Trail Guides, Gear Reviews, and Backpacking Tips
Last week I received an email from a young couple who are hoping to do the Arizona Trailnext year. Hailing from the UK, where dry water sources are about as common as ice cream trucks in the Gobi desert, they Read More …
At a Glance Distance: 46 miles (74 km) Time: 3 days Start: Pitec Finish: Chavin Stage 3 Notes Day 11 Upon arriving back at the Pitec trailhead, I met a park ranger by the name of Pedro. Pedro the Read More …
With the popularity of the Triple Crown increasing, the amount of information on the internet regarding the three long distance trails is staggering. Some of it is good; some of it not so much. That being the case, how does one separate Read More …
This is the gear list from my 2012 thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. It represented the tenth hike of the 12 Long Walks series. I began at the Mexican border on May 6 and finished on July 29. In Read More …
The perfect rain jacket is waterproof, breathable, lightweight, durable and affordable. Unfortunately, it doesn’t exist. Bummer. Choosing a rain jacket basically comes down to two main criteria: Suitability for the conditions into which you are venturing. Something that is in Read More …
I hiked the CBT in August/September, which is “dry” season in the Central Andes of South America. It is also winter,however, due to the fact that the Cordillera Blanca is situated so close to the equator, temperature fluctuations are relatively Read More …
Distance: 65 miles (105 km) Time: 5 days (including a rest day in Huaraz) Start: Pompey Returned to the CBT via a colectivo minibus from the town of Chacas. Finish: Pitec From Pitec, I got a 1 hr ride down Read More …
“ Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) Viewing wildlife is one of the primary reasons many of us head out into the wilderness. However, with hiking numbers increasing with each passing year, Read More …
One of the coolest things about my recent trip to Colorado, was having the opportunity to sit down and chat with the folks from Montbell and the Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC). The Japanese based gear company will be entering into a new and exciting Read More …
A few months ago I posted about a prototype tent that I was taking to the Peruvian Andes. The ProTrail is a one-person, single wall silnylon shelter. It represents the latest offering from Henry Shires and the folks at Tarptent. Read More …
Note: Twenty minutes before beginning the Cordillera Blanca Traverse (CBT) in Hualcallan, I had the following conversation with an inquisitive local with a very dry sense of humor. It has been translated from Spanish to English. “Where are you headed?” Read More …
I returned home last Sunday after having spent a very busy fortnight in Colorado. Meetings, fundraisers, podcasts and presentations; there wasn’t a lot in the way of down time. That being said, I did have the chance to catch up Read More …
8.30am, October 11. Decked out in blaze orange and fuelled by a combination of “Mickey C’s” Bagels and multiple cups of coffee, Paul “Mags” Magnanti (The Trail Show) and I set off with the intentions of doing a 25 mile Read More …
The primary goal of The Hiking Life website is to encourage and enable folks to put on a pair of shoes, grab a pack and go for a walk. Walk2Connect, a Colorado based social enterprise that organises local walking trips, Read More …
I first hiked the Wonderland Trail back in 2003. A 93 mile circumnavigation of Washington’s iconic Mt.Rainier, it was a stunning trek through glacial valleys and alpine meadows. With an impressive array of flora and fauna, the Wonderland passed by Read More …
“It’s like being at home and on a holiday at the same time.” Thoreau, Emerson, Muir and……………..Sam The Gardener. Say again? Yep, the above quote is from none other than Samwise Gamgee, my favourite character from JRR Tolkien’s, The Lord Read More …
In September, 1996, three friends and I were ready to hike Peru’s Cordillera Huayhuash circuit. Supplies and maps had been bought, transport to the trail arranged. The night before we were due to leave Huaraz (the regional capital), news came Read More …
The first multi-day trek of my recent trip was a 5 day circumnavigation of the Cordillera Huayhuash. Prior to beginning the circuit, I decided to overnight in the little visited mountain town of Chiquian. Gorgeous setting, great variety of street Read More …
The day after arriving in Huaraz, Peru, I met a sprightly 83 year old local woman by the name of Dolores. We struck up a conversation about trekking, and upon hearing that I planned to do a day hike to Read More …
Just arrived home after spending the past five weeks in Peru. It was my second visit to the Andean nation and the first time I had been back since 1996. Whilst that previous journey was focused more on interests such Read More …