Peter Hochhauser put together a wonderful video of his 2016 PCT Trail.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Englishman’s River Falls B.C.
BestHike editor Rick McCharles.
Many, many times I’ve walked the spectacular 2km loop at Englishman River Falls Provincial Park near Parksville B.C.
Often I cycle there from Parksville. Then walk or run the loop a number of times.
Click PLAY or watch a November run on YouTube.
B.C. Parks website. The campsite has over 100 spaces.
Read more – Bikepacking.com – Miles Arbour – ENGLISHMAN RIVER OVERNIGHTER
Click PLAY or watch a summer run on YouTube.
Migrating Birds – Vancouver Island
Late November we’re still seeing hundreds / thousands of ducks and geese at low tide.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Nydia Track, New Zealand
Nydia Track, Marlborough: The best walk you’ve never heard of
I thought I’d heard of ALL major New Zealand tramps. I lived there for a year.
The 27 km Nydia Track in the Sounds area of Marlborough is an easy 2 day tramp. Plan on an overnight stop at Nydia Bay.
World Expeditions offers a guided tour.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Father of the FKT – Buzz Burrell
The poster boy for Fastest Known Times is Kílian Jornet Burgada.
As I post, Kilian holds the fastest known time for the ascent and descent of Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Denali and perhaps Everest.
But it’s Buzz Burrell who really popularized the concept, co-founding fastestknowntime.com with Peter Bakwin and Jeff Schuler.
Those three run the site on a voluntary basis. And it’s a ton of work.
Buzz himself had been racing routes for decades. He set the FKT on the Colorado Trail in 1999. The FKT on John Muir in 2000.
This interview with Buzz will fill you with respect. Buzz co-hosts his own audio show called the FKT Podcast.
Croatian Long Distance Trail
The Croatian Long Distance Trail (CLDT) was pretty much invented by Nikola (Tesla) Horvat.
Croatia shares a maritime border with Italy. The capital city is Zagreb.
As I post the trail is not recommended due to COVID-19 restrictions. Hopefully it will be possible again starting 2021.
- approximately 2200 km (1400 mi)
- mountain trails, wild trails, hard rock, forest roads, fields, gravel roads and sometimes asphalt roads
- mountain huts, hotel, hostel, private accommodation, official campsite
- many settlements so resupply should not pose a problem
As very few have hiked it yet, you’ll be pleased to hear there is a Guthook Guide. There are some blazes and emblems, as well..
Details on the official website
Glorious Rathtrevor Beach at Dawn
Dawn low tide at Rathtrevor Beach in Parksville on Vancouver Island.
I’ve been walking early morning at Rathtrevor for months during COVID lockdown. This edit gives you a good feel for the glorious setting.
I’ve not yet tired of taking a morning walk in exactly the same place each day. Every dawn is different.
Low tide here stretches nearly a kilometre out into the Strait of Georgia.
Thousands of birds are here Spring and Autumn during migration. This video shot in November.
Rathtrevor has a terrific campground, if you ever get the chance to visit.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Why (Do I Hike)
Nikola (Tesla) Horvat hiked the Colorado Trail in 2019 putting together this award winning video
Very philosophical. Nature, Time, Community, Mental Health and Final Chapter.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Nikola Horvat is a successful PCT and Colorado Trail thru-hiker, author, filmmaker, and founder of the Croatian Long Distance Trail.
He pioneered the CLDT upon returning to Croatia from the PCT in 2016.
He mapped the route himself, authored a guidebook, and founded the Croatian Long Distance Trail Association, of which he is the president.
Two others have thru-hiked the CLDT after him—no foreigners yet, though Second Chance Hiker is on-trail at the moment.
The Trek
Seals chase Otter to the beach
Lantzville Lookout, Nanaimo B.C.
Lantzville Lookout is a popular day hike off the Copley Ridge network of trails near Lantzville on Vancouver Island.
Regional District of Nanaimo is still trying to make the Lookout official, as of August 2020.
In the meantime, signage is home made. I can’t say it’s easy to find.
I went in November. A relaxing day hike.
It’s a steady climb. But getting to the Lookout makes it worthwhile.
Some young people had set up at the campfire on the Copley Ridge trail. They had just departed as I returned.
It was a mellow hike. So I put together a mellow video. As always, audio is just as important as video.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
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