besthike.com

March 14, 2007

leaving comments on blog posts

Bloggers greatly appreciate feedback, positive or negative.

And leaving a comment tells search engines like Google that the post was worthy of your attention, positive or negative.

We got some feedback by email, response form and by comment on a recent post:

the top 10 treks in the world – 5 months?

That discussion (cost, time, difficulty level) will be kept in the comment section of that post.

In fact, we were even inspired to add a new feature. You can now “subscribe” to any comment you leave on this blog. More dialogue is a good thing.

Note that we do not use a CAPTCHA on our commenting system. No need. This blog is 100% protected by amazing anti-spam service called Akismet.

March 14, 2007

“Peru Gets Tough On Tourist Attacks”

Rick McCharles

The Adventure Blog posted on an MSNBC.com report on “Peru cracking town on attacks against tourists”.

This caught my interest as I was on the Huayhuash Circuit in Peru in 2004 when an Israeli trekker was shot and killed by bandits.

A new law passed by the Peruvian congress make the maximum penalty for murder or severely injuring a tourist is now life in prison. The law covers both foreign and Peruvian tourists visiting sites in their own country. Armed robbery against tourists is fairly common in the country and in 2005 there was a fairly well publicized event in which 13 tourists on the Inca Trail were robbed. Since then, the goverment has begun getting tough on crimes against tourists, even taking the step to patrol the Inca Trail and increasing the security presence at Machu Picchu.

The Adventure Blog: Peru Gets Tough On Tourist Attacks

Peru could be the best hiking destination in the world. … Could be.

But we’d recommend you hike New Zealand instead if security is a big concern.

March 14, 2007

Scoutmaster: The World of Spoons and Sporks

My only utensil is a metal spoon which I keep handy in my hip pack. (Of course I have the Swiss Army Knife too for slicing.)

Scoutmaster posted a comic round-up of more expensive alternatives if you want to impress others at the campground:

… a spoon is a spoon – one of the few things in life that cannot be substantially improved upon- although we try. Do we really need this many sporks (or over priced specialty camping spoons) in the world?

Scoutmaster: The World of Spoons and Sporks

(via Two-Heel Drive)

March 13, 2007

Roraima, Venezuela

Roraima

Originally uploaded by txago.

One day …

You too should climb to the Lost World, Roraima on the border of Venezuela, Brazil & Guyana.

It’s the highest “tepui” (flat-topped, cliff-edged mountain) at 2810m (9219ft). Recommended 6-day, 5-night round trip trek to the summit.

information page – besthike.com

March 12, 2007

Kokoda Trail – Papua New Guinea

Kokoda is one of the great (difficult!) established walks of the world. We got a strong endorsement for the lead guiding company from one of our Aussie contributors who joined one of their tours in 2006.

That company is Kokoda Trail Adventures.

The Kokoda Trail is one of the world’s great treks, linking the southern and northern coast of Papua New Guinea, it is a challenge to be enjoyed by the fit bushwalker. …

The 96 km Kokoda trail passes through rugged mountainous country of rainforest, jungles of fern, orchids, birds and clean mountain streams which tumble into steep valleys.

The unspoilt villages throughout the Kokoda Track will welcome you and the Koiari and Orokaiva people will greet you with smiles and tempt you with seasonal fruit and vegetables.

Visit Kokoda and enjoy the adventure of your lifetime.

Kokoda Trail Adventures

It’s tough, even if you have porters carry your packs.

But it’s popular. Kokoda guided only 24 hikers in 2000. But in 2006 they led 850. (more stats)

It may be time to start planning a trip to PNG. No independent hiking is allowed, so far as we know.

hikers and guides at the Isurava Monument

March 11, 2007

Chilkoot Trail – Yukon to Alaska

Paul Nickodem posted an entertaining, succinct trip report of his speedy Chilkoot Trail hike on MountainZone.com:

We flew out of Juneau on tiny Skagway air, which is just a Piper Archer four seat aircraft. I was the co-pilot as we flew up the fjords and channels toward Skagway (population 1,500). My pilot was a 21-year-old girl from South Dakota and when she told me her age, I felt like wrenching the controls from her. The landing in Skagway would have made even the most gnarly world traveler cringe.

A major pucker factor as we skimmed a ridge and then stood the plane on its right wing as we banked into the deep corner of the mountains that Skagway is built into. …

Alaska’s Chilkoot Trail

It’s a trip through time. 53kms (33mi). Recommended 5 days, 4 nights. Best months mid-July to mid-Sept.

details on organizing to hike the Chilkoot Trail – besthike.com

Klondike gold rush of 1898

March 11, 2007

attendance declining – USA National Parks

We’ve pooh-poohed the “doom and gloom” mongers in the past.

And we’ve even been part of the problem, criticizing drastic increases in National Park fees.

But perhaps this IS serious.

If the population does not want to visit National Parks, the Parks themselves will suffer most.

… attendance at Yosemite has dropped 17%, Death Valley at 28%, and camping and back-country trips are down 24% overall.

The Economist says “The importance of this decline can hardly be over-estimated for big environmental organisations such as the Sierra Club: they have depended on what one expert calls â€œa transcendent experience in natureâ€, usually in childhood, to gain new members and thus remain powerful lobbyists for environmental causes.”

No Child Left Inside: Economist on National Parks (TreeHugger)

What do you think?

Do we need to rally those who love the outdoors? Ask everyone to purchase an Annual National Parks pass in their country to support the outdoor cause?

March 10, 2007

human-powered circumnavigation of Earth

National Geographic Adventure Magazine named them “Adventurers of the Year”, calling them “The New Magellans”.

Colin Angus (along with Julie Wafaei for much of the time) had powered himself around the globe using exclusively human power.

National Geographic Adventure Magazine

official website – Angus Adventures

But British adventurer Jason Lewis claims that Angus’ circumnavigation does not count because it did not “pass through two antipodal points on the globe” (co-ordinates on exactly opposite sides of the Earth).

His own human powered circumnavigation attempt is still happening.

Looks like Guinness Book of World Records is siding with Lewis. (Canadian newspaper report)

official website – Expedition 360

route of Jason Lewis

The dispute certainly trivializes accomplishment.

March 9, 2007

trekking the Pyrenees – Andy Howell

A professional trip report, wonderful photos, on the Pyrenearn Haute Route was posted by big-time hiker Andy Howell. He’s just finished his HRP “Pyrenees project”.

The report starts on this page and continues on up the blog.

Andy obviously loves the region.