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Everest or Annapurna?

ramblin’ boy did both in 2006.

I did Annapurna in the late 1990s, Everest in 2009.

Recently we removed Annapurna on our list of the top 10 hikes in the world, replacing it with Everest.

If you are considering one or the other — or both — check ramblin’s 2013 comparison:

… the big question these days is – Is the Annapurna Circuit still worth doing?

The short answer is – Absolutely!

… While there is no going back to the past, what is still there waiting to be experienced makes the journey worth your while.

Even better is the work being done by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) and people like Andrees de Ruiter, a Belgian trekker whose visits to the Annapurna region over the past thirty years make him very familiar with the situation …

The answer he has worked on along with a Nepali trekking guide Prem Rai and members of the ACAP during the past few years is the New Annapurna Trekking Trail (NATT for short). Their commitment to establishing a viable new Annapurna Circuit resulted in this 2011 first edition of the guide-book Trekking The Annapurna Circuit (Including NATT – Trails Which Avoid The Road), which is available for free on line in pdf form. Click here.

NATT trails Annapurna

There is a more detailed second edition in the works and it should be available by September 2013. ….

Nepal’s Annapurna Circuit: Is It Still Worth Doing?

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Huayhuash Circuit, Peru

I hiked Huayhuash in 2004. (annotated PHOTOS) It’s my BEST HIKE to date.

Extreme.

I recommend it only to the most experienced and adventurous trekkers.

Much better is a detailed 2010 trip report by ramblin’ boy:

huayhuash-from-above-shot

… The satellite image above shows you the mini-range of Huayhuash in the shape of a T; it is about 30 kilometers from one end to the other with six peaks over 6000 meters and a couple of dozen over 5000. It’s like walking in Sagarmatha National Park but without the prayer flags!

Most of the 125-km long trek is on trails above 4000m and above the tree line so you have a very stark mountain scenery. …

Huayhuash map

Our trek began with a ride to the new trail head at Llamac in a mini-bus with room for the seven clients, the two guides and cook and his assistant and a whole lot of tenting equipement and food. …

At Llamac we met the arrieros (muleteers) and their burros, all ten of them. They would carry the bulk of our stuff for us; we would walk with day packs containing rain gear, cameras, and a water bottle. I cannot imagine doing this particular trek unsupported, weighed down by all the things you’d need to bring. …

Huayhuash lakes

read on – The Huayhuash Circuit: South America’s Finest High-Altitude Trek

Those marvelous 15 days cost only $1350 / person. A great deal since they had a larger group.

They did the Circuit plus climbs of two trekking peaks: Pumarinri and Diablo Mudo.

Sweet.

Check our  Huayhuash information page.

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SUMMER SOLSTICE MICROADVENTURE CHALLENGE

The inspirational Alastair Humphreys throws down:

… On June 21st we want as many people as possible to try a microadventure.

HERE’S THE PLAN:

Grab a friend, a colleague or go on your own.

Head for the countryside (between June 15 and 30) by bike, on foot, by train, canoe or however you like. Sleep out under the stars (bivvy, not tent!) and have fun.

That’s it!

Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools. …

SUMMER SOLSTICE MICROADVENTURE CHALLENGE

What’s a Microadventure?

Click PLAY or watch one on Vimeo.

There are many, many ways to enter the contest.

… submit a photo, a story or a video about your microadventure. As long as you make sure we see your submission you can consider yourself in the running for a prize. …

Prizes include: Trek Bikes, howies, Osprey Packs and Mountain Equipment

Click through for details.

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Everest time lapse

This is being widely shared on social media. I think I saw if first posted by Kraig Becker. 🙂

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

That’s from Elia Saikaly who was the only cameraman on their climb, 100% responsible for a 1M dollar reality television series.

related – Everest 2013: Season Recap: Summits, Records and Fights

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HALO fuel cell – electronics on the trail

It fits on a standard gas canister. It gives power via heat and a fuel-cell mechanism. The HALO is a to-be-released camping product made to recharge small gadgets in the woods. …

Gear Junkie

Halo

That’s a Kickstarter project.

Thanks Warren.

related – Can You Really Generate Electricity with a Hiking Boot?

SolePower began a Kickstarter campaign this week

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erecting tents in the rain

Warren Long:

Figured that I might as well see how it was to set up our (expected) West Coast Trail tents in the rain. This was a good thing to do. The good tent got pretty wet inside, before I got the fly on. Next time I will be much faster getting the fly on correctly the first time….

The old tent is old, and the fly is no longer water tight. I ended up with puddles inside it after it had been in the rain for a few hours. I have now purchased and sprayed on some new waterproofing. Time for another test.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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training to HIKE

We have 11 spots booked for August on our #1 hike — the West Coast Trail.

Four of us did it together in 1999.

Warren got us out today for a “TRAINING hike”.

Warren

We marched the bank of the North Saskatchewan river.

North Saskatchewan

3.5km with full packs? … That ought to be enough. Right? 🙂

hikers

WCT hikers

See more photos from this grueling training session.

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why I sleep in a tent, if I can …

… there may be a big disadvantage to sleeping in a shelter versus choosing a tent. Hantavirus! This nasty affliction is spread by rodents, especially mice. Mice habituate shelters, and hikers tolerate them. …

Take a Long Hike – Shelter or Tent?

tent

Privacy – You aren’t a stuffed sardine when it gets crowded.

Warmth – A tent with a rainfly is warmer than an open shelter.

Better Sleep – You are not poked, or kicked, or outsnored.

No Mice – Those critters can drive you nuts!