besthike.com

January 7, 2009

South American Explorers

If you trek in South America, you spend a lot of time at the SAE clubhouses in Cuzco and Lima, Peru.

Hikers and mountain climbers rendezvous there to organize trips.

I’m a Facebook friend of the Lima Clubhouse. They offer many special events for international travelers. For example:

Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Location: Lima Clubhouse

Interested in trekking, but have no idea how, where, when, with whom to start? Join us on January 14th for “Trekking in Peru 101”. SAE Lima Clubhouse hosts trekking expert, Virgilio Marmanillo, to answer all your questions and concerns. Virigilio has been guiding trekking and adventure tourism travelers for over 10 years in Peru. He’s an expert in the Salkantay, Inka and Choquehuanca trails.

Stop by and learn tips from a pro, find out what you need for your route, and maybe even start prepping for a trekking adventure!

***cold cerveza for sale!!!!***

Cost: free for all

official website – South American Explorers

I highly recommend you join the SAE if you travel in Peru.

January 6, 2009January 6, 2009

Ruapehu Around-the-mountain, New Zealand

Tongariro Northern Circuit is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

Just next door is the much less tramped Ruapehu Around-the-mountain track.

ruapehu
flickr – larger version – Rich Childs

Maple Kiwi just completed the adventur during the New Zealand summer:

… As you may deduce from the name, the track loops around Mt Ruapehu, an active volcano in the centre of New Zealand’s North Island. Ruapehu hasn’t had any serious indigestion since 1996, but knowing what bubbles beneath does add a bit of excitement to the tramp.

I’m not sure what possessed us to do a six-day tramp after nothing more than day hikes all spring. Luckily we made it through without too much pain.

We began the walk at Whakapapa Village …

read more – Love in a Tent – Ruapehu Round-the-mountain Part 1

January 6, 2009January 5, 2009

you found the new besthike blog!

I’ve been unable to find a way to redirect every individual blog post from my old host to the same post on the new host.

I guess I will need to send every visitor to any page on the old site to the home page of this one.

Still, you and others are finding it here on WordPress.

THANKS.

unique visitors since this site was moved

January 5, 2009January 3, 2009

climb Indonesian volcanoes

RING OF FIRE ADVENTURE ZONE is a fairly new site.

The editor has since 1994 hiked up more than 20 volcano’s peaks around Indonesia archipelago, mostly in Java Island. And now has set up this blog to share his knowledge.

He recommends:

SUMATRA ISLAND
1) Volcano Kerinci
2) Volcano Tujuh
3) Volcano Sibayak

JAVA ISLAND
1) Volcano Merapi
2) Volcano Bromo-Semeru-Ijen

LOMBOK ISLAND
Volcano Rinjani

BALI ISLAND
Volcano Agung

… Others interested volcanoes in Indonesia are Tambora and Krakatau. Tambora was recorded as volcano which has biggest eruption in the history of world volcano eruption. Now, Tambora is already quite and frequently visited by volcano trekkers to admire it’s natural uniqueness, that impossible to be witnessed in others places. …

Intro To Indonesia Mountains

Personally I’d love to visit Krakatau, East of Java. A mythic destination that’s been in my mind since I was a small child.

An early 19th century illustration of Krakatoa

January 4, 2009January 27, 2010

Canadian Hiker’s and Backpacker’s Handbook

J.P. recommends a new volume by Ben Gadd called “The Canadian Hiker’s and Backpacker’s Handbook” (publisher, Whitecap, 2008).

The book is slanted towards Canadian terrain and weather, so the gear and other recommendations are for those types of conditions. As a result super lightweight backpacking options aren’t emphasized in this book. Gear and hiking decision making is based with hypothermia- risky weather condtions always being a factor in much of Canada.

ben-gadd-hiking-book

The Canadian Hiker’s and Backpacker’s Handbook: Your How-to Guide for Hitting the Trails, Coast to Coast to Coast

On the trail in the Canadian Rockies we call our local legend Ben God.

His Handbook of the Canadian Rockies we’ve recommended hundreds of times in the past.

… I’m gone to log in to my local library website to put a request in for Gadd’s latest book.

Thanks J.P.

January 3, 2009

New Year’s FART Adventures

Sadly I did not make it out to the New Year’s Eve adventure party hosted by Dave and Lisa Adlard, in Idaho.

Many of my Adventure Racing Team were there. The outdoor activities were extreme due to the record snow fall in 2008.

snowshoe-trekking

… It was very interesting to snowshoe along trails that we run and bike so often during the rest of the year: your normal landmarks are muted, and distances are thrown off, but the snow makes everything look like a real winter wonderland!

At the edge of the park, we decided to make our way to Scout rocks, which we had been to countless times on foot, but never in four to five feet of snow! We were warned that if we continued, there were no more directional signs, and no groomed trails, which suited us perfectly, and off we went.

The trail, if you can call it that, is mostly uphill to the rocks for about 3/4 of a mile, and the fact that we were walking was more than made up for the fact that the snow laden branches were now at face level.

Once we got to the base of the rocks, we started our way up the near vertical cliff, covered in feet of snow, with crevasses, roots, and boulders hidden underneath! It was awesome! …

New Year’s FART Training!

hot-tub

January 3, 2009January 2, 2009

Socotra Island, Yemen

Dark Roasted Blend linked to some amazing pics of a place they call The Most Alien-Looking Place on Earth.

I’d love to hike there. Check out the incredible vegetation.

socotra-trees
larger version – flickr – jan_vandorpe

socotra-vegetation
larger version – flickr – jan_vandorpe

… Socotra is considered the “jewel” of biodiversity in the Arabian sea. The long geological isolation of the Socotra archipelago and its fierce heat and drought have combined to create a unique and spectacular endemic flora (which may, therefore, be vulnerable to introduced species such as goats and to climate change). Surveys have revealed that more than a third of the 800 or so plant species of Socotra are found nowhere else. Botanists rank the flora of Socotra among the ten most endangered island flora in the world. The archipelago is a site of global importance for biodiversity conservation and a possible center for ecotourism. …

The island was recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a world natural heritage site in July 2008. …

Wikipedia

The beaches look pretty sweet, too.

larger version – flickr – Valerio Pandolfo

A friend of mine (Canadian who spoke Arabic) traveled in Yemen decades ago. And loved it.

There are some trekking tours listed on the internet, including Socotra Guide.

more photos – Dark Roasted Blend – The Most Alien-Looking Place on Earth

January 2, 2009January 2, 2009

peek-a-boo with a polar bear

How do think this turned out?

polar-bear

Mail Online – Chilling game of hide and seek with a hungry polar bear

(via Sierra Blogging Post)

January 1, 2009January 2, 2009

Planet Earth – our home

The Secret Team has created a gift for you. This clip features our beautiful Planet Earth. As you experience this clip you will emit positive forces of energy across Planet Earth that will reach every single living thing on it. You will lift yourself, and as you lift yourself, you lift the entire world.

The magnificent music was composed and graciously gifted for this clip by composer Jo Blankenburg.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.