Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
Tech pundit Robert Scoble announced that Microsoft was making big improvements in their search engine.
In the past Microsoft was terrible, giving a much lower ranking to specialized sites like besthike.com than did Google.
Scoble might be right. Here’s the result for a Microsoft Live Search for “best hike South America”.
Way to go Microsoft! This will help more people find the best hikes, faster.
Another great post by Tom Mangan:
This could well be the best time of the year to drop in on the Point Lobos State Preserve south of Carmel — with lingering summery warmth but just enough of the fog layer remaining to make things interesting.
… Point Lobos tends to be redundantly spectacular — there’s a dozen little coves with swirling water, crashing surf, seagulls riding pieces of driftwood and sea lions barking in the distance — so even hacker with a cheap point-and-shoot can find a few choice images.
I like Tom’s folksy though detailed writing style. And I like his “hacker cheap point-and-shoot” photos even more …
See more … Two-Heel Drive: Point Lobos on a weekday in mid-September
Previously I posted a trip report and photos from our awesome 5-day adventure out of Dawson, Yukon to Tombstone Mountain in August.
Here are the video highlights.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (5min)
Chuck Bonner — of Hiking with Chuck — sent us recommendations for some “best hikes and hiking areas” out of New Hampshire:
Mine Falls Park in Nashua, New Hampshire Suwannee Canal Recreation Area in Georgia’s Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Ripley Falls in New Hampshire’s Crawford Notch State Park Saco Lake Trail in New Hampshire’s Crawford Notch State Park Elephant Head in New Hampshire’s Crawford Notch State Park Arethusa Falls, New Hampshire
One sounds particularly inviting:
Mount Willard in New Hampshire’s Crawford Notch State Park. I’ve heard it called “the best view for the easiest walk in the White Mountains.
For details check out Hiking with Chuck:
General Considerations for Finding a Place to Hike
The first thing to ask yourself is, what exactly are you looking for? Then, consider what places are within your reach, practically speaking. Be sure to find out if the activity you have in mind is permitted in the place you’re going to. Last and perhaps most importantly, consider what you can handle.
More hiking trails in New Hampshire – NHStateParks.com
Admiral David Glasgow Farragut (July 5, 1801 – August 14, 1870) was the first senior officer of the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and full admiral of the Navy. He is remembered in popular culture for his possibly apocryphal order at the Battle of Mobile Bay, usually paraphrased: “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”.
Farragut must have been some sort of prodigy. When only 12-years-old, he was given command of a prize ship taken by USS Essex and brought her safely to port.
Many places and things are named in remembrance of the Admiral including a number of Starfleet ships on Star Trek the TV show.
Over the past couple of weeks we have been exploring Farragut State Park close to Athol, north Idaho. The Park’s a sprawling place beloved by trail runners, hikers, and mountain bikers.
The park hosted the 1965 National Girl Scout Senior Roundup, 12th World Scout Jamboree in 1967, and the 1969 and 1973 National Scout Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of America. The park still serves as the winter training “Klondyke” site for the scout troops of the Inland Northwest Council.
Farragut State Park – Wikipedia
Last Sunday we jog/hiked (“jiked”) the Highline Trail to Scout Trail, then backtracked to the Shoreline Trail. That was 90mins of jog / hiking.
Dave jumped in Lake Pend Oreille on finishing. Jeni announced she wanted to have her (future) wedding in the Park.
It is gorgeous.
Farragut State Park – official website
In this year’s competition, seventeen winning images were selected from over 2100 submitted by photographers in 27 countries.
Get Outdoors – 2007 Banff Mountain Photo Competition Winners – Getoutdoors.com Outdoor Blog
All winning photos are posted on the 2007 Banff Mountain Photo page.
Ah, fame at last.
We’ve been chosen one of Outdoorzy’s top 10:
- The Piton – Keeping the industry honest
- Kent’s Bike Blog – Kent knows bikes
- The Jaw – Fun contests for all the girls and boys
- The Mountain World – The guy wrote a book about Longs Peak, nuff said
- Best Hike – The name says it all
- The Gear Junkie – We all secretly want to kill him and take his job
- The Adventure Blog – Everest news and cool links
- Two Heel Drive – Tom’s got the bay all wrapped up
- The Gadling – Travel Travel Travel
- Outdoorzy Blog – Well it’s my list, right
Thanks Wade.
Previously I Iinked to photos by Tom Mangan and myself from the historic ascent by 4WheelBob Coomber to the summit of 14,246ft (4342m) White Mountain in California by wheelchair.
This was the culmination of a 5-year dream of Bob’s, his third attempt.
But photos cannot convey the difficulty of this feat. You need to see video to understand just how slowly one can progress on loose scree, even one as well-trained and dogged as 4WheelBob.
Click PLAY or watch Bob’s triumph on YouTube. (8min)
Incidentally, 4WheelBob has added a blog to his website.
BAD NEWS
… the Maoist faction has withdrawn from the provisional government in Nepal
Last year, the Maoist Rebels gave up their 10 year struggle, which was at times bloody, in order to take part in the process of forming a new government. They were one of eight factions that were trying to create a new system that moved away from the monarchy that has long been a part of Nepal’s history. Apparently, the discussions broke down when the Maoists accused King Gyanendra of attempting to influence and sabotage the elections, scheduled for November, in his favor. …
With the Fall climbing season upon us, any unrest now could be disastrous. In years past, trekkers and climbers were often beset by the rebels in remote areas and shook down for cash. With the signing of the peace accords last Fall, it looked like Nepal was finally going to have stability, allowing for safe travel once more. It also meant a likely end to the general strikes that plagued the country each year as the tourists and climbers arrived. Thankfully, most of the climbers have already left Kathmandu and are either on their respective mountains or at least en route.
Details – The Adventure Blog: Nepalese Government In Turmoil!
The Superior Hiking Trail is a 235-mile long distance hiking trail along the rocky ridgeline above Lake Superior in northeastern Minnesota. The trail is located within the Superior National Forest on both public and private lands, and is privately maintained. The trail currently begins near Two Harbors, Minnesota, extends along Lake Superior through seven state parks, including Split Rock and Tettegouche state parks. …
Ultimately the trail will begin on the Wisconsin border near Jay Cooke State Park, and will end by connecting to the Border Route Trail, which passes through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The SHT is a proposed segment of the 4,000-mile North Country Trail.
The Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA) is currently building 40 miles of trail through the forests and ridges of Duluth, MN. 22 miles of trail have been completed in and around Jay Cooke State Park and Duluth, MN. Future plans are to complete a segment of trail between Duluth and Two Harbors. When completed the trail will measure approximately 300 miles in length.
Considered one of the best hiking trails in the country, Backpacker Magazine named the Superior Hiking Trail the trail with the “Best Trail/Camp/Shelter conditions”, the trail with the “Best Signage” in the country, and one of the most scenic trails in the nation …
If interested, get the guidebook:
Complete and up to date maps, info on campsites, and mile-by-mile description of the trail. The Guide can be used for both day hikes and backpacking.
Day hikes from trailhead to trailhead are 5-11 miles in length. A through-hike is 205 miles. Also includes the new 39-mile section of trail through Duluth built in 2004-2006. …
Guide to the Superior Hiking Trail details over 270 miles of wilderness footpath on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Mile-by-mile descriptions lead the casual hiker or ardent backpacker through hardwood forests of birch and maple, and into boreal forests of spruce, pine and fir–a region thriving with spectacular wildflowers and diverse wildlife. This landscape, once carved by ancient glaciers, is dominated by Lake Superior, the largest-area freshwater lake in the world. The Superior Hiking Trail weaves along the Sawtooth Mountain range–easily the most impressive scenery in the Midwest.
Guide to the Superior Hiking Trail provides information on trailhead access, parking accommodations, designated campsites, scenic overlooks and linkages to the seven Minnesota State Parks along the trail. Complete trail maps are included in each section. Whether you have two hours or two weeks, an afternoon or a weekend, this guide will enhance your hiking experience.
map – SHTA.org
more photos – SHTA.org
besthike.com 