besthike.com

April 25, 2010April 24, 2010

Gear Junkie at Everest Base Camp

… Acetazolamide. That’s what’s written on the bottle. Diamox is its more common commercial name, and because of its aid in acclimatization, the medication is among the most popular with trekkers and climbers in the Khumbu Region of Nepal.

In two weeks, I have come from Minneapolis to Mount Everest, from about 1,000 feet above sea level at home to the thin air of Base Camp. I pushed one day higher still to 18,600 feet, ascending a small peak near Everest (Kala Patthar) for a view of Mount Pumori and the stark black pyramid of Everest itself, an angle of rock piercing to 29,035 feet in the sky. …

click through to read about his trek – Thin Air: Essay on Everest Base Camp

I’m still waiting on a summary report from Kraig Becker, the Adventure Blogger, who was there about the same time.

April 24, 2010April 23, 2010

best hikes in Florida

In Gainesville for business, I contacted Florida hiking guru Sandra Friend for some local advice.

Hiking gurus hate this question: “What are the best hikes?”

The answer, of course, is “… it depends“.

But Sandra, to her credit, did post a list:

… If you can only do a hike or two in Florida, pick one of these.

1 Key Vista Nature Park
2 Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve
3 Blowing Rocks Preserve
4 Clear Creek Nature Trail
5 Collier-Seminole State Park – Collier-Seminole Hiking Trail
6 Coquina Baywalk
7 Econfina Nature Trail
8 Enchanted Forest Sanctuary
9 Falling Waters State Park
10 Florida Trail, Big Oak Trail

There are more recommended. Click through to – Florida Hikes

I just bought her iPhone app released April 22nd, Florida State Parks (opens in iTunes). ($1.99) … Review coming soon.

April 23, 2010April 18, 2010

Crescent City dunes, California

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

I had been on my way to the Oregon Dunes, a hiking destination recommended by Lonely Planet Hiking USA. (It should be added to our best hikes list.)

But the rain was pounding down when I drove through Oregon. Instead I rolled on down the Redwood Highway into northern California, staying one night in the rather forgettable town of Crescent City.

Next morning when the rain stopped, I was pleased to discover several nearby hikes strongly recommended by Moon Hiking California, one of them coastal “dunes”.

This is the Lake Earl Wildlife Area.

Also called Pelican Bay Sand Dunes, Kellogg Beach, Fort Dick Beach, … and likely some other names. By whatever name, I sincerely enjoyed a morning walk there, all by my lonesome.

Listed at 2.5mi in my guidebook, in reality you hike from one of several parking lots to the beach wandering for as long as you like.

It felt like Oregon, even though I was something like 11mi south of the State line.

See all my photos from that day hike.

April 22, 2010April 18, 2010

hiking with an iPad

It’s got crazy long battery life.

If you want to write up your trip report each night in the tent, consider hauling along your 1.5lb (0.68kg) iPad.

A Wandering Knight, a software developer for the grandfather of this device, the Apple Newton, just tried it on the trail. And enjoyed the experience.

Click through for either text or audio – iPad’s First Backpacking Trip

You could get the Outside Magazine app.

… It’s not easy to upload your trail photos / videos, though.

[picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=iPad&iid=8463298″ src=”3/7/f/4/Apple_Unveils_New_e0cf.jpg?adImageId=12532538&imageId=8463298″ width=”406″ height=”594″ /]

A smart phone seems a better gear choice, to me. I love my iTouch in the tent.

April 21, 2010April 22, 2010

KFC – Quadruple Down sandwich

I couldn’t resist.

… two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (Original Recipe® or Grilled), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel’s Sauce. …

It’s as disgustingly delicious as it looks!

… the sodium content is high — a whopping 1,380 milligrams — more than a half-teaspoon’s worth of salt. For comparison’s sake, the American Heart Association recommends people eat less than 1,500 mg of sodium in an entire day.

Considering the rising consciousness on healthy eating — from rules that will require calorie counts on menus nationwide to Jamie Oliver teaching kids in West Virginia to make better food choices — it was pretty gutsy of KFC to market a product that sandwiches bacon and mayo-based sauce between two pieces of fried chicken.

Still, KFC’s new creation might surprise you a little on the nutritional front. At 540 calories, the Double Down, though not exactly a dieting food, is 90 calories lighter than McDonald’s Premium Crispy Chicken Club Sandwich. …

NPR – The Nutritional Lowdown On KFC’s Double Down

UPDATE – Is it really 540 calories? Or more like 1190 calories?

This crime against humanity will not be sold in Canada. America’s rank as the most obese major nation is safe, for now.

And just in case Wendy’s wants to challenge, KFC has this “sandwich” in the lab …

(via This is why you’re Fat)

You could eat one Quadruple Down, … then set out hiking for the weekend without needing to carry any more food.

April 19, 2010April 15, 2010

hiking Multnomah Falls, Oregon

You could drive right to the base of the famous Falls. Capture the photo …

… then drive on to a less crowded hiking adventure.

Or … you could do a nice day hike finishing with a “coffee” here while enjoying that vista.

Of many options, an easy circuit would be to park at the Wahkeena Falls trailhead. Climb up and up through the big trees, much higher than you would expect.

Traverse over to the top of Multnomah Falls …

And descend the “normal” trail to the restaurant.

Perhaps 2hrs, walking normally.

I enjoyed it.

April 18, 2010

new attraction at Red Rock, Vegas

The must go hiking destination only a few miles from the strip in Las Vegas is Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

An attractive outdoor exhibition area just opened:

One of the walks leads to an observation deck where visitors can study a giant map of the parks trails etched into the floor with photo panels on a railing of what they’ll see on the trails and beyond the panoramic view.

… outdoor exhibits that bring sturdy replicas of some of the park’s most fragile features to the foreground: things such as American Indian rock art panels, desert tortoises in their natural habitat, and a life-size cougar that lurks atop one of the shade walls.

It’s all designed so people can touch, feel, see and understand the national conservation area from the perspective of earth, water, fire and air. …

Grand opening at Red Rock visitors center …

One exhibit has a desert tortoise. Visitors are taught what to do when this happens …

I carefully, slowly lifted the tortoise far off the highway in the direction I thought he was trying to go. … Unfortunately he seemed to be walking the yellow line when I found him.

April 18, 2010

free hiking trip to Iceland – good looking applicants ONLY

From email:

I am currently producing a photo shoot for Ecco Hiking Shoes and we will be shooting in Iceland the week of May 15th (approx), and i am looking for some avid hikers that would be interested in hiking with us, for our photo shoot, all expenses paid of course.

You must be about 22-35 years old and we are looking for people who look somewhat Scandanavian.

SHOE SIZES FOR MEN AND WOMEN
MEN: 41 Euro/ 9
WOMEN: 37 Euro/ 7 US
We can go a bit bigger in the sizes…1 to 1.5 sizes larger…

If you are interested, please contact ASAP …

cindi @ cindiblairproductions.com

April 15, 2010December 14, 2017

Pembrokeshire – best coastal walkway UK

Thanks to Daniel of CheapTents.com for sending us the news.

Readers of Coast (magazine) voted the 186-mile route in west Wales, which is celebrating its 40th year, as their favourite long-distance path.

The walk is almost entirely inside the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, and was the first National Trail in Wales. …

Mr Mathieson said the authority was working to ensure the path was accessible to everyone. More than 100,000 people use the Coast Path each year. …

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is one of 16 National Trails in England and Wales. It beat off competition at the award ceremony from the South West Coast Path, in Somerset and Dorset, and Fife Coast Path, on the east coast of Scotland, which were also shortlisted by readers.

BBC – Pembrokeshire voted top UK coastal path

Geograph.co.uk. Copyright Paul Allison and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons.

… now, I must get to work on a list of the top 10 coastal hikes worldwide …

April 15, 2010April 13, 2010

cycling Twin Tunnels Trail, Oregon

by site editor Rick McCharles

At tourist information in the Columbia River Gorge, I picked up a brochure called Columbia River Gorge Bike Map.

It’s geared for road bikes, unfortunately.

I had a mountain bike and was looking for off-road. Though nearby Portland is considered one of the best cycling cities in the States, dedicated bike trails are NOT abundant in the Gorge.

Further research led me to these best 2 options:

1. Klickitat Trail (Rails to Trails)
2. Twin Tunnels (old highway)

I drove out early evening to check Klickitat. Looked cool. But, in the end, I chose the other (shorter) option, Twin Tunnels from Hood River to Mosier, and beyond.

The old road runs parallel and above the new highway.

Loved it.

I’ll do Klickitat next time.

I stayed across the river in Bingen at the Columbia River Gorge hostel, one of the most unique I’ve ever seen. It’s a former school, closed for decades.