Hiker Blog

Ever wondered why men pay more for bathing suits than women, why women pay more for hiking boots than men, or why woven wool shirts are cheaper for women? The answer, it seems, is the United States Congress, ... via Blog.foreignpolicy.com

Filed under: Hiking, History, Paddling, Skiing, North America, United States

At explore new england, there's a list of "10 things not to miss in New England in April" and I haven't seen done one of them. I don't live in New England which is one excuse-a big one.

The items on the list range from visiting the Newport Mansions in Rhode Island--there are 11-- to skiing. Some events could not happen anywhere but here. Fishing season starts on April 14 and the Kenduskeag Canoe Race in Bangor, Maine can't really take place in Kentucky. Canoeing in Bangor, Maine? In April? All I can wonder about is how cold is it anyway?

And not to beat National Poetry Month to death, but number 10 on the list of "10 things not to miss in New England in April" is to visit Robert Frost territory in New Hampshire and Vermont. The farm where he lived is in New Hampshire, but in the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont where he spent some time, Frost's poems are engraved on plaques fastened to trees along the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail.

The comforting thing about this list is that even though April is past, it's not too late to do some of the things. There's May.

Filed under: Hiking, History, Paddling, Skiing, North America, United States

At explore new england, there's a list of "10 things not to miss in New England in April" and I haven't seen done one of them. I don't live in New England which is one excuse-a big one.

The items on the list range from visiting the Newport Mansions in Rhode Island--there are 11-- to skiing. Some events could not happen anywhere but here. Fishing season starts on April 14 and the Kenduskeag Canoe Race in Bangor, Maine can't really take place in Kentucky. Canoeing in Bangor, Maine? In April? All I can wonder about is how cold is it anyway?

And not to beat National Poetry Month to death, but number 10 on the list of "10 things not to miss in New England in April" is to visit Robert Frost territory in New Hampshire and Vermont. The farm where he lived is in New Hampshire, but in the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont where he spent some time, Frost's poems are engraved on plaques fastened to trees along the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail.

The comforting thing about this list is that even though April is past, it's not too late to do some of the things. There's May.

"And, in the process, smeared a nice couple."

A jury awarded more than $300,000 to a Nashwauk couple after it found the pair had been defamed after being implicated in the theft of a pair of hiking boots. via Grandrapidsmn.com

The days are getting longer and the mercury is finally beginning to climb. For outdoor enthusiasts across Ohio, it's time to knock what's left of last year's mud off those old hiking boots hiding in the corner ... via News Journal

Filed under: Cultures, Hiking, Asia, Japan

A few days ago, I wrote a post about traveling in the Sahara, the favored trip of my adult ESL students. One of the trips that caught my attention was the hiking to Mt. Fuji at night. The intention of this endeavor is to arrive by sunrise.

This travel experience is not a solo endeavor. The article in Budget Traveler mentioned the dozens of people who do the same thing. Mt. Fuji, considered to be sacred, is a bit of a poke from the bottom to the top, 12,388 feet, but it's doable for even unseasoned hikers. Taking one's time and drinking plenty of water are imperative and there are rest stops with shack like buildings scattered along the way where, if need be, you can lie down and rest.

The Budget Traveler article mentioned people buying oxygen bottles to help them breathe towards the top, but another article in the New York Times, a first person account, doesn't say a thing about that. For a quick nuts and bolts overview of the trip up Mt. Fuji, head to Budget Traveler. For an experiential journey, Kathy Glass's article in the New York Times captures the sites and feelings of the assent and descent, and some tidbits of Mt. Fuji history. For example, women weren't allowed to climb the mountain until 1867. Her descriptions of interactions with the landscape and the people she met on the way is a read to savor.

Filed under: Cultures, Hiking, Asia, Japan

A few days ago, I wrote a post about traveling in the Sahara, the favored trip of my adult ESL students. One of the trips that caught my attention was the hiking to Mt. Fuji at night. The intention of this endeavor is to arrive by sunrise.

This travel experience is not a solo endeavor. The article in Budget Traveler mentioned the dozens of people who do the same thing. Mt. Fuji, considered to be sacred, is a bit of a poke from the bottom to the top, 12,388 feet, but it's doable for even unseasoned hikers. Taking one's time and drinking plenty of water are imperative and there are rest stops with shack like buildings scattered along the way where, if need be, you can lie down and rest.

The Budget Traveler article mentioned people buying oxygen bottles to help them breathe towards the top, but another article in the New York Times, a first person account, doesn't say a thing about that. For a quick nuts and bolts overview of the trip up Mt. Fuji, head to Budget Traveler. For an experiential journey, Kathy Glass's article in the New York Times captures the sites and feelings of the assent and descent, and some tidbits of Mt. Fuji history. For example, women weren't allowed to climb the mountain until 1867. Her descriptions of interactions with the landscape and the people she met on the way is a read to savor.

What's a good GPS unit for hiking? I'm fine with a compass and topo map, but would like to track more detailed information like how long it actually took to get from point A to point B, what the elevation ... via Ask MetaFilter

Filed under: Cultures, Hiking, Asia, India, Video

It helps to know French for the narration, but in this lovely video of trekking in Ladakh, India, your eyesight is really enough to enjoy the viewing. The music and the sounds of the wind create something exquisite. If you're feeling like life is spinning fast, chblanchard's video posted on YouTube is one way to calm down.

Trekking in Ladakh starts picking up towards the end of May and on through the summer. While it helps to be in shape, someone in decent health can trek without too much trouble as long as pacing and drinking A LOT of water are part of the trekking equation. Drinking water prevents the effects of high altitudes.

Filed under: Cultures, Hiking, Asia, India, Video

It helps to know French for the narration, but in this lovely video of trekking in Ladakh, India, your eyesight is really enough to enjoy the viewing. The music and the sounds of the wind create something exquisite. If you're feeling like life is spinning fast, chblanchard's video posted on YouTube is one way to calm down.

Trekking in Ladakh starts picking up towards the end of May and on through the summer. While it helps to be in shape, someone in decent health can trek without too much trouble as long as pacing and drinking A LOT of water are part of the trekking equation. Drinking water prevents the effects of high altitudes.