Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
I have friends packing for the annual Patagonian Expedition Race Feb. 14-22, 2012. You fly to Punta Arenas.
… I’m tempted to go as “media”.
Watch the 2011 race trailer on YouTube.
I’ve only hiked Patagonia once, tripping back and forth across the Chile / Argentina border.
Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.
(via Kraig on Gadling.)
Though the Milford Track gets more recognition, nearby Routeburn Track might be even better.
Kyle Ellison – trip report:
… This past year Lonely Planet listed the Routeburn Track as one of it’s top ten treks in the world, and the heavily trodden track has seen it’s annual numbers climb to over 13,000 walkers per year.
… the Department of Conservation limits the number of people who can through-hike the 20-mile route by only providing 50 beds in each of the 4 backcountry huts scattered along the trail. During the summer months, the no-frills huts (mattresses and gas stoves are provided) run a pricey $40 US per person/night and reservations are absolutely crucial. …
Permits are needed. Click over to Routeburn Track — official website — for information on how to tramp independently or guided.
There are plenty of good trekking guidebooks. Amy McGinnis recommends one I’ve not used — NZ Frenzy: New Zealand South Island by Scott Cook.
Peter Soons recommends trekking company Himalayan Leaders:
… The service was perfect, they even carried satellite phones, and foremost the cook knew his job. Group size was 4 pax and from their headquarters in Kathmandu, they called in every day to see how we were doing. …
They did this classic, one of our best hikes in Asia.
… an unforgettable 4 days to walk from Ganden to Samye in one of the most beautiful areas of Tibet. …
We trekked Ganden to Samye in 1998, independently and illegally. There were no guided tours at that time. 🙂
And we loved it.
Colleen Contrisciane-Lewis, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania won an all-expenses-paid grand prize from Backpacker magazine: an assignment to hike—and report on—her dream trip.
Read about her 85-mile, weeklong transect of Glacier National Park on the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail:
Naturally, Rowan and I want quality time alone–we eloped just weeks before our hike, and this Continental Divide-crossing route will not only be my Reader Leader dream trip, but also our honeymoon. …
… When I backpack solo, I can do breakfast and pack in 30 minutes. With Rowan, it takes two hours, and my frustration is building to a boil. …
… “Would you mind silencing your bear bell?” Rowan asks. “The incessant jingle is grating. And I’d love to see a bear.”
Who am I to argue with a man who’s lived with lions? So, against my better judgment, I silence my bell, and zip my lips. We hike 30 minutes before seeing a grizzly 20 yards off the trail …
read her trip report – GLACIER MAGIC
That’s one unforgettable honeymoon!
Backpacker posted 7 more reader submitted trip reports:
Shoal Creek Loop, Gros Ventre Wilderness, WY
International Appalachian Trail, Parc National de la Gaspesie, Quebec
Creekside Loop, Pisgah NF, NC
Evolution Loop, Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP, CA
Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, Castle Rock SP, CA
Grasshopper Glacier, Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness, MT
Appalachian Trail, 100-Mile Wilderness, ME
David Wilkinson and his wife Samantha have a snazzy new international adventure travel site. They already have some great content featuring New Zealand, Norway, and Nepal. But there’s much more to come.
Switchback Travel is an informational site—not a booking site—and provides comprehensive coverage of the world’s most extraordinary outdoor destinations. Given the desire to avoid the narrow and beaten path of existing travel information, the site is comprised not of sterile, exhaustive lists but instead offers an abundant collection of essays, photographs, maps, user input, and other helpful tools. …
I’m subscribed to Switchback Travel.
A very good looking website.
… the new Ulster Way – a 625 mile (1000 km) circular long distance walking route that is one of the longest in the United Kingdom and Ireland. …
The revised Ulster Way was officially launched on 16th September 2009. This website is designed to help you plan ahead so you can be one of the first to walk the new route! Please Note: All signposts and waymarkers may not yet be in place.Walk Northern Ireland – Ulster Way
Remember the good old days when no Yosemite permit was needed?
… Since the permit system for climbing the cables on Half Dome was established two years ago, there has been quite a bit of conflict and frustration around the “first come, first serve” system. After the initial balking at the “reservation fee” required for permits, the attention soon shifted to the larger problem: permit scalpers. …
… the park service will be implementing a new strategy for Half Dome permits this year. Rather than a first come, first serve situation, those hoping to climb the cables this summer will be able to submit their name (and up to 6 guests) into a lottery for $4.50 online (or $6.50 over the phone). This reservation fee is non-refundable.
… The other major change is that the permits will no longer be transferable. …
It’s worth it if you’ve never been. Click PLAY or watch an awesome time lapse video on Vimeo.
(via Yosemite Blog)
You may have been contacted by Google:
We’re getting rid of over 60 different privacy policies across Google and replacing them with one that’s a lot shorter and easier to read. …
These changes will take effect on March 1, 2012.
Some are freaking out.
That’s dopey. Not much is changing. Here’s a much more measured assessment:
Read Write Web – Tech World Overreacts to Google’s New Privacy Policy – How Does It Affect You?
… You know what you can do? Stop sharing things you don’t want tracked. …
Before and after March 1st best advice is not to do anything online you’ll regret in future. Somebody, somewhere could be tracking it. And it probably won’t be Google. They’re one of the least evil players.
If you want to dig into this deeper, the best authority is Jeff Jarvis. He’s the author of:
I’m liking the layout.
Mostly Utah. But looking to expand to the best western States.
Check a sample – Mt Timpanogos Summit (via Aspen Grove)
Stats, Elevation Profile, Popularity, “Followability”, Photos, Directions.
Not bad. 🙂
There are some dead end pages. (e.g. Idaho) … I could do without those.
And there’s no RSS feed. So no easy way for me to know about new hikes. I’m not likely to return very often.
Thank Adam Gilbert, James Meyer and Donna Coleman for the new online resource.
The barefoot movement is going too far with this project.
Ross on Science of Sport:
Only 3 days to go before I jet off to Kilimanjaro to tackle Africa’s highest summit, and the world’s highest free-standing mountain…barefoot…
My mission is to help get ONE person to the top barefoot, and to do it safely. …
It’s an attention getter, that’s for sure. Funds raised go to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in South Africa.
related – Killian Jornet record for summitting Kilimanjaro in light shoes – 7 hours 14 minutes return. (VIDEO)
besthike.com 