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BestHike #10 – Overland Track, Australia

The Overland Track in Tasmania is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute introduction on YouTube.

Overland Track

The best & most famous walk in Australia.

Overland

AT A GLANCE

  • surreal, unique Tasmanian vistas
  • pretty lakes, tarns and waterfalls
  • exiting by ferry it’s minimum 62km (38.5mi) carrying a pack plus many possible sidetrips without a pack.
    • Elevation Gain: +4,793 ft / 1,461 m
      Elevation Loss: -5,160 ft / 1,573 m
  • 8000-9000 walkers / year in the past
    • 60 walkers start / day 2018 in high season
    • Oct 1 – May 31 Overland Track Pass reservations online
  • access by public transportation
  • easy-moderate hiking IF the weather cooperates
  • add challenging sidetrip peak scrambles if the weather is good
  • Nov – early May best months
  • possible to hike year round (snow travel during the winter)
  • 7-nights recommended. Start Ronny Creek. Finish Cynthia Bay.

Read more on our Overland Information page.

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#6 best hiking region in the world is the …

Patagonian Andes

Patagonia is massive and bleak. Yet we love the Patagonian Andes, 2000km (1243mi) in length, but averaging less than 100km (62mi) in width. You could take years exploring just the eastward (drier) side of the mountains.

Towering granite peaks, untouched lakes, massive glaciers, huge volcano trekking peaks. This land is phenomenal.

Trekkers target five areas:

  • The Araucania
  • Lakes District
  • Central Patagonia
  • Southern Patagonia
  • Tierra del Fuego

Start in Mendoza, Argentina and visit the highest mountain outside Asia, Aconcagua. Next bus to the Switzerland of South America (Lake District). Some of the highest volcanoes of the world are here. Finally, work your way south by air and ferry to the granite spires at the south tip of the continent.

Trekking season here is Nov-Apr. (Feb-Mar often the best weather) That said, the wind and weather in Patagonia is notorious. Independent hikers need be prepared for anything and everything.

Conversational Spanish highly recommended for those travelling independently.

More information on our new Patagonia information page.

Our favourite hike in the Patagonian Andes is the Paine Circuit in Chile.


John Grey Pass, Paine Circuit – flickr – Patagonia set – Michael Bollino

See our Paine Circuit Information page.

Click PLAY or see how to trek Aconcagua Base Camp independently on YouTube.

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Hiking Music VIDEO – 10,000 Feet

by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

Testing various new A.I. software products, I was impressed with their ability to create interesting songs.

This is the best of a number of original HIKING songs I prompted using Riffusion.com

Unlimited downloads for free. For now. It’s in BETA as I post.

The theme of this video is what to do when your true love dumps you. 😀

Head for the mountains. Solo !

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The vibe is he doth protest too much, methinks.

Sad dude heads for the mountains.

LYRICS
I don’t need your goddamn company at 10,000 feet
Don’t need your explanations or your guilt to make me complete
Up here the world makes sense again, I can finally breathe
I don’t need your goddamn company at 10,000 feet

Boot prints mark my solo trail
Through patches of melting snow
You said I couldn’t make it alone
But watch me as I go

Sometimes when the wind cuts sharp
And storm clouds block the sun
I wonder if I made mistakes
(Did I make mistakes?)
But then I see the summit call
And know I’ve just begun

I don’t need your goddamn company at 10,000 feet
Don’t need your explanations or your guilt to make me complete
Up here the world makes sense again, I can finally breathe
I don’t need your goddamn company at 10,000 feet

The air gets thinner
But my thoughts get clearer
With every single step
I’m getting stronger

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Best Gear Shop in Canada – GearTrade.ca

I was shocked on arrival at the GearTrade warehouse in Okotoks, Alberta near Calgary.

I made the trip to try on the new Hyperlite Unbound 55 Backpack.

Loved it. Bought it.

A big upgrade from my current Hyperlite 3400 Windrider.

Most of the GearTrade.ca business is done online. But you can make an appointment to visit in person if you want hands-on before making payment. It’s a terrific place to ask for advice.

Click PLAY or watch on YouTube.

Kane tours the store. And interviews Jesse on the most popular equipment they sell. And his recommendations for any new hiker who wants to get properly set up for overnight hiking.

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Serious Hikes in Australia

Lonely Planet recommends:

  • Overland Track, Tasmania
  • Kosciuszko Walk, New South Wales
  • Larapinta Trail, Northern Territory
  • Three Capes Track, Tasmania
  • Great Ocean Walk, Victoria
  • Border Track, Queensland
  • Heysen Trail, South Australia
  • Thorsborne Trail, Queensland
  • Bibbulmun Track, Western Australia
  • Coast Track, New South Wales
  • Great North Walk, New South Wales
  • Australian Alps Walking Track, Victoria, NSW and the ACT

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Top 10 Coastal Hikes ➙ Kalalau Trail, Hawaii

Kalalau Trail, on the Na Pali Coast of Kaua‘i is one of our top 10 coastal hikes in the world.

Why?

  • 11mi (18km)
  • hike any month of the year
  • trail sometimes closed due to weather
  • maximum elevation gain 800ft
  • Keʻe Beach to the Kalalau Valley
  • can be done as a long day hike though officially you are only allowed to day hike as far as Hankapiai beach
  • 3 days, 2 nights recommended
  • most people camp at least one night at either Hanakoa Valley (6 mile mark) or Kalalau Beach.
  • in Nā Pali Coast State Park
  • limited number of permits issued for camping

Francis Hehle’s video will give you a good idea of what the trail is like.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

For details, click over to our Kalalau Trail information page.

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BEST Hikes in the World

According to one AllTrails list.

It includes both challenging multi-day and short single-day adventures.

Our favourites from this list are in bold.

These lists are far from definitive. They are more conversation starters to get you thinking where you might want to go next.

For example, the Tonquin Trail is a 4.0-km out-and-back trail near Tofino on Vancouver Island. I’m on the island right now and can name easily a dozen better hikes close by. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Hiking Vancouver Island in January

by site editor Rick McCharles

The BEST thing about coastal Vancouver Island ➙ we can hike and cycle year round.

As I post in January, we’ve yet to have any snow in Parksville.

This YouTube #short was shot on iPhone 16 Pro in vertical. In and around Qualicum Beach.

Most of the clips were shot in the Heritage Forest, a 50-acre pocket of old growth coastal Douglas fir, western red cedar, grand fir, Sitka spruce, and hemlock.

Personally, the many wildly varied stumps I found most photogenic.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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W Trek In Patagonia

One of the best hikes in South America is the W Trek in Patagonian Chile.

Unforgettable.

The better alternative — in our opinion — is the longer Paine Circuit. It includes the W Trek.

If you can’t do the Circuit, do the W !

Zac and Ine had good weather — but typical high speed winds near the glacier.

They booked everything in advance.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.