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Great Hikes in Switzerland

– Hörnli Hut: A challenging ascent to the base of the iconic Matterhorn, where I soaked in the majestic views.

– Limmernsee: A hidden gem with stunning turquoise waters surrounded by towering cliffs.

– Lauterbrunnen Valley: A picturesque valley with cascading waterfalls and charming alpine villages.

– Oeschinensee: A serene mountain lake with crystal-clear waters, perfect for a peaceful hike.

– Schynige Platte: A classic Swiss trail offering sweeping views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau and a botanical alpine garden featuring the edelweiss flower. (It’s close to the fantastic Harder Ridge / Hardergrat)

– Schäfler Hut: Perched high above the clouds, offering panoramic views of the Swiss Alps.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Here are 5 more.

  1. Hardergrat
  2. Via Alpina
  3. Tour du Mont Blanc
  4. Santis Peak / Schafler Ridge
  5. Glecksteinhutte

    Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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    NEW book – “Hike It”

    Hike It: An Introduction to Camping, Hiking, and Backpacking through the U.S.A. Hardcover – June 25 2024

    … fully illustrated book is the perfect introduction to enjoying America’s great outdoors.

    Explore 20 National Parks with incredible trails that take you past snow-capped mountains, along stunning coastlines, and through ancient forests, and discover the majesty of nature with glorious artwork throughout. …

    Young adventurers 7+ will learn about:
    • Navigating, and what to do if you get lost
    • Essential hiking equipment
    • How to leave no trace and protect the environment
    • Pooping in the woods!
    • Staying safe in the heat, snow, and rain
    • Fire safety and setting up camp
    • Encountering wildlife and safety
    • Locating the North Star and understanding the night sky

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    Ausangate Trek, Peru, without a Guide

    Now that Nepal required you hire a guide for almost all high altitude treks, Peru might offer the easiest logistics for similar independent adventures.

    Of many great options in Peru, we like the Ausangate Circuit best. You can side trip to the Rainbow mountain, if you like. And nearby Red Valley. AND Red Lake.

    Megs from Wisconsin has traveled over 70 nations. Here’s how she trekked Ausangate independently.

    • Mileage: Around 45 Miles, depending on route
    • Difficulty: Extremely Difficult
      • The Ausangate trek without a guide is extremely difficult due to the trail’s remoteness, altitude, and being unmarked. Additionally, the weight of carrying all your gear and food for at least 5 days
      • This high-altitude trek in Peru never dips below 14,150 feet (4,000m)
      • The weather can change fast at this altitude and there are risks associated with doing the trek guided or not. NEVER HIKE ALONE
    • Duration: 5 – 7 Days

    The most popular time to hike Ausangate is between the months of April to October. Peru has two main seasons, dry and rainy. In general, dry season is from May to October, while rainy season is from November until April. …

    The altitude of the Ausangate trek is insane. Remember, this trek never drops below 14,000 feet!

    Many of the passes are grueling and top out at over 16,000 feet. The mountains are Apus, or Gods, to the Indigenous, so go in with the mindset of respecting them. By the way, the mighty mountain of Ausangate is a staggering 20,945 feet (6,384 m).

    Acclimation is key …

    How To Hike the Epic Ausangate Trek Without A Guide | 6 Days

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    $100 Million Donation to U.S. National Parks

    Aug. 26, 2024

    The National Park Foundation (NPF) today announced a historic $100 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

    This transformative grant — the largest ever received by NPF and the largest grant benefitting national parks — celebrates a pivotal moment in safeguarding the future of America’s treasured national parks. …

    Lilly Endowment’s grant will serve as a catalyst to scale and accelerate NPF’s impact. Working together with the National Park Service and park partners, NPF will allocate the funds to four key priority areas:

    • Inspire the Next Generation of Park Stewards: Creating opportunities for youth and young adults that will foster a deeper understanding of history, appreciation for environmental stewardship, and connection with our natural world.
    • Conserve and Preserve Threatened Parks and Wildlife: Addressing critical initiatives that will ensure the health and longevity of the fragile ecosystems and diverse species that call our national parks home.
    • Ensure a World-Class Visitor Experience: Securing a future where national parks can accommodate unprecedented growth and leverage new technology, while remaining accessible and awe-inspiring for all visitors.
    • Tell a More Complete Story of America: Delivering a more comprehensive historical narrative, including the experiences of communities whose voices and contributions have not been fully told as a part of the American story. …

    To learn more about the National Park Foundation’s mission and donate today, visit nationalparks.org.

    Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

    Lilly Endowment Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is one of the world’s largest private philanthropic foundations.

    … historically focused on three primary grant areas: community development, education, and Christianity. …

    It has given to some politically and religiously conservative causes, especially in the 1960s.

    … Climate change denial …

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    TOP 10 Hiking Towns ➙ Grindelwald, Switzerland

    I stayed in Grindelwald again in 2023. What a terrific hiking town.

    Most hikers arrive by train from Interlaken. They share that journey with hundreds of thousands of camera clutching tourists all en route to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe.

    Grindelwald is a municipality in the district of Interlaken in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The village is located at 1,034 metres (3,390 ft) above sea level in the Bernese Alps. …

    Long famed as a winter tourist destination with slopes for beginners, intermediates and the challenges of the Eiger glacier for the experienced, there are activities for the non-skiers, from tobogganing to groomed winter hiking tracks. It is the usual starting point for ascents of the Eiger and the Wetterhorn. Nowadays Grindelwald is also a popular summer activity resort with many miles of hiking trails across the Alps. …

    Grindelwald has a population (as of 2007) of 3,809 …

    Many experienced hikers would pooh pooh Grindelwald as too touristy, basing themselves instead out of Lauterbrunnen, Mürren or even (our pick) tiny Gimmelwald, accessible only on foot or by aerial tramway.

    There are no bad hikes out of Grindelwald. It is fantastic in every direction.

    vista from the Grindewald hostel

    But the Tour of the Jungfrau Region, a 2wk ultimate adventure, is our best recommendation.

    See more “best hikes” in the Alps.

    The best day hike is the Eiger Trail.

    Click PLAY or get a glimpse of my June hike on YouTube.

    Most hike June to mid-October but, surprisingly, there are trails open year round close to Grindelwald.

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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.

    AllTrails.

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    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

    Water walking shoes recommended.

    For details click over to our Zion Narrows information page.

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    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.