besthike.com

November 24, 2008October 1, 2009

volcano trek in the Canary Islands

Santa Cruz de La Palma, Spain

Volcanic landscapes, jungle-like laurel forests, lava deserts and thick pinewood: La Palma is not only the greenest island of the Canaries, it’s also the most diverse.

… a hiker’s paradise. …

What’s the best hike there?

(perhaps) … the hikes in La Caldera de Taburiente National Park, a volcano crater with a diameter of about eight kilometres and one of the most fascinating regions on the Canary Islands.

The network of trails is about 70 kilometres through the park. One of the trails with the most beautiful panorama views snakes along the crater’s edge. It leads to Roque de Los Muchachos, rising 2,426 metres, the highest point on the island. The view from there trails off deep into the crater. …

Isla Bonita’s hiking trails offer diverse experience

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larger size – flickr – untipografico

… The northern part of La Palma is dominated by the Caldera de Taburiente, with a width of 9 km and a depth of 1500 m. It is surrounded by a ring of mountains ranging from 1600 m to 2400 m in height. Only the deep Barranco de las Angustias (“Valley of Fear”) canyon leads into the inner area of the caldera which is a national park. It can be reached only by hiking. The outer slopes are cut by numerous gorges which run from 2000 m down to the sea. Today, only few of these carry water due to the many water tunnels that have been cut into the islands structure. …

Wikipedia

related post: hiking the Canary Islands, Spain

November 23, 2008

Adventure Week 2009 on Facebook

My buddy Andy Tucker set up a Facebook page for our BIG EVENT of 2009.

Adventure Week is scheduled to take place June 5th – 14th, 2009 at Farragut State Park, just 30 miles outside of Coeur dâ€™Alene, Idaho. The jam-packed schedule will include a number of amazing races, including triathlons, mountain biking, and adventure races. There will also be orienteering competitions, mountain treks, and even disc golf tournaments.

details

November 23, 2008

hairy, scary road in Norway

On your way to Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) …

larger size – flickr – larskflem

… and the Kjeragbolten …

larger size – flickr – 7ty9

you can take in one of the world’s most dramatic roadways:

This is the Lysebotn Road in Lysefjord, Norway – complete with 27 switchbacks and a 1.1 kilometer long tunnel at the bottom, also with three switchbacks inside. Let one driver tell the story (courtesy Stefan Jonsson):

“The first half of this road was nothing too special, but then… then came the fun part! The last 30 km (18 miles) to Lysebotn were the most fun I have ever driven! This part of the road was a true roller-coaster! It was narrow but with a perfect surface, and you just sat there on the bike with a big smile on your face as you pushed on for some really active driving. Not a straight part of the road as far as you could see. It was up and down and left and right all the time! The road ends with a 27 hairpin serpentine road taking you from 1000 meters (3280 ft) above sea level down to Lysebotn and the Lysefjord. At the end of the serpentine road you go through a tunnel that screws itself 340 degrees through the mountain and as you come out of it (slightly dizzy) you have Lysebotn in front of you. If you ride a motorcycle in Norway, then this road is something you simply can not afford to miss!”

via Dark Roasted Blend

November 22, 2008

owl as predator

From National Geographic …

larger version

November 22, 2008

Fitz Roy – best mountain vista anywhere

What do you think?

It’s rare to get this clear a view.

Photodiary of a Nomad had perfect timing. Lucky ducks!

From their trip report:

At 6.30am I looked outside the window of our room; snow still lay on the ground in El Chalten and the hills around, but it was glistening ….. in the sunlight. A fine sunny day is a precious object in this part of the world and there was no time to dally. We were up, showered, fed and on the track by 8am, hoping to catch our first glimpse of the mountains of Fitzroy. With the promise of fine weather, we decided to head up the lesser known track to the the Mirador de Loma de Pliegue Tumbado, with the promise of a magnificent panorama of the two icons of this area – 3120m Cerro Torre and 3405m Monte Fitzroy. …

It was cloud covered the entire time I was there.

… Almost on cue, the clouds parted to reveal one of the best alpine panoramas that we have ever seen; the incredibly sharp needle of Cerro Torre and the dark bulk of the south face of Monte Fitzroy standing guard on each side of Glacier Torre, curving down into the milky green waters of Laguna Torre.

read on – Los Glaciares – Fitzroy Treks (part 1)

Want to trek there yourself?

Check our besthike Fitz Roy information page.

All hikers who travel to Fitz Roy trek nearby Paine, as well.

November 21, 2008

Adventure Week 2009 Idaho

My buddy Dave Adlard is a master organizer of big events.

He’s putting together the biggest new Adventure Race anywhere!

Adventure Week is schedule to take place June 5th – 14th, 2009 at Farragut State Park, just 30 miles outside of Coeur d’Alene. The jam-packed schedule will include a number of amazing races, including triathlons, mountain biking, and adventure races. There will also be orienteering competitions, mountain treks, and even disc golf tournaments. And endurance athletes are not going to want to miss “The Crux and The Crucible“, two demanding and rewarding adventure races that will push teams to the limits.

The Adventure Blog

There’s truly something for everyone. Beginners. Children. Recreational outdoors enthusiasts. Even World Class endurance athletes.

Details on the official website: Adventure Week 2009. (I’m the editor.)

Or download the detailed brochure in PDF format.

Put the dates on your calendar now. It’s going to be FANTASTIC.

November 21, 2008

hiking in India is booming

Hiking is booming in Norway.

And southern India too.

From The Chennai Trekking Club:

1300 members, 10+ joining each day, 50 treks completed, 15000+ photos

They sound excited about the outdoors:

… trekking through tropical, dense jungles, stretching your physical limits while conquering steep uphill slopes, breathing fresh mountain air, exploring virgin ever-green forests, navigating through mountainous terrain with map and compass, diving into hidden mountain streams and waterfalls, setting up our own camp, experiencing the peacefullness and beautyfull valley views, drinking from clear mountain streams, sleeping under the bright stars, spontaneous bonding between new trekkers while overcoming obstacles together, photographing that once-in-a-lifetime wildlife scene, …

Looks like they are having FUN:

The website looks good … though some of the links did not work correctly.

ChennaiTrekkers.org

November 20, 2008

another Inca Trail alternative – Moonstone Trek

First off, this adventure does not have you hiking into Machu Picchu.

It finishes 7mi away in (amazing) Ollantaytambo. From there you take the train to Aguas Calientes. Then the bus up to the ruins.

larger version – flickr – FranUlloa

On the other hand, it does look pretty good compared with the over-popular, problematic Inca Trail.

It passes through seldom-visited Andean villages, Inca and pre-Inca ruins and heads onto a beautiful altiplano plateau surrounded by glaciated peaks. Most groups wonâ€™t encounter any other tourists for the entire trek and the combination of stunning mountain scenery and wildlife, fascinating relics and real isolation is truly rewarding. …

Supported by horses rather than porters. It’s claimed to be a little tougher than the standard Inca Trail, as “it goes higher and covers slightly more distance”.

Exodus Guide Tours – Moonstone Trek

larger version – flickr – FranUlloa

(via The Adventure Blog)

The best alternative is still Choquequirao to Machu Picchu.

November 19, 2008

scrambling Annapurna Base Camp, NEPAL

My old hiking buddy from South America 2004, Canadian Grant Assenheimer, just climbed down from the high Himalayas. He was on a “holiday” between assignments for Doctors Without Borders.

From Grant’s email:

Just got back from ABC and had a fantastic time. The ‘scare’ tactics used by the tour companies almost had me convinced that I should take a guide but it is TOTALLY NOT NECESSARY. Pass the word! Even if you are only moderately fit, you can easily do any of the teahouse trekking without a guide or porter.

larger version – flickr

My favorite day was a scramble up from the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC). Although most people stop at ABC, I rounded up a couple of New Yorkers and the 3 of us did this great day trip UP to the base camp for Tent Peak, one of the smaller ‘trekking peaks’ in the area. We started at 4100 m, went down and crossed the stone-covered glacier and then climbed to 4800 m via a steep morrain, icy river through a narrow gorge and finally a bit of a slog through steep high-altitude grassy slopes. This gave us GREAT views of the Annapurna Range, Machapuchre and some other ‘lesser’ 5 and 6 thousand meter peaks. The way UP was a bit challenging (ie. GREAT) because we didn’t see the PATH until we were already pretty much at the top. Lets just say that the way down was MUCH easier and didn’t involve navigating that icy river in that steep canyon or the 60 degree grassy slopes…

I also read Annapurna by Herzog during the hike. Wow. All I can say is that the Nepal of today is NOTHING like the Himalayas of the early mountaineers. I mean, they actually walked in from India. No apple pie or internet cafe waiting at 4000 m for them. What a story.

I started in Phedi, walked to ABC and then came out via Gorenpani and Poon hill. Truly spectacular and worth putting up with everyone else for the views. Definitely NOT a wilderness experience but if you go in without expecting one, its a great time.

larger version – flickr

Thanks Grant.

The Base Camp is the best side trip off the famed Annapurna Circuit.

November 19, 2008

how to pack your hiking food

Sectionhiker put up a great post:

Tips and Tricks: How to Pack a Food Bag:

1. When I pack my bear bag at home, I first divide all of my meals into 5 piles: breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and drinks.

2. I put each pile into itâ€™s own plastic bag. I find that the best ones to use for this purpose are the plastic bags that I get from the dry cleaners that wrap my folded dress shirts.

3. I place my backpacking towel, bear bag line, and mesh sack at the bottom of my food bag.

4. Then I insert my O.P. Sack into my bear bag and place my long handled titanium spoon and toob tooth brush along the inside, propped up vertically for easy access.

5. Next, I put the 5 bags of food into my O.P. sack, one by one, so that the meal or snack that I want next, is positioned at the top of my food bag. After, Iâ€™ve eaten something, I reorder the bags as required, so that food breaks can be kept short if I want to get going again.

6. I always carry my food bag on top of the other gear in my backpack so that itâ€™s easy to access during the day.

Click through for the details – Tips and Tricks: How to Pack a Food Bag – Sectionhiker