Here is the situation on the three detained American hikers in a nutshell: Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal and Sarah Shourd have been detained in Iran since July 31, 2009, when news reports say they accidentally crossed an unmarked border during a hiking trip in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan. They were in a peaceful region […]
How Extended Travel Can Change Us
This is a comment I just posted on my friend Robert Francisco’s travel blog. He’s on a long journey of exploration in Asia. Here’s a comment I made on one of his recent posts from South Korea: Before I left on my 1985 nine-month journey to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, my friend […]
Come See Sean Bagshaw’s Stunning Presentation on Climbing Mount Denali
The Mount Shasta Trail Association is sponsoring a presentation on climbing Mount Denali in Alaska. The presenter is southern Oregon resident Sean Bagshaw, a professional photographer and experienced climber. Climbers on Mount Denali. (Photo by Sean Bagshaw) Here’s the Mount Shasta Trail Association press release written by MSTA vice president and professional photographer Mark Gibson: […]
Uptight Swiss Officials Put the Squeeze on Nude Hikers
Rules, rules, rules–government bureaucrats and officials always want to make rules. Now we find that Swiss bureaucrats want to ban nude hiking. Here’s the naked truth of the story: Climbers in the Swiss Alps last autumn were confronted with more than just stunning mountain panoramas. A group of nudist climbers were enjoying the fresh air, […]
Eight New UNESCO Natural Wonders
Eight new natural wonders have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Read about them, and view a fabulous slideshow, at ForbesTravel.com. Here’s a snippet from the article: Native Australian David Sheppard summons the oft-quoted backpacker’s mantra, “take only photographs, leave only footprints,” as he reflects on the fragility—and relatively newfound fame—of the eight […]
Backpacker Magazine’s 10 Most Dangerous Hikes
Here they are, Backpacker Magazine’s 10 most dangerous hikes in the United States (and one of them is in California). I’ve been on two of them: The Maze in Utah’s Canyonlands, and the Kalalau Trail on Kauai. The list: The Maze, UT Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon, AZ Barr Trail, Pikes Peak, CO Mt. Washington, […]
How Does the Economy Affect Your Hiking?
Does the state of the economy affect how often you hit the hiking trails? Perhaps it does, at least in Norway. State of the Economy and Hiking Frequency I got this from the besthike.com blog. Rick found an article in Norway’s Aftenbladet newspaper that proposes a link between the faltering economy and an increase in hiking: […]
High-Altitude Climbing Causes Changes in Brain Tissue
Sciencedaily.com just published “High-Altitude Climbing Causes Subtle Loss of Brain Cells and Motor Function, Says Everest and K2 Study.” “Our results provide evidence that extremely high-altitude climbs with no external oxygen supply may cause subtle changes in brain tissue, even when well acclimatised individuals do not experience any neurological symptoms” concludes Dr Di Paola. “These […]
Bart Smith Hikes 16,515 Miles in North America
Bart Smith gets around! What a life. A tip of my wide-brimmed hat to Bart for a life so well lived, and for sharing his stunning photos with the world. Here in the upper reaches of Northern California, folks are very excited about through-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. But Bart’s done that and so much […]
Laurie Bagley globetrots to the top of Africa
My friend Laurie Bagley gets around. In 2006, Laurie became the sixth American woman to summit Mount Everest by the North Col route. Now some may consider that a big deal, but I summited Mount Eddy twice in one week in 2006, and it’s only 20,000 feet lower than Everest. Laurie Bagley on the summit of Mount […]
