Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
We recently posted Andrew Skurka’s audacious 7000mi Great Western Loop. I doubt there are any unbelievers.
In Europe Judy Armstrong has already begun a 3300mi quest she’s calling the Alpine Challenge, the first to attempt to circumambulate the Alps.
Judy has a fantastic website — AlpineChallenge.info posted in four languages!
Check the brilliant way she shows the map of her intended route.
And her detailed gear list: 7.13kg (15lb 11oz).
You look terrifically well organized Judy. Good luck!
Having attended the first Outdoor Bloggers Ho Down in California in 2006, I was interested to hear about the first, I think, in Europe.
Over the last few months the UK Outdoors Blogger scene has expanded considerably, increasing numbers from barely a handful to double digits. At the Outdoors Show later this month a group of these UK outdoors bloggers are meeting up, and, with tongue in cheek, they’ve called the get together the “UK Outdoors Bloggers Con 07“.
The UK Outdoors Blogger Scene Explodes – OUTDOORSmagic OTH features
Hiking is one of the most environmentally friendly activities.
But we can do even better.
Backpacker magazine chose the Pacific Outdoor ECO THERMO 6 sleeping pad as an Editor’s Choice Gear award winner for 2007 in the GREEN category.
A sleeping pad alone won’t save us from climate change. But when a small company pioneers green-manufacturing techniques, uses sustainable materials in a unique way, and offers consumers a feel-good choice, it’s a big step in the right direction, one that we hope other manufacturers follow. Not to mention, this is one damn comfortable pad.
Click PLAY or watch the video on YouTube.
More videos from Backpacker Magazine. Kudos for posting videos on YouTube, by the way.
This looks like a worthy competitor to the ExPed sleeping pad.
(via the always entertaining GOblog)
Margaret Pincus posted an entertaining trip report on the Australian website.
We are on day two of New Zealand’s spectacular Routeburn Track, which wanders between the Mt Aspiring and Fjordland national parks in NZ’s Southern Alps through some of the most inspiring wilderness left on earth.
The walk is universally regarded as one of the 10 best in the world. For three days we will hike hut to hut between the Holyford and Dart valleys, through high mountain peaks and deep mossy valleys and alpine lakes.
Not universally regarded, actually. (see our list of the top 10 hikes in the world). But we won’t protest too loudly. Routeburn is fantastic. And much less expensive than the Milford Track.
We (me, my husband, our four children, and one aunty) set off in brilliant sunshine. We start slowly, like a family of snails creeping up the path, stopping every 10 minutes to retie shoes and adjust backpacks.
Hiking with children can be challenging. Especially when Margaret’s family ran out of food!
Routeburn Valley, by Justin de Booy (Garion88) – flickr
more Routeburn photos – flickr
.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }
.flickr-yourcomment { }
.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }
.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }
Machame route from Moshi to Uhuru peak. Check out Ringo Expeditions and talk to Adam there if you want a good guide and crew.
more Kili photos – flickr – posted by Christian LøverÃ¥s, Norway.
Walk the entire west of the USA? Is he crazy?
Skurka is the man these days. (We link to him from the right hand navigation under HIKERS if you want to check on his progress.)
Andrew starts as soon as April 1st. Good luck!
The numbers tell half the story: 7,000 miles, 7 months, 12 national parks, 75+ designated wilderness areas, 5 existing long-distance trails, 2 desert traverses, and zero attempts or completions to date. …
In early-April I will begin the Great Western Loop, in a location and direction that will depend on this winter’s snowpack (I’m leaning towards going counter-clockwise, starting near California San Gorgonio Pass). This is going to be an awesome trip!
And, to a greater degree than ever, those who wish to will be able to share in the experience via a soon-to-be overhauled AndrewSkurka.com website, Podcasts, and more frequent postings of photos and updates. With this enhanced trip interactivity, I’m hoping to help others develop a stronger connection with the outdoors, which I think is a key component in a much-needed, more eco-friendly lifestyle that emphasizes doing more with less and minimizing one’s impact on our planet.
More details will be forthcoming over the next 2 months.
From the train, much of China looks “devastated”. The natural environment “ruined” by over population.
Why bother hiking there?
Actually, away from the train tracks there are still some large, beautiful tracts. You can see some of those undeveloped areas on the Walking the Wall blog. (The Great Wall divides the habitable from wilderness, for the most part.)
The mountains that skirt the Tibetan plateau will — some day — be one of the premiere hiking areas of the world.
And there’s much, much more.
Need inspiration? Dark Roasted Blend posted fantastic photos of wild China:
more photos like this: Wonders of the Chinese Landscape
It’s difficult to capture spectacular Multnomah Falls in one photo.
original – flickr – SqueakyMarmot
original – flickr – by righto…. 2005
more photos on flickr.
Multnomah Falls – Wikipedia
When I lived in New Zealand I strongly felt the least appreciated wonder of the country were waterfalls.
Rarely are they highlighted in any list of “tourist attractions”.
That wrong has finally been righted.
A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls
JOHNNY T. Cheng is a waterfall enthusiast who has published books on falls in Norway and Yosemite National Park in California.
His A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls is a foray into New Zealand that covers more than 100 falls. This is a practical guide, with maps and clear driving directions plus the small details needed for choosing your visit and negotiating the falls once you get there.
Judith Elen in The Australian
Recently a friend asked for a “best hike” recommendation for a female hiker, possibly travelling alone. She is very experienced with many serious treks completed in Europe and the States.
Immediately we suggested The Towers of Paine in Chile.
Paine is well policed and maintained. It is safe. No need to speak Spanish, though it helps.
As evidence, we link to a charming and entertaining trip report from two young women who just completed the most demanding itinerary, the Circuit. They LOVED it:
HIGHLIGHTS:
* Ascending John Garner Pass for a devastatingly beautiful view of Glacier Grey below on one side and Lago Paine on the other. I moment I will never forget.
* Eating chocolate surrounded by the Valle de Frances
* Seeing three shooting stars cross the Milky Way and a comet (and I was totally sober), whilst lying on a swing bridge, with a very energetic river flowing below us
* Drinking Pisco with Cowboys in the sunshine
* Making friends with Porters (Sherpas) and sharing our walks with them
* Watching ice bergs float past our tent whilst making a lovely cuppa tea snuggled up in my sleeping bag!
* That Condor moment! Seeing Condors sore majestically above the snowy peaks of Torres del Paine
* That vegetarian sandwich at Camp Chileno!
* The best drinking water in the world on tap! (We drank only the water that flowed through the Parque; no boiling no purification tabs). Ah, agua nectar!
* Realising what we thought may have been a clap of thunder and so the start of a wet day was only another ice berg making a splash into Lago Grey.
* Realising what we thought may have been another clap of thunder was merely another avalanche in the Valle del Frances.
* Meeting the boys from Ecuador at Camp Japonese (a camp only for climbers).
* The satisfaction of completing The Circuit when a lot of the locals thought we may be clinically insane!
Sophs in South America: Torres del Paine Circuit, Southern Patagonia, Chile.
organize a trip to Paine, Chile – besthike.com
besthike.com 