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Alternative Treks to the Inca Trail

That’s the title of a post by Kraig Becker on my favourite travel site, Gadling.

gadling

The Inca Trail, one of the best known and most popular treks anywhere in the world, culminating with hikers arriving at Machu Picchu following a stunning four day journey through the Andes. Unfortunately the popularity of the trail is also one of its drawbacks, with literally hundreds flocking to it on a daily basis during the high season. Those crowds can deminish the experience for those who prefer solitude on their adventures.

Fortunately, there are some excellent alternatives to the Inca Trail that offer more challenging hikes, little to no traffic, and scenery seen by only a select few. Here are three of the very best of those alternatives:

  • Salcantay Trail
  • Choquequiro
  • Cordillera Huayhuash

    • Gadling – Alternative Treks to the Inca Trail

    Click through for details on each.

    Our own list of best hikes in Peru:

    * Ausangate Circuit
    * Huayhuash Circuit
    * Alpamayo
    * Santa Cruz Trek
    * Inca Trail
    * Salcantay to Machu Picchu
    * Choquiquirao to Machu Picchu
    * Ticlla Circuit
    * Colca Canyon
    * Misti
    * Gran Vilaya (Kuelap)

    our best hikes in the Central Andes page

    Ausangate and Huayhuash are the best for hard core hikers willing to trek at high altitude. The Inca Trail is often a disappointment to serious hikers.

    Jake G - Cordillera Huayhuash Trek, Peru Sept. 2003
    Jake G - Cordillera Huayhuash Trek, Peru Sept. 2003

    You can always visit the famous ruins by train, a wonderful trip on its own.

    flickr - Carnaval King 08
    flickr - Carnaval King 08

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    10 Days, 24 Races, 1 Big Party!

    The latest update on my Adventure Racing Team’s BIG event for 2009.

    Adventure Sports Week is a 10 day long festival of 24 outdoor races, contests, clinics and social events taking place at Farragut State Park, 30 miles north of Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, June 5—14, 2009.

    The motto of this year’s event is “10 Days, 24 Races, 1 Big Party!” and the organizers and the surrounding communities are working hard to make that a reality. …

    Atop Chilco Mountain, Idaho
    Atop Chilco Mountain, Idaho

    larger original – flickr

    Local hospitality is only one of the things racers should expect at ASW 2009:

    “We’re actually pretty pleased with how the many races are shaping up,” said event director Dave Adlard. “The
    courses have all been set, and we’ve had marvelous response from celebrity and pro athletes including Ian Adamson, Mike Kloser, Rebecca Rusch, Robyn Benincasa and even Ultramarathon Man Dean Karnazes. I think between the festive atmosphere, great awards and gear and the amazing scenery, this is going to be one of the highlight events on the national racing calendar.”

    Adventure Sports Week was also recognized in the recent National Geographic “Adventure” Magazine as one of the
    top racing events in the US.

    Online registration is now open at www.adventuresportsweek.com for all races.

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    climbing Island Peak, Nepal

    intights from March 2008. Some nice trekking footage. Great music.

    Compilation of short video clips and some stills taken on Trek from Lukla to Gokyo, over the Cho-La, to Gorak Shep, Everest base camp, then with an Ascent of Island Peak (Imja Tse). Includes additional photos/footage of Kathmandu and flight to/from Lukla.

    Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (8min)

    The rest of this Aussie travel blog posts are well worth a browse.

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    World’s Best Glacier Treks

    As chosen by My Several Worlds:

    … Glacier treks come in a range of exciting opportunities for beginners and experienced climbers. Experienced climbers who are looking for something more challenging than a standard day hike can try an introduction to the sport of ice climbing on the ice walls of a glacier. You can even combine the thrill of a helicopter ride with the opportunity to explore a remote part of the glacier on foot. A helicopter can take you on a scenic flight over the glaciers and surrounding region, and then drop you off for some intensive hiking and climbing. If you’re looking for an unforgettable travel experience, there are few things more rewarding or satisfying than spending a full day on ice.


    1. The Franz Josef and Fox Glacier in the Southern Alps of New Zealand

    2. Snæfellsjökull Glacier in Iceland

    3. The Icefields Parkway in Canada

    4. Kennicott, Alaska’s Root Glacier

    5. The Swiss Alps, Switzerland The Aletsch Glacier

    6. Patagonia, Argentina and Chile The Southern Patagonian Ice Fields

    7. Bolivia

    8. The Peruvian Andes

    9. Nepal and the Indian Himalayas

    10. Bhutan.

    For photos click through to My Several Worlds – The World’s Best Glacier Trekking Getaways

    The Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina is the BEST I’ve visited.

    larger original – flickr – Matito

    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rickmccharles/sets/72157612420033468/">my Perito Moreno photos</a>

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    sleeping bag – bear costume

    Cure your fear of bears by pretending you are the mighty hunter and have slayed the terrifying bear. Then strut around the room wearing the huge bearskin to show off your prowess. OR take the sleeping bag camping and you can scare the be-jezuz out of your friends when they wake up next to you.

    Both are possible with this incredible new sleeping bag by artist Eiko Ishizawa. This fun design is so cool (and a little creepy looking) that we just had to share it with all of our readers. …

    the-sleeping-bear-1

    My Bad Pad

    (via campingblogger on twitter)

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    hiker Brian Frankle of ULA

    Tom Mangan— I’ve heard that name before … somewhere — published an article on hiking guru Brian Frankle of ULA-Equipment.

    Frankle’s ULA-Equipment essentially goes out of business every fall, when he shuts down his garage-based backpack factory in Logan, Utah, and hits the trail, typically for weeks or months along little-known routes like Utah’s Hayduke Trail or Idaho’s Centennial Trail.

    Then it’s back to the sewing machines.

    “Basically, from the day that I reopen in November until all the way to the day that I close, it’s full-on,” Frankle says. “I’m in here 10 to 12 hours a day, seven days a week.”

    Sounds like a crazy workload, but Frankle’s grown into it over the decade since he completed the Pacific Crest Trail in 1999. He started ULA-Equipment in 2001 to bridge a gap: commercially built backpacks were too heavy, and ultra-light packs were too bare-bones.

    brian-idaho-375-485

    Trailspace – Gear Maker Profile: Brian Frankle of ULA-Equipment

    (via Two-Heel Drive) … and Facebook

    I am looking for a new multi-day hiking pack this season. My beloved Granite Gear Virga is getting “holey” and is somewhat underfeatured to carry my preferred gear list.

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    NEW – Sierra Summits Sunscreen

    I’ve often doubted the effectiveness of expensive sun block.

    Here’s a product even I will pay big bucks for ….

    Sierra Summits High Altitude Adventure Sunscreen, a zinc oxide mineral blocker for face and body. Oil free and Fragrance free, SPF 40, won’t burn eyes, has light elegant feel on skin. Formulated for sensitive skin types to perform and protect at altitude, on water, and closer to the equator, where UV rays are more intense.

    melanoma

    For shipping only, they will send you a free sample.