Backpacker magazine has their annual Readers’ Choice 2009 survey up online.
A sample: Which of the … mountain photos is your favorite?
screenshot
Click through to register your votes: Readers’ Choice 2009 Survey
top 50 walks on Earth
The world’s 50 best walks is a terrific article posted by The Times Online from the U.K.
Most of the “world’s __ best walks” lists we see are cliche, if not laughable. But this one is well researched with many interesting, original choices. Links are included to recommended guiding companies.
Their 5 most difficult treks are all excellent choices:
Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon
Choquequirao, Peru (the “new†Inca Trail) – info page
Fish River Canyon, Namibia
Tour du Mont Blanc – info page
Snowman Trek, Bhutan
The world’s 50 best walks – page 8 – Times Online
Read the entire list from the beginning.
(via The Adventure Blog)
first bear attack on Vancouver Island
Hikers of the West Coast Trail and other great walks on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, take comfort that there are no Grizzly Bears on the island. And that the Black Bears are famously non-aggressive.
Until this attack on fisherman Blain Pharis:
… A black bear swam across Gordon River and climbed up onto the wharf as Pharis neared his vessel, said Hitchcock. The bear followed Pharis onto his boat and mauled him.
Four men armed with fishing gear including a filleting knife, gaff and hammer swarmed the bear and killed it.
The animal’s internal organs were examined in a necropsy and it was found to be elderly, at more than 10 years of age, and in poor health. …
Bear attack a first for the Island, expert says – Vancouver Sun
This was at Port Renfrew, the trailhead for the WCT.
Since 1986, eight people in B.C. have been killed by black bears and 75 have been injured.
paddle hiking in Alaska
The Backcountry Blog inspires me to plan future paddle / hike adventures.
I recently did the Sanctuary River loop with my friend Sherrie. We took 3 days so we could hang out in the high country and explore. The route is from Cantwell to Denali Park, where you catch the bus back to the park entrance. It’s about equal parts hiking and floating . . . enjoy the view! …
more photos – The Sanctuary River . . . an Alaskan packraft classic!
I’d prefer an inflatable kayak over a packraft, however.
Top 10 U.S. Hikes
Click through for details on these great walks selected by TrailsTV.com.
Glacier Gorge – Estes Park Colorado
The Bright Angel Trail – Grand Canyon, Arizona
The Tahoe Rim Trail – Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada
Half Dome – Yosemite, California
Enchantment Traverse – Seattle, Washington
Chimney Pond Trail – Baxter State Park, Maine
Kalalau Trail – Kauai, Hawaii
Denali National Park – Denali National Park, Alaska
Breakneck Ridge Trail – Beacon, New York
Furnace Mountain – Waynesboro, Virgina
Top 10 U.S. Hikes – TrailsTV.com
Breakneck Ridge Trail – larger original – flickr – Pianoman75
GPS for (hiking) Dummies
Trailspotting has a superb post for the GPS illiterate like myself:
Your new handheld GPS might seem complex, but in truth it’s very simple to use. This quick article will show you how easy it is to get started, by using the Trailspotting recommended Garmin eTrex Venture HC GPS as an example. In next to no time you’ll be showing off your latest expedition on Google Earth. …
… click through to read the entire article: First Steps with your new GPS – Trailspotting
I’m convinced. It takes 2 AA batteries.
I assume the MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager software is Windoze only. (I am a Mac guy.)
But posting my hikes to EveryTrail.com looks to be very easy.
Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS
Fred Theilig of Rhode Hikes would not buy the minimalist Bushnell BackTrack GPS.
For only a few dollars more — $89.00 right now on Amazon — he’d recommend a Garmin eTrex. This one is waterproof. And gets up to 17hrs on 2AA batteries. Editors of Trailspotting and Take a Load Off agree.
Many are confused by GPS feature sets. (Including me.) We might want to buy a Garmin GPS Etrex Instructional Video at the same time.
death leap at the Grand Canyon
Did you get the email showing an amazing sequence by “Dutch photographer Hans van der Vorst”?
It’s been circulating since 2006.
You probably guessed the photos were staged. You were right.
There’s a connecting ledge between those rock formations. The fall is much shorter than it appears.
Details on Snopes.
Thanks Dana.
review – Mtn Hardwear Sub Zero Parka
I’d been shopping for a hooded down jacket for months on a recommendation from Rob Glaser. Could not resist this one at the bargain sale price of $107.
Mountain Hardwear Sub Zero SL Down Parka – Men’s
Actually, only the women’s version was on sale. It fits me great.
I’ve used it several times now, even sleeping in it on our Mt. Adams climb.
I’ll carry a relatively light sleeping bag to offset the weight of this relatively heavy jacket.
Bushnell BackTrack GPS
A GPS Unit Even Your Mother Could Use
Finally, a SIMPLE GPS.
Bushnell 36-0050 BackTrack GPS Navigation System
(via Popgadget to Ohgizmo to The Goat to Adventure Blog)
I’ve added this to my Christmas wish list. I could certainly have used one in the past.
besthike.com 