Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Slideshow | 2012
In 2012, the PCT represented the 10th of the 12 Long Walks series. It was the only one of the dozen hikes that I had previously done (2007). It was a trek that turned out to be a lot more Read More …
Tag: Hiking
Six Tips for Glissading
Glissading is fun, exciting & potentially hazardous to your health. Six points for hikers to remember in regards to glissading: 1. Never glissade if you are in any doubt as to the safety of a slope (e.g. crevasses, avalanche potential, Read More …
Review: OPSAK Storage Bags
Since 2009, OPSAK bags (made by LOKSAK) have been an integral part of my backpacking kit. Irrespective of the season or environment, I’ve carried these odour proof storage bags for more than 900 nights in the backcountry, including the entire 18 month, 14,300 mile, 12 Read More …
The Dying Cow Pub
The following events took place in May, 2009, during a hike of Ireland’s Wicklow Way. Stretching some 130 km from Marlay Park in Dublin to the village of Clonegal in County Carlow, since being established in 1980, the Wicklow Way has Read More …
The Thrifty Thru-Hiker
Recently I’ve come across various articles relating to long distance hiking on a budget. There was 18 Ways To Prepare Your Wallet For Your Thru-Hike, How to Thru Hike on a budget and The Frugal Backpacker – The $300 Gear Challenge. Although all Read More …
How to Ford a River
Knowing where and how to ford a fast-flowing river is one of the most important backcountry skills that a hiker can acquire. Let’s break it down into four steps: Where to Cross? Preparation for Crossing Fording Techniques Worst-Case Scenario Read More …
A Hiker’s Guide to Blister Management
To a certain degree, blisters are to hikers what carpal tunnel syndrome is to court reporters – an occupational hazard. The primary cause of these little bubbles of fun is friction. Long hours on your feet combined with ill-fitting footwear Read More …
Hiking Solo or in a Group?
“Never walk alone” is a refrain most commonly heard from Park Rangers, Liverpool football (soccer) fans and Rodgers and Hammerstein aficionados the world over. In so much as it relates to hiking, it can be considered sound advice for beginners Read More …
How to Load a Backpack
A well loaded pack can mean the difference between being comfortable and uncomfortable out on the trail. It is one of the simpler backpacking skills to learn, yet it seems to be a process that many hikers overlook. There is Read More …
Why Choose a Frameless Backpack?
Since the early 2000s, frameless backpacks have been my rucksack model of choice for the majority of hiking trips that I have done. While by no means an ideal option for all hikers and all types of journeys (see below Read More …
Cordillera Blanca Traverse – Stage 4 – Chavin to Pastoruri
Distance: 48 miles (77km) Time: 3 days (September 4 – 6) Start: Lake Queracocha Finish: Pastoruri Glacier Day 14 Setting out from Lake Queracocha just before midday, I made my way cross country over the windswept, treeless landscape. Navigation Read More …
Cordillera Blanca Traverse – Stage 3 – Pitec to Chavin
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 …
Cordillera Blanca Traverse – Stage 2 – Pompey to Pitec
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 …
Gear Review: Tarptent ProTrail
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 …
Pacific Northwest Trail
The Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT) stretches from Montana’s Rocky Mountains to Washington’s Olympic Coast—two geographically distinct termini separated by three national parks, seven national forests, and 1,931 km (1,200 mi) of some of the finest mountain scenery in the United Read More …
Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit
Peru’s Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit is one of South America’s premier multi-day treks. Turquoise lakes, high altitude passes, hot springs, towering snow capped peaks; all packed into a compact range that measures only 30 km (18.6 mi) long and 15 km Read More …
Cordillera Blanca Traverse (CBT) | Peru, 2014
Between August 21 and September 6, 2014, I completed a traverse of Peru’s Cordillera Blanca, one of the world’s highest and most beautiful mountain ranges. To the best of my knowledge, it was the first time that such a trek Read More …
Ouachita Trail
The Ouachita National Scenic Trail is a 223 mile (359 km) pathway that winds its way through the Ouachita (pronounced wa-she-ta) mountains of Oklahoma and Arkansas. Relatively little-known outside of the US long distance hiking community, it is a non-motorized Read More …
Emergency Fire Starters for Backpacking
It’s cold, wet and miserable. You’re drenched to the bone. All you really want to do is get warm. Now would be a good time to start a fire, but dry tinder material is scarce. In such a situation it Read More …
Continental Divide Trail Gear List (2012)
The CDT represented the penultimate hike of the 12 Long Walks series. I began my journey at Waterton Lake on the US/Canadian border on August 3. I reached Mexico 74 days later on October 15. In regard to conditions, I Read More …