Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
This Patagonia guided adventure is recommended by South American Explorers. That’s good enough for us.
Sweet itinerary:
Santiago Night Train
Pucon
Pucon
Ensenada
Villa La Angostura
Bariloche
Bariloche
Los Alerces National Park
Los Alerces National Park
Bajo Caracoles
Chalten / Fitz Roy
Chalten / Fitz Roy
Chalten / Fitz Roy
Calafate
Calafate
Torres del Paine Nat’l Park
Torres del Paine Nat’l Park
Torres del Paine Nat’l Park
Punto Arenas
As reported by South American Explorers:
The Instituto Nacional de Cultura (INC) has instituted new rules for the Salkantay trek. Now it is only possible to do this trek with an agency and additionally, they have implemented a new change of 120 soles ($36), therefore expect the price of the trek to increase accordingly. There have been other price changes. For entrance to Machu Picchu, the price is now 118.50 soles ($36).
… It is expected that in the next year, there will be similar changes to other alternative inca trails. For up to date information, please contact the Cusco Clubhouse, cuscoclub@saexplorers.org.
What a drag.
Our advice is to avoid the Machu Picchu treks and hike out of far-less-regulated Huaraz, Peru instead.
UPDATE: Jesse posted a 2006 trip report.
From August 10th to 12th, Huaraz, Peru played host to the 2nd annual festival of movies about mountain sports and adventure. INKAFEST will then be coming to El Colegio de los Reyes Rojos in Barranco, Lima from the 24th to 26th of August; and Arequipa and Cuzco in September.
For further details check with South American Explorers.
Another mode of transport to regulate on hiking trails.
I’m not sure if I like it not. The geek in me thinks “coolâ€, but the hiker in me can only forsee paths cut everywhere for these things so the fat and lazy can pretend to interact with nature.
The Segway Personal Transporter x2 provides enhanced performance on varied terrain with minimal environmental impact. Featuring all-terrain tires, a robust fender design, lithium-ion batteries and specially tuned software, the rugged Segway x2 will go practically anywhere in the wild that you want to go, whether it’s along nature trails, over hilly terrain or on the beach.
As an electric vehicle, the Segway would have a minimal impact on noise and emissions, but it does need a wider path than a bike or person on foot. It would be great on snowmobile trails in the summer, though.
Dvorak Uncensored » Newest Segway targets the off-road crowd
I am searching for a portable kayak to be used in future hiking / paddling trips.
This is not the one.
But it is cool. Norwegian design, it’s already proven it’s speed advantage in race conditions.
Twin hydrofoils are designed to raise the hull clear of the water and increase the speed.
One of the most confusing and controversial dangers to hikers is Lyme disease.
In western North America we did not think much about the risk until we heard of a hiker who got Lyme disease hiking the West Coast Trail — one of the most unlikely geographical locales possible.
Hike aware.
Hard-bodied … ticks are the primary Lyme disease vectors. In Europe, Ixodes ricinus, known commonly as the sheep tick, castor bean tick, or European castor bean tick is the transmitter. In North America, Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick or deer tick) has been identified as the key to the disease’s spread on the east coast, while on the west coast the primary vector is Ixodes pacificus (Western black-legged tick). Another possible vector is Amblyomma americanum (Lone Star tick), which is found throughout the southeastern U.S. as far west as Texas, and increasingly in northeastern states as well.
The longer the duration of tick attachment, the greater the risk of disease transmission, but, typically, for the spirochete to be transferred, the tick must be attached for a minimum of 12 hours, … Unfortunately only 20% of those infected with Lyme by the deer tick are aware of any tick bite, making early detection difficult in the absence of a rash. Tick bites usually go unnoticed due to the small size of the tick in its nymphal stage, as well as tick secretions that prevent the host from feeling any itch or pain from the bite.
adult tick
Interesting gear tips by one of the top distance hikers in the world.
I wear running shoes year-round. Compared to hiking boots, running shoes are:
* Lighter
* More comfortable
* More breathable
* Faster drying
He favours Montrail running shoes including the Highline.
Andrew has also posted full gear lists from past hikes.
I also wore running shoes on my last hike. Very comfortable!
besthike.com 