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Thorsborne Trail, Hinchinbrook Island, Australia

Blogs are such a PAIN.

Posted in reverse chronological order, often I end up reading a hiking trip report from the finish to the start. It’s confusing.

… finally I saw the light.

img_0925.JPGReading Frank — Frank in Oz, one of our favourite sites. (linked in the right hand navigation under Blogs) — I clicked on the Hinchinbrook Island link (9 posts). Next, I navigated to the bottom of the page. And worked my way back up to the top.

Hallelujah !!

Why did it take me so many years to figure this out?

map.jpeg… “With its lush rainforests, rugged, misty and heath-covered mountains, sweeping sandy beaches, rocky headlands, paperbark and palm wetlands, mangrove-fringed shores and extensive open forests and woodlands, Hinchinbrook Island National Park is one of the world’s most outstanding island parks.”

The route we are planning is opposite to the one normally taken. This was taken on the advice of a local walker, who suggests this is the nicest direction to do the walk. There is also a significant benefit that part the final day is spent at the Hinchinbrook Island Wilderness Resort.

Read the entire report (from bottom to top) – Our Hiking Blog: Hinchinbrook Island. I’ve got to get there.

Hinchinbrook is midway between Cairns and Townsville, in Far North Queensland (FNQ to the locals). Needless to say, the Thorsborne Trail is on our list of the best hikes in Australasia.

UPDATE: Hinchinbrook Island Cruises has an excellent page on the Thorsborne Trail or East Coast Trail.

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Andrew Skurka goes to Washington

A hiker who can speak to power.

During a 30 minute meeting Secretary Kempthorne and Andrew Skurka discussed some of the Secretary’s most important agenda items, most notably getting funding for the National Parks Centennial passed by this Congress, and their shared concerns about Americans’ increasing detachment from the natural world, especially by the youth. The main focus for Skurka was to share his first-hand view of the effects of global warming on National Parks …

The B.O.S.S. Report Blog: Making Progress…

skurka.jpg

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Alone across Australia – John Muir

One man and his dog, 128 days and 1553mi (2500km), the first person to walk solo and unassisted across the continent of Australia.

Adventurer of the Year Andrew Skurka just completed 6875mi on his Great Western Loop, but I reckon John Muir’s trek across Australia in 2001, on his fourth attempt, was even tougher.

Mainly because there is no water in most of Australia.

My favourite, the People’s Choice favourite, from the Banff Mountain Film Festival 2005 was the emotional story of Jon Muir and his Jack Russell, Seraphine.

This is a survival epic. The psychology of pushing yourself to the brink.

Alone Across Australia

Alone Across Australia

The distributor of the documentary posted a 10min trailer on YouTube. Well worth checking out. I love this film.

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Top Hiking Trip Report Blogs

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:

Top Hiking Blogs:

  • Yosemite Blog
  • Ubertramp
  • Two-Heel Drive
  • Trail Journals
  • Best Hike
  • Backcountry Blog
  • Natural Born Hikers

    • Best Hiking Blogs | Hiking Trip Reports

    Hiking Trip Reports also pointed me to the cool hiking trail sign generator:

    best-hiking-blogs.jpg

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    how to be found when you’re lost

    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.”

    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.

    156630077_afec3d8693.jpg
    lost hikers – flickr – misocrazy

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    Backpacker magazine – Global Warming

    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.

    Backpacker, September 2007 Issue

    Backpacker, September 2007 Issue

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    Rick Deutsch – Half Dome, Yosemite

    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.

    290133986_05023e30c2.jpg
    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.

    Yosemite's Half Dome

    One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome

    HikeHalfDome.com – official website

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    96 interesting Grand Canyon photos

    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:

    700698099_a1370db9ab.jpg

    original – Al_HikesAZ

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    hiker Andrew Skurka – 2007 Adventurer of the Year

    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. …

    National Geographic Society Press Room

    Photos celebrating at the end of the trek:

    podcast-110607-skurka-great-western-loop-finish-4.jpg

    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

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    hike and hot springs – Banff, Canada

    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.

    829572_608f2b8ace.jpg
    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 …

    hot-springs.jpg

    Banff Hot Springs

    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 …