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International Appalachian Trail Ireland 120sec

In April 2010 Greenland became the seventh chapter of the International Appalachian Trail. The route is on the Nussuaq Peninsula near Uummannaq Fjord.

Greenland was followed by Scotland in June, when the West Highland Way became the first IAT trail in Europe.

In October 2010 the IAT expanded further into Europe when nine new chapters joined … The new chapters include Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, England, Ireland, Wales, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland.

In 2011 the IAT plans to expand to Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

The Irish leg begins at the Slieve League cliffs in Co Donegal and proceeds eastwards along the Bluestacks Way and then the Ulster Way and finally the Causeway Coast Way terminating in Ballycastle, Co Antrim.

Click PLAY or watch the first Irish thru-hike on YouTube.

I’m thinking it would be easier simply to name ALL hikes in the world part of the IAT. 🙂

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Machu Picchu empty

Here’s the pic everybody wants.

Dave was one of the first four people inside that day. He was there after finishing the Salcantay trek.

… Unlike the classic 3-day Inca Trail trek, which requires you book a spot at least 5-6 weeks in advance (in the low season), the Salkantay Trek can be booked in Cusco upon arrival.

And it can be done for less than half the cost. …

The Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

To be at Machu Picchu at opening you need come from Aguas Calientes. Know that trekkers on the Inca Trail don’t arrive until mid-morning. 😦

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Corsica GR20 update

I hiked half the GR20 last summer.

Mike saw my trip report and comments:

… treat the water. Very often the Corsicans pump their water directly from nearby streams so the water “might” be infected due to the heavy grazing. I’m speaking from personal experience 😦 …

… bed bugs are a recurring problem with most of the refuges … I agree with you. Tents are much safer!

Mike’s got a 55min video documentary on the northern section linked from corsica.forhikers.com/gr20 and the equally detailed southern section sequel on vimeo.

Or you can see both on Mike’s GR20 blog.

Watching those would be ideal preparation for the “toughest long distance trail in Europe”.

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Circling The Globe In A Wheelchair

… Andy Campbell … broke his back in a climbing accident eight years ago, has big plans for 2012, as he plans to circle the globe in his wheelchair, covering more than 30,000 miles in the process. …

via Adventure Blog

Does that sound crazy?

Yep. He’s crazy.

Freedom from andy campbell on Vimeo.

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shooting a Grizzly only makes it angry

At a New Years Eve party I happened to meet the man first on scene at this tragedy.

It turns out that the hunter in Idaho who the authorities thought was killed by a wounded grizzly bear was actually shot by his young hunting companion, who was trying to kill the bear, an autopsy has revealed.

Steve Stevenson, 39, died on Sept. 16 when he was shot in the chest once by his 20-year-old hunting companion, Ty Bell, officials said. The two men, both from Winnemucca, Nev., were tracking a grizzly bear they had wounded in rugged country on the Idaho-Montana border, thinking it was a black bear, the surviving hunter said. …

details on NY Times – In Bear Attack, Hunter Killed Hunter, Autopsy Shows

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where to hike 2012?

by site editor Rick McCharles

Brainstorming for myself here … the highest priority hikes are in bold

Do you have any advice?

AFRICA?
• Tanzania – Meru and Mt. Kilimanjaro?
• South Africa / Namibia?
• Morocco?

AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND?
• Tasmania?
• Thorsborne Trail?
• Fraser Island?
… anywhere in New Zealand 🙂
• PNG – Kokoda Trail?

SOUTH AMERICA?
• Chile – Dientes Circuit?
• Bolivia?
• Argentina?
• Ecuador?

ASIA?
• Nepal – Manaslu Circuit, Kangchenjunga … or sections of the Great Himalaya Trail?
• India – Nanda Devi Sanctuary?
• Korea?

“Pacific Crest Trail Kick Off” April 27-29, Campo, CA.

EUROPE?
France – Tour of the Vanoise?
Spain – Pyranees?
Iceland – Laugavegur?
Scandinavia?
Slovenia (Ultralight Summit) … Aug?

NORTH AMERICA? … June-Sept
• CA – Sierra High Route?
• CA – Lake Tahoe Rim Trail?
• Montana – Chinese Wall Loop?
• Wyoming – Teton Crest?

• BC – North Coast Trail?
• BC – Della Falls?
• BC – Stein Valley?
• Alberta – Waterton?
• Newfoundland – Long Range Traverse?

I’m wanting to DRAFT a 2012 calendar over the next few weeks — and get a little more organized in advance than I have in the past. 🙂

Cost IS a factor.

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Hillary Trail, New Zealand

It ain’t Everest but it ain’t easy!

• 70.0 km (43.5 mi)
• 4 days, 3 nights recommended
• opened 11 January 2010 to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of Sir Edmund’s death

Bookings are required for the Hillary Trail campgrounds, but not for the trail itself.

The last day is LONG, be warned. But you can give it a go year round.

Click PLAY or get a preview on YouTube.

• official web page

• detailed map (PDF)

(via Our Hiking Blog)

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Great Himalaya Trail – celebrities needed

… On January 15, two of Nepal’s prominent mountaineers will embark on a 1,700 km trail lasting 120 days with the aim of bringing tourists and investment to less visited and underdeveloped parts of the country as well as highlight effects of climate change.

To do this, Apa Sherpa, who holds the world record of summiting Mount Everest 21 times and Dawa Steven Sherpa, who has reached the peak twice, will take part in the marathon walkathon starting in Ghunsa in easterner Nepal and ending in Darchula in the far west. …

Hindustan Times – The mother of all treks and climate change

They are looking for … “global sports personalities and Hollywood and Bollywood stars to join some such portion of the trail and give the much needed publicity to the effort.”

The Great Himalaya Trail

(via Adventure Blog)