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hiking Coyote Buttes in winter


Fantastic photos.

These rock formations are just “wow”

The hike was difficult at times. Not difficult as dangerous, just difficult as in trying to figure out ways of getting up the rocks without sliding and falling. Well, there was a bit of sliding as I mentioned before and yes, there was some falling too. We were not in any danger at any point and time.

… So having done this hike I have to say that this so far is one of the best hikes I’ve ever done. Hardly any people, tons of spectacular jaw dropping scenery – I must have taken over 400 photos during the hike.

122908_az_coyote_buttes40x

more gorgeous photos and the trip report – excessivelocity – Arizona: Hiking Coyote Buttes in the snow

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trekking South Africa

Very high on my life list.

The Otter Trail along the Tsitsikamma coast is probably the most popular hike in the country. Lush forests, rugged shorelines, mountain streams and waterfalls and fragrant fynbos make this a special one. It’s strenuous, with lots of ups and downs, but the distances aren’t too great.

otter-trail

larger version – flickr – South African Tourism

If you want the scenery and walking with less slog and more luxury, try the Dolphin Trail. It traverses similar terrain to the Otter – joining up with it in places – but instead of hiking huts you stay in fully catered guest houses with great views and good food. Your pack is transported to your next overnight spot by vehicle, and you carry only a day pack with lunch, water, camera and swimsuit.

The Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape offers similar trails but dramatically different scenery: miles of deserted beaches, wave-lashed rocks and occasional tropical forest.

Accommodation is in coastal hotels instead of huts. The usual is to carry your pack, but you can arrange to have it driven around, if you plan ahead.

Purists can tackle the Wild Coast rough as they like. There are miles and miles of unspoiled hiking trail traversing high mountains, deserts and forests, where the accommodation is the usual hiking hut, and the cuisine whatever you decided to carry.

For an even wilder experience, you can hike for days in the Cedarberg, near Cape Town, or the Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal, without seeing a hut or a route marker. These are designated wilderness areas, and you simply take a map and a permit and set off, sleeping under the stars or in convenient caves. …

drakensberg
larger version – drakensberg – flickr – jaejongkwak

hiking – SouthAfrica Info

related – Footprint Hiking Club

Some of the most popular hikes require advance booking far in advance of your start date.

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National Geographic best Park photos


More pretty, pretty pictures.

We’ve found the most beautiful places in the National Park System and located them for you with GPS coordinates. Check out these photos, then send us your best national park shot for the chance to get published and win gear prizes.

yosemite

reno

denali

To enter the contest … or, submit your own photos, … or, see the rest of the photos, click through to National Geographic Adventure – Best of the National Parks: The Most Beautiful Places

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Tepui climbing in Venezuela


Planet Fear has some terrific photos posted. I’d never before seen Cerro Autana.

tepui

The post is a trip report of the first free climb of ‘Rainbow Jambaia‘.

rainbow-jambaia

The group was there with Ivan Calderon, the world’s most experienced tepui climber.

tepui-climbing

see more – Extreme Jungle Rock by Anne Arran

Me? I’d be happy simply to climb Roraima by the standard route.

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FATTEST cities in the USA


Where will you find this guy?

fat-man

Fattest Cities (according to Men’s Fitness)
1. Miami
2. Oklahoma City
3. San Antonio
4. Las Vegas
5. New York

Fittest Cities
1. Salt Lake City
2. Colorado Springs
3. Minneapolis
4. Denver
5. Albuquerque

Outside Blog

source – USA Today

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bike tent combo


Another odd idea.

… According to Topeak, the Bikamper ‘is a personal shelter that utilizes a 26″ mountain or 700c road front wheel in place of tent poles.’ The tent and the fly fold down into tiny 10.2″ x 5.5″ pack, weighing in at 3.59 lbs. …

bikamper

Uncooped – campergirl – The Bikamper: A good idea?

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climbing Mt Shasta, California


Friends tell me this is the best climb in CA. May – July.

summit-shasta
larger version – flickr – Darcy McCarty

And that it’s quite doable for a non-mountaineer.

The The Mozmonkey Blog is planning for summer 2009, as well:

… Typically the climb and decent will take two days, although, some people do it in one.

Day 1 starts with a 4 – 6 hour hike from the parking lot up to Helen Lake (which is really just a glacier) where you setup base camp. The rest of the day is spent admiring the view, making food (yay, dehydrated meals!) and preparing your day pack for the next morning.

The summit ascent begins somewhere between 12 AM – 3 AM the next morning. You’ll want to start super early while the snow is still firm and solid and get to red banks before the sun starts making it soft and slushy.

When you reach the summit stop to enjoy the view, regain your energy and prepare for the best part of the journey — glissading down the mountain! This literally means you will sit on your butt in the groove created by the people before you and slide down the entire mountain; stopping briefly at base camp to collect the rest of your gear. Not to worry, you will have an ice axe with you as a safety device that will help you regulate your speed down the mountain.

So that’s it, 2 days to get to the top and and 3 – 4 hours down. …

Climbing Mount Shasta

more photos tagged Shasta on flickr

Sounds something like our climb of Mt Adams, Oregon last year.

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White Sands National Monument, New Mexico


I just discovered Adventure-Crew.com, a site devoted to adventuring in the American National Parks.

Click PLAY or watch one of their videos on YouTube.

Adventurer Mike Pudlo hikes through White Sands National Monument in Alamogordo, New Mexico without getting lost. See several highlights and learn why White Sands is well, white.

Adventure-Crew.com has 60+ more videos on YouTube. A great resource!

I am getting them via iTunes in the Podcast section. Or watch them on their website: Adventure-Crew.com

The also offer updates by email newsletter, if you prefer. Or RSS feed.

It’s all free.

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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:

trek-south-americaWednesday, 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.