike.com 