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travel insurance that covers hiking

Be sure to check your policy when traveling out-of-country to ensure trekking is covered. I’m considering a trip to Hawaii and Asia.

I like World Nomads insurance. Here are the adventure sports covered and not covered for a Canadian:

screen shot - click image for full list
screen shot - click image for full list

Travel Nomads A-Z of Adventure Insurance

Hiking or Tramping is covered. But not Abseiling, Caving, Mountaineering or Rock Climbing.

The quote for me for 7wks is about US$200 anywhere in the world, including the USA:

A summary of the benefits are set out below. Please read the policy wording carefully for full details and age limits of any accompanying children.
Emergency Medical & Dental Coverage CAD $1,000,000

Following an injury or illness during your trip your policy covers reasonable and customary costs for Medical, in-hospital, road ambulance and other treatment administered by a registered medical practitioner or paramedic.
Medical Transportation CAD $500,000

If you require transportation to an appropriate medical facility to treat your injury or illness or to return you to your province or territory of residence, your policy will cover the reasonable and necessary transportation costs when pre-approved and arranged by World Access Canada.
Baggage Coverage CAD $2,500

You are covered for accidental theft or damage to your luggage/personal belongings. Coverage is limited to $500 per item. Exclusions apply, including items left unattended in a motor vehicle.
Sporting Equipment Coverage CAD $2,500

This policy provides coverage should your sporting equipment become lost by the Common Carrier, or damaged, or stolen provided you have taken all reasonable measures to protect, save and recover your property at all times. Coverage is secondary to any coverage provided by the Common Carrier.
Trip Cancellation CAD $1,000

Trip Cancellation coverage reimburses you for the non-refundable portion of your pre-paid trip costs if you cancel your transportation/accommodation arrangements prior to your departure as a result of a covered reason.
Trip Interruption CAD $5,000

Trip Interruption coverage reimburses you for covered losses you incur for trips that are interrupted or delayed after your departure date.
Travel Accident Coverage CAD $10,000

This policy provides coverage should you suffer loss of life as the direct result of an injury while travelling as a ticketed passenger on a licensed Common Carrier.

Leave a comment if you have an opinion on this policy and price. Or if you know of better.

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Banff Mountain Festivals 2009

Oct. 31st – Nov. 8th, 2009

Speakers include Ultramarathon Man Dean Karnazes, Royal Robbins, climber Chris Sharma, speed climber Ueli Steck, and extreme skier / BASE jumper Karina Hollekim.

====

I spent a week at the 2007 festivals. My review:

Good, not great.

I’ll likely never return mainly because hiking is very under represented in Banff. It’s all about mountaineering … despite the fact that most of those attending are not mountaineers.

BanffNo need to spend money traveling to Banff in November: … too late for hiking, too early for skiing.

Instead, I recommend you try to get a ticket for both of the two “World Tours”.

1) Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour

A selection of the winning films tour North America and abroad following the event. To find out when it’s going to play close to where you live, check the calendars linked from the official website.

2) Radical Reels

The Radical Reels Film Tour complements the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, and focuses on dynamic, high-adrenalin films featuring sports such as skiing, climbing, kayaking, BASE jumping, snowboarding and mountain biking. …

Click PLAY or watch the 2009 trailer on YouTube.

Both are great. Super popular even with those who hate the outdoors.

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cycling AROUND Vancouver Island

Endurance Athletes To Pedal Hi-tech Boat Around Vancouver Island

Oct. 15, 2009 – One week from now, endurance athletes Greg Kolodziejzyk of Calgary and Jordan Hanssen of Seattle, WA will attempt a nautical circumnavigation of Vancouver Island, piloting the custom-designed, pedal-powered boat Within on its first long-distance ocean voyage. Greg and Jordan will launch Within on Friday, Oct. 23 from Comox, BC and will travel clockwise around the Island. If successful, this voyage will be the first-ever circumnavigation of the Island in a pedal-powered boat. …

read more – Endurance Athletes To Pedal Hi-tech Boat Around Vancouver Island

bicycle-boat

I’m actually close to Comox, B.C. right now, visiting my parents.

Unfortunately I’ll depart before the launch.

Good luck guys!

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is that a banana in your pocket …

Or a Banana Guard ™

banana-guard

banana-guard-open

official website – Banana Guard

Check the Froot Guard and Froot Case while you are there.

It actually works perfectly, if you want to carry the extra weight.

Thanks Rockin’ Ronnie for embarrassing me with this piece of goofy gear.

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Aletsch Glacier hike, Switzerland

The Grosser Aletschgletscher, the longest glacier in Europe, has recently been designated a UNESCO world heritage site, in recognition of its importance and uniqueness. And this place is special. The first sight of this awesome phenomenon is something a world apart from those diagrams in geography lessons, because this thing is enormous, ancient and on the move. Not millions of years ago, but now. And right there, from horizon to horizon, not a distant tongue of snow and ice poking over a rock wall.

This hike makes a memorable circuit of the Eggishorn, traversing along the slope above the immense glacier, before looping back to take in Southward-looking vistas of the Monte Rosa range and the Matterhorn. It’s a relatively flat walk too, with not much climbing required at all. …

Swiss Hike – Aletsch Glacier

I like the elevation map posted on that site.

aletsch1

Aletsch

more interesting photos tagged Aletsch

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Kilian Jornet – record Tahoe Rim Trail

Kilian Jornet is the two-time defending champion of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc.

He holds the trail running record for the GR20 traverse of Corsica, one of the toughest tracks in Europe.

In September he took 7hrs off the record for the Tahoe Rim Trail in California.

Tahoe-Rim-trail

At only age-21, sponsored by Soloman, you’ll be hearing his name often in future: Kílian Jornet Burgada.

Details on Gear Junkie – Tahoe Rim Trail Run Record

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tutorial – how to pack a backpack

by Besthike editor Rick McCharles

I’ve not changed my system much over the past 3yrs.

This works for me.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Leave a comment if you have an opinion.

An unusual item shown was a waterproof “stash” bag. When day hiking, I dump everything into that bag and stash it in the rocks somewhere, taking only the things I needed for the day in the pack.

That up to 50litre pack (.54kg | 1lbs 3oz), a Granite Gear Virga, was named by the Gear Junkie in 2007 on the list of Greatest Gear of 5 Years.

Using a therm-a-rest as a backpack “frame” was first suggested to me by Kraig Becker, of The Adventure Blog and Gadling.

George gave me my first Virga pack. Jane just gifted me my second. I purchased a new 3/4 length, 3/4 inch Therm-a-Rest (no longer available on the Cascade Designs website) as a “frame”. I’m good to go for the next 5yrs.

Granite Gear Virga backpack with Therm-a-Rest frame
Granite Gear Virga backpack with Therm-a-Rest frame

=== UPDATE:

Critical for me is my pillow.

air-mattress-and-pillow

I wrap this pillow with a fleece top.

The waterproof orange bag is sold by MEC as a “Pack Liner”. It weighs only 86gms and fits up to a 40litre pack.

Most of the bag is filled with the folded, partly inflated 3/4in, 3/4 length therm-a-rest air mattress, no longer available.

therm-a-rest
Some loose clothing, down jacket and stuff sacks are added to the bottom.

Leave a comment.

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Mt Whitney Double

Whitney is the highest mountain in the continental USA.

Fedak linked to an amazing trip report.

By Rick Kent:

I started at midnight. For the first trip I decided to go up the Mountaineers Route. Despite going from Portal to summit (and much of the way back) in the dark I made good time. It helps that I know the route well. I reached the summit at 3:43am (3 hrs 40 mins from the Portal). I was alone on the summit and the hut was empty. I returned to the Portal a little after sunrise at 6:54am for a total roundtrip time of 6 hrs 51 mins.

This quick time had me briefly wondering whether a 3rd summit would be possible. That dillusion was thoroughly dispelled on my 2nd trip up. For the 2nd trip I decided to go for the Main Trail. I took a half hour break before starting. As much as I knew I needed to eat I couldn’t manage to get much down. I started up the Main Trail at 7:22am.

As I closed in on Trail Camp I began to slow noticeably. Both the MT and MR are hard on the calves (too many steps). Going up the switchbacks my speed slowed further. I past a few other hikers but only just barely. By the time I reached Trail Crest my calves were done. From Trail Crest to summit was agonizingly slow and my calves kept wanting to cramp up. For some reason I kept thinking about my first time up Whitney almost exactly 7 years ago. I reached the summit for the 2nd time at 1:11pm. I was thoroughly depleted. Time from Portal to summit was a less than stellar 5 hrs 49 mins. Roundtrip time was 9 hrs 33 mins.

I regained strength on the way down. I did some running but for the most part just took a fast pace. My priority now was to get down in time for a burger at the Portal. I knew this would probably be my last Portal burger for the year so I was well motivated. I reached the the Portal at 4:53pm. …

Although the 2nd summit was a bit harder than I expected both trips together took less than 17 hours combined. This marked my 28th and 29th Whitney summits.

Whitney Double 9/27/09

Whitney summit
Whitney summit

Our Mt Whitney information page.