Distance: 4.2 miles (7 km) Avg.Time: 4 – 5 hours Start / Finish: Karimabad Overlooking the spectacular Hunza Valley, Karimabad is serviced by regular minibusses to and from Gilgit. Season: May to October Maps / Info: Lonely Planet, Pakistan & Read More …
Distance: 52.2 miles (84 km) Average Time: 4-5 days Start / Finish: Out-and-back to Shimshal village As of September, 2008, there was a daily passenger jeep which left Passu bound for Shimshal. This vehicle is often full, in which Read More …
Distance: 46.6 miles (75 km) approx. Avg.Time : 3 or 4 days Start / Finish : Passu It is possible to store any extra gear you might have at the welcoming Passu Inn, which also sports a restaurant Read More …
Distance: 18 miles (29 km) (including side trip to Nanga Parbat Base Camp) Average Time: 2 days Difficulty: Easy to moderate Start / Finish: Fairy Point / Jhel For transport to and from Raikot Bridge on the Karakorum Highway, see Read More …
Distance: 29.2 miles (47km) approx. Average Time: 3-4 days Start / Finish: Upper Naltar – Pakora. Regular passenger jeeps or minibuses from Gilgit service both trailheads. For details see Lonely Planet Pakistan & the Karakoram Highway. Season: June – September Read More …
Distance: 22.4 miles (36 km) Average Time: 3 days Start / Finish: Hoper A daily minibus runs to Hoper from Aliabad, situated just down the hill from Karimabad. The latter village is a fantastic place to base yourself whilst Read More …
Timely online content has never been my strong suit. “No shit. You’re no great shakes when it comes to posting regularly, either”, reply 98% of long-term readers of The Hiking Life. Case in point, the following introductory post for Wanderlust Read More …
Hiking downhill is often taken for granted. In the minds of some, it represents the equivalent of “backcountry gravy”; the reward that follows the exertion of a challenging ascent. Yet hiking downhill takes its toll. Twists, slips and tumbles are Read More …
Since the early 2000s, I’ve applied ultralight principles to all of my backpacking trips around the globe. From deserts to jungles and from alpine regions to arctic tundra, lightening and simplifying my load has made a significant difference to the Read More …
“If you can’t ride two horses at once you shouldn’t be in the circus.” ~ James Maxton (1885-1946) One of the principal ways in which a hiker can lower his or her pack weight is by using multipurpose gear. A Read More …
Hypothermia is subnormal body temperature that occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. It is most often caused by exposure to cold weather. Other factors that may contribute to the onset of hypothermia include over-exertion, Read More …
In western countries, the majority of people backpack without the assistance of guides, porters or travel agencies. Yet when many of these same hikers journey to developing nations, they make the decision to go on guided treks. Why? Guided Trekking Read More …
Food tastes better in the outdoors. Perhaps it’s a combination of fresh air, beautiful surroundings, and all that exercise you’re doing. Over the years, many of my hiking journeys have been marked by memorable meals which resulted from unexpected invitations. Luck? Read More …
High mountain ranges such as the Rockies, Andes and Himalaya offer some of the most spectacular hiking opportunities on the planet. However, walking at high altitude brings with it certain inherent risks, the most common of which is altitude sickness, Read More …
The following short story took place during a trip to Pakistan’s Karakorum range in 2008. Click here for more trekking notes and logistical information from my various hikes in the region: There is a timeless quality to the Shimshal Pamir; which Read More …
Twenty classic day hikes in twenty different countries. Alpine lakes, waterfalls, Saharan sand dunes, volcanic moonscapes, 2000-year-old walls, and a big red rock right in the middle of Australia! I have had the good fortune of doing all of these Read More …
Listed below are 100 multi-day hikes that I have had the good fortune of doing from 1995 to the present day. In my opinion, they are all “great” or “classic” hikes, however, I have refrained from assigning them any type Read More …
In western countries, the majority of people backpack without the assistance of guides, porters or travel agencies. Yet when many of these same hikers journey to developing nations, they make the decision to go on guided treks. Why? Guided Read More …
Many people are dissuaded from hiking in developing countries due to health and safety concerns. The list of potential hazards is long: malaria, rabies, amoebic dysentery, dodgy medical facilities, robbery, kidnapping, etc. That being said, it is worth remembering that Read More …
”There is no bad weather, only bad clothing.” ~ Swedish proverb A hiker’s attire is all about practicality. Substance over style. We need items that will keep us dry when it’s wet, warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot. Read More …