Trail Guides, Gear Reviews, and Backpacking Tips
The Ausangate Circuit is a classic Andean trek that features glaciers, hot springs, turquoise lakes, and traverses four high altitude passes. Despite the fact that it boasts some of the finest mountain scenery in Peru, it receives only a fraction Read More …
“With disturbing frequency, backpackers die in the mountains during the first snows of the season. Avalanche danger, hypothermia and obliterated trails are a threat to your life. Snow has closed the PCT in Washington as early as mid-September. In a Read More …
These days the internet is full of backpacking blogs and websites. When coupled with a multitude of online hiking forums, advice is never more than a click or two away. However, not all advice is created equal, and the fact Read More …
I recently returned from a two-month hiking trip to Peru and Bolivia. Due to the subfreezing conditions, I was going to encounter, before setting out I decided to leave behind my beloved Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite, and opt instead for its thicker Read More …
When most people think of hiking to Machu Picchu, the first name that comes to mind is the Inca Trail. And justifiably so. For decades that classic trek was the sole focal point for anyone looking to arrive at the Read More …
Stretching almost the entire length of the “Sunshine State”, the Florida Trail (FT) winds its way more than 1000 miles from Pensacola beach in the north to Big Cypress National Preserve in the south. Along the way it passes through Read More …
Employing a GPS as your primary navigation tool is like using a calculator to do basic addition. Push a few buttons, tap, tap, tap on your smartphone and voilà! Little in the way of grey matter required. And therein lies the Read More …
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of looking at things.” ~ Henry Miller Hiking abroad often means leaving your comfort zone – linguistically, socially, culinarily and culturally. The extent to which you are able to “embrace Read More …
Situated in the heart of Northern Territory’s Outback, the Larapinta Trail is one of Australia’s premier long distance hikes. Winding its way some 231 km along the incredible West MacDonnell ranges, it traverses ridges and plains, and passes through some of Read More …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Lake Baikal is the oldest, deepest, and most voluminous lake in the world. Situated in the heart of Siberia, it contains a mind-boggling 22–23% of the planet’s freshwater—more than all five of North America’s Great Lakes combined. It is said Read More …
Located in the southwest corner of Western Australia, the Cape to Cape Walk has long been recognised as one of Australia’s premier bushwalks. Tracing the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge for 123 km between the lighthouses of Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin, the Read More …
A high-altitude circumnavigation of Volcan Cotapaxi (5897 m), the second-highest point in Ecuador and one of the highest active volcanoes on the planet. I hiked the Cotapaxi Circuit in February 2004. Distance: 49.7 miles (80 km) approx. Avg.Time: 4 Read More …
Distance: 34.8 miles (56 km) Average Time: 2 to 3 days Start / Finish: Tagdilt – El-Kelaa M’Gouna Both trailheads are accessible via minibusses from Boumalne du Dades. Season: April–June, and October–November. The lower altitudes in the Jebel Sarho Read More …
Established in the early 1900s, the Kungsleden (“King’s Way”) is Sweden’s most storied long-distance trail. In 2009, I hiked the northernmost section from Abisko to Vakkotavare, before linking up with a route I put together in the nearby Sarek National Read More …
Distance: 25 miles (40 km) approx. Avg.Time: 3 days Start / Finish: Villa Catedral – Puente Lopez. From Bariloche, there are regular bus services to both trailheads. Season: November to May. If you come late in the season, the autumnal Read More …
Distance: 115 km approx. Avg. Time: 4 days Start / Finish: Pelechuco – Charanzani The hike can be done in either direction. I would recommend hiking from North to South, as this gives you the opportunity to take a well-earned Read More …
Distance: 48.5 miles (78 km) Average Time: 3 or 4 days Start / Finish: Brown Hut / Kohaihai Camping Ground For information on getting to and from the trailheads, see the NZ Department of Conservation (DOC) website. Difficulty: Easy Season: Read More …