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Risk of Hiking Injury

A survey of more than 700 John Muir Trail thru-hikers gave researchers insight into what makes a hiker more likely to get injured or ill while backpacking. …

First off, the (2018) study didn’t find sex to be a determinant of getting hurt or sick on the trail.

Here are the factors correlating with injury:

  • younger age
  • higher BMI (body mass index)
  • higher BPW (base pack weight)

Surprisingly, older hikers reported fewer adverse events on the JMT.

… Often abbreviated as BMI, body mass index is a measure of the size of the human body, calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms dividing by the square of their height in meters. …

The study’s authors found that base pack weight correlated with an increased risk of illness and injury; the heavier the pack, the greater the likelihood of morbidity.

This Study Predicts Who Is Most Likely to Get Hurt in the Wilderness

I hiked the John Muir Trail myself in 2021 at age-63. And found myself ‘healthiest’ on finishing after 19 days. I got in ‘shape’ by hiking.

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2021 – Most Impressive Hike

Sammy Potter and Jackson Parell

When they finished off the PCT at the end of October, Potter and Parell became the 11th and 12th finishers of the Calendar-Year Triple Crown, and at just 21 years old, the youngest to boot. …

Potter and Parell finished all three in a little over 10 months. …

… Potter was a thru-hiking novice before 2021. Parell had only the relatively modest El Camino de Santiago under his belt. …

Twenty-four pairs of shoes and one cavity …

ExplorersWeb
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A Month in Tanzania – Kilimanjaro

Pete Rojwongsurya:

… I spent almost a month traveling from Zanzibar to Serengeti and eventually ending my trip on Kilimanjaro.

It was one of the best trips of my life and this travel video is my attempt at capturing just how beautiful Tanzania is and how epic it was to explore it.

From tracking down the big five in Serengeti to hiking up to the top of Kilimanjaro in 6 days via Machame Route …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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hike to Rakaposhi Base Camp, Pakistan

One of our best hikes in Asia.

Here’s a fantastic vista you can reach by day hike. Free. And independently.

Rakaposhi is a mountain in the Karakoram range about 100 km (62 mi) north of the capital city Gilgit.

At 7,788 m (25,551 ft) it’s the 27th highest in the world.

There are views of Rakaposhi from the Karakoram Highway.

You need to get to Minapin and stay over one night before setting out early the next day.

related – Jacob’s independent trip report

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Sunshine to Mt Assiniboine – Canadian Rockies

One of our top 10 hikes in the world.

World Wild Hearts had gear problems. Some bad weather.

But they did get to the top of Wonder Peak.

Click PLAY or watch a 5 day adventure on YouTube.

To organize this hike for yourself, check our Sunshine to Assiniboine information page.

Campground reservations can be difficult to get.

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Helly’s LifaLoft jacket – my review

Kraig Becker sent me an early prototype of a Helly Hansen LifaLoft jacket for my 2019 trip to Patagonia. I wore it non-stop for a couple of months cycling and hiking in wet, windy and sometimes cold weather.

LIFALOFT™ is not down. It’s arguably lighter and warmer.

The idea is to trap a maximum amount of air in a small space. And due to the hydrophobic properties of LIFA®, LIFALOFT™ has an inherent water repellency that should keep you warm, even when wet.

It worked for me as advertised.

Glacier Vinciguerra, Ushuaia, Argentina

Cerro Guanaco trail, Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentina under a rain shell

The best test came when I got caught in a surprise downpour while hiking without my shell. I was worried.

But next morning the LifaLoft looked and felt 100% perfect.

UPDATE:  I bought two more LifaLoft jackest – in different colours and sizes.  I often wear two rather than a heavier down jacket.  

I machine washed and dried one jacket.  It come out looking like new. 

Kraig sent me this to replace my FAILED Columbia OutDry down jacket. It was useless after 7 months.

The Helly Hansen is far superior. The Colombia failed — I think — because it couldn’t handle being frequently compressed into a stuff sack. The HH LifaLoft seems much more durable.

In Patagonia Helly Hansen is the go-to brand for serious sailers and outdoors-people. Developed in Norway, HH is tested under the worst weather conditions.

For future hikes in moderate weather where weight is a big consideration, I’ll be carrying the LifaLoft and just a waterproof ultra-light Frogg Toggs shell.