Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
I subscribed instantly to Scott Thompson’s new blog called Hiking Trip Reports.
Instantly after they named us one of the “Top Hiking Blogs”. And called us “beautiful”.
Here are Scott’s favourites:
Yosemite Blog
Ubertramp
Two-Heel Drive Trail Journals
Best Hike
Backcountry Blog
Natural Born Hikers
Hiking Trip Reports also pointed me to the cool hiking trail sign generator:
I’ve been lost. And I like to think I know what I’m doing in the woods. Some good reminders here.
Freelance writer Dan A. Nelson, of Puyallup, is an author of several outdoor guides, and a frequent contributor to Northwest Weekend and Backpacker magazine.
Here’s a summary of the post:
Wilderness legend Daniel Boone once wrote, “I have never been lost, but I will admit to being confused for several weeks.â€
When lost:
First off, Williams says, stop where you are. Have a snack and something to drink and calmly check your map, consider your options and figure out what needs to be done.
The difference between not knowing exactly where you are and being lost generally comes down to this: panic. As anxiety and panic creep into the mind, rational thought fades away, which is when bad decisions are made.
• Seek out shelter
• Leave a detailed itinerary with someone
• Be prepared
• Stay put
• Carry a cellphone and GPS, but don’t rely solely on them
• Mark your location
• Be prepared
• Carry and know how to use a map and compass
• Carry and use a GPS device
• Familiarize yourself with the area before heading out
Check out the entire post:
How to be found when you’re lost : Lenarte Artesanato
A good article on the risks of relying on electronic devices: High-tech solutions to getting found. GPS devices often fail.
lost hikers – flickr – misocrazy
Once a month or so I head for the library to catch up on magazines.
Of course I had seen many references on-line to the Sept. 2007 Backpacker Global Warming Issue.
I like Backpacker — but am suspicious of any magazine with a GREEN issue. Are they simply pumping sales with the G word?
In this case, no. This issue is excellent. And scary. The “Future of Wilderness†projection will affect all hikers.
Climate change, Parks at risk, desertification, species extinction, forests dying, degraded water supply. It is depressing.
Some solutions are suggested. But buying a hemp pack somehow feels too little, too late.
Rick is expert on one of the World’s great scrambles, the author of One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome.
His opinion has been much in demand as 3 people died in 2007.
original – flickr – tjk
Rick points out that an estimated 50,000 climb it every year. And no one has ever fallen using the cables until this year.
Still — you must be physically and psychologically ready for this hike. (Get his book.)
We feel there is no need to regulate Half Dome. But it’s essential that less experienced day hikers are warned of the dangers.
Listen to Rick interviewed by Steve Sergeant on the Wildebeat audiocast.
HikeHalfDome.com – official website
Here’s a set of the 96 most “interesting” pics on flickr tagged “Grand Canyon”. Flickr has over 2 billion photos, many of them very interesting.
Best way to see them is to click on View as Slideshow after the link.
Grand Canyon – All GC Sets Combined by Interestingness
Here’s one of my favourites:
original – Al_HikesAZ
Yes, a HIKER.
Great news. And well deserved.
As announced by National Geographic:
… Andrew Skurka, “a Gen Y version of Henry David Thoreau or John Muir,” as 2007 Adventurer of the Year for his epic 6,875-mile hike through the American West calling attention to the magnificence of the landscape and the environmental and ecological threats affecting it. …
Photos celebrating at the end of the trek:
Champagne flowed freely at Grandview Point when Andy arrived, not all of it into cups. Their was no doubt that Andy was caught completely off guard as the champagne was showered all over him.
Podcast: Great Western Loop – The Loop is Closed @ Backpacking Light
When up in Banff, Alberta for the Mountain Festival, I was trail running around town each day. I had no vehicle.
Sulphur Mountain from the Upper Hot Springs is normally regarded to be the best hike within walking distance of Banff. The view is spectacular from the top. But much of the 2hr walk up is tree locked.
larger photo – flickr – D’Arcy Norman
My advice is to instead take the Gondolla to the top of Sulphur mountain and — starting from this viewpoint — to do some ridge walking. You will likely go off-trail or even scramble at some points.
Many, many years ago I recall a friend Pat McRoberts accidentally dropping his camera off the mountain while up here. (Hang on to yours.)
It’s a wonderful thing to be delivered to the top of a mountain for $25. You’ll need another $7.40 at the bottom of the Gondola for …
PS
When we were kids we loved hiking up Sulphur Mountain because the ride down on the Gondola was FREE. That’s not the case in 2007 — though they still do not check your ticket on the way down.
I’m just saying …
Ann Young is the woman behind a New Zealand based company providing quality guided adventure trekking trips.
Uniquely, these treks are designed for women in the 40+ age group.
Tours are available both “less strenuous” and “more challenging”.
Challenging is right. Upcoming: Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit and Sanctuary, Annapurna Circuit, Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru.
Are you a woman who has a sense of adventure for the outdoors or wants to explore wild and wonderful places?
Are you fascinated by other cultures of the world?
Have you dreamed of trekking to far off places and seeing the highest mountain in the world or being on Safari on the African plains?
All Trekking 4 Women trips are non technical. You do not have to be a mountaineer or experienced climber, trekker, or traveller to enjoy an experience to last a lifetime with
Trekking 4 Women. If you are an absolute beginner or seasoned traveller, all you need is a sense of adventure to share with other like minded women who come from many destinations and cultures of the world. …
“Fishtail” or Machhapuchhre, Nepal
(via Women Travel the World)
Click through to The Adventure Blog to see a video slideshow of the world’s highest rock concert (altitude-wise).
The musical score is by participating musicians.
Jake Norton has recently returned from Nepal, where he took part in the Everest Rocks Trek in which 40 musicians turned into wandering minstrels, playing their music all the way up the Khumbu Valley before performing a concert at Everest Base Camp. It was, in fact, the highest concert ever, and was conducted to raise awareness of the Love Hope Strength Foundation. The concert was a success it would seem, as Jake reports that nearly $500,000 was raised for the Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital in Kathmandu. The funds will go a long way to making it a world class cancer treatment center.
Jake has also sorted through the 5200 photos he took on the trip to put together a great video that helps capture the spirit of the entire event. ..
Rocky Thompson linked to a Treehugger post about an MP3 player that can be recharged manually with a crank.
It’s got a voice recorder for trail notes. Can store and display hiking photos and video on removable SD cards.
This looks interesting! (Is Christmas coming?)
… the Eco Media Player would be a great option for PCT hikers or anyone who spends a lot of time in the backcountry and likes to bring music. One minute of cranking this MP3 player gives you 40 minutes of audio play time while a full charge from a wall socket gives you 20 hours of playback. It only has 2GB of internal storage, but an SD slot lets you add more slow jams and books on MP3. The Eco Media Player also has an FM radio, LED flashlight, memo recorder, and it can recharge your cell phone. Not bad. The rig is only available in the UK for now, and it costs about £155.
Backcountry.com: The Goat » Blog Archive » Wind-Up iPod Replacement
Oh, oh. Looks like it’s not Mac compatible. That’s a deal breaker for me.
… might have to wait for a wind-up iPhone.
besthike.com 