Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
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!
UPDATE: Just posted over 100 photos of the hike.
I was for a few seconds the highest man in America when I stood atop Mt. Whitney.
Mount Whitney – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mt Whitney is the highest point in the contiguous United States at elevation 14,505ft (4,421m). It’s just 76mi (123km) west of the lowest point in North America, in Death Valley (282ft (86m) below sea level), and rises over 2mi above the valley floor.
I just stumbled on to the best travel website I’ve yet seen.
It’s a “blog” with multiple authors and contributions too from you and me.
The interface is somewhat cluttered. But you can find good information on travel just about anywhere in the world!
Gadling.com – posts tagged with “hiking”
I’ve just linked to “Two-Heel Drive” — a hiking blog by professional newpaper man Tom Managan in California. As I write Tom is hiking the Appalachian Trail but still blogging as he goes.
Tom casts a wide net on topics hiking and keeps watch over what’s happening hiking-wise on the internet.
I’ve subscribed to the blog’s RSS feed and will be working my way backwards through his posts.
Thanks Tom!
Your blog is a welcome addition.
Update: I happened to chat with an owner of a transparent kayak I met on the road. He loves his new toy, announcing it “bulletproof”. The only problem is the thing sinks in water if capsized. The flotation pads are essential.
All serious hikers should check the September edition.
Outside Magazine, September 2006 | Outside Online
Time Magazine’s annual “Most Amazing Inventions of the Year” issue rates the LE Carbon collection of cycling apparel one of 2005’s coolest inventions.
Cannondale utilizes TrapTekâ„¢ technology to imbed their proprietary QuadTex fabric with activated carbon made from coconut shells. This activated carbon provides Cannondale’s LE Carbon apparel with exceptional moisture management and odor adsorption characteristics.
When the body heats up, Quadtex Carbon’s MicroClimateâ„¢ activates, with 45% better moisture transfer than most fabrics. It keeps a body cool during hot days and heats up during colder ones. This revolutionary new fabric also traps odor during physical activity. The odor is “adsorbed” along with bacteria and is only released during a normal wash and dry cycle, during which the carbon re-activates itself again for another ride. Cannondale LE Apparel also boasts UV protection with an SPF rating of 50+.
