besthike.com

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.

(via Two-Heel Drive)

March 8, 2007

Bluepeak.net – new blog

For years we’ve admired the work of Rogier Gruys, travel photographer from Vancouver, Canada.

His site â€” Bluepeak.net â€” has long been one of our favourites.

Now Rogier’s added a blog. We’ve subscribed to it from our RSS reader. And added a link under BLOGS in the right-hand navigation.

The URL â€” bluepeak.net/blog/.

March 8, 2007

start packing for Nepal

Newsvine tipped us to this NYT article.

(Not that we were worried about the Maoist terrorists in the past.)

WITH political stability returning to Nepal, so too are adventure-oriented travel companies, many of which had discontinued their trips to the country over the last few years.

For the first time since 2002, Country Walkers, based in Waterbury, Vt., is returning to the Himalayan nation of Nepal with special tours in the fall, said to be the ideal time for trekking in the region.

Other outfitters, like Mountain Travel Sobek of Emeryville, Calif., and Wilderness Travel of Berkeley, Calif. â€” which had halted all trips but those to the Khumba or Everest regions in the northeast â€” are now offering trips to the Annapurna region in central Nepal. Mountain Travel Sobek is also starting treks to the remote Dolpo and Humla regions in the northwest, which they deemed off limits because of the political unrest.

After more than 10 years of bitter conflict, the Nepalese government signed a peace deal with Maoist rebels in November. …

And Maoists have stopped collecting money from tourists along trekking routes.

… GEOGRAPHIC EXPEDITIONS, which continued to operate trips to Nepal during the unrest but only to the Kathmandu region, is planning two new excursions. One, a rigorous 27-day trek through the Kingdom of the Mustang in the spring and fall, starts at $4,695 a person for a group of eight people. Another 31-day trek, Around Manaslu, to be offered in the fall, starts at $4,995 a person for eight people.

There are some added benefits to being among the first tourists to return to Nepal. â€œFor the moment,â€ said Mr. Steigerwald, â€œitâ€™s really a treat to be there without crowds.â€

As Political Unrest Eases, Travel Picks Up – New York Times

March 8, 2007

hiking New Zealand – North island

photo – Mt. Taranaki

We’ve just subscribed to Outdoor Video Magazine, a classy looking blog with quality posts some of which include short video clips.

Most people that go to New Zealand spend most of their time on the South Island, especially if they are outdoor enthusiasts. This is a mistake in my humble opinion. The North Island is almost equally cool, and it actually beats the South Island in terms of itâ€™s variety of scenery and terrain, although it lacks the big mountain ranges obviously. It has spectacular volcanic scenery, crazy coloured lakes and rocks, a Mt Fuji look-alike to summit, beautiful coast, and tropical forest.

I wouldnâ€™t normally recommend a Lonely Planet book, I donâ€™t think they do the best travel guides. However, in this case I will make an exception and say the Lonely Planetâ€™s Tramping in New Zealand is an excellent purchase. Its well written, really easy to follow and find tramps (thatâ€™s Kiwi for hikes by the way), and has a range of difficulty from easy to pretty hard (e.g. the 10 day North West Circuit on Stewart Island).

The â€˜have to doâ€™ hikes on the North Island in my opinion are: Tongariro Northern Circuit, Mt Taranaki and then something in the East Coast/Hawkeâ€™s Bay; either the Lake Waikaremoana Track or if you want something less busy and a bit wilder the Manuoha to Waikareti Track.

Hiking in New Zealand – North Island Â· Outdoor Video Magazine

Outdoor Video Magazine

March 7, 2007

West Coast Trail restoration

Photographer Josh McCulloch will be documenting the West Coast Trail winter storm damage restoration efforts.

It was a devastating winter in the Pacific Northwest. On the WCT:

– about 2000 trees down on the trail (80-100 is normal in a winter)
– cable cars down at Klanawa and Carmanah
– Suspension bridge at Logan Creek is down
– Landslide at km 12 near Michigan Creek

Josh has been out with the trail crews already and is optimistic:

If you are planning to do the trail this year, things are looking up. Though the damage is severe, I look at it more as an amazing event that shows the raw power of nature. When youâ€™re walking through the forest near Pachena Bay, stop and look at the trees that are down there, it is absolutely mind-blowing!

West Coast Trail Winter Storm Damage and Restoration

This is a labour of love. Josh has done the WCT 11 times since 1997.