Hiker Blog

How many festivals can one human body support? much like how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie pop, the world may never know, but I endeavor to try.
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Filed under: Hiking, Events, Africa, Morocco

I think somebody forgot to tell these guys that a marathon is only 26.2 miles. Because, um, they're planning on running 150+ miles. And I *guess* somebody should also tell them that most marathons aren't supposed to be quite this brutal. Because, um, they're planning on running through the deserts of Southern Morocco. For a week. In 120° temps.

The Marathon des Sables (the Sand Marathon) is a footrace that features crazies who race by day and sleep in communal tents by night. Carrying everything they need to eat and drink, the racers also have to protect themselves from blisters, rashes, dust storms, snakes (SNAKES?!) -- you name it. Despite all that, the official website boasts, "There'll be a daily dose of sand and dunes, and breathtaking panoramic views once you're up the jebels" -- "up the jebels" no doubt being slang for hallucinating bitterly.

The 2007 Sand Marathon, which begins March 23, will involve 40 medical staff; 100,000 liters of bottled water; 150 Berber and Saharan tents; 100 all-terrain vehicles; 18 buses; 4 camels; 2½ miles of Elastoplast; 15,000 compresses; 5300 painkillers -- and 50 exhausted teams.

To learn more about this grueling event check out this (PDF) feature from Outside.

[Via Whatsonwhen]

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Filed under: Hiking, Events, Africa, Morocco

I think somebody forgot to tell these guys that a marathon is only 26.2 miles. Because, um, they're planning on running 150+ miles. And I *guess* somebody should also tell them that most marathons aren't supposed to be quite this brutal. Because, um, they're planning on running through the deserts of Southern Morocco. For a week. In 120° temps.

The Marathon des Sables (the Sand Marathon) is a footrace that features crazies who race by day and sleep in communal tents by night. Carrying everything they need to eat and drink, the racers also have to protect themselves from blisters, rashes, dust storms, snakes (SNAKES?!) -- you name it. Despite all that, the official website boasts, "There'll be a daily dose of sand and dunes, and breathtaking panoramic views once you're up the jebels" -- "up the jebels" no doubt being slang for hallucinating bitterly.

The 2007 Sand Marathon, which begins March 23, will involve 40 medical staff; 100,000 liters of bottled water; 150 Berber and Saharan tents; 100 all-terrain vehicles; 18 buses; 4 camels; 2½ miles of Elastoplast; 15,000 compresses; 5300 painkillers -- and 50 exhausted teams.

To learn more about this grueling event check out this (PDF) feature from Outside.

[Via Whatsonwhen]

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The Apalachee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association has the following events scheduled for March and April.
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Filed under: Climbing, Cultures, Hiking, Africa, Angola

Suppose you have time-lots of it. Let's say you have 44 weeks. Perhaps you'd like to go overland from Morocco to South Africa by way of Egypt. Here's a travel adventure that will take you through 10 game parks, various cultural and historical landmarks, and enough thrills like rafting and tandem sky diving that you'll have stories to tell for years. Countries not typical as tourist hot spots are included in the mix. Angola, for example, has only allowed tourists in since 2004.

In Angola you'll see Portuguese influenced architecture and gorgeous beaches besides the 3rd largest statue of Jesus in the world. The other countries in this multi-stop, pack-in-variety approach are: Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, DRCongo Zaire, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Egypt.

The highlights of this tour calledTrans Africa. Europe--CapeTown-Nairobi-Istanbul read like a cross between an outdoor wilderness experience, a cultural bonanza and a journey through an African history book. Read the itinerary and you might find yourself chomping to take this trip on. I sure am. R&R opportunities and the chance to luxuriate are built in. Africa Travel Center also offers shorter version African adventures where only parts of this trip are included.

* photo taken in Benguela, Angola by zokete.

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Filed under: Climbing, Cultures, Hiking, Africa, Angola

Suppose you have time-lots of it. Let's say you have 44 weeks. Perhaps you'd like to go overland from Morocco to South Africa by way of Egypt. Here's a travel adventure that will take you through 10 game parks, various cultural and historical landmarks, and enough thrills like rafting and tandem sky diving that you'll have stories to tell for years. Countries not typical as tourist hot spots are included in the mix. Angola, for example, has only allowed tourists in since 2004.

In Angola you'll see Portuguese influenced architecture and gorgeous beaches besides the 3rd largest statue of Jesus in the world. The other countries in this multi-stop, pack-in-variety approach are: Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, DRCongo Zaire, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Egypt.

The highlights of this tour calledTrans Africa. Europe--CapeTown-Nairobi-Istanbul read like a cross between an outdoor wilderness experience, a cultural bonanza and a journey through an African history book. Read the itinerary and you might find yourself chomping to take this trip on. I sure am. R&R opportunities and the chance to luxuriate are built in. Africa Travel Center also offers shorter version African adventures where only parts of this trip are included.

* photo taken in Benguela, Angola by zokete.

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Wilder Outdoors in Baldwin is different from any other store in the Northeast Georgia area.
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Digital Media > Inside Aperture > Blogs > Aperture Vs. Lightroom: Day 7 - River Rotations This morning I woke up to make an 8 a.m. bus ride to a couple of Dominica's waterfalls.
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A man from the Canton area plans to go on a marathon hike to benefit a local group that helps the needy pay for prescription drugs.
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Outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy Juniper Dunes can finally return to the popular site without trespassing.
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