Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
This is elegant simplicity. Exactly the way the internet should work.
Clean. Succinct. But dense with the information you most need: maps, guidebooks, etc.
Check a sample hike for format: San Bruno Mountain Summit Loop, California.
Here’s a sample of the Google Maps integration:
screenshot
I am inspired.
Well done, Trailspotting.
… is cycle the canals.
They’re part of the Central Arizona Project (CAP), a 336mi (541km) diversion of water from the Colorado River through to southern Arizona. The largest and most expensive aqueduct system ever constructed in the United States.
In Phoenix I rented a mountain bike from the hostel ($15/day) and rode the flat desert until I got close to one of the many “mountain parks”.
Locking up my ride, I then ran up rough trails to the summit.
Great training for Adventure Racing, was my thinking.
My best day was a ride to South Mountain Park (not on canals this time) and a trail run from Holbert trailhead up to Dobbin’s Lookout.
Worried about global warming vis-Ã -vis our polar friends?
They’ll simply find a new source of food if they can’t get to the seals.
source – flickr
BootsnAll, the website for independent travelers, announces its Top 10 Destinations for Independent Travellers 2008. …
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Budapest, Hungary
Morocco
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Imet Gogo, Ethiopia (Simien Mtns)
Queenstown, New Zealand
Palermo, Sicily
Petra, Jordan
Belize
Nepal
(via The Adventure Blog)
I’m liking the three in bold for trekking:
Imet Gogo (3926m), Ethiopia – flickr – Paul Zizka
best hikes in Africa
Queenstown, New Zealand – flickr – cheetah100
best hikes in Australasia
Nepal – flickr – mckaysavage
best hikes in Asia
I only recently grasped the fact there are bears in the European Alps.
Now I learn they are disappearing:
What — or who — is behind the mysterious disappearance of 20-25 Austrian bears? While that number may seem small, it in fact represents four fifths of the bear population that makes its living in the forests of Lower Austria and Styria. The disappearances, which started occurring in the late 90s, have caused sufficient consternation among local residents and environmentalists to lead to an investigation by the Austrian police.
Christoph Waldner of WWF attributes their disappearance to one of three reasons: natural mortality, migration or hunting — which is illegal because of the bears’ endangered status. To Waldner, it seems pretty clear that hunters are to blame for the bears’ disappearance. …
My call to cast John Hodgeman as Bryson, and Jack Black as Katz fell on deaf ears.
Robert Redford, 71-years-young, will play Bill Bryson in the film adaptation of the funniest hiking book of all time.
(via Cutter’s blog)
Ken Vande Burgt contacted us by email:
I am a sea kayaker and am concerned about campsites and access after losing recreation sites at Spring Island, Fair Harbour, and Toquart Bay in the Maa Nulth treaty settlement. So far it looks like Nootka Trail is not on the table for other treaties under negotiation, however, it will only stay that way if enough of us make it known that losing the trail won’t be tolerated. Get the word out.
Incredibly, the British Columbia Provincial Government is still sitting on their hands regarding a the popular, unofficial Nootka Trail on Vancouver Island.
source – flickr – Andre Charland
It’s a world class tourist attraction, yet inaction is standard policy for the famously inefficient BC government when it comes to dealing with aboriginal land claims.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure what we can do about it. Petition the Provincial government if you live in that part of the world.
Kraig Becker linked to a great contest for hikers:
Most hikers, trekkers, and backpackers have a particular trail that sticks out to them as being their favorite for one reason or another. Sometimes it’s the scenery or the wildlife they encounter along the way. Perhaps it’s the challenge or the solitude it provides. No matter what reason your favorite trail keeps you coming back, National Geographic Adventure wants to know about it.
The editors over at Adventure are compiling a list of their reader’s favorite trails for a feature on “America’s Best Hikes” which will be the cover story for the April issue that hits newsstands on March 18th. …
read more – The Adventure Blog
I instantly nominated The North Circle in Glacier National Park, Montana. It’s one of our top 10 hikes in the world.
Iceberg Lake in Glacier National Park – flickr – by The Lilac Breasted Roller
Details on how to nominate your favourite American trail on National Geographic.
dbarnett of the excellent A Little Closer to Heaven blog posted his Top 10 Buffalo River Adventures in Arkansas.
Ahh, Hawksbill Crag, the most photographed place in Arkansas. I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures before and dreamed of going there. It’s only a 3 mile hike…what’s stopping you?
Click through for photos and details.
Part I
10. Hideout Hollow
9. Indian Creek
8. Buffalo River Float- Ponca to Carver
7. Fitton Cave
6. Hawksbill Crag
Part II
5. Big Bluff
4. Lost Valley
3. Hemmed-In Hollow
2. Shop Creek Slot Canyon
1. Buffalo River Trail
I’ve always been suspicious of “waterproof socks” for hiking:
Seirus Stormsock Waterproof Sock
Crow confirms “they stink”: Waterproof socks: A bad idea
She likes neoprene socks. As do I.
It was an accident that started me wearing neoprene, actually. I took normal hiking footwear and water walking shoes on the West Coast Trail. And ended up wearing my speciality water shoes with neoprene booties for the entire hike. They were so bloody comfortable.
Sure my feet got “wrinkled”. But a quick rinse was enough to remove the sweat. And they dry in seconds.
Consider this option. One example:
Body Glove Flipper Slipper Neoprene Sock
I don’t wear neoprene on every hike. But my booties were perfect in Paria Canyon.
besthike.com 