besthike.com

May 22, 2006

The Milford Track, New Zealand

The Finest Walk in the World.

That’s the tag line inevitably associated with the Milford Track on the South Island of New Zealand. It’s almost always wrongly attributed to Kiwi Poet Blanche Baughan. Her original title â€” A Notable Walk â€” was changed by an editor when printed in the London Spectator, 1908.

Serious hikers often make the Milford pilgrimage so they can legitimately rank it below more favourite treks.

In reality, Milford is a wonderful hike. Lakes, crystalline rivers, huge waterfalls, kooky birdlife, rainforest, and, of course, arriving at fantastic Milford Sound.

Details on besthike.com

May 22, 2006

introducing Mark Moxon

Web expert and adventure traveller â€” Mark Moxon is one of best sources of hiking information on the internet. His hiking site is LongDistanceWalks.com

I particularly like his Greatest Walks section.

There you will find his “trippiest tales”, the unusual and bizarre.

besthike.com links to many of Mark’s travelogues.

May 21, 2006

The Great South Coast Walk, Australia

You may have heard of this adventure. It’s a long walk down the beautiful coast of New South Wales. A thru-hike for normal people.

David and Pennie Briese dreamed it. And then achieved it. Congratulations!

… time to walk, time to reflect and time to rejuvenate.

… splendid isolated beaches, around magnificent rock platforms, over windswept cliffs and headlands, though superb untouched forest, and past wetlands and lakes filled with birds.

Sounds lovely. But New South Wales is quite developed. They enjoyed a cold beer at the end of most stages!

Travelogue and photos.

May 20, 2006

introducing Ray Jardine

There is no hiker more famous than Ray Jardine. He is often credited with igniting the light weight hiking revolution.

Jardine championed hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail using only lightweight gear.

He replaced tent with a tarp & sleeping bag with a quilt. He advises that we make & modify our own gear.

His controversial book Beyond Backpacking (1999) is now the Bible for many thru-hikers.

In his spare time, Jardine rowed across the Atlantic, kayaked to the Arctic Ocean, cycled across America twice, and canoed the sub-Arctic wilderness.

Oh, and he invented the “Friend” used by all elite rock climbers.

Check Ray Jardine’s eclectic website.

May 20, 2006

CanyonWiki – canyoneering information

Wow. A wiki dedicated to the wonderful but still somewhat obscure sport of canyoneering … or canyoning. (The use of these words and what they mean is still being debated.)

The best trips involves abseiling down through waterfalls.

But canyoning can also involve hiking, scrambling, climbing, jumping, swimming and “li-loing” (using an inflatable air mattress).

Check out CanyonWiki.com

May 19, 2006

Tongariro Crossing, New Zealand

The best day hike in the world, we reckon.

Especially if you have never hiked around active volcanos. It’s fascinating.

You can warm yourself at steaming vents, scree down volcanic scoria, marvel at aquamarine water filled explosion holes, tramp craters & puzzle at bizarre volcanic formations.

Wait for good weather before setting out. Wind & low cloud sometimes make this hike a miserable slog in the fog.

Details on besthike.com

May 18, 2006

gear – Terra Nova Laserlite tent

I love the MSR Hubba (maximum) 3.5lbs (1.6kg).

But the recent record holder for lightest commercial 2-skin tent is the Terra Nova Laserlite (maximum) 2.75lbs (1.25kg).

How much lighter can they go? Silicon-injected nylon is very, very lightweight.

Product details â€” terra-nova.co.uk tents

May 16, 2006

Danny Way jumps the Great Wall of China

By now you have probably seen photos of Pro Skateboarder Danny Way jumping the Great Wall of China.

Simply amazing.

But recently I saw video of the crash where he hurt his ankle on YouTube.

The quality is poor as it often is from YouTube.

Way has posted good video of 5 separate jumps on DannyWay.com

It’s well worth watching the whole story from Way’s point of view. Fast computer and high speed internet needed.

May 16, 2006

photos – Colin Prior, Scotland

Often called the finest landscape photographer from Scotland, Prior has captured some fantastic scenes.

colinprior.co.uk home page

May 15, 2006

Angel’s Landing, Utah

The shortest hike deemed worthy to be listed on besthike.com is Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park, one of the best hiking destinations in the world.

When I climbed to the Landing I felt it should be restricted to experienced mountaineers! And angels.

This is one vertical and hairy ascent. It’s almost as steep as Half Dome in Yosemite in places. But what a view from the top.

Angel's Landing