John Lennon lyrics on trash cans. 🙂
See it on Instagram.
The Trail – Ray Anderson
Scheduled for publication October 27, 2015. I’ll be buying it immediately. 🙂
Paul Leroux is a serial killer wanted for murdering women in North Carolina. When the police start to catch up with Leroux, he panics and decides to escape to Canada on the Appalachian Trail, where thru-hikers use trail names and travel anonymously.
Leroux, who is overweight and unhealthy, struggles at first on the trail but begins to relax as he gets stronger and can utilize the physical changes he gains from his intense hiking as a disguise. His urge to kill, however, is invigorated by the nearness of female hikers, and his intention to stay away from them on his trip begins to weaken.
His life is further complicated when Desert Storm veteran Karl Bergman, who is also trying to escape his own failure, becomes suspicious of Leroux and begins to pay careful attention to his every move.
Leroux becomes increasingly panicked as he realizes that both Bergman and the police are close on his tail as he races to the border hoping to find a haven with his Canadian family. In this cat-and-mouse thriller, Ray Anderson dives inside two men’s minds as they struggle to fight their identities and confront their fears and internal turmoil.
Ray Anderson is a thru hiker who goes by the name Hamlet. He was inspired to write this book on a dark, stormy night while walking the Appalachian Trail in 2003.
Cocuy Circuit, Colombia
Cam was warned off this (supposedly) dangerous part of the world. But decided to go anyway based on local information.
The Colombian Andes.
The most northern part of the world’s longest mountain range.
The hiking highlight of this month’s trip to the region was a circuit of the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy …
59 miles (95 km approx.) …
related – best website – pnncocuy.com
camping stoves compared
Chris Townsend was the first hiking guru I read.
He’s used dozens of different stoves in the wild, comparing them in a long opinion piece:
… lighting a stove. Some come with Piezo igniters – in my experience these break after a while. I’d never rely on just one type of lighter anyway. I always carry at least two – a fire steel and a lighter and/or matches. …
Choosing a stove is as much about choosing the fuel as choosing a burner. The availability of fuel, how long a given amount lasts and how well it works in different conditions are all factors to take into consideration. …
The main fuels are butane/propane, white gas (Coleman Fuel and similar), and methylated spirits (meths)/alcohol. Less commonly used are petrol/gasoline, paraffin/kerosene, diesel, solid fuel and wood. Some stoves are multi-fuel, which can be a big advantage. The heat output from butane/propane, white gas, petrol and paraffin is similar but meths/alcohol is much less powerful so more fuel has to be carried. …
STOVES FOR WILD CAMPING
Click through his advice.
hike northern Albania
Volunteers are building 130km of trails around the remote village of Curraj Eperm.
It’s part of a non-profit, student project called the Albanian Challenge (www.albanianchallenge.cz).
The village is cut off from the rest of the world. In fact it takes two days to walk there.
Highlights include caves, waterfalls and peaks 3000m high. Typical Albanian culture (food, architecture and customs) will be of interest to foreign visitors.
Click PLAY or watch a promo video on YouTube.
The Albanian Challenge was launched after the town lost its bridge in a flood. Increased tourism will help with the rebuilding effort.
Shawnte Salabert – on hiking
… The last mile to camp is always a drag. Almost always. Or always. I could be strolling through a wonderland of gold and diamonds and chocolate fountains and unicorns, but moving like an uninspired sloth. My feet are tired. My butt is gently chafed. I need nutrients.
In camp, I immediately engage in some sort of polite battle with fellow tent-pitchers over The Best Spot. “No, you pick first.” “No, no – you pick.” I invariably choose one that seems flat and windless. Seems.
Time for water math. Do I have enough? Should I filter tonight or in the morning? How much should I grab for dinner? …
Kolby brought this excellent blog to my attention. 🙂 I’m now subscribed.
Malta Coastal walk
Walkopedia recommends Malta Coastal walk (155km) as one of the best hikes in the world:
Outstanding sea views
Unspoiled natural environment
Dramatic cliffs
Azure window and Inland sea
Archaeological remains
Tranquil countryside
Forts, towers and churches
Diversity of habitats and plantsThe best months for walking are in spring (March to June) and autumn (Mid-September to December). …
Kolby Kirk – engaged on the trail
One of my favourite blogs is The Hike Guy edited by Kolby Kirk.
How did his last trip go? 🙂
dispersed hiking in Alaska
If you’ve been to Alaska, you know hiking there is challenging.
Distances are HUGE. And there are not all that many established trails.
Turns out, that’s partly by design.
GearJunkie in Denali:
The park’s 2006 Backcountry Management Plan … “Except as otherwise specified… backcountry access and travel in Denali will continue without designated routes or constructed trails to allow for freedom to explore and to minimize signs of human presence.”
Similar trail-less wilderness areas exist within Alaska, which contains more than half of all the country’s wildernesses, but Denali is by far the most popular, totaling more than 38,000 backcountry campers last year. According to Burrows, the relative ease at which visitors can access Denali’s backcountry (it’s split in two by the park road) has spurred increased exploration and cause for increased measures to keep the wilderness as Murie intended.
Very quickly after starting hiking from the park road, we ran across our faint trails, and like many of Denali’s visitors we opted to take the path less traveled, spread out to disperse our impact and take advantage of a wilderness experience unlike anyplace else.
Bushwhacking Encouraged: Denali Strives To Eliminate Ad Hoc Trails
Morrell Nature Sanctuary, Nanaimo
11km of temperate rain forest trails. No mountain bikes allowed.
Morrell Nature Sanctuary is a privately owned nature reserve leased and managed by Morrell Sanctuary Society for Environmental Education, a not-for-profit organization managed by volunteers …
Watch for gnome homes on the (wheelchair accessible) Yew Loop trail.
trip report – Trail Exploration In Nanaimo
related – TripAdvisor reviews
besthike.com 