On a recent post I made fun of nude hikers — but added the disclaimer they were all German. Maybe the odd Brit.
What then pops up on flckr?
A nude hiking group in California.
Sierra High Route, California
Just finished listening to the final episode of Steve Howe’s on-the-trail audiocast of his solo Sierra High Route trek in California.
Howe is BACKPACKER’s Rocky Mountain editor.
Sounds fantastic! And very few hikers do it each season.
Howe posted daily to an interactive map. Very cool.
He was 37 days, 280mi (450km) on the trail starting August 26, 2006.
If you are looking for a much-more-dangerous alternative to the John Muir Trail, this is it. Much of the walking is above the treeline.
There’s no real continuous trail. Some experience in off-trail route finding is needed.
Scouting the High Route – GORP
“The Sierra High Route: Traversing Timberline Country” (Steve Roper)
top 10 hikes in the world – countdown
Starting December 16th besthike.com will post our list of the very best hikes in the world starting with #10.
We’ll reveal one each day culminating Christmas morning with the #1 hike on Earth.
That’s it. Our Christmas present to regular readers.
North Coast Trail, Vancouver Island – stalled
Can you spare $400,000 to finish construction?
“The North Coast Trail, which runs into the northern part of Cape Scott Provincial Park, is almost complete,” Trevena wrote. “Even in its incomplete state, it is attracting widespread interest from people who want to hike it.”
A North Coast Trail would be another draw to bring tourists north of Victoria, and it would relieve pressure on the “overcrowded” West Coast Trail, said Trevena.
“The North Coast Trail was brought into being by a volunteer committee; they have built the trail to an extremely high and exacting standard,” said Trevena. “However, that committee has been unable to find, through business partnerships or through fundraising, the money to complete this trail.
“A further $400,000 is being sought,” …
click to see larger map
Pukaskwa Coastal Hiking Trail, Canada
Living close to the Rocky Mountains I generally look down on any hikes … east of the Rocky Mountains.
But when Kevin Huinink contacted me about his 8-day trek along the rugged shore of Lake Superior in Ontario, I was impressed. In fact after reading his trip report, I added Pukaskwa to our list of the best hikes in the world.
Kevin, like myself, is keen on coastal hiking — much more challenging and fascinating than you might expect.
Kevin’s trip report makes you feel you were there. They struggled at times though it sounds like the two boys aged 11 and 13 handled it well. Congratulations. An adventure like this they will remember for life.
The Coastal Hiking Trail … is a tough hike and requires proper planning, equipment, fitness, and backcountry skills. Campsites are located near beaches and bays.
All backcountry hikers must register-in and register-out with park staff. The park limits the number of parties permitted in the backcountry. …
Trail base may be masked with windfall, herbaceous plant growth or washouts. The northern section of the trail (Hattie Cove to Cave Harbour) is well used and generally clear. Southern sections, especially south of Oiseau Bay, are quite rugged, less used and can sometimes be confused with game trails. A compass, topographic map (1:50,000 scale) and trail guide are strongly recommended.
Do not attempt to swim or wade across swollen rivers or fast flowing waters.
Parks Canada – Pukaskwa National Park of Canada
The Coastal Hiking Trail winds from Hattie Cove, south through the boreal forest and over the hummocky rock of the shield to the North Swallow River (60 km).
Kevin actually reversed the normal route, hiring a boat to carry them to North Swallow River, then hiked back. Check out Kevin’s web page on the trip.
map – Parks Canada
Rucksack – Exploring the Inca Trail
Exploring the Inca Trail is the latest in the excellent Rucksack hiking guidebook series. It’s a perfect format for a guidebook you can carry on the trail. (waterproof, lightweight, open-flat with built-in map).
But are the authors expert?
I’ll say. It’s written by Roy Davis, editor of the most comprehensive Inca Trail website, and Jacquetta Megarry, founder of the Rucksack series.
That’s all we needed to know. The Rucksack Guide instantly jumps to our most recommended guidebook for the Inca Trail. It’s also the lightest and most durable.
That said, the Inca Trail is far over-rated. Our advice is to take the train to Machu Picchu and save your hiking days for one of the many, many other wonderful South American hikes. For our reasons why, check Inca Trail – besthike.com
“Explore the Inca Trail (Rucksack Readers)” (Jacquetta Megarry, Roy Davies)
anti-friction skin cream
If you suffer from chaffing, check out this product. Runner Trish Monks swears by it.
I have used Bodyglide Skin Formula on my lower back (when I wear my water belt over long distances it prevents my skin being worn away), on my feet to help prevent blisters, on my inner thighs to prevent skin on skin chafing and on my chest around where my sports bra rubs sometimes. It works miracles, and has prevented many a painful abrasion ‘injury’ – unfortunately it’s only when I forget to put it on, that I realise just how great it is!
… I have only had only moderate success with it protecting my feet.
Southern Alps New Zealand – “highlights”
The folks at Adventure South in my old home town of Christchurch offer a “best of” the Alps tour. (On the dry side of the mountains, of course.)
Their 8-days of day hiking package is accessible for any fitness level.
A spectacular itinerary featuring some amazing mountain walking, three nights camped in comfortable back country huts, with the chance to rest up at quality accommodation after your alpine experiences. A mixture of remote untracked terrain coupled with friendly trails of a relaxed grade.
Southern Alps Trek – Adventure South
New Zealand is over-all the best hiking destination in the world.
who will be first to the lunar South Pole?
National Geographic, amongst others, are reporting that NASA has announced plans to build a base at one of the moon’s poles. The base will be solar powered, and is scheduled to be permanently staffed by 2024. By 2025 someone will announce the first solo, unsupported trek to either the North or South Lunar Pole I’m sure. Odds are, right now, that that person will be British.
With tourists going into space soon, and a permanent base on the moon announced, how long before I’m blogging on adventures from space? Or IS space the next big adventure? I can just see reports of summit bids on Mount Olympus on Mars, which for the record stands 15 Miles high. I’m guessing it won’t be done without bottled oxygen.
Laugavegur trek, Iceland
Nordic Adventure Travel provides a nice interactive map of the Laugavegur trek, one of the principle attractions of Iceland.
The normal route is from the hot springs of Landmannalaugar to the glacial valley of Þórsmörk. That’s about 55km (34mi) over 2-4 days with potential stops at the mountain huts at Hraftinnusker, Ãlftavatn and Emstrur. By adding a day, you can continue over the Fimmvorduhals Pass to Skogar.
Any hike known as “The Hot Spring Route” goes on our list.
HIKING TREKKING TRAIL LANDMANNALAUGAR THORSMORK LAUGAVEGUR, HIKING TRAILS IN ICELAND
besthike.com 