Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
We took a roll-up solar charging panel with us to Peru. And ended up neither needing it or using it.
But … if it was built into the backpack itself. We certainly would have.
TreeHugger.com posted a short video with Shayne McQuade, inventor of the Voltaic Solar Backpack. Very interesting.
Looking forward to hearing from those who have tried this technology on the trail.
There are a number of different models available. This pack costs about US$220.
National Park Traveler’s reader poll named the world’s first National Park as still the best National Park in the States. (I voted for Glacier.)
Well, I suppose it’s really no surprise, but after a week of voting the park selected as most popular is Yellowstone. Out of the 131 votes cast, Yellowstone received 41, or 31.3 percent. And I can appreciate that, as Yellowstone long has been my favorite. What’s not to like? It’s got the world’s greatest concentration of geysers, it has an incredible wildlife reservoir, and the landscape beckons one to explore.
Still, Glacier National Park finished a relatively strong second, receiving 31 votes. From there, though, the challengers fell off quite a bit. Third place went to Sequoia National Park, which received 14 votes, while Zion National Park was fourth, with 13 votes.
National Parks Traveler: Your Favorite Park: Yellowstone
Yellowstone is fantastic. I was there in June cycling and day hiking. Next time I want to check out Mount Washburn and Bechler River, neither of which is yet on our list of the best hikes in the world. (Should they be?)
Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park. Mt. Washburn in the distance. Photo by Geyser Gary – flickr
Just as I am complaining to Parks Canada about their too high fees, the Americans are looking at a big jump in annual pass prices.
Last week I told you about the new, $80 America the Beautiful pass the federal government will be selling beginning New Year’s Day. It will gain you access to national parks, U.S. Forest Service lands, the vast Bureau of Land Management empire, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuges, and, phew, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation properties.
What I haven’t been able to decipher just yet is, in response to this pass, whether we’ll see some hike in daily, weekly or annual entrance fees to parks around the nation.
But would that really be surprising? I mean, this new pass effectively raises the ceiling for national park entrance fees, since the outgoing National Parks Pass cost $50 and the new ATB pass represents a whopping 60 percent increase.
The ATB pass also represents a 25 percent increase from the currently available $65 Golden Eagle Pass that gets you into all the same lands as the newly minted ATB pass.
… more
National Parks Traveler: Fee Creep In the Parks
UPDATE: A Rant Against the Public Lands Pass – Park Remark
Taking Sides on America the Beautiful Pass – Wild Wilderness
I’ve long been a fan of Bhutan-Trails.org.
I asked editor Rogier Gruys when Bhutan would open to “independent hikers”. Not soon, he says.
As for trekking in Bhutan … you do have to go through a local travel agency. They are not likely to change that …
… you can go with one or two people, and set up exactly the itinerary you want with the agency. The only thing is that you pay US$230/day (for less than 4 people in a group). … But that does include all meals, all local transport, hotel/tent etc. So compared to a typical trip to NY city it is not all that bad!
If I could afford $200 / day I would be booking my next holiday to Bhutan, for sure.
The most famous hikes in Bhutan are the Snowman Trek and Jhomolhari-Laya-Gasa, but Rogier points out there are other great hikes that you can do year round.
Even the hikes out of the capital Thimphu are excellent. In particular, Rogier recommends walking to Tango/Drolay goempas. Or radiotower to Phajoding. “Great views, and a beautiful monastery along the way.”
I’m taking my new hiking boots to be “stretched”. Which of these foot problems is motivating my radical action (which might shorten the life of my expensive footwear)?
Answer? ….
Bunions. Mine are not genetic, rather built up after injuries.
Bunion pain is my biggest problem as a hiker. Any advice for me? (Leave a comment below.)
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.
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)
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.
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
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
besthike.com 