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ABC-of-hiking.com

To date this very busy site has 78 hiking articles posted on their INFO page.

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(There is no RSS feed so you need to check the site manually.)

One article we particularly like explains “Coasteering – Coastal Hiking and Climbing”.

We have been coastal hiking for years and had never heard that term used before. It’s a variation of “canyoneering”:

Coasteering is all about being able to cross whatever the coastline can throw at you. …

Besides sandy beaches and dunes, you should be prepared to cross rocks, estuaries, and lagoons. …

Coasteering has the same added dangers of slippery footwear and the danger of Hypothermia that come with Canyoneering. Added challenges are the tides, currents, waves, and constantly changing water levels. Make sure to check with locals for the weather conditions, tidal situations, and possible riptides. If you are swept away by a current, remain calm and swim perpendicular to the current until you are clear from its force. Even marine life can pose an added danger. Weeds can make rock surfaces very slippery so take extra care.

read more …

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foot care for hiking

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Your foot is a mechanical marvel consisting of a structure of 52 separate bones, tendons, and muscles together forming a small, flexible but strong platform. It is capable of keeping us balanced and moving even under heavy loads and uneven terrains. In this section, we will look at ways to train your feet and how to deal with the common ailments that trouble them. We pay special attention to Foot Blisters which are the number one common foot ailment in Hiking.

>> Prepare & Train your Feet for Hiking

>> Common Walking Disorders

>> Blisters – Prevention & Treatment

>> Hiking Socks

>> Hiking Boot Buying Guide

Feet & Foot Care for Hiking – abc-of-hiking.com

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Rosie Swales runs round the world

Rosie in the snow crop 130pic.jpgAt 57 Rosie started running around the world. Solo, self-supported and on a very low budget.

Can she handle it?

She’s well over 2/3 finished.

Running for charity is the challenge Rosie set for herself after the death of her husband.

Run completed through February 2006

She was in the Yukon in July.

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hike Canada or the USA? – UPDATE

UPDATE: The concern below, originally posted July 5th, 2006, has been one of the most popular posts on this blog. Seems it strikes a sore point.

Over 2 months after my original complaint via the Parks Canada Listens page I finally heard back from them. With another survey on bears. No response to my original complaint.

Seems Parks Canada did not listen.

This time I will send the updated complaint to these email addresses:

support@parkslistens.ca
information@pc.gc.ca

And let you know if I get any official response to the original complaint.

Parks Canada is a government, bureaucratic monopoly with no real pressure to respond to customer (taxpayer) concerns. Don’t hold your breath.

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July 5th, 2006

My buddy George just purchased his annual National Parks vehicle passes for both countries:

Canada = US$111.35 (C$123.80)

USA = US$50

OK. So why is Canada over twice as expensive? Ah — here’s the rationale on the Parks Canada website.

I don’t buy it.

I have visited National Parks in both countries for decades and I prefer the American Parks. Regulations are much more reasonable in the States though the amenities are arguably better north of the border.

Once in the Parks, user fees are higher & more numerous in Canada, as well.

At these rates I feel the Canadian National Parks are starting to drive away visitors. Contrary to the objectives of the Park system.

I sent my concerns to Parks Canada at their join.parkslistens.ca website.

If you are deciding between Canada and the USA for your next hiking vacation — and cost is an important factor — we recommend the States.

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Simple Hiker blog

We just added a link to SimpleHiker.com edited by Josh Wilkins who is into topics “Vegetarianism, Veganism, Gourmet, Green, Technology, Simplicity and Travel”.

You can find Simple Hiker under Blogs in the right hand navigation menu.

We feel the best shout out to good stuff on the web is a permanent link. Thanks Josh! Keep up the great posts.

We have also subscribed to the SimpleHiker.com RSS atom feed.

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Towers of Paine – best trek in the world?

Many proclaim the Torres del Paine Circuit in Chile the best hiking destination in the world — and we are hard pressed to argue.

It is unique & gorgeous in every way.

  • 100km (62mi) Paine Circuit
  • shorter, easier 5-day alternative called “the W”
  • astonishing, jagged mountainscape
  • fantastic glacier views but no risk of altitude sickness
  • accommodates all levels of hiking ability & experience
  • easy to hike independently
  • no need to speak Spanish, though it helps

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    larger version of this fantastic photo – Baly

    More details on the Paine Circuit.

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    BackpackGearTest.org – Home Page

    … a site where backpackers evaluate new gear in the field over a six month testing period. We report to BackpackGearTest.org in a setting that encourages discussion.

    For gear tests, manufacturers provide a set of gear to go to a broad range of testers. For other evaluations, we provide individual reports on our own gear with which we have had significant field experience. All of our reports are available to hikers seeking to make educated decisions about gear purchases and use, and to manufacturers and retailers seeking market exposure, recommendations from third party sources, as well as research and development feedback.

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    BackpackGearTest.org – Home Page

    This site has great potential.

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    hike “free” in Washington State Parks

    Yet another good reason to head for Washington State is the 2006 rollback of a $5 day use fee for hikers. After being implemented in 2003, research showed that “more than a fourth of the … fees … were swallowed up by administration of the parking-fee program itself.” And attendance dropped drastically at some Parks.

    The Seattle Times: Outdoors: Parks are fee-free again, as they should be

    We recommend hikers plan vacations in Washington State. Start with the Enchantment Traverse (Aasgard Pass to Enchantment Lakes), one of the best hikes in the world.

    Our complaints about high fees in Canada have had no response from Parks Canada. Hiking in the USA is far better value.

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    hiking arctic Sweden – Kungsleden

    Peter Potterfield is the author of Classic Hikes of the World.

    He spent a week hiking a section of the Kungsleden — Abisko Mountain Station to Kebnekaise Mountain Station — about 100 kilometers — “some of the best scenery of the entire route, including Sweden’s highest mountain.”

    Hiking Arctic Sweden page 1 – GreatOutdoors.com

    Kungsleden: The Basics

    The Trail: The 450-kilometer Kungsleden begins at Abisko, in the north, and continues south to Hemavan. Hiking the entire route takes a month, or more, figuring about 100 kilometers per week. …

    When to Go: The huts on the northern section are open from mid-June to mid-September, when the trail is sufficiently free of snow to be hiked. The midnight sun shines from the end of May to Mid July. Expect a wet track but uncrowded huts until mid-July, when the month-long busy hiking season begins. Any hike in September comes with the risk of early season snow.

    Trip Planning: Lappland is relatively remote, but surprisingly easy to reach from Stockholm if you know how. Kiruna makes a laid-back staging city, accessed by air, with convenient bus connections to and from the hike.

    The STF, the Swedish Touring Federation offers basic information in English and Japanese, and much more in Swedish and European languages. STF volunteers answer email, so if you inquire in English about a travel detail or ask a question about Kungsleden, you usually get a response in English within a week or so.

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    photo – elfi kaut

    more photos of Kungsleden on Flickr