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7 Strong Men Rock Formation – Russia

Have you ever heard of this unique natural attraction?

Manpupuner and the 7 Strong Men Rock Formations

Deemed one of the Seven Wonders of Russia, Komi Republic (map) is home to Manpupuner (Man-Pupu-Nyer), a mysterious site in the northern Ural mountains, in the Troitsko-Pechorsky District, made out of seven rock towers bursting out of the flat plateau known as the “7 strong men“.

Manpupuner is a very popular attraction in Russia, but not on an international level and information regarding its origin is scarce. We know however that their height and abnormal shapes make the top of these rock giants inaccessible even to experienced rock-climbers. Manpupuner is very hard to reach, it lies in a very harsh environment, …

Wikipedia

more photos

Thanks George.

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trek the Curzon Trail, India

Henry Wismayer authored an excellent article published by The Telegraph: Garhwal Himalayas: trekking the Curzon Trail

He points out how the Garhwal Himalayas in India might have been as popular with hikers as Nepal. This is an entertaining read.

… this five-day trek is the marquee route along the western rim of the Unesco-prescribed Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve – but there isn’t much accommodation in these parts so everything we need, including food, cooking rings and an antiquated A-frame tent, is coming with us.

It pays to come prepared. On the next terrace down are three bearded Bavarians who set off from the Ghat trailhead expecting the amenities of Annapurna.

“There is nowhere to buy food here?” had come the incredulous reply …

I’d love to hike there.

… There is no tourist paraphernalia in the mountain settlements – no tea-houses selling pizza and home-made chang – just corncobs hanging from the lintels and chillies scattered over sackcloth to dry. Outside Pana, an ancient goatherd asks Biru if I want to buy marijuana; this is the only clue that other trekkers have been here before us. …

read the article – Garhwal Himalayas: trekking the Curzon Trail

Wismayer has a photo set too. Click through to flickr – The Curzon Trail

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11th hiking essential – duct tape

From Hiking Trip Reports:

… Duct tape is probably the most versatile item you can carry when hiking. It can mend and repair almost anything from blisters to holes in air mattresses. …

Hiking Trip Reports – Duct Tape: The Hikers Friend

related – 10 hiking essentials

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hiking Steinbeck Canyon, Baja

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

Steinbeck Canyon is the name locals in Loreto use for the most popular hike in the area.

I started at the Puerto Escondido marina. With a bike.

Rick - Puerto Escondido, Baja - cycling and hiking to Steinbeck Canyon

You ride (or walk) from the marina out to main highway #1. There’s the arroyo (watercourse) in the distance just right of the exit road.

Puerto Escondido, Baja - cycling and hiking to Steinbeck Canyon

The turnoff to the trailhead is unmarked but easy to find. Simply cross directly over Highway #1 and follow the dirt road on the other side.

It’s impressive right from the get go.

It’s actually more of a bouldering scramble than a hike. You’ll be using your hands clambering up, over and under smooth river rocks.

Puerto Escondido, Baja - hiking to Steinbeck Canyon

What people like most is the explosion of insect, bird and plant life.

Puerto Escondido, Baja - hiking to Steinbeck Canyon

Some of the pools were so clean, when I was there, that I was tempted to swim.

Puerto Escondido, Baja - hiking to Steinbeck Canyon

Steinbeck Canyon is one of the best hikes in the Baja. Highly recommended.

See all my photos from a March 2010 scramble.

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trekking Japan – 88 Temple Pilgrimage

We’ve added a category of walks called “spiritual”. This is a perfect example.

For example, one adventure recommended by Aasmund Midttun Godal, the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

… Neon Pilgrim (2009) is a rollercoaster account of an Australian woman’s 1200km trek around the island of Shikoku, the famed 88 Temple Pilgrimage performed in honour of the ninth-century monk who brought Buddhism to Japan. Depressed, unemployed and overweight, 28-year-old Lisa Dempster undertook the epic walk to cure her body and mind ….

Amazon

I checked out a review by Andy Hayes. His summary:

… this book has a terrible cover and an even worse title.

But it was probably the best ‘travelogue’ I’ve read all year. …

Indie Travel Podcast

I’ve added Neon Pilgrim to my books-to-read list.

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Everest Base Camp – gay weddings wanted

A gay politician in Nepal wants you to wed beneath the world’s highest peak.

Tourism is one of the main drivers of Nepal’s economy, worth about £228 million last year, and government officials are determined to double tourism to 1 million visitors next year.

They hope gay tourists will be far more lucrative than the backpackers who stay in cheap hotels and travel on shoestring budgets.

Stepping up tourism: Nepal is hoping to target gay travellers who are interested in more active holidays

“They do have a lot of income…they are high-spending consumers,” said Aditya Baral, spokesman for the Nepal Tourism Board. “If they behave well, if they have money, we don’t discriminate.”

The driving force behind the tourism push is Sunil Pant, a member of parliament, the nation’s most prominent gay activist and founder of the Pink Mountain tour company.

“The nation’s mountains, food and culture are a natural tourist magnet”, says Pant. Additionally, gay tourists could get married at Everest base camp and honeymoon on an elephant safari — though since Nepal doesn’t marry foreigners, such weddings would have no legal status, he said. …

Read more … or not

In a totally unrelated story, The Adventure Blogger, Kraig Becker, is planning on a trek to Base Camp during the Spring “flower” season.

In a totally unrelated photo, aren’t fishing babes wonderful?

Those Great Outdoors bloggers are still O.K.

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Machu Picchu reopens April 1st

The Inca Trail is still closed, but there’s been progress in getting one of the world’s top attractions back to business after severe flood damage earlier this year.

The vital rail link to Peru’s sacred ruins of Machu Picchu will reopen on 29 March, ready for the Inca site itself to open on 1 April …

Wanderlust

The cheap train is not opening, note.

On the bright side, the normally near useless Peruvian government is cutting air fares and hotel rates hoping to draw tourists to Cuzco.

All the alternative trails to Mach Picchu are open, including our favourite Choquequirao to Machu Picchu.

Consider, too, the 4 treks in Peru we like best:

• Ausangate Circuit TOP 10
• Huayhuash Circuit
• Alpamayo
• Santa Cruz Trek

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the thorny truth about Baja – goathead

This evil is cursed in many parts of the world, by many names: puncturevine, caltrop, cathead, yellow vine, goathead, burra gokharu and bindii.

Wikipedia – Tribulus terrestris

Here’s me before meeting goathead. Happy.

Rick cycling Loreto to Loreto Bay, Baja

And here’s my ride with at least a dozen thorns in each tire.

cycling Loreto to Loreto Bay, Baja - 2 FLAT TIRES

I was 16km out of Loreto, Baja on a coastal adventure. Happily, a taxi van was parked right where I punctured.

Cyclists hate these thorns. One guy recommends:

• thick tires with an anti-puncture strip.
• thorn resistant tire liners
• thorn resistant tubes
• slime

… I’m thinking I’ll drink beer by the pool.

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book – The Great Divide

Sarah of Trail Cooking was given a hard-to-find copy of this book.

The Great Divide: A Walk Along the Continental Divide of the United States (1987) by Stephen Pern

Sarah recommends it, saying on Facebook:

As you get into the heart of the book my mind thought of another book, Dances With Marmots – A Pacific Crest Trail Adventure. George’s book has a similar flow. If you liked Dances, you will enjoy this book.

The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is a wild trail even today. I cannot imagine his walking it even in the 80’s, picking a path of his own to beat the weather and to be able to get food drops. There wasn’t much of a trail back then.