Bring a Friend
Bring The Right Equipment
First Aid
Stay Hydrated
Two Hour’s Daylight to Setup Your Camp
Be Aware of the Weather
Grand Canyon – Thunder River/Deer Creek Loop
Thunder River/Deer Creek Loop is one of the best hikes in North America.
Epic. 🙂
Click PLAY or watch a guided trip on YouTube. (8min)
Read the Backpacker.tv trip report.
This 21.5-mile clockwise loop in Grand Canyon National Park strings together faint trails and an Eden of waterfalls and swimming holes.
The biggest problem with this adventure isn’t the navigation, it’s getting one of the few permits available. 😦
independent trek – Huayhuash Circuit, Peru
Megan “Hashbrown” Maxwell did Huayhuash alone and independently. She’s one tough hiker.
Still … she felt Huayhuash was the toughest hike of her life.
The Huayhuash Circuit is a beast of a trek. I would only recommend it if you have done a trek before and have an idea of what you’re getting into. I would only recommend going guide-less if you are at a confident level of backpacking experience, have taken the time to acclimatize, and are physically fit and able to carry a pack loaded with a week of food.
The guidebook for this trail is Peru’s Cordilleras Blanca & Huayhuash, available on Amazon. I found this to have all the information I needed …
This circuit goes over a pass everyday, ranging from 15,400 to 16,500 feet (4,690 to 5,050 meters). This means you will be hiking slower than usual, due to the altitude, and the walking itself is physically taxing. This also means that you will have spectacular views of the Andes every single day. …
That adventure was the best hike of my life. If you want know more, click over to our Huayhuash information page.
Paul’s Boots on the Appalachian Trail
He wore size 13 boots. Despite a job as draftsman in the big city, he was happiest out on the trail. When Paul was 42, doctors diagnosed his mom with Parkinson’s. He nursed her for four years until her death. By that time, his father developed Alzheimer’s. The gaps between hiking trips grew longer and longer. By the time his father passed in 2011, Paul had two heart attacks. His love for the outdoors never diminished.
Even as his body failed him, Paul started to pack for the trip he’d dreamed of completing—all 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail. At night, he’d recount to his wife, M’Lynn, all he’d learned in his research. His heart no longer allowed him to walk much further than the end of his block, but his soul was ready to go. Next to a full backpack, he left his three polished sets of hiking boots. Last July, Paul passed away. He was 53.
As M’Lynn moved through the stages of grief, it came time to tidy up Paul’s gear for a trip he wouldn’t take. She had an idea—one last gift to the man she loved. She needed help. Could we and our greater outdoor community get these boots out on the trail?
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
(via Hiking in Finland)
attacked by a Grizzly
YEESH. 😦
Todd Orr:
I took an early morning hike in the Madison valley (Montana) to scout for elk. Knowing that bears are common throughout southwest Montana, I hollered out “hey bear” about every 30 seconds so as to not surprise any bears along the trail.
About three miles in, I stepped out into an open meadow and hollered again. A few more steps and I spotted a sow Grizzly bear with cubs on the trail at the upper end of the meadow. The sow saw me right away and they ran a short distance up the trail. But suddenly she turned and charged straight my way. I yelled a number of times so she knew I was human and would hopefully turn back. No such luck. Within a couple seconds, she was nearly on me. I gave her a full charge of bear spray at about 25 feet. Her momentum carried her right through the orange mist and on me. …
Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.
Pacific Crest Trail – gear review
UNBOUNDED: Patagonia Documentary
Jan Dudeck has been exploring and documenting routes he calls the Greater Patagonian Trail.
Garrett Martin:
‘Unbounded’ is an adventure-travel documentary following an unaided crew of four hailing from different corners of the globe as they hike and pack-raft roughly 1,500 km through the Patagonia region of South America.
The expedition will take place from mid-December to mid-April, documenting the extreme and unique conditions in Patagonia and the surrounding area.
The crew will base their trip along the “Greater Patagonian Trail” and make they’re way to Patagonia National Park. The film will focus on discovering the indescribable factors of Patagonia, learning the history and culture of the people living in the area, and bringing to light the incredible beauty of the region – all in an effort to help raise awareness of the need to preserve this untamed, but delicate area.
A significant portion of the film’s proceeds will go towards Conservacion Patagonica to help protect and maintain this incredibly vast and beautiful landscape.
details on kickstarter
related – Reese Wells and Tyler Nachand are headed out on the GPT starting this November, as well.
Ridgeway to Pitstone Hill & Ivinghoe Beacon, U.K.
John Rogers, author and editor of The Lost Byway blog – sends us a very personal video. His exploration of part of the Ridgeway National Trail.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (30min)
hiking & paddling Gates of the Arctic, Alaska
… to Anaktuvuk, float southwest on the John River, hike west to the Alatna River, float southeast on the Alatna to access the Arrigetch, cross the Arrigetch, float northwest on the Noatak River, hike southwest to the Ambler River, and float west to Ambler. 400 miles in 19 days. …
Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.
audiocast – Trust the Trail
I subscribed to a new hiking podcast via the iTunes store. 🙂
That’s Scott Janz.
You can listen via the Backpacker.tv website too.
besthike.com 