Inspired by the Wind River Range in Wyoming.
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Hiking Iceland’s Plane Wreck
Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
Increasingly popular is hiking out to see the 1973 US Navy C-117D Sólheimasandur Crash.
You might have seen it in Justin Bieber’s 2015 music video I’ll Show You.
- 7.4-km out-and-back hike from the parking lot on the southern Highway 1 Ring Road
- in high season you can pay to take a shuttle to and from the parking lot
- close to Vik and Skógafoss, two of the most popular tourist attractions
- flat black sand
- many tourists on a nice day in high season
I found the wreck fairly interesting — but enjoyed more continuing to the big black sand beach on the ocean. I had that to myself.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
The flight encountered severe icing and the crew were forced to land on a frozen river at Sólheimasandur.
All 7 crew members survived and were rescued by helicopter, but the aircraft was written off. The unsalvaged remains of the aircraft were left at the scene.
In January 2020, two Chinese tourists died of hypothermia near the wreckage after getting caught in a storm that went over the area.
A month later, SAR units had to rescue several tourists that had ignored a warning from the police to not trek to the wreckage due to deteriorating weather in the area.
LOST Hiker 😀
Image posted by Marvin Weeks on Cursed AI.
TOP 10 day hikes ➙ Zion Narrows, Utah USA
One of our top 10 day hikes in the world.
Why?
Best slot canyon hike in the world.
- in Utah’s Zion National Park
- 16 miles (25 km) from Chamberlain’s Ranch to Temple of Sinawava in the Park
- June through October best months
- usually closed from mid-March to mid-May due to spring snowmelt and runoff
- in places chasm up to 1,968 ft deep and 20 ft wide
- about a 1500 ft descent
- walk in water up to half the time
- 9 – 13 hours. Confirm the time of the last shuttle out of the park!
- a long, tiring day or you can camp overnight. Be aware that there are only 12 campsites available and they book quickly. Start as early as possible if you are doing it in a day.
- Permit is required
World → North America → S.W. USA → Utah → Zion Narrows
For details click over to our Zion Narrows information page.
My Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT MAX
The most popular sleeping pad on the Pacific Crest Trail these days is NOT the lightest.
It’s the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT.
I opted for the slightly heavier, rectangular Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT MAX Sleeping Pad. Not inexpensive at CAD $340.
That shape completely covers the bottom of my 1-person-tent, keeping everything cleaner. And dryer.
I hike and cycle in rainy, muddy destinations. Iceland in 2024, for example.
I’ll be carrying it a lot for BikePacking where weight matters less.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Great pad. But VERY SLOW TO FILL using the supplied inflation bag.
I decided to purchase the tiny USB powered FLEXTAILGEAR Portable Tiny Pump 2X. (CAD $46)
- 96 grams
- inflate sleeping pad
- deflate sleeping pad
- stoke outdoor fires
- flashlight
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Cape to Cape Track, Western Australia
Laura Waddell and her Mom did the coastal track October and early November 2023.
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Cycling / Hiking the Faroe Islands
Challenging Logistics
The best way to travel the 500km of roads over 17 islands is by personal vehicle. This gives you the flexibility to go when the weather forecast looks … better. 😀
Otherwise you are limited by the infrequent public buses and ferries. AND ferries often don’t run when it’s too windy.
On the other hand, with a motor vehicle, you pay a fee for every undersea tunnel you drive through, and any ferry you need to take. It adds up quickly.
I went with gravel bike — but was too cowardly to cycle through most of the many narrow tunnels. It is allowed, however. Locals told me they don’t mind bikes in tunnels.
I did cycle 2 of them.
It’s easy to put your bike under the bus — and I did it every day.
BUT the buses run infrequently, especially on weekends and holidays. There are very few locals on them, only a few cheapskate tourists.
If you like coastal scenery, there is no place on the Faroe Islands more than 5km from the seas.
I had a bike shop in the capital do a tune-up and replaced the chain. Bike ran great — until the new chain broke. It was Sunday and there was no bus service. I had to hitchhike with my disabled transport.
Note: A number of the most famous hikes on the Faroe Islands cross privately owned land and have expensive fees. Similar attractions in Norway and Iceland are free.
There are campgrounds, but I’d recommend booking a roof over your head. I had an inexpensive room in a Vestmanna guesthouse, happy to be warm and dry my clothing every night.
The Faroe Islands are great. But logistics are challenging. Book as many days as possible.
The easiest way to hike is with your own motor vehicle. Either rent — or take the only ferry to the Faroe Islands.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
related – 15 things to know before visiting the Faroe Islands
177-Mile ‘Denver Orbital Trail’
Michael Tormey mapped out a route that circumnavigates Denver using existing trails — he’s calling it the ‘Denver Orbital Trail’ …
Tormey divided it into 28 sections, each designed to be approachable and accessible sections that almost anyone could complete as a day hike. …
Tormey has the route and all the sections mapped with AllTrails on the Denver Orbital Trail website. …
Scrambling Fossurin í Fossá, Faroe Islands
Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
Fossurin í Fossá is one of the highest waterfalls in the Faroe Islands. Super popular with tourists.
140 metres to the sea in two stages.
You can drive to the base easily.
I did the surprisingly difficult scramble up in-between the two falls. It was a rush.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Mulafossur Waterfall, Gásadalur, Faroe Islands
One of the best — and free — highlights of the Faroe Islands is the tiny village of Gásadalur (13 inhabitants).
Tourists go to see the Múlafossur Waterfall — but the village itself is also charming.
If you look long enough, you’ll probably see some puffins near here.
Before 2004, people needed to hike over a mountain shoulder to get there — but after the Gásadalstunnilin tunnel (1.4 km) was blasted — it’s became possible to drive, cycle, or arrive by public bus.
I cycled. And it was a bit scary in that long tunnel.
On the way out I put my bike on a bus.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
related – hiking around Gásadalur, including the old Postman’s Trail
On the way to the waterfall, before the tunnel, you get great views of 2 sea stacks called Drangarnir — Stóri Drangur and Lítli Drangur.
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