Hiking

I’ve been wrestling back and forth about this for some time, and I’ve come to the conclusion that San Diego Hiker has run its course. Obviously, the entries have been few and far between for a while, and I don’t see them picking up anytime soon. So, sometime between now and when the current term [...]

I hiked Huayhuash in 2004. (annotated PHOTOS) It’s my BEST HIKE to date. Extreme. I recommend it only to the most experienced and adventurous trekkers. Here’s our yet-to-be-updated Huayhuash information page based mostly on that 2004 adventure. Much better is a detailed 2010 trip report by ramblin’ boy: … The satellite image above shows you the mini-range of Huayhuash in the shape of a T; it is about 30 kilometers from one end to the other with six peaks over 6000 meters and a couple of dozen over 5000. It’s like walking in Sagarmatha National Park but without the prayer flags! Most of the 125-km long trek is on trails above 4000m and above the tree line so you have a very stark mountain scenery. … " target="_blank"> Our trek began with a ride to the new trail head at Llamac in a mini-bus with room for the seven clients, the two guides and cook and his assistant and a whole lot of tenting equipement and food. … At Llamac we met the arrieros (muleteers) and their burros, all ten of them. They would carry the bulk of our stuff for us; we would walk with day packs containing rain gear, cameras, and a water bottle. I cannot imagine doing this particular trek unsupported, weighed down by all the things you’d need to bring. … read on – The Huayhuash Circuit: South America’s Finest High-Altitude Trek Those marvelous 15 days cost only $1350 / person. A great deal since they had a larger group. They did the Circuit plus climbs of two trekking peaks: Pumarinri and Diablo Mudo. Sweet.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Rangers were involved in the rescue of a 53-year-old male who had been struck by a falling tree during the storm event of Thursday, June 13th. Nathan Lipsom, from Cambridge, MA, was hiking along Low Gap Trail when the storm hit around 4:00 pm and sustained multiple injuries. A Park Backcountry Ranger was patrolling the trails around Cosby and Big Creek on Friday morning to check on hikers, and trail conditions in the area, when he discovered the injured hiker at approximately 11:30 am. The ranger remained with Lipsom while the Park began organizing a rescue operation. A Park Medic was immediately dispatched to the site to further evaluate and stabilize the patient’s condition. Due to the number of downed trees from the storm, the trails around the Cosby and Big Creek areas were impassable for the rescue team. The Park ordered a Blackhawk helicopter from the state of North Carolina with winching capabilities to extricate the patient. Lipsom was then flown to the airport in Asheville, NC, and transported by ground to Mission Hospital. A National Weather Service crew has confirmed an EF-1 tornado in the Cosby area during the June 13th storm. Right now the Gabes Mountain Trail and Snake Den Ridge Trail in Cosby, and the Baxter Creek Trail and the Big Creek Trail in Big Creek remain closed due to scores of downed trees. The trails are impassable by foot or horse. In addition to trail closures, the Park has also closed “B” Loop of Cosby Campground. Backcountry Campsites 29, 34, 36, 37 and 38 are all closed as well. There's no estimate for reopening the trails or the campgrounds at this time. For the most up to date closure information, visit the Park’s website, or call our Backcountry Office at 865-436-1297. JeffHiking in the Smokies

So, you’re in the woods right? You’re on a multi-day backpacking trip, it’s the middle of the summer, and you just took your last sip of water. Problem. Although some hardcore survivalists argue that it’s possible to drink unfiltered water if you’re careful about it, and I’m sure that it is, you don’t always have the luxury of choosing which stream you drink out of. Sometimes you’ve got to take what you can get; that means you’ve got to have a handy-dandy water treatment system with you. So the question is: which water treatment system is right for you? Well, wonder no more! Here’s how to decide: Your motto: “Make it quick” If you’re looking for a quick, easy way to filter your water, your best bet is a pump filter. Pump filters use microscopic holes to allow water to pass while filtering out bacteria. They usually have paper or ceramic filters, and if you’re interested in being able to practice field maintenance, then the ceramic filters are the way to go. Both Katadyn’s Hiker Microfilter (which actually has a glass filter) and MSR’s Miniworks Ex Microfilter are great options. Cons: Pump filters do not protect you from viruses, and are therefore unsafe for out-of-country use, or anywhere viruses may be present. Your motto: “Less is more” Looking for the lightest possible purifier? Tablets will be your go-to method. There are iodine tablets as well as chlorine dioxide tablets, but most people would agree that the chlorine dioxide is easier and safer (and tastes better) than the iodine tablets. Chlorine dioxide tablets use a burst of oxygen to break down bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. And don’t worry, there isn’t any actual chlorine in these tablets; chlorine dioxide and chlorine are two different things! Check out Potable Agua to get some good tablets! Cons: It may take up to 30 minutes for treatment to have its full impact (4 hours for cryptosporidium), and you must continually buy more tablets. Your motto: “One size fits all” Electric filters are your best option if you want to be able to filter water everywhere (including out of the country). Ultraviolet light purifiers burst forth a stream of UV rays which kill all bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. It works quickly, usually in less than a minute, and it leaves water pure and clean no matter where you are. The SteriPEN is a great UV light purifier. Cons: These purifiers do not take care of sediment in the water, so be sure to filter through a shirt (or some type of clothing) before you sterilize. It also runs off a battery, which means you need to carry spares. Your motto: “The more the merrier” Wanting to purify a lot of water in one sitting? Go for a gravity filter. Gravity filters work in much the same way that pump filters do, except you don’t pump them. Generally they have large bladders which you can fill, hang, and let gravity work its magic. These are great if you need water for large groups, or you want to filter a lot of water at one time. Platypus Gravityworks is a great option for gravity filters. Cons: Just like pump filters, gravity filters do not protect against viruses. They may also take slightly longer to filter because of the volume of water, but they usually filter pretty fast. Now that you know which treatment system is best for you, get it and get out on the trail. Drink from those fresh mountain streams, but remember to use your filters/purifiers, because no one likes puking (or worse) on the trail. Your Turn: What’s your favorite type of purifier? Related posts: Backpacking tip: Skip the water filter Hiking and Backpacking in Wet Weather Hiking and backpacking in Ocala National Forest

On the third Tuesday of each month this year, Friends of the Smokies will be offering guided hikes as part of their Classic Hikes of the Smokies series. To celebrate the Friends’ 20th anniversary this year, each hike will honor an achievement or cause that the Friends organization has supported in Great Smoky Mountains National Park since its establishment in 1993. The hike for next month will honor wildlife conservation: July 16: Newfound Gap-Kephart Prong ExcursionDistance: 7.4 milesElevation Gain: 800 feetTrails – A.T., Sweat Heifer Trail, Kephart Prong, (and shuttle) To help support the Smokies Trails Forever program, a donation of $10 for members and $35 for non-members is requested. Non-members receive a complimentary membership to Friends of the Smokies. Members who bring a friend hike for free. You can pre-register for this through Friends of the Smokies at outreach.nc@friendsofthesmokies.org or 828-452-0720. JeffHiking in the Smokies

Have you ever pulled into a campground after dark? Maybe you couldn’t see what was around until the new day dawned, or maybe it was just so foggy there was no visibility when you got there. Well, I’ve had it happen quite a few times. It’s really something to wake up in a new place and be surprised by what’s there. These are a few of my most surprising memories. After a foggy late-night drive into Badlands National Park and a very slow drive along the Bandlands Wall, I woke up in Sage Creek Campground and saw bison grazing just a few feet from the tents! It was a real treat to be so close to such a large and powerful animal. At Oxbow Park on the east side of the Hardy Dam backwaters in Michigan, canadian geese were squawking like they were in a panic. I wiped my eyes and got out of the tent to see an American bald eagle swooping down at them. It did it over and over, trying to catch one of them off guard. It was a sight I’ll never forget. At Rocky Mountain National Park‘s Moraine Park Campground, the bugel of an elk bull woke me as the sun was coming up. When there was enough light, I could see that a herd of elk were grazing in the nearby meadow. After a night time boat ride through Chokoloskee Bay to Watson’s Place Campground in Everglades National Park, our group was woken up by two bobcats fighting in a tree over the dock! The loud cat crying sounds were startling, to say the least. It rained all night when we arrived at Tahquamenon Falls State Park on Lake Superior. The air was humid and we were wet from the constant downpour of rain that eventually came in under the tent. But even that couldn’t dampen what happened when we woke up that morning. Once out of the tent, I could see five fox kits playing together about 50 feet away. They were chasing their tails, running in circles around a tree, and pouncing on each other. It reminded me of those great animal videos from Marty Stouffer’s Wild America, and was one of the best animal experiences I’ve had. And of course there are the times you get woken up in the middle of the night. Like the time we camped in Georgia and woke to the sound of a pack of coyotes baying only a hundred feet from our tent. Their soulful, mournful wails sent shivers down my spine. Too many times, I’ve awoken to the sounds of raccoons rummaging through a cooler or a nearby trash bin. Then, of course, there’s the ever famous “what was that” and “did you hear that” moving through campsites all across America. Sometimes they’ll leave a track or a clue to help you figure out what it was. Other times, we’re just left wondering. What surprises have you woken up to after a night of camping? Related posts: Canine Camping Problems? Camping on a budget? Camping in Kansas State Parks

So far I’m liking the inexpensive Canon PowerShot SX160 IS 16x zoom AA batteries About $100-140 on Amazon right now. Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. Leave a comment if you have any AA battery powered alternatives.

Every day of the week we feature an excellent user-submitted camping or hiking photo as our Photo of the Day. Just in case you missed one or two from the past week, here are the seven most recent PODs that we’ve published: Desoto Falls in Mentone, Alabama. Photo: Melissa Peacock. View of Great Smoky Mountain National Park, North Carolina. Photo: mtbgreg1. Longleaf Trail in Rome, Georgia. Photo: Melissa Peacock. View of Fontana Lake from the Tsali Trails, Bryson City, North Carolina. Photo: mtbgreg1. "That's why they're called 'The Smokies.'" Clingman's Dome, Bryson City, North Carolina. Photo: Be Ck. Trail: Moonlight Trail via Moke Lake, Queenstown, New Zealand. Photo: Ginny_Tory. View of Great Smoky Mountain National Park from just outside of Bryson City, North Carolina. Photo: mtbgreg1. Related posts: Week in Review: Outdoor PODs Week in Review: Outdoor PODs Week in Review: Outdoor PODs

The inspirational Alastair Humphreys throws down: … On June 21st we want as many people as possible to try a microadventure. HERE’S THE PLAN: Grab a friend, a colleague or go on your own. Head for the countryside (between June 15 and 30) by bike, on foot, by train, canoe or however you like. Sleep out under the stars (bivvy, not tent!) and have fun. That’s it! Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools. … SUMMER SOLSTICE MICROADVENTURE CHALLENGE What’s a Microadventure? Click PLAY or watch one on Vimeo. There are many, many ways to enter the contest. … submit a photo, a story or a video about your microadventure. As long as you make sure we see your submission you can consider yourself in the running for a prize. … Prizes include: Trek Bikes, howies, Osprey Packs and Mountain Equipment Click through for details.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park managers report that several trails in Cosby and Big Creek are closed due to extensive damage from the wind and rain during a late afternoon storm on Thursday, June 13th. Other trails in the area may be closed as the park is continuing to assess the damage.The park website states that "a major thunderstorm produced heavy rains, high winds and a possible tornado in portions of Sevier and Cocke Counties in Tennessee" yesterday. Gabes Mountain Trail and Snake Den Ridge Trail in Cosby, and Baxter Creek Trail and the Big Creek Trail in Big Creek have been closed due to scores of downed trees. The trails are impassable by foot or horse. In addition to trail closures, the Park has also closed “B” Loop of Cosby Campground due to damage. There's no estimate for reopening the trails or the campground at this time. Backcountry Campsites 29, 34, 36, 37 and 38 are all closed as well. “We are in the process of assessing the condition of all of the trails within the storm affected area,” said acting Chief Ranger Steve Kloster. “Hikers and equestrians may want to confirm trail openings by contacting the Park’s Backcountry Office or by visiting our website before planning routes through this section of the Park.” The storm which hit hardest on the Northeastern most section of the park was the tail end of a storm system which hit the Midwest through much of Thursday. Air monitoring stations at Clingmans Dome and Look Rock recorded over sixty mile per hour winds during the time of the storm. For the most up to date closure information, visit the Park’s website, or call our Backcountry Office at 865-436-1297. JeffHiking in the Smokies