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Long Range Traverse, NFLD

I first heard of the Long Range Traverse, Gros Morne National Park Newfoundland, Canada, in Classic Hikes of North America by Peter Potterfield.

It’s certainly one of the best hikes of North America.

Distance: 23 miles (35 km)
Time: 4-5 days

Newfoundland’s Long Range Traverse is a unique 35-kilometer backcountry route of growing reputation among wilderness cognoscenti. The storied traverse follows the ridgelines and valleys of Newfoundland’s highest peaks where they rise abruptly 2,500 feet above the island’s west coast along the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The landscape here in Gros Morne Naitonal Park is as dramatic as it is remote, carved by glaciers from massive, uplifted blocks of granite that form the plateau. Land-locked fjord-like bodies of water, locally called “ponds,” dominate the views seaward toward the Gulf. …

The route is often described as a 35 km route, or about 23 miles. But that’s measured as the crow flies, and the actual distance walked will be much longer, the result of detours mandated by terrain and the thick patches of tuckamore. …

Mid May to mid September is considered prime time, but most hikers come in July or August. The advantage of off season travel is fewer bugs, the downside is the greater potential for bad weather. …

read the full trip report on Great Outdoors

Ten Mile Pond

related – Save Gros Morne National Park:

Last year Gros Morne National Park was threatened by a proposal to drill and frack for oil metres from the park boundary. After a huge public outcry this specific proposal was stopped. However the park is still vulnerable to future industrial proposals. That’s why CPAWS is working with concerned local community members and businesses to encourage the federal and provincial governments to create a buffer zone around the park to permanently protect it from industrialization

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Kilimanjaro – Machame route

Once again I’m looking to climb Kili.

The last thing I want to do is sleep in the Marangu huts. I much prefer tenting.

Of the options tenting, Machame is most popular.  6-7 days, 49km. Less expensive.

Machame
Kyle McLaughlin recommends it.

What guiding company should I sign on with?

Kyle likes African Walking Company and Ultimate Kilimanjaro. They charge $2,000 to $3,500 per climber. Mid-range.

Here are the Ultimate Kilimanjaro trips for autumn 2014.

African Walking Company does not seem to have an easy-to-browse calendar. I emailed them. UPDATE: They got back to me by email, a 7-day trip starting Aug 26th costs $1850. … Those dates are not likely to work for me.

More recommended Kili trek operators.

Though you can climb year round, the main dry season is July to October.

I’ve got the gear.

Leave a comment if you have any recommendations for me.

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climbing Volcan Villarica, Chile

Villarrica is one of the world’s most climbed stratovolcanoes. Guided hikes to the crater are offered from the town of Pucón by several enterprises, but may ascent might be suspended due to cloudiness and in periods of seismic or increased volcanic activity. …

volcano climb

Mike Howarth reports on his climb – The Lake District: Autumn Leaves, Asphalt and a Volcano


People love this adventure.

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the man who walked the Amazon

Ed Stafford (born 26 December 1975) is an English explorer and former British Army captain. He holds the Guinness World Record for being the first human ever to walk the length of the Amazon River. …

Stafford was announced as one of National Geographic Adventurers of the Year 2010 and then in March 2011 he was awarded European Adventurer of the Year in a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden. …

ed

Amazon – Walking the Amazon: 860 Days. One Step at a Time.

Click PLAY or watch his TED Talk on YouTube.

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Only The Essential (Hiking the PCT) – Trailer

In the summer of 2013 Casey Gannon and Colin Arisman thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail with cameras in hand.

“Only The Essential” is the story of their 5 month, 2668 mile journey on foot from Mexico to Canada across the wilderness of California, Oregon, and Washington.

The full length film will be available to stream for free online, as well as premiering around the country and being submitted to film festivals. Prior to the hike we successfully ran a Kickstarter fundraiser, and we are deeply grateful for the independent financial support of those who backed our project. The film is a non-commercial project and has been a labor of love for us. We are honored that Only The Essential has received the support of the Pacific Crest Trail Association. Only the Essential will premier at Pacific Crest Trail Days, fall 2014.

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

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Caminito del Rey … closing

Kraig Becker:

My friend Matthew Karsten recently had the opportunity to hike the Caminito del Rey, a notoriously dangerous trail located in Andalucia, Spain …

Matt gives us an extensive report on his experience there, as well as a fantastic video that he shot along the way. Read his thoughts on the experience here, and watch the video below. He describes the place as very beautiful, while also acknowledging the inherent dangers of walking this route at the same time.

If you’ve always wanted to walk the Caminito del Rey, you may want to hurry. Matt also reports that in May, the trail will be shut down, and a restoration plan will be put into place. …

Adventure Blog – Hiking The Caminito del Rey: Spain’s Most Dangerous Trail

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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hike Lake O’Hara in the Canadian Rockies

I was born in Calgary, Alberta. Banff and the Canadian Rockies are my back yard.

When people ask me to name the most beautiful location of all, I tell them Lake O’Hara.

Lake OHara

Getting a reservation to camp in Lake O’Hara is difficult. The few tent sites very much in demand.

Lake O’Hara Reservations must be made starting 8am Mountain Standard Time 3 months (not 90 days) before you want to camp.

250-343-6433

If you wanted to Camp Aug 10,11,12 you’d telephone May 10th at 8am. For example.

When you call, please have the following information ready:

Day or dates requested: maximum of 3 nights for camping

Number of people: maximum of 6 people per party for day use

Number of campsites: maximum of 2 sites per party and 1 tent per site

Preferred in-going bus time: reservations are not required for an outgoing bus

Mastercard, Visa, or American Express number: all fees are collected at the time of booking

details

The much more expensive Lake O’Hara Lodge and cabins are an alternative.

Elizabeth Parker Hut is another alternative. Available only by lottery, a year in advance of your stay.

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mountain biking the GR20

Dan Harmon and Dale Weatherson … Are you crazy?

It’s super difficult to walk!

scrambling GR20

MTN bike GR20

the GR20 is notorious as being one of the most scenic, yet most difficult hiking trails in Europe. The harsh, granite terrain rises steeply out of the Mediterranean on the French island of Corsica. In July, when the snow on the peaks has melted and the refuges are open, the route becomes home to thousands of walkers who traverse the island in about two weeks. They move from refuge to refuge, eating and sleeping in relative comfort before the next stage. One must therefore question why anyone would choose to attempt to complete this route, almost 200km in length with more elevation change than Mt Everest, by mountain bike in early May!

MTB’ing Corsica

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cycling the Carretera Austral

In Chile.

Austral spokes Carratera bikes

Mike Howarth:

… a grand feat of engineering linking the remote and isolated communities of Puerto Montt in the north with Villa O’Higgins in the south. Perhaps a curiouser byproduct is that of the adoption of this rough isolated road spanning 1200 kms by cyclists. Voted one of the top ten cycling destinations in the world, each year more and more come to make their pilgrimage to the holy grail of adventurous cycling. …

see Mike’s photo journal – Carretera Austral: A Ripio Oddeseey

There’s GREAT access to remote hiking from that roadway, by the way.