Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
by site editor Rick McCharles
I’m in Naples, now. Headed out to the Amalfi Coast in a couple of days.
Hiking guide Madeline Jhawar recommended these short hikes as not as crowded as many of the famous walks:
1) The Vièl del Pan path in the Dolomites
2) The Greenway, along Lake Como
3) Camogli to Portofino, Amalfi Coast
4) Path of Gods, Amalfi Coast
5) Sicily: Stromboli Volcano
Quoted on Why Go Italy. There is more information on each on that page.
This is the 5th year that the Banff Mountain Film Festival has sent a mini-festival of their best climbing films on the road.
Click PLAY or watch the extreme trailer on YouTube.
Ueli Steck, Paul Robinson, Daniel Woods, Lisa Rands, Dean Potter, Peter Croft, Chris Sharma, Cedar Wright, …
official home page
We previously linked to Alastair Humphreys Laugavegur trek trip report.
Now check out Iceland: Paddling to the ocean – the end of the expedition
Here’s the accompanying slide show video with commentary.
Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.
Laugavegur should be one of the top 10 hikes in the world, don’t you think?
When I scrambled the 15th highest mountain in Colorado in August, I was surprised at how DANGEROUS it is:
… It gets hairy, quickly. Exposure. Potential rockfall. … Many have been killed on this mountain.
I slipped badly on black ice here, the rock still frozen. …
In fact, I slipped badly just past the Keyhole. (The sun had not reached the other side.)
According to the National Park Service:
A hiker along the Keyhole Route of Longs Peak has been killed in a fall of about 300 feet …
The was at least the third fatality on Longs Peak this summer, and the second that occurred near the Keyhole …
I’ve updated our besthike flickr collection.
Click through to see the best of our best, over 750 in total. All have a Creative Commons license and can be reused by anyone, so long as they credit besthike.com.
Eric on Scenic Travel Canada posted a hike in my own backyard … that I’d never heard about.
The Rawson Lake Trail is an easy hike to a scenic and secluded mountain lake in Kananaskis Country, Alberta. Perched in the front ranges of the Rocky Mountains, the Rawson Lake hike is a 5 kilometer trek with a rewarding view of a picturesque green lake at the base of a towering peak – a quintessential Canadian postcard picture.
Rating – Easy
Distance – 5 kilometers
Elevation Gain – 320 meters
Duration – 3 hours round trip
When to go – mid-summer to early fall (mid July to October); snowshoe in mid-winter (December – March) …
details – Rawson Lake Trail – An Easy & Rewarding Hike in Kananaskis
As selected by Stephen Regenold, the Gear Junkie:
1. Half Dome’s Cable Route, Yosemite National Park
2. West Coast Trail, Vancouver Island, Canada
3. Mount Huashan Trail, China
4. Rover’s Run, Anchorage, Alaska
5. El Caminito del Rey, Spain
6. Devils Path, NY
7. Peekaboo Gulch, Utah
8. Kalalau Trail, Kauai
9. Pacaya Volcano, Guatemala
10. Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea
Travel & Leisure – World’s Scariest Hikes
(Thanks for the link HikingintheSmokys.com)
This is not a best hike.
But no hiker should skip a quick trot up to this historic vantage.
The Alaska Highway was dedicated here November 20, 1942 at Soldiers Summit.
The vista over Kluane Lake:
… The attack on Pearl Harbor and beginning of the Pacific Theatre in World War II, coupled with Japanese threats to the west coast of North America and the Aleutian Islands, changed the priorities for both nations.
On February 6, 1942 the construction of the Alaska Highway was approved by the United States Army and the project received the authorization from the U.S. Congress and President Franklin D. Roosevelt to proceed five days later. Canada agreed to allow construction as long as the United States bore the full cost, and that the road and other facilities in Canada be turned over to Canadian authority after the war ended.
The official start of construction took place on March 8, 1942 after hundreds of pieces of construction equipment were moved on priority trains by the Northern Alberta Railways to the northeastern part of British Columbia near Mile 0 at Dawson Creek.
Construction accelerated through the spring as the winter weather faded away and crews were able to work from both the northern and southern ends; they were spurred on after reports of the Japanese invasion of Kiska Island and Attu Island in the Aleutians. …
The amazing story is documented in historic photos like this one:
Highly recommended.
by site editor Rick McCharles
I’m off to Europe on Sept. 30th. Where should I hike?
Here’s one option. …
… This varied guided walking holiday lets you discover the breathtaking natural beauty of the subtropical island of La Gomera.
Together with experienced Headwater guide, Neil Flynn, in our air-conditioned minibus we take you to the starting points of the most exciting trails. The walks lead you through a bewildering variety of landscape, from the misty heights of the Garajonay peak, to fertile terraces dotted with palms, and rugged ravines. We follow goat herder’s tracks and ancient paths lined with tall palms, linking almost inaccessible villages and hermitages perched above dramatic gorges. A plantlover’s paradise, we may spot many endemic – sometimes rare – species like fleshy stonecrop, yellow jasmine or pink mallow. …
Headwater – Walking on La Gomera
more La Gomera photos
(via the the Headwater Swap Snow for Sunshine page)
There’s nothing better than finishing a hiking day with a hot soak.
Takhini Hot Springs has been providing that hot soak for over 100yrs. (See historic photos.)
The legendary pool is still going strong, open year round in 2010.
TripAdvisor ranks Takhini as the #7 most popular attraction in Whitehorse.
When I asked the desk for “best hikes” nearby, however, I got only an orienteering map of walking trails adjacent to their (excellent) campground.
My advice: drive to Takhini on your return to Whitehorse from any hike in the Territory. It’s about 30km (18mi) north of town.
You won’t regret it.
besthike.com 