Rogier of Bluepeak.net won an award and had a couple of other captures nominated in a BC Parks Photo Contest.
His winning pic.
“young explorer†– Golden Ears Provincial Park
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trouble descending Mt Saint Helens
Great trip report and photos on the Shot from the Hip blog.
Mt. Saint Helens is the famous volcano close to Portland, Oregon.
• 11.6mi (18.7km) return
• 4565ft (1,392m) elevation gain
• summit at 8365ft (2,550m)
• 7-12 hours
Ignoring good advice from Rangers, two hikers raced up the mountain without ice axes or crampons. Then got lost and separated on the descent.
I’d like to smugly denounce them. But, instead, I relate.
In June I too would expect to be able to get up and down without heavy mountaineering gear.
Theirs were mistakes easy to make.
first trail marker on the scree
The guys did get to the top quickly and enjoyed fantastic views.
Mount Adams as seen from the summit.
On the way down the blue sunny skies we had at the summit quickly disappeared into a fog of clouds.
Hmm… Where are those markers? …
At one point, the boulders got bigger and more difficult to navigate. We then took a route that we thought would be an easier path. We had walked down the wrong side, but we did not know it. This side was definitely different. As we got farther down, we realized that it would be more and more difficult to go back.
At one point Eric and I got separated as we could no longer navigate the rocks and had to try to go through the snow. He slid down a ways and from his vantage point, he saw the weather station and realized we were on the wrong side.
Since we did not have crampons and ice axes, continuing to slide would not have been a good idea. So we decided to climb back up. …
To make things worse it started snowing. Not just the soft fluffy stuff dropping from the skies, but the heavy kind that pelts you with stings as it flies horizontal. Something we did not need. If I had slipped, the drop would have been quite disastrous, and the snow only made matters worse. Eventually, by the grace of God I made it up to the top, but Eric was nowhere to be found. I called out his name and no answer.
… Eventually Eric found his way up. This little adventure added about an hour to our trip.
Ah, no harm done — this time.
Our information page – Mt. Saint Helens – besthike
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photos – Tibet and Xinjiang, China
Our list of the best hikes in China is weak for a number of good reasons.
Researching hiking in remote Xinjiang Province, I came across the website of a top notch photographer.
Jian Shuo Wang from Shanghai posted details on a popular hike to Kanas, China’s deepest freshwater lake.
Lake Kanas lies near the Altai mountains, an imposing range where China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan meet.
map – Shangrila Adventure
Weather is the determining factor here. Best window for hiking is late September – mid-October. It’s high altitude.
Though horse trekking is far more popular than walking in this culture, I want to hike.
Just a small taste of his photos from that trip.
81 years old woman in Riwa
Xiannairi, the holy mountain.
photos © Copyright 2002 Jian Shuo Wang. All rights reserved.
See many more from this trip on his personal website.
Even better, I think, is a related collection by Bian Ka.
Dream Like Tibet photos – copyright © 2002 Bian Ka
And more terrific captures by Maphis Cheng.
More photos – copyright © 2002 Maphis Cheng.
It’s well worth the time clicking through some of these photo pages.
China and Tibet are HUGE. The hiking possibilities boggle the mind.
Parunuweap Canyon – Zion
The independent Zion National Park website has added an attractive blog.
This endorsement by Bo for a slot canyon walk caught my eye:
Parunuweap Canyon “is my favorite hike of all times. After hiking just about everything in Zion and nearby and doing this one several times using different ways in and out, I can say without a doubt that Parunuweap is my favorite hike!”
High praise.
So much so that we’ve added Parunuweap to our list of the best hikes in North America.
I would recommend this hike to anyone who is fit!
Parunuweap, the south East fork of the Virgin river, is far, far less visited than much more famous Zion Narrows off the North fork.
Zion National Park – Wikipedia
larger version on flickr – WillsCreek
UPDATE:
Several hikers have written to say that access is not allowed for Parunuweap. Too bad.
UPDATE: Check the comments. Tim states: Actually, you’re allowed in through a technical route called “fat man’s misery.†The only reason the east fork is inaccessible is because of private land ownership on either side.
Canada’s newest National Park – Torngat Mountains
My mind’s turning increasingly “north” as weather improves here in Canada.
We have such a short hiking season, every day is precious.
Rogier of Bluepeak.net alerted me to Torngat in Labrador, Quebec.
Canadian Geographic of May/June 2007 …
The article includes an online in-depth backgrounder. This is definitely a must-visit park, if one can manage the polar bears, who seem to be as thick as rabbits in the park.
I see Labrador as one of Canada’s hottest new destinations – I’ll have to find a way to get there.Bluepeak: Travel, tourism and photography » Torngat Mountains National Park
That article describes a kayak tour.
But there is unusual, challenging climbing and hiking, as well. A number of outfitters can arrange a trip there.
The Torngat Mountains are entirely above the Arctic tree-line so there’s nothing to obstruct your views. (Or block the cold wind.)
Rainbow above Cirque Mountain – Hazen Russell, Iapetus Ocean Expeditions (1982)
More photos from that collection.
Torngat Mountains – Wikipedia
GONE HIKING …
Website editor Rick McCharles is kayak hiking off Bamfield, British Columbia. Back on-line June 21st.
Salt Creek hike, Utah renamed ‘Paradise Creek’
The best guidebook for Canyonlands was written by Bill Schneider.
Somehow, “Salt Creek” seems to describe a dry, harsh, and unpleasant place when quite the opposite is true. Upper Salt Creek is definitely one of the most delightful places in the Canyonlands region, and it deserves a name like “Paradise Creek”.
Details from our just posted information page:
* in the Needles section of the National Park
* walk in the wash of a broad canyon
* sometimes strenuous hiking
* 24.2mi (39km) Upper Salt Creek from Cathedral Butte to Peakaboo, plus sidetrips
* minimum 3 days for the normal route
* most hikers will want to do a number of (essential) sidetrips, some more challenging
* many more excellent shorter hikes in this region
* the only easy way to do our recommended route is with two vehicles
* worst months are June – Aug when average highs of 104F (40C) can strike down even fit hikers
* open year round, best months are in the Spring and Fall
more Salt Creek photos – Joel Duenow
WHY WE LIKE THIS HIKE
… The highlight for many is lovely Angel Arch. (1mi sidetrip)
* more arches: Wedding Ring, Fish-eye, Kirk and Natural.
* stream flows through much of the canyon, year round! (a rarity in this region)
* wildlife—mule deer, coyote, bobcat, cougar
* rock art and ruins
* it’s difficult to get lost as you follow the creek.
Greg Smith, the wildergeek, “wild camped”. But read his comments on the flickr photo page for this pic:
Seems you can no longer legally camp at this spot. Too bad.
Check carefully with the Rangers. Some wild camping is allowed, with restrictions.
Everything you need to know to organize your hike: Upper Salt Creek in Utah is one of the best hikes in the world.
best view, best hike – Yosemite
Chris is blogging his trip from Kansas City to the outdoor centre of the universe, California.
He loved Yosemite.
… all I can say is “wow”.
But dear ol’ Jimmy put it much better when he said, “This place is amazing…It’s like your walking in a picture” which is true, cause Yosemite IS the place where all landscape pictures are taken. …
My Favorite Hike and My Favorite View
My Favorite view is from where I stood in the above picture looking down 3000 feet into Yosemite Valley. …
As for My Favorite Hike, and I do mean my favorite hike of ALL time, it was suppose to be a leisurely walk to the Cathedral Lakes cause this was the end of the week and by this time Jim and I were hurting more places than we care to think.
So we thought we could handle the relatively flat walk to these picturesque lakes. We did managed to stick to the trail all the way to the gorgeous lakes but once we reached our destination and saw those tall, commanding, pointy little peaks we just could not resist a shot at the top.
So we hiked along the ridge … and had some incredible views of Cathedrals lake on one side and Bud Lake on the other. Shortly we reached the base of the peak from which reaching the summit look quite doable so we hike on up as rain clouds gathered over head and scrambled within 50 feet of the pointy little summit …
I would say that that 360degree view was second only to Yosemite Valley in its incredibleness.
The Tulumne meadows in front Cathedral and Bud lakes to the sides and Yosemite Valley way off behind me all add up to the best hike I’ve ever enjoyed. Not even to mention that it was off trail which makes it better 🙂
PCT – Mountain Hardwear Sponsorship?
Just so you know, Mountain Hardwear, if you kit me out completely, I’ll be happy to do the PCT and report back on the extended field test.
From the Mountain Hardwear blog:
Our industry professionals have compiled a list of recommended gear which should get you through the Pacific Crest Trail in high spirits. …
* Sleeping Bag/Bivy
* Tent
* Baselayer
* Shells
* Backpacks
* Gaiters
What gear should I bring on the Pacific Crest Trail?
If they deny me that sponsorship, I’ll need to try their Mission Project Challenge (video). Post my trip report on their Mission Project blog.
How do you like my chances?
