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best hiking towns in America?

Our list of the top 4 hiking regions in the world includes 3 in the USA:

#1 New Zealand – info page

#2 Southwest USA – info page
#3 The Rockies – info page
#4 USA Sierra Nevada – info page

Yet our list of the top 10 hiking towns in the world includes only one in the States: Moab, Utah. And it’s only 10th.

How can we fix that disconnect?

Should we add the “Switzerland of America” Ouray, Colorado?

Ouray is better known as the “winter ice-climbing capital” of America, but many feel the surrounding San Juan Mountains are the best in the State. Perhaps the best in the Rockies.

Other candidates?

Buzz recommends, in addition to Ouray:

North Conway, NH
Asheville NC
Springdale
Bishop, CA
Nevada City, CA
Leavenworth, CA
Boulder, CO
Crested Butte, CO
Telluride, CO
Jackson, WY

Crested Butte was my favourite Colorado town during my travels last summer. But I went there for mountain biking, not hiking.

The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog recommends, aside from Ouray:

Damascus, VA
East Glacier, MT
Asheville, NC

Cooke City, MT
Bryson City, NC
Fairplay, CO
Grand Lake, CO

Townsend, TN
Taos, NM
Santa Fe, NM
Leadville, CO

Gatlinburg, CO
Estes Park, CO

The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog – Top Hiking Towns

Leave a comment if you’ve an opinion on these. Or if we’ve missed your favourite hiking town.

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800-pound grizzly named Brutus

I’ve linked to Casey Anderson before. But this is the best video I’ve seen yet.

800-pound grizzly bear Brutus is the curious best friend to renowned naturalist Casey Anderson, who has raised him since birth. Together, they’ve set out on a yearlong mission to chronicle the lives of Yellowstone’s vulnerable grizzly bears.

National Geographic TV – Expedition Grizzly

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Many predict that Brutus will one day kill him. … Could happen.

(via Trend Hunter)

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Don’t Tase me, Bear

A $2000 piece of hiking gear.

The Wildlife TASER electronic control device is a revolutionary new multi-shot ECD that can engage multiple targets, and deliver a calibrated Neuro Muscular Incapacitation (NMI) pulse from up to 35 feet away.

The Range Adjusted Dual Laser System increases effectiveness, while providing a more humane means of animal control for wildlife. These devices have been proven effective for wildlife and are available today for wildlife managers, field biologists and zoo caretakers.

taser.com

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA):

… calls the X3W inhumane

Tasers cause uncontrollable muscle contractions and overwhelming pain. Humans and animals on the receiving end have died as a result of the shock. For these reasons, the National Animal Control Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association both recommend against their use. Aggressive methods should be explored only if one’s life is truly in danger.

In extreme nuisance wildlife cases, large wild animals (without young) can be live-trapped and relocated. …

read more – ABC 15

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do orthotics work?

My old biomechanics professor, Benno M. Nigg at the University of Calgary, says … not necessarily:

His overall conclusion: Shoe inserts or orthotics may be helpful as a short-term solution, preventing injuries in some athletes. But it is not clear how to make inserts that work. The idea that they are supposed to correct mechanical-alignment problems does not hold up. …

NY Times – Close Look at Orthotics Raises a Welter of Doubts

He’s about to release a new book titled Biomechanics of Sport Shoes.

Of course many people swear by them, including this guy.

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moving the besthike database?

For years I’ve been wanting to move our list of the best hikes in the world to a wiki.

Currently it’s locked up in software called GoLive, defunct for years.

Yet every time I research the state of the art wikis, I’m disappointed.

We don’t need much:

• WYSIWYG easy page editing for ‘normal’ people
• hosted
• good security

As a fall back plan, I’m currently trying to move it to Google Sites.

Click PLAY or watch a tutorial on YouTube.

Leave a comment if you can recommend other options.

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TripAdvisor buys EveryTrail

Joost Schreve – Founder & CEO EveryTrail:

It is with great pleasure that I can today announce that EveryTrail has been acquired by TripAdvisor, an operating company of Expedia, the world’s largest travel company. The official press release can be found here …

read more on the EveryTrail blog

I’ve personally not used EveryTrail, but have been keeping up with it via Tom Mangan. Read his take on the acquisition on Two-Heel Drive.

If it brings hiking more into the mainstream, I’m for it.

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how to start a WordPress blog

… like this one.

It’s easy. It’s free.

If you have something to say, a blog is the best place to say it. By comparison, Facebook and Twitter are far less permanent.

Click PLAY or watch it on WordPress – Get Started

Here are the next steps. Follow along from the link below.

# Get Focused
# Get Customized
# Get Published
# Get Flashy
# Get Connected
# Get Famous
# Get Mobile
# Get Heroic

WordPress.com is the leading blog platform.

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trek Dientes Circuit, Patagonia

An agency in Puerto Natales, Chile called Dragon de la Patagonia is now offering a guided trip on the Dientes Circuit on Isla Navarino.

On our list of the established best hikes in the world, this is the most southerly. Independent hikers often get lost.

… off the beaten track and through unspoiled nature and wild landscapes of Tierra del Fuego, far away from civilization. From Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino we prepare ourselves for this unique hike around the “Dientes de Navarino” – mountain chain.

During this hike we will walk through mystical southern beech forests, cross vast snowfields and have an impressive view over the Beagle channel. Over and over again we find ourselves close to the rugged peaks that give this hike its name while passing through this rough mountainous landscape. The nights on the trek we spend in a tent in the great outdoors with view on snow-covered summits with small lakes at their feet. Before and after the hike we sleep in comfortable guesthouses. …

details – Dientes de Navarino

The 9 day itinerary starts at $1990.

Check our Dientes information page.

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February Florida Hiking Trails Month

Governor Charlie Crist declared February Florida Hiking Trails Month.

I’ve been shopping (unsuccessfully) for a cheap flight Calgary to Hawaii. … But I may need to change my focus to the Sunshine State.

The best starting place in deciding where to go is the Florida Hikes blog and FloridaHikes.com.

I know what you’re thinking. Florida is pretty flat.

But there are some wilderness attractions.

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guided treks in Nepal

Richard Tulloch spoke to the advantages of guided trekking in Nepal:

It’s pretty simple really. Lots of places have great hiking, but Nepal has the greatest treks of them all. I was privileged to be invited on this trip, and ‘voluntourism’ was an excellent way to start. I can’t gush about this enough!

… in 2006 the Kushudebu Medical Centre opened, with Ang Tshering as its president, and support from organisations including Australian schools, travel company World Expeditions and many individuals. It now treats over 10,000 patients a year, and pays for the medical training of young Nepalis who will be its future staff. …

Ten Australians and three Britons have come to Nepal to work on Ang Tshering’s next initiative, building incinerators to dispose of the garbage polluting land and waterways. Then he’s taking us on a nine-day trek. …

This site is mainly geared for independent hikers. But we love guided treks, as well.

They are much more social. And having local guides makes your adventure a much richer experience.

World Expeditions runs guided treks combined with community development projects in Nepal. Cost of $2790 includes 18 days accommodation (a mix of tents, lodges and hotels), all meals while on the trek, local flights and transfers, guiding and equipment.

worldexpeditions.com.au – Everest Base Camp

First published – Sun-Herald, Sydney

Read the very entertaining trip report on Richard’s blog –
TREKKING NEPAL – simply the best.