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Great Walks of the World – D. Larraine Andrews

This 2014 book includes some great walks: Larapinta Trail, Milford Track, Carthew-Alderson, Chilkoot Trail, Yosemite’s Panorama Trail, etc.

But it also includes some surprising choices – Mt Sinai, for example.

It includes an oddball assortment of tips on each. I’d hardly call it a hiking guidebook, however.

Great Walks

An eclectic collection of 11 global walks and hikes, the book includes destinations on every continent but Antarctica. From one-day saunters to two-week odysseys, readers will find the in-depth story behind each trail, combined with detailed maps and a visual feast of archival and contemporary images from contributors located around the world. …

Amazon

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LIFE is an ADVENTURE

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That excellent video was a promo piece for the (now inactive) Adventure.com, a peer-to-peer tours and activities marketplace.

It features community-sourced photos, videos, and first-person narratives as it sits in maintenance mode. Adventure.com CAMPING.

Here’s the story – Adventure.com Failed But What Did It Do Right and Wrong?

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Roraima trek, Venezuela

Stingy Nomads:

Mount Roraima is the highest of the many Table Mountains (tepuis) scattered over the grasslands of The Grand Sabana. The strange rock formations, quarts fields that look like a diamond encrusted fairy land, insect eating plants and many high waterfalls gives the whole area unreal feel and have been an inspiration to writers and movie makers. It is thought to have inspired Arthur Cone Doyle’s book ‘The Lost World’, published in 1912 …

Tours are normally 6 to 8 days, taking three days to reach the top, then one to three days exploring the top and it takes two more days to come down the same trail. You cannot hike this route independent since a guide is compulsory. There are many companies in Santa Elena that offers all-inclusive tours; you can also try to find an independent guide to lead your trek. …

Roraima trek on a budget

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4 Wheel Bob – the movie

I once hiked with 4 Wheel Bob. His ascent of 14,252-foot (4344m) White Mountain Peak, California.

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Bob’s smiling here. But let me confirm that trip was bloody tough. I could never possibly have made it in his chair.

The documentary about Bob is finally coming out.

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

He and filmmaker Tal Skloot have been working on it for 5 years.

Follow Bob Fourwheelbob Coomber on Facebook for updates on that project.

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cycle hiking San Juan island

Cycle hiking the Islands – trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

Due to ferry schedules I arrived Friday Harbor late in the day. The town’s name originates from Joseph Poalie Friday, a native Hawaiian.

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I purchased food for dinner and headed out to find a place to camp.

Next morning early I was back at the Bean Cafe. These free wifi spots are my longest breaks during each day.

Tourist information told me the south was more scenic than the north, so I headed towards American Camp.

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There are a number of trails. I opted to start towards Grandma’s Cove and made my own loop back.

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It’s very popular.

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American Camp is a legacy of the Pig War, a confrontation in 1859 between the United States and Great Britain over the Canada-U.S. border. Over a pig. Not kidding.

This was my first really hot, sunny day on the bike.

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At times I wished I’d rented one of Susie’s Scootcars instead. 🙂

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Nearby is Cattle Point Lighthouse.

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Jakle’s Lagoon is the trailhead for several interesting looking hikes. Hot and nearly out of water, I gave them a miss. This time.

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After lunch I headed north to Roche Harbor with it’s weird sculpture garden.

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The resort is cluttered. Too near the airport for my liking. But I did like the colour scheme.

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Next stop – English Camp.

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Much quieter than American Camp.

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It was late in the day when I finally reached Lime Kiln Park State Park.

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A highlight of the day was spotting Orcas.

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GRANITE GEAR – VIRGA 2 backpack

I bought the Virga 2, my 3rd Virga since seeing it recommended by gearjunkie in 2007. It is  lightweight at 1lb 3oz. But not all that durable.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

You can  buy directly from Granite Gear or Backcountry Gear.

Granite Gear does not seem to want to know me unless I live in the United States. In the end I bought from Amazon.com and had it shipped to an address in the States.

REI lists this pack, but does not have it in stock in many stores. 😦

Granite Gear truly does have crappy distribution.