Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
UPDATE: Actually, these photos were taken near Homer, Alaska. That makes much more sense.
My Mom emailed me these pics of an unusual gathering of eagles near my parent’s home town, Parksville, British Colombia.
I’m not sure what was attracting them together.
But it sure reminds me of scenes in Alaska.
Have you ever heard of this magnificent waterfall?
… Kaieteur National Park, Guyana. Kaieteur Falls has none of the tourist facilities of the other great wonders of the world, not even handrails or fences to protect you from the drop which, apparently, lasts 7 seconds. As such it is a truly wonderful, undiscovered gem.
… The Falls are accessible both by air and by land. By air, it is an hour’s flight from Georgetown, the Capital of Guyana. By land there is a popular adventurous wilderness trek that requires 3 to 5 days to complete.
official website – Kaieteur National Park
I’ve never entered Disney World.
Since I’ve never owned a house, I could not spend the “profit” on rapidly escalating market value on a holiday.
Now many others in North America join me in comparative poverty.
Kurt Repanshek on National Parks Traveler posted on this topic – With or Without a Stimulus Package, National Parks Can Be Economical Vacation Destinations.
… If you take a family of four (three members age 10 or more, one under 10), to Disney World for one day, you’ll pay nearly $300 (you can do the calculations at this site) for the privilege of passing through the gate. The Universal Studios theme park in Orlando, Florida? Buy online and one park for one day will only cost you $73 per ticket.
How much more you’ll spend on hotels and meals, well, you can imagine. …
Now, if you go to Yellowstone National Park, it’ll cost that same family of four just $25 to pass through the gate — and that entry pass is good for seven days. Go to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and it won’t cost you anything, as there are no entry fees at that park. …
read more – With or Without a Stimulus Package, National Parks Can Be Economical Vacation Destinations
I just got a recommendation from Andreas for a German / Venezuelan trekking guide company Kamadac based out of Santa Elena in the Gran Sabana.
Looks good.
For those who love to hike, the Roraima Trekking is one of the highlights of Venezuela. The tablemountains belong to the oldest rock formation in the world. During millions of years they have been formed. Most of the vegetation you find there, grows only at the table mountains.The Roraima tepui is the highest in Venezuela. Bizzare stone formations, barren rock landscape and unique plants shape the landscape. A three day tour brings us up to the Roraima. On the top we make a day excursion and visit the valley of crystals and the place where three countries meet “Brasil, Venezuela and Guyana.”
This tour can made any time of the year. During the rainy season we recommend it in combination with a boat trip to the Angel Falls.
Duration: 6 days
Daily walks: 3 to 7 hours
PRICE PER PERSON : 520 EUR (2 persons), 470 EUR (3 persons), 295 EUR (4 persons), additional day 50 EUR
besthike Roraima information page
Himalayas?
Andes?
Nope. The UK.
Icy conditions in the fell country lead to seven trekker deaths on Wales’ Mt. Snowdon and the English Peak and Lake Districts.
Terrible.
I had no idea that winter walking in the United Kingdom was so dangerous.
The lesson here? Easy is all about conditions. When the slopes and trails are wet, or muddy, or icy, or the lightning’s flying and the wind’s howling, your easy hike just turned into a big deal. Whenever you go into the woods in winter, never scrimp on safety and travel equipment like poles, crampons, axes, skis, snowshoes, gaiters, goggles, bivy gear and clothing.
You have two choices out there: If you’re ready for the conditions, have fun. If you’re not, turn around. It’s a simple decision, but one that people often have a hard time making. If you let desire pull you onward when you’re not prepared….well, you can learn from the examples above, or learn it on your own. Always do your suffering vicariously.
Hike safe. – Steve Howe
Backpacker – Danger in the British Isles
I love the British TV show Top Gear.
Always terrifically entertaining. In this clip one of their drivers races a Renault Clio against a downhill mountain bike racer in an ancient cobblestone street village.
Hilarious.
(via The Adventure Channel)
Rick Smith on National Parks Traveler is compiling a list of the World’s best National Parks. He kickstarted the conversation:
Fiordland National Park, New Zealand
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Tikal National Park, Guatemala
Kaieteur National Park, Guyana
Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary, Peru
OK, there are five of my favorites. Can you help us fill in five more blanks? If you have a great photo, send it along via email to kurt@nationalparkstraveler.com and we’ll see about posting it.
One that jumps to mind for me is Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. Home of the Paine Circuit trek.
larger original – flickr – dagpeak
All the National Parks in the Sierra Nevada, California are fantastic. I can’t choose one over the others along the John Muir Trail.
larger original – flickr
The Himalayas are fantastic. If I had to choose only one park, it would be the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) home of the Annapurna Circuit.
larger original – flickr – Mahatma4711
Thorung La – larger original – flickr – Lucy Crabapple
But there are a dozen others I could name, just as easily.
The world is a wonderful place.
Check Rick’s original post to add to his list – The World’s Top Ten National Parks
They are going to get caught.
From Lance:
There is only one like it in the world therefore hard to pawn it off. Reward being offered.
You certainly have seen this famous photo.
It was published by National Geographic. The photographer is George Steinmetz and the image is called Larger than Life.
Here’s another of his photos.
They are included in a slide show published on a new blog the adventure life by Steve Casimiro, who is an editor for National Geographic Adventure. (I’ve just subscribed by RSS.)
Details on this post – the adventure life – PHOTOGRAPHY: The Aerial Art of George Steinmetz.
Watch the must see gorgeous slide show here.
(via The Adventure Blog)
New website for our big Adventure Race in Idaho – AdventureSportsWeek.com
From June 5—14, 2009, Farragut State Park, located just north of beautiful Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, will host 24 different races and contests for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes of all ages and abilities!
With activities ranging from 4 & 8 hour mountain bike races to an orienteering meet, the official XTERRA Northwest Cup race, a Duathlon, 6 trail runs ranging in distance from 6k to 50 miles, five different adventure races (including one especially for kids!), a distance swim, a paddling event and many more, we’ve got something to satisfy the whole family!
Over 1000 athletes are expected to participate, and we want you to be a part of one of the USA’s largest outdoor festivals!
BestHike.com will be there.
official website – AdventureSportsWeek.com
besthike.com 