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Waitukubuli National Trail, Dominica

Destined to quickly become one of the great walks of the world, Waitukubuli in the Caribbean is “opening soon” … though some hikers have already pieced it together, unofficially.

Dominica, the Caribbean’s Nature Island, is looking to share its beauty with hikers through the development of a 115-mile cross-island walking trail. The Waitukubuli National Trail – named after the Carib Indian name for Dominica – is a major initiative by the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica, in partnership with the Regional Council of Martinique and funded by the European Union.

The Waitukubuli National Trail is divided into 14 continuous sections. Hikers can expect to cover its entire length in two weeks, or just choose individual trail segments to enjoy. The trail passes through mountainous landscapes and rainforests, showcasing the rivers and waterfalls for which Dominica is famous and taking visitors into the heart of local communities.

Here, Ashton Lugay of the Waitukubuli National Trail Project explains how the trail is being developed and the impact it will have on Dominica’s tourism industry.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Grizzly Man Adventure Race

Shout out to my Adventure Racing team, prepping for the Griz next weekend.

Good Luck Team Adventure Sports Week.

The GrizzlyMan Adventure Race is a USARA sanctioned sprint level adventure race that takes place every April in Western Montana.

In order to do well (or even finish), racers will need to be proficient in a variety of outdoor disciplines (i.e. mountain biking, trail running, paddling, map reading and navigation).

Racers will be given a map/passport for the course and will be required to travel to certain checkpoints plotted on the map. By using what will be supplied at each checkpoint, racers will mark a designated spot on their map/passport to prove that they visited each location. This map/passport will then be turned in to race officials upon completion of the course. Finish time as well as proper checkpoint completion will determine ranking and success. …

official website – Grizzly Man Race

What’s my excuse for not being there, this time?

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the “PCT Method” – hanging a bear bag

Affectionately known by the lightweight hiking underground as the “PCT Method” (presumably because it was first used by long distance hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail), a bear bag hanging method exists that is lighter, requires less rope, offers the benefits of counterbalancing, is easier to set up, and offers simple and quick hanging and retrieval of your food.

Click PLAY or watch and comment on TheBackpacker.tv.

You can make your own system quite easily by assembling the following components:

* Food storage bag
* 40 feet of hanging rope
* Keychain carabiner
* Small stuff sack for a rock (”rock sack”)
* Pencil-sized twig about 4-6 inches long.

I particularly like the second option shown by Bryan DeLay. Many’s the time I’ve needed that in the past.

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World’s Best Trekking Destinations

Kudos to Open Travel for posting an excellent and original list.

Pack your pack. Here are some excellent options:

1. Colombia. The Andes.
2. Tajikistan. The Pamir.
3. The USA. California.
4. Argentina and Chile. Patagonia.
5. Iceland.
6. Slovakia. The Tatras.
7. Kazakhstan.
8. The USA. Alaska.

I’ve always been intrigued by this spot, in particular.

… The travelers are still rare in Kazakhstan, so the vastness of its highlands is literally all for those who decide to venture into this remote state in Central Asia. This huge country, the ninth largest in the world, contains two grand ranges: the Tian Shan and the Altai Mountains, where Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan come together. The beauty, remoteness and wilderness of the country go beyond imagination. Although the mountain areas cover around 10% of the Kazakhstan’s territory, their untouched and breathtaking landscapes make it one of the world’s most rewarding trekking and hiking destinations. …

read more, enjoy more great photos – Open Travel – World’s Best Trekking and Hiking Destinations

I once met a woman from Kazakhstan. She warned me that I’d be robbed or kidnapped should I trek independently in her beautiful country.

…

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hike Waterton National Park in Canada

Continuous with Glacier National Park in Montana, Waterton in Alberta is one of our favourite hiking destinations.

It’s home to our #6 best hike in the world, Glacier North Circle.

Rachel Tynan from Waterton Park Inns and Resorts recommends the ExperienceWaterton.com hiking page:

Waterton Lakes National Park boasts world class hiking trails with unparalled scenery and the opportunity for many wildlife encounters. There are 255 km (191 miles) of managed trails in Waterton Lakes National Park. Ranging in difficulty from short jaunts to steep advanced treks that can take days. …

read more

Our other favorite hikes in that park:

• Tamarack Trail
• Crypt Lake
• Carthew/Alderson

Besthike world headquarters is Calgary, Canada. We’ve been hiking Waterton for decades. Like Glacier, it’s one of the very best places in the world to see wildlife. (One day we saw 6 bears!)

more Waterton photos

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beautiful Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Two million people a year visit Multnomah Falls.

I’ve never been one of them. … Until now.

It’s one of the most scenic waterfalls anywhere. Perfection.

… two major steps, split into an upper falls of 542 feet (165 m) and a lower falls of 69 feet (21 m), with a gradual 9 foot (3 m) drop in elevation between the two, so the total height of the waterfall is conventionally given as 620 feet (189 m). Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in the State of Oregon. …

more interesting photos of the Falls

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avoid crowds on the Tongariro Crossing

When adventure writer Richard Tulloch refers to the Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand as ” the world’s greatest one day hike”, we don’t argue.

It’s fantastic.

If there’s one valid criticism, it’s that the tramp is too popular. On a clear day you’ll be only one of thousands of walkers.

Richard had some advice new to me. He signed on …

… with a tour group guided by Stewart and Chris from Adrift Outdoors, who have devised cunning ways of seeing the best of the area while avoiding the crowds.

Stewart guides walks starting in the dark to catch the sunrise, winter expeditions with crampons and ice-axes, as well as today’s planned adventure, an ‘off track’ loop taking us to the summit of Mt Tongariro itself, and across a part of the park where few people go. …

details on his blog: Richard Tulloch’s LIFE ON THE ROAD – TONGARIRO CROSSING – the world’s greatest one day hike?

besthike information page – Tongariro Alpine Crossing

An even better way to avoid the mob is our favourite multi-day hike in New Zealand, the Tongariro Northern Circuit. It includes all of the famed “Crossing”.

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California Hiking author a doper?

Moon California Hiking is the guidebook sitting beside me on the passenger seat.

Author, Tom Stienstra, has just been arrested.

… Stienstra, 55, was arrested March 25 after sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant at his home in Weed and found a “sophisticated cultivation operation” in his barn, sheriff’s office spokeswoman Susan Gravenkamp said in an e-mail.

Deputies allegedly found 31 immature marijuana plants, 29 mature marijuana plants and 11 pounds of processed marijuana …

Redding.com

That’s one way to support your hiking habit.