I actually carried my own tent on this adventure. Air mattresses in the provided tents were not good. 😀
The crater rim vistas really are superb.
The biggest takeaway from this trip for everyone is being impressed with the porters. Rather than use the more efficient tump system, they balance these loads on one shoulder while doing big step-ups and step-downs.
They all wear flipflops. Until they break.
We were headed down, back to civilization.
Somewhat slippery — but overall fairly easy.
We had lunch in a shady forest, monkeys and cows standing by to gobble down what leftovers they could get.
It was a shock to get to the trailhead. Noisy motor cycles.
Perhaps 120 people readying to start.
Those who sign up for 2 days, 1 night begin and end here close to Sembalun village. They miss the lake and hotsprings.
It took about an hour to drive back from Sembalun to our start at Senaru village. We returned rented gear and recovered our luggage left in storage.
TIPS
BEST HIKE is our itinerary (3 days, 2 nights in tent) with an afternoon ascent rather than the crowded, dusty line-up for dawn. Day 1 is long and hard, however.
WAIT for a good weather forecast, if you can
Green Rinjani looked one of the most professional companies at camp, to me. Modern tents. Tables and chairs.
Grippy and comfortable shoes are the most important piece of gear. Wear a size larger than normal so your toes aren’t crushed on the descent.
Protection from sun and wind is important. Sun screen. I brought a sun hoodie.
Porters provide as much water as you can drink.
I fell about 8 times over the 3 days. No injuries as I almost always landed on my backpack.
I didn’t bring trekking poles. And that was a mistake. Our guide gave me one pole for long down climbs.
It’s badly littered.
Sanitation standards are low. No water for washing up. Not even the expected containers of alcohol gel that I’ve had on similar trips around the developing world.
I completely enjoyed Rinjani. It could hardly have gone any better for our group with the afternoon ascent.
BUT ➙ Bottom line ➙ I can’t recommend this hike. It’s simply too dangerous.
During the July 2018 Lombok earthquake, multiple climbers and guides were killed by landslides triggered on Rinjani’s slopes.
March 2007, seven people died of exposure after illegally scaling the volcano during a ban.
Be sure to have evacuation insurance, just in case.
This is the cool Canadian Rockies hike these days. BUT it’s more of a route than a trail.
As evidence, I bumped into two of the top hiking YouTubers below the ridge — Eric Hanson and Justin Outdoors. We were heading opposite directions. Surprised and excited, I got a bit tongue twisted while chatting with them.
Slightly dangerous, Northover is not promoted by the Parks people.
I followed the route onAllTrails offline. No navigation problems.
My first tip is to WAIT for good weather. You don’t want to be on this narrow ridge in high wind and poor visibility.
On the drive up to the trailhead in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, I had a good look at momma bear and 2 young ones. I saw another juvenile bear on the drive out. None on the trail.
I booked at Aster Lake Campground before driving up. By doing this I’d decided to hike it clockwise looking down at the map. But you can do the loop in either direction.
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park NOW requires a Conservation Pass if you have a vehicle. In 2025:
Daily Pass: $15 per vehicle
Yearly Pass: $90 per vehicle
My campsite pass was checked by Rangers. They do a great job here.
While traveling, I want to capture VIDEO and PHOTOS as quickly and easily as possible.
BEST for me in 2025 is to simply carry my iPhone 16 Pro. Typically I shoot video in the standard Camera app, 4K, 60 frames / second. HDR in automatic mode. Only 5x optical zoom is a bit of a limitation, but it’s much better zoom than phones in the past.
More often than not, I bring my inexpensive tripod from Fotopro. (Similar to JOBY GorillaPods — but a little better.)
The tripod works like a selfie stick. Or I can quickly set it up almost anywhere.
That tripod has a simple ball head. To it, I attach the Ulanzi ST-27 Metal Phone Clip to keep my phone secure. It fits a large smart phone with cover.
When my FotoPro breaks (often) I use an old miggo Splat. More durable, but not quite as adaptable.
I’m addicted to my Apple Watch — and use the Camera Remote app as a viewfinder for taking photos and videos from a distance. I have that app as one of my Complications on the Apple Watch face so it’s always quickly available.
For multiple day adventures, I’ll bring one or more external batteries, in addition to the Anker MagGo Power Bank. HEAVY — YES. But they are the safest way to recharge my electronics on the trail. These brutes have saved me many, many times in the past.
It can charge 5 devices simultaneously including a laptop, but I find the 4th and 5th (USB-A) really don’t get much juice compared with the first 3 ports in line. Almost all my devices now are USB-C.
If cycling — where weight and bulk are less an issue — I usually bring along a short extension cord. This makes it more convenient to plug into libraries, coffee shops, hostels, shopping malls, etc. (The UGREEN tends to fall out of a loose wall socket.)
BUT in 2025, I’m keen on shooting more with the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro Gimbal. (Optional magnetic attachment rather than the standard clamp.)
The Gimbal does dozens of interesting things, but I want it mainly to track myself while videotaping. This gimbal actually tracks consistently. Many do not.
For tracking I use the Insta360 app — not bothering with Apple DockKit integration nor the optional AI Tracker.
AND the gimbal is not all that bulky.
The BIG decision for me is whether or not to take the DJI Mini 4 Drone. The Controller is essential. … In fact, so far I always bring the bulky carrying case and 3 extra batteries. A major commitment.
BUT I love shooting drone video. And I am often willing to suffer with the extra bulk and weight.
Actually, all this gear is not bad when I’m bikepacking. I add even more gear including the world’s best helmet. 😀
For long trips, I sometimes bring along my old MacBook Air and 2 or 3 external 2TB SSD drives. I need them for back-up and video / photo editing.
I normally leave the Apple charging brick at home, using USB C charging, instead.
Critical for cycling is navigation. I use an old iPhone with a QuadLock attachment to the handlebars. And a rain poncho, when necessary.
I’ll stop here …. though there are times I bring even MORE along in the bike saddle bags. 😀
IF I might need light at night, I’ll bring my tiny Nitecore headlamp and short charging cable.
Anker IQ wall plug for a quick charge at a coffee shop. ??
Bottom line? Show up with your phone and a back-up external battery. That’s what the smart folks do. 🙏
Me? I’ll always have the phone and drone.
For example, for my next international trip (hiking, not cycling) this is my MAIN recharging set-up. One electrical outlet ➙ light extension cord ➙ International adapter ➙ my UGREEN Nexode 100W 5 Port USB C Charger Block ➙ 1) laptop, 2) INUI external battery (charging watch), 3) UGreen (charging phone).
Cables are long for convenience in awkward recharging locations. Cables are high speed. Priority is keeping my external batteries charged for use away from an electrical outlet.
In addition are my devices to be charged irregularly. I’ll do these once the MAIN group of devices is done.
I’m bringing a second phone as a back-up. In foreign nations, I’ll put a local SIM card into this 2nd phone.
This is the bulky, heavy drone with 4 batteries. (My next drone will be lighter and smaller.)
I do have AirPods, as well. Normally I top those up from the external battery when needed.
I might take the Flow Pro 2 Gimbal — but that battery seems to stay charged almost indefinitely. 😀
Electronics are carried in my trusty old laptop case. Drone and accessories, separate.
Saysutshun (Newcastle Island Marine) Park is a family friendly adventure, accessible only by foot passenger ferry or your own boat from Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.
I put my bike on an intercity bus. Then rode the fantastic Nanaimo bike trails to get to the ferry.
It’s a quick, scenic trip over to Saysutshun.
Many simply kayak over to the island. It’s quite protected and safe.
I believe it’s obligatory 😀 to take a photo at the first totem pole.
There are a number of trails to explore on foot and (some) on bike. I did both.
Most day trippers spend about 2 hours walking the trails.
With frequent stops for photos.
Surprisingly, coal was mined here 1853 – 1882. Hence the name, Newcastle.
The rocky shelf is perfect for exploration.
Most fun for me was exploring some of the boat wrecks at low tide.
As you can see 😀, I pushed this one boat back into the ocean.
You are almost certain to see some of the Nanaimo ferries.
Sandstone quarrying began on Newcastle Island 1869. There is plenty of evidence of that stonework, even today.
Happily, you can still see some huge old growth trees.
I saw many deer. A few rabbits. None of the worrisome racoons.
For the first time at Saysutshun, I camped one night.
18 walk-in campsites are located in a quiet forested area a mere 5-minute walk from the docks.
Five group campsites are also available that can accommodate up to 50 guests.
Potable water is available along with flush and pit toilets, hot showers, and food lockers to protect your rations from local raccoons!
With no cars allowed on the island, the quiet is serene, with nothing but the sound of the ocean, birds and wind in the trees. And with no bears or cougars on the island, there is little worry of any alarming wildlife encounters.
Sites are available on a first-come first-served basis, but reservations are highly recommended.
besthike.com 