video – water filter race

bodiak filmed a pumpfight between his Pur filter and his hiking buddy’s MSR.

The MSR won.

Just for fun click PLAY or watch the video on YouTube.

When Katadyn (Pur) saw this clip they sent bodiak a free Guide Pro, their fastest pump, for a rematch. (Yet to be filmed)

Around the Campfire

Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

Seemed I could jump down on top of the tourist boat on the river below.

cliff.jpg

En route to Paria Canyon, I took the short walk from highway US89 to dangle my feet off the cliffs of Horseshoe Bend, surely one of the most incredible vistas in the world.

This oxbow in the Colorado River is just downstream from the Glen Canyon Dam, a few miles from the tourist centre of Page, Arizona.

horseshoe.jpglarger version – TrekEarth

Antelope Canyon, Arizona – polluted

I love the Colorado Plateau in the Four Corners region of the American Southwest. It’s arguably the best hiking region in the world.

The Navajo Generating Station is a coal-fired powerplant on the doorstep of Page, Arizona. The three 236m chimneys loom over the “most-visited and most-photographed slot canyon in the American Southwest” — Antelope Canyon.

pollution-antelope.jpg

What a shame!

Disclosure — I live in Alberta which is a heavy coal-burning part of the world. But we hide our plants away from tourist sites.

Around Taranaki – New Zealand

On my one shot at Taranaki, we were turned back due to weather. Later in the day it cleared up completely. Timing is everything in New Zealand.

We tried climbing the distinct volcano.

Perhaps we should have done instead the hike around the mountain. Mountain Zone published a good trip report article:

The mountain is perfect—a beautiful cone, distinctive from all angles. Seen from many miles inland as a stunning silhouette, seen from the roaming eye of a satellite camera as a dark areola on a sea of cultivation, it’s a mountain we all know something about.

Around Taranaki – Hiking New Zealand’s Sleeping Giant

It’s the photogenic mountain used in the Tom Cruise film The Last Samurai.

Most of the great New Zealand hikes are on the South Island. But Taranaki, like Tongariro, are on the North. The circumnavigation is 55km (34mi).

tar.jpg
Taranaki NZ

(via The Adventure Blog)

Eric Newby dead at 86

A great inspiration to me personally, author Eric Newby led a grand adventurous life.

tribute by the BBC

On World Hum’s list of the top 30 travel books of all time, Newby’s “A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush ranked No. 17.

It is a brilliant book. I often reflect back on his hillarious account of crossing paths with the ultimate adventurer Wilfred Thesiger who he joins in the great adventure beyond. Thesiger died in 2003.

A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush

drowning in a slot canyon

That is the big hazard with a hike through Paria Canyon on the Utah – Arizona border.

Just organizing for Paria, I’m going end of October as there is a lower risk of flash flood.

Yikes!

I just learned that Utah suffered a massive rain storm already this season. Two hikers survived flooding on the Escalante river to post a fantastic trip report and photos.

flood.jpg

(via Backcountry blog and Adventure blog)

Tahoe Rim Trail, California

anniversary-hike-map.jpgWe just added the 165mi (266km) Tahoe Rim Trail to our list of the best hikes in the world.

After listening to an excellent “podcast” about the trek from Wildebeat.net, we were convinced it was worthy.

Listen to details on the TRT 25th Anniversary hike:

  • podcast part 1
  • podcast part 2
  • If you do not listen to audiocasts you can read a transcript instead.

    No need to do the entire circuit. It is easy to section hike.

    Click on the thumbnail map to see a large map of this adventure.

    TRT.jpg

    More information from the Tahoe Rim Trail Association.

    the changing role of the Park Ranger

    2219142.gif

    an end-of-the-season post from a park ranger, who has some interesting insights into the changing role of the Park Ranger.

    They’ve gone from being naturalists to cops, and they’re more likely to be responding to a domestic dispute at a campground than caring for the park or its inhabitants.

    A pet peeve? The people that can’t get away from it all without bringing it with them. Leave the big-screen TV at home, it’s the outdoors…

    Trout Underground » Ranger Gord’s Ranger Rant…