The world’s highest national park, the Qomolangma National Park, located on the border of China and Nepal with a total area of 78,000 square kilometers has been inaugurated.
The park includes five mountain peaks with altitudes of more than 8,000 meters …
Qomolangma is Tibet’s third national park after the Namtso National Park, which was recently inaugurated near a holy lake for Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims, and the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon National Park that opened in 2010.
The parks are part of the Tibetan efforts to turn the region into “an important world destination.” …
Last trip (2009) I was shocked at the variety and quality of hiking / climbing gear available to buy or rent in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Mostly knock offs — “North Farce” — but you can get real gear, as well. Full price.
Manaslu Mountain Trail:
There is a minor manufacturing industry here now for outdoor equipment. Much is copied, using quality materials from China or Korea. Several companies make their own items for export. Famously Sherpa Adventure Gear is made in Kathmandu, so fine quality items are made here, if expensive.
On the cheaper side of this, a friend Uday has a small factory nearby and produces a range of equipment that certainly does the job at low cost. Is the quality as high as you can buy at home? Probably not, but it is not bad either …
If you can’t, no worry. You can buy enough gear for a trek and later donate it to the local people. Or buy whatever you need and bring it home with you.
Things have certainly changed since my first visit to Kathmandu in the 1990s. At that time there was only one bank that would accept foreign credit cards. 🙂
Virgin Narrows, Utah is one of the best hikes in the world.
• canyon walk in knee-deep water
• real risk of flash floods
• 1 or 2 days
• 10-12hrs of walking
• 16mi (25.8km)
Tim Miner, Trail Sherpa:
The Essentials
Regardless of your preferences for weight, style, or functionality you will need the following essential gear to tackle the Narrows in Zion:
Backpack
Shelter
Dry Bags
Water Shoes
Neoprene socks or Seal Skinz
Dry Pants (early or late seasons)
Walking Stick
Clothing
Headlamp
Camera and extra battery
Hydration System – bladder, bottles, and filtration system
If I went again, I’d wear 5-10 CANYONEERS again. With neoprene socks, again. They were perfect for my Narrows trip, perhaps 40% of the time walking in the water.
… Korea was blessed with a shapely topography: 70 percent of its landscape is mountain (the other 30 percent, expensive coffeeshops).
Around this time of year, due to the startling colors of the curvy landscape, the trails will doubtlessly be packed with streams of hikers in garish colored hiking gear …
But there are also many paths to the top of the mountain (literally), and many excellent paths that don’t necessarily lead to the top.
Here’s where to check out the most vibrant autumnal hues or, later in the year, the bleached landscape of a snowy mountaintop. …
… winners of the 48th annual Veolia Environmental Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition were announced on October 17th featuring 100 incredible photos selected from 48,000 entries originating from 98 countries, with top prize claimed by Paul Nicklen for his bubbly capture of emperor penguins. …
How often have you, or someone you know, eschewed a bicycle helmet to look cool at the expense of safety?
Well, gamble with a traumatic brain injury no more. Two Swedish inventors created an invisible helmet called Hövding …
The helmet is actually a thick collar — like one you might see on a heavy winter jacket — with an airbag hood underneath that deploys should you get in an accident. …
• canyon walk in knee-deep water
besthike.com 