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North Coast Trail, Canada FINALLY opening

We complained May 2006: North Coast Trail, Canada ??

And again in December 2006: North Coast Trail, Vancouver Island – stalled

Now … Joan tipped me off that the NCT will open for the 2008 season. Or most of it, we think. The official announcement is still weeks away.

My Saskatoon hiking friends are looking at their calendars.

From the organizing group on Vancouver Island:

Inaugural Hike: Dave Trebett, Ron Quilter, Shaun Korman, Jacob Blanchard, Ben McGibbon, Ben Pawlett and Dave Parker hiked the North Coast Trail November 4-8, 2007.

A few photos from their report to the Northern Vancouver Island Trails Society:

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The full document, called Cape Scott North Coast Trail – Progress Report, is available as a PDF linked from the Northern Vancouver Island Trail Society.

Similar best hikes nearby:

  • West Coast Trail
  • Nootka Trail
  • Juan de Fuca Marine Trail
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    which ultralight hiking pack?

    Do I deserve a new hiking pack? Lighter than my Granite Gear Virga (photo).

    Yes. Because I’m worth it.

    But which?

    uberlitejpg.pngThe G6 Whisper Ultralight Backpack was designed in response to Ryan Jordan’s desire for a freakishly light, subcompact, overnight pack. The G6 Whisper Ultralight Backpack is a cornerstone of Ryan’s Super-UltraLight Backpacking (overnight backpacking with less than five pounds of gear) strategy. …

    The G6 Whisper, at only 3.7 ounces (99 g), is the lightest commercially-available rucksack with enough volume for overnight backpacking by the accomplished ultralight backpacker. With more than 1800 cubic inches (30L) of main packbag capacity, an expandable rear pocket, and a short extension collar, the G6 Whisper Ultralight Backpack provides enough volume for virtually any serious ultralighter out for two or three days, and enough volume for the extraordinarily disciplined ultralight hiker with a very low equipment kit volume to spend several days to a week in the backcountry. …

    NO WARRANTY WHATSOEVER IS PROVIDED FOR THIS PRODUCT

    Gossamer Gear G6 Whisper “Uberlite” Backpack @ Backpacking Light

    What about the GoLite Ion?

    The epitome of ultra-lite simplicity, the Ion was designed for ultra-lite fast-packing, summit bids, and adventure travel. Constructed of super durable Dyneema® gridstop fabric and a single watertight zipper at the opening, this top-loader features spacer mesh shoulder straps for comfort, an adjustable sternum strap and webbing hip belt, a hydration tube opening and a haul loop. Extremely compact and a true minimalist piece, the Ion is a featherweight 9 ounces!

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    GoLite Product Detail

    As the Crow Flies linked to home made gear by Samurai Joe Valesko. He uses cuben fiber.

    light-pack.jpg

    Joe Says:

    “I carried a single Blast 26 backpack my entire PCT thru-hike (2,663 miles). I carried a base weight of around 5 lbs (gear list), and generally 12-20 lbs with full food and water.

    At one point I carried 35 lbs for an 11 day stretch without re-supply through the High Sierras of California. My shoulders weren’t happy about that much weight, but the pack took it like a champ! (Under 20 lbs is a more comfortable weight with frameless packs)

    By the end of the five month trip the pack was quite a bit frayed, but still in very usable condition. Not bad for a 3.5 ounce backpack!”

    Zpacks.com Ultralight Backpacking Gear

    That water bottle side pocket is excessive, don’t you think? Could shave some grams there, Joe.

    (Incidentally, Kraig, I recall pooh poohing your suggestion to use an air mattress as the frame of a backpack. But now I do it all the time with my Virga.)

    Leave a comment if you have other recommendations. Thanks!

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    BikeHike – best Biking Outfitter On Earth?

    I’m in Phoenix, Arizona for some bike hiking. Proving unfailing dedication to my Adventure Racing Team — the Fast Farts.

    Then I saw BluePeak post a shout out for BikeHike.com …

    (I like the sound of that domain name.)

    National Geographic Adventure Magazine named them #2 ?? (as I read it) for cycle tours. Winners were profiled in the November 2007 issue.

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    Check out the site – BikeHike Adventures Inc – BEST Biking Outfitter On the Earth

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    bears in Europe?

    And moose?

    Where have I been hiking all my life?

    From Laplandica.com:

    I followed the incident with my binoculars. The bear was getting closer and closer as they both came downhill and closer to the river bank and brush across from me. As the moose entered into the brush, the bear was right behind her. The brush slowed the moose down giving the bear the advantage of the situation. And, more suddenly than one would expect, I watched the bear jump up from behind onto the moose and, holding hard onto her back loins with his paws and claws, tackled and dragged the moose down into the bushes. Both disappeared.

    I saw a lot of rustling in the bushes, but everything went very quickly and soon these stopped moving. For a long time I sat there and waited, watching for any movement, but there was none. As I watched, I realized how swiftly the chase, and then the kill, happened. I was awed with how fast the bear could run and the strength and power he had when pulling the moose down to kill it. And, to have sat there alone and be a witness to the whole event was something I felt almost blessed with. …

    Laplandica » Unexpected things can happen in Laponia…

    Ah, of course. In the NORTH. That’s real wilderness.

    Next, in a flash of Google magic, Philip Bethge’s article appeared on the reintroduction of bears to the Alps:

    The brown bear is returning to the mountains of Central Europe, thanks to resettlement projects in Italy, Austria and France. Biologists celebrate the animals’ return as a success in endangered species protection. But the general population has mixed feelings about welcoming back the predator.

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    Brown Bears in the Alps: The Great Bear Comeback – SPIEGEL ONLINE

    They have a long way to go …

    Brown bears were once found throughout Europe and even inhabited the British Isles until the 10th century (Curry Lindahl 1972, Servheen 1990). Populations in Europe have been severely reduced and habitat has been fragmented by human modification.

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    GrizzlyBear.org

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    happy birthday best hike blog

    glutton-baby.jpgIt’s been 2yrs since we added the blog to besthike.com.

    The first post was called: Introducing Rick McCharles. (Our site editor hasn’t matured much since. But at least he’s still a glutton for hiking.)

    Over 840 posts, some of the most popular are surprising:

  • want to hike South America?
  • Best hikes, treks & tramps in the world
  • Cirque of the Towers, Wyoming
  • amazing photos – Marc Shandro
  • Sierra High Route, California
  • 3300 miles around the Alps
  • is heli-hiking cheating?
  • geotagging photos – cool !
  • Paria – the best canyon walk in the world
  • best hiking guidebooks

    • One day we need to put up an editor’s choice list of best posts. (Pinky promise to do that before we hit 1000 posts.)

    Leave a comment if you have recommendations to improve this blog. (Hint — demand “more maps”.)

    PS

    Always a bridesmaid …

    (We were a couple of days later to the party than The Adventure Blog which celebrated a 2yr anniversary January 16th.)

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    guided hikes in Israel

    Israel Hiking offers guided walks “stressing landscapes, nature and historic sites.”

    Sounds like a great way to visit the Holy Land.

    … Israel is not a big country, but the range of landscapes is diverse. You can experience steep mountains, the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee, the Judean Desert, the Arava and the Negev, and of course, Jerusalem. The stories of the bible and the antiquities from various periods can be seen wherever you go. We will do our utmost to produce a trip filled with experiences that you will talk about long after you return home. …

    Our guides are English speakers, who are certified guides and have experience in the regions of the trip. If you are interested in a tour in a language other than English, we will make every effort to find a guide who speaks the language and masters the professional terms so that you will be able to enjoy the trip.

    About

    I greatly enjoyed hiking in the Sinai and even more so in Jordan. But I’ve never been to Israel myself.

    The first trip that jumps out at me is a 7-day section of the much longer Israel National Trail:

    From Tel Hay to Meron on the The Israel National Trail crosses Israel from the very north to Eilat through the Country‘s principal, most beautiful sites. …

    The hike ends at the Amoud River as it approaches Lake Kinnereth. From there, we will travel by car to the youth hostel on Lake Kinnereth.

    The difficulty level of the hike on the Israel National Trail is medium. …

    Full price: 600 Euro. See the map.

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    Makhtesh Ramon (Ramon Crater) – Wikipedia

    Other more difficult treks that appeal are Ramon Crater to the Arava valley and the Eilat Hike from Timnah.

    I assume security is not much of an issue when hiking in Israel. But it might be a good idea for a first time visitor to go with experts and learn the ropes.

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    homepage –hikes and trecks in israel

    Leave a message if you know more about hiking in Israel.

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    new danger in the woods: Electric Bear Fence

    Does Rocky Thompson make this stuff up?

    (This can’t be for real.)

    On his blog:

    … Try to remember there’s an electrified fence right outside your tent when you get up in the middle of the night to take a piss. If a can of Bear Spray doesn’t offer the protection you’re looking for, then you might try lugging some fencing and batteries into the backcountry. The Bear Shock outfit weighs 3.7 pounds with batteries, and stretches around a 30 x 30ft area.

    The website claims the batteries will last five weeks and blast someone with 6000 volts of electricity if touched. I say “someone” and not “some bear” since it’s much more likely you’ll walk into it than anything else.

    Backcountry.com: The Goat » Blog Archive » Portable Electric Bear Fence to Encircle Your Campsite

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    more photos – Bear Shock

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    Prevent Ankle Sprains on the Trail

    My chronic ankle sprain has not hindered in years, but I’m considering specific trail running shoes in future.

    From the Sierra Trading Post blog:

    An Ounce (or Two) of Prevention

    So here’s the damage control. If you have a weak or dysfunctional ankle, you can reduce the likelihood of injury, and re-injury, by taping, bracing, stretching and strengthening the joint in question. If you’re planning on taping your ankles, see a physical therapist or an athletic trainer who can show you how.

    Ankle braces are easily found in your local drug store and can effectively fortify vulnerable joints.

    Another ankle-saving consideration is in selecting the proper shoes. Jason McGrath, USATF Level 2 Track Coach, decorated ultra trail runner, and shoe expert suggests trail-specific shoes that are neutral and low to the ground. Most running shoes suitable for pavement are well cushioned; however, a thick midsole means that your feet are farther from the ground, causing less stability and increasing the probability of rolling an ankle. McGrath also warns strongly wearing “stability” shoes, common on the road-shoe market. These shoes contain medial posting, or a separate material lining the instep that prevents overpronation of the foot. When running on uneven terrain these shoes place more stress on the physiologically weaker lateral (outside) portion of the ankle, making it more likely to roll. In the meantime, you will also want to add ankle strength and flexibility exercises to your workout regimen.

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    Trailrunner Mag: Prevent Ankle Sprains on the Trail

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    scramble Shop Creek slot canyon – Arkansas

    Just subscribed to an excellent blog:

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    A Little Closer to Heaven

    One trip was inspired by this photo:

    slotfalls1.jpeg

    … A slot canyon in Arkansas?

    That’s what I thought too until I came across this beautiful picture taken by Tim Ernst a few months back. I had to know where it was and check it out for myself. So I shot Tim Ernst an email asking…and to my surprise…he answered! I immediately called one of my friends up and told him we have to give this place a visit.

    It was an awesome place indeed. It starts as a typical creek bed in the woods and after following the creek about half a mile, narrow canyon walls just appear almost like a doorway. We headed into it amidst the horrible smell of a rotting carcass of some animal who probably fell in (most likely an armadillo, those things are so stupid). What we found was something that belongs in Utah or Arizona. But it’s not…it’s in the middle of the Ozarks. …

    Read the rest of this post and click through some of the others – A Little Closer To Heaven » Amazing Destinations: Shop Creek Slot Canyon. You will be impressed.