Mount Kailash (6,638 m / 21,778 ft) is Asia’s holiest mountain. Located in the far reaches of western Tibet, for centuries it has been an important pilgrimage site for Hindus, Buddhists, and members of the Bon and Jain faiths. Many pilgrims Read More …
Distance: 68.4 miles (110 km) approx. Avg.Time: 4 – 5 days Start / Finish: Chiu Monastery. Chiu is an ideal place to start and finish due to its spectacular hilltop setting, easy access and nearby hot springs. Season: May – 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 …
Updated and expanded since the last edition in 2019, “Books for Hikers and Backpackers” now includes more than 70 works separated into eight categories: 1. Educational; 2. Guidebooks; 3. Humour; 4. Inspirational; 5. Literature; 6. Memoirs; 7. Philosophy, and; 8. Read More …
It’s been almost a year since I last posted on The Hiking Life. Even by my sporadic publishing standards that’s a long time between drinks. Indeed, it’s gotten to the point where I’m regularly receiving messages from readers asking if 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 …
This year’s book list has been revised and significantly expanded, and to make things easier on the sorting front, I’ve divided the works into eight different categories: Educational, Guidebooks, Humour, Inspirational, Literature, Memoirs, Philosophy and Ultralight. All of the more Read More …
Last year I wrote and co-edited a book by the name of Wanderlust – Hiking on Legendary Trails. In a nutshell, it’s a 256-page coffee table book that features 32 terrific hikes from around the world. Some of the treks Read More …
All of the works listed below have a place in my library at home. They represent a mixture of educational and philosophical texts; with a sprinkling of humour, poetry and social commentary thrown into the literary mix. The books are 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 …
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 …
When it comes to choosing hiking destinations, I don’t have any specific formula or preferences. Sometimes I look for pure wilderness experiences in remote locations. Other times I’m drawn by historical, cultural, culinary, and in the case of this particular Read More …
Vermont’s Long Trail is the oldest long distance hiking trail in the United States. Completed in 1930, it winds its way through the rugged Green mountains from the MA – VT state line to the border with Canada. I hiked Read More …
Yesterday I came across a copy of Cows of Our Planet, one of Gary Larson’s legendary The Far Side comic collections. A wonderful celebration of all things bovine, it got me thinking about some of the memorable cow encounters I’ve had during 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 …
This year’s book list has been revised and significantly expanded, and to make things easier on the sorting front, I’ve divided the works into eight different categories: Educational, Guidebooks, Humour, Inspirational, Literature, Memoirs, Philosophy and Ultralight. All of the more Read More …
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 …
Preview: June, 2011 Exploring North America’s Natural Wonders on Foot – 15,000 miles, 29 states, four provinces and 30 pairs of shoes. Much of my non-working life is spent hiking. Deserts, jungles, mountains or coast; I don’t really have a preference. Read More …
Distance: 205 miles (329.8 km) Time: 7 days (7/21/11 – 7/27/11) Avg. Miles per day: 29.3 miles (47.1 km) Total Miles: 663 miles (1066.8 km) Highlights: The Cascades Revisited: The final stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail from Harts Pass to Manning Park Read More …
DATE: September 15 to 17 START: Grand Lake FINISH: Tennessee Pass/Leadville DISTANCE: 105 miles (168.9 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 35 miles (56.3 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1593 miles (2563.1 km) Lynz: The highlight of this section was not any particular view or Read More …