4 Nov
From Branch Whitney of the excellent Hiking Las Vegas blog:
I am not a big fan of the typical desert peaks. Most have boring approaches, crappy rock, and long drives. I do not consider the peaks in Red Rock or Mt. Charleston as desert peaks. The rock there is much different. So I “cherry pick” the [...]
3 Nov
I love the look of this volcanic scramble …
Black Butte Trail
Length: 5.2 miles round-trip
Hiking time: 4 hours
High point: 6,325 feet
Total elevation gain: 1,850 feet
Difficulty: moderate
Season: mid-May through mid-November
Water: none; bring plenty …
The Black Butte Trail is Hike 45 from 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California, third edition. I discuss the same route in Hike 63 [...]
9 Oct
Trip Report – Picos de Europa Circuit – by site editor Rick McCharles
By morning I had no water. Looking up, my prospects for H2O did not look good.
Though my guidebook said I could find water in two places in the next few hours, I was not confident. This late in the season I might [...]
8 Oct
Trip Report – Picos de Europa Circuit – by site editor Rick McCharles
Here I am, elated to have tented rather than staying under roof at the Collado Jermoso refugio.
It’s a long, slow, pretty 1200m (3937ft) descent. Check out the wall looking back up from the valley.
My 4km return detour along the river [...]
7 Oct
Trip Report – Picos de Europa Circuit – by site editor Rick McCharles
This was the most photogenic day. Amazing.
I started by climbing up from Bulnes La Villa through high pasture land towards the central summits.
I was looking forward to the iconic peak of the Picos, Naranjo de Bulnes.
It’s a world class climbing [...]
6 Oct
Trip Report – Picos de Europa Circuit – by site editor Rick McCharles
The morning dawned clear. Quickly I climbed up above the valley cloud.
I met one of the alpine hut guards … with his free running dogs.
Here’s the large sign posted at his refugio, Marques de Villaviciosa:
National Park regulations are somewhat flexible in [...]
28 Sep
Rob and Jude this week did Burstall to see the larch changing on a classic Canadian Rockies day hike. They biked in and out 3km each direction, saving that time for a nap in the sunshine at the Pass.
Elevation Gain: 451 m (1,480 ft).
Great views once on top, with lots of opportunities for further [...]
25 Sep
by site editor Rick McCharles
Because of the record breaking temperatures where I live, I dashed off to Banff Wednesday.
You always get good advice from the National Park Rangers at the hiking desk on Banff Avenue. They recommended Mt Cory, a mountain I did not know.
Elevation gain about 1370m.
Here I am about half way (2hrs) [...]
20 Sep
by Besthike editor Rick McCharles
One of the best day hikes out of my home town, Calgary, is Banded Peak. But it’s a big day:
Something like 37 km return, a 1416m (4645ft) height gain.
Perhaps 27km on the bike and a 10km return hike/scree scramble to the 2,934m (9,626ft) summit.
Here’s the final deceptively easy looking approach.
Banded [...]
28 Jul
Krista Morris posted some great pics on Facebook.
… 11 hours of hiking, 4 hours of driving! …
They summited Niblock, Whyte, and a 3rd peak on a beautiful sunny July day near Lake Louise, Alberta in Banff National Park.
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