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do you carry an MP3 player on the trail?

I’m often embarrassed to admit I do.

But look at this. Crow is up front with her electronic dependence.

For the upcoming PCT trip I’m bringing the iriver T10 2gb MP3 player with fm radio. It weighs 1.7 ounces 48 grams without battery. It has a little clip to clip it on to anything or clip it on to the neck lanyard it comes with.

… one AA battery; the battery is supposed to last 45 hours. I put a lithium battery in it because it is lighter and last longer then a regular battery, so I’m thinking maybe it will last 100 hours on one battery.

If I super compress my files, I think I can get 100 hours of stuff on it. It also records, so a person could record their thoughts along the way with the built in microphone.

… I have ordered a pair of Sony MDR-ED21LP Fontopia In-The-Ear Headphones …

… Last summer, my son downloaded, for me, 300 hours of “This American Life”, a NPR radio documentary show. Sadly I have listened to all 300 hours—twice. But that would have made great listening, on the trail.

For music on the trail, I find folk, country and show tunes the most effective hiking music, with most stuff by Johnny Cash being about the most perfect hiking tempo.

As The Crow Flies» Blog Archive » Radios and mp3 players for the long distance hiker.

I’ve carried a Rio Cali for years, finally losing it atop the highest mountain in Tasmania.

Apple 4 GB iPod Nano AAC/MP3 Player - Silver (2nd Generation)After some research I opted for an iPod Nano. The proprietary battery is a problem — but I plan to get the portable charger, as well.

Another planned add-on is the Griffin iTalk microphone.

I mostly listen to audio podcasts (BBC, CBC, NPR, TWIT, etc.) as well as books on MP3.

I only listen on the trail when I REALLY need it. But in the tent at night the MP3 is a Godsend.

What about you? Do you carry an MP3? What do you listen to?

Leave a comment below.

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nordic hiking vista – Besseggen, Norway

We’ve added a 6hr day hike — Besseggen, Norway — to our list of the best hikes in the world.

Besseggen, or Besseggi, is a mountain ridge in Vågå kommune in Oppland county.

The walk over Besseggen is one of the most popular mountain hikes in Norway. About 40 000 people walk this trip each year.

Besseggen – Wikipedia

Here’s the vista from the highpoint of the day.

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larger photo – flickr – saipal

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controversial new bridge to Machu Picchu

A village near Peru‘s Machu Picchu has built a bridge over a turbulent river to open another route for backpackers trekking to the lofty Inca ruins.

The bridge was inaugurated Saturday in the village of Santa Teresa despite the objections of government cultural experts, who fear increased tourism could threaten the UNESCO World Heritage site as hostels and restaurants spring up to serve travelers.

But authorities in Santa Teresa, less than 10 miles from Machu Picchu, are hoping the bridge over the Vilcanota River will help the local economy get a piece of the tourism pie. …

The new route, involving a daylong bus ride through twisting dirt roads and a seven-mile hike along railroad tracks, targets thrifty backpackers who want to avoid the pricey train tickets.

An average of 2,000 tourists a day visit Machu Picchu, with a maximum set at 2,500. Some archaeologists say the limit should be much lower, arguing that large numbers of visitors trekking over the stone steps will eventually damage the ruins.

White Rock Reviewer

I have mixed feelings. I too worry about degrading the Machu Picchu experience. On the other hand, another option for hikers is a good thing.

Leave a comment if you know more about the new bridge.

The nearest current hike to Santa Teresa is what we call the Salcantay Trek. (information page)

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Tongariro Northern Circuit in 10.5hrs

Craig Stanton from New Zealand is preparing to start the Pacific Crest Trail in April. He’s got a great website — PCT2007.org — and looks very organized.

Looks like Craig will be ready for the PCT. He blazed through one of our top 10 hikes.

Yesterday I completed the challenge I was unable to finish last week.

Under perfect skies I hiked, and at some points ran, the Tongariro Northern Circuit in one day.

Less than 10.5 hours actually, and I’m pretty pleased with that because usually it is billed as 3-4 days … (read more)

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Kalalau Trail, Hawaii – trouble in paradise

Kalalau Trail is one of the best hikes in the world.

Along the Nā Pali Coast of the island of Kauai in the state of Hawaii, it’s paradise.

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source – kalalautrail.com

Kalalau Trail – website

But there’s trouble in paradise. Illegal squatters.

You can do the 11mi difficult trail in 4-8hrs.

But some stay in the valley for days, weeks, even years.

… access is controlled in the cause of conservation. A limited number of permits are issued for camping in Kalalau Valley every year. In spite of the efforts of the state of HawaiÊ»i, many people illegally hike the trail and even live in Kalalau Valley.

These long-term campers are suspected, by some, to cause serious harm to the ecological balance of the valley by their waste and propagation of introduced species.

Kalalau Trail – Wikipedia

David Lurk posted a lengthy, entertaining Kalalau trip report — mostly detailing the colourful characters he met along the way.

He wants to go back. But next time for 3 weeks!

Hiking Kauai, the Garden Isle

Hiking Kauai, the Garden Isle – Amazon

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Canada’s best outdoor towns

Chris Benway runs Cafe Andino, the hub of hiking activities in Huaraz, Peru. And he’s the man behind La Cima Logistics, the recommended top end guiding company in town.

I always recall Chris telling me that … if he had not settled in Huaraz, he would have chosen Canmore, Alberta.

… published in Explore, March 2007. The winners:

Rossland, BC
Gold River, BC
Jasper, AB
Dauphin, MB
Parry Sound, ON
Whitehorse, YT
Baie-Saint-Paul, PQ
Sussex, NB
Cornerbrook, NL
Lunenburg, NS

In my opinion, missing are: Canmore AB, Squamish BC, and Tofino/Ucluelet BC. These are all famous for their outdoor activities.

Bluepeak: Canada’s best outdoor towns

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Canmore – by ginnia

Canmore – Wikipedia

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Tasmania, the Forgotten Island

This is the best introduction to Tasmania I’ve seen on-line. Superb photos!

It includes a hike on Freycinet Peninsula, one of the best hikes in the world.

Numerous walks are possible at Freycinet National Park, from one full day to a three to four day circuit, introducing each time more of the marvelous granite of the Hazards mountains which domineer the place.

I try to think of what place they remind me of, looking at the shape and color of the rocks, smelling the spiky shrubs on the trails. Corsica or some of the American West Coast mountain ranges come to my mind. And New Zealand of course.

Tasmania, the Forgotten Island — Tasmanie, l’île oubliée by La Tartine Gourmande

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Scott Williamson Yo-Yo-ing the PCT, twice

Recommended – A great audio podcast was posted by BackpackingLight.com.

Scott Williamson is best known for his thru-hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail. He has walked the trail nine times in its entirety, including a Yo-Yo from Mexico to Canada and back – twice.

… topics from his 191-day Yo-Yo of the PCT in 2006, including the psychological challenge of touching the Canadian border and having to turn around and go back; on-trail surgery for septic blood poisoning; the use of ultralight footwear (by Inov8) for long-distance hiking; and more.

Scott is featured in an upcoming film about long distance hiking on the PCT entitled Tell It On the Mountain.

Podcast: Scott Williamson and Yo-Yo-ing the Pacific Crest Trail @ Backpacking Light

That same page hosts a trailer of the soon-to-be-released film.

movie – Tell It On The Mountain (official website)

Scott Williamson – official website

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Scott and his new bride will be doing the PCT the summer of 2007. Congratulations and good luck!

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documentary – Ken Burns – The National Parks

Do you have any old home movies of National Parks in the USA?

Ken Burns wants to talk to you.

In the fall of 2009 PBS will air The National Parks, a major documentary film series produced and directed by Ken Burns and written and produced by Dayton Duncan.

But now they are asking for your help. Their film series is not a travelogue or a “nature” film; it will tell the very powerful, human story of how the parks came into being and what they have meant to Americans for more than a hundred years. It will be filled with major historical figures — from John Muir to Theodore Roosevelt to Ansel Adams — but it will also tell the stories of many lesser-known Americans, from cowboys to immigrant artists, wealthy philanthropists to dirt-poor farmers who turned their passion for a part of the American landscape into crusades for their permanent protection. …

To help them tell this story, they would like to collect home movies of visits to National Parks by families and individuals for possible use in the film. They are looking for home movies from the time period of the 1920s through the 1980s and are most interested in footage of families and tourists in the parks.

National Parks Traveler: Help Ken Burns Chronicle the Parks