Hiking In The Great Walks In New Zealand
- At March 08, 2017
- By Iala Jaggs
- In hikes
1
Hiking just one of New Zealand’s Great Walks will give you an amazing feeling of peace and self-confidence. But tramping all 9 of the Great Walks, well, you will have that ultimate once in a lifetime experience of New Zealand’s backcountry!
THE 9 GREAT WALKS OF NEW ZEALAND
It’s difficult to imagine how so many different landscapes can be in one country. In the North Island there are volcanoes, native rainforest bush and mighty long rivers with steep valley sides. Then the South Island takes us into beech forest territory, paradise beaches, secluded tussock lands, and onto majestic mountains… Read more at BackpackerGuide.nz
In total, New Zealand has nine Great Walks, with three on the North Island, five on the South Island, and one on Stewart Island. These Great Walks has some of New Zealand’s most awesome and iconic scenery. These walks are highly-maintained and managed by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, with lots of signage, rangers on duty and DOC campsites.
New Zealand’s Great Walks
Averaging 3–4 days in duration, the Great Walks can be completed solo or with a guide. Guides are expensive but provide local knowledge, cushier private huts, tastier meals (and drinks), transportation, and will help lighten your load. Make sure to plan ahead: the DOC limits the number of hikers on the Great Walks with a strict permit system. Some of the most popular hikes, such as the… Read the original article at witch Back Travel
New Zealand’s Great Walks in Virtual Reality (VR)
View five of New Zealand’s Great Walks through a Google Cardboard or equivalent mobile virtual reality headset. See the stunning scenery in a 360 degree view to truly appreciate what these tracks offer. Set to the highest quality for the best experience… Watch here
Arizona’s Picacho Peak Through Hunter Trail
- At March 01, 2017
- By Iala Jaggs
- In hikes
- 1
In the middle of Tucson and Phoenix, the mysterious Picacho Peak lies jutting out in the middle of the desert. Picacho Peak is one of those mountains that you should hike at least once in your lifetime! This is a very unique and different trail with handrails and cables built by boy scouts from a long time ago.
Hunter Trail – Picacho Peak, AZ
The first section takes you up steep switchbacks to the saddle. When in season a beautiful wildflower is witnessed at the beginning of the trail. February through early April offers the best rewards. Keep an eye on triplogs and… Read more at HikeArizona.com
Picacho Peak is not for the weak of heart. Even though it’s just a 4-mile hike, this hike will definitely wear you out to the bone. A lot of experienced hikers tried hiking Picacho Peak and some of the called it the “Hell Hike”.
Picacho Peak Hike, a.k.a. Hell Hike
My hiking partner and I took the Hunter Trail to the Sunset Vista Trail that took us to the top. Mile One is a relatively steep climb (similar to Piestawa’s Summit trail) and we certainly got our cardio going as we scooted up to the saddle. Note the sign describes the trail as “primitive.” We really should have taken that more seriously… Read more at Phoenix New Times
Picacho Peak State Park, AZ * 12/07/16
Come along with me as I get out of the truck in Picacho, AZ and hike up Picacho Peak. It’s quite a ride from the truck stop across the street over rolling hills up to the trail head, but the view is worth all the hard work… Watch here
Hiking The Peralta Trail to Fremont Saddle in Phoenix, Arizona
- At February 22, 2017
- By Iala Jaggs
- In hikes
- 1
Have time for some hiking in Arizona? If you’re not yet sure where to hike, try driving up to Peralta trailhead. It is close to Mesa, Arizona.
Peralta Trail #102 to Fremont Saddle, Phoenix
It was a beautiful day climbing up and along a creek. Here’s the vista on one side… See more at BestHike.com
Hiking up to Peralta Canyon Trail in the Superstition Wilderness can be the longest 2-mile trail that you will ever trek. The hike is a non-stop uphill slog through the slickrock chutes and desert scrub that begins right after leaving the trailhead and doesn’t stop until the trail summits at the 2-mile point on Fremont Saddle.
Arizona hike: Peralta Trail, Superstition Wilderness
Here, up-close views of Weavers Needle — the area’s most recognizable pillar of rock — deliver a generous return on investment for the sweaty haul. The saddle is a popular place to take a break and decide whether to continue hiking downhill another 2.6 miles to the end of the… Read more at AzCentral.com
Hiking on Peralta Trail, Superstition Mountains, Arizona, USA
Hiking Rattlesnake Canyon In New Mexico
- At February 15, 2017
- By Iala Jaggs
- In hikes, hiking
- 1
Rattlesnake Canyon is the highest point of the hike. The start of the hike is down into a creek bed, crossing the creek and then hiking back up to a high path on the edge of the canyon. Then about half-mile hike, the hiking trail goes vertically down through a bunch of rock stairs until you reach the canyon’s floor once again.
Rattlesnake Canyon (Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM)
Staying on the trail isn’t too hard. It’s a pretty well-defined trail, defined enough that even Knox knew which way to go as he ran ahead. There are also rock cairns of various sizes along that trail marking where you should go. Save some energy because you’ll have to go back up those two vertical areas when you come back out. Even though they have steps built in, it’ll get your heart rate up. Overall… Read more at 160K
Slot canyons are narrow canyons, like a crevice, that results from rushing water capitalizing on a fissure in another rock formation. Over the years, the liquid carves a beautiful canyon, wider at the top than at the canyon’s lower bed. These slot canyons are found most often in dry places, like areas in New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and California.
A hiker’s sampler of the Southwest’s slot canyons
The Southwest has so many slot canyons — the number is said to be more than 1,000 — that you could get a crick in your neck exploring this bounty. (You’ll spend a lot of time looking up at the sliver of light that plays off the narrow walls.)… Read more at Los Angeles Times
Zebra and Tunnel Slot Canyons Escalante, Utah
Zebra and Tunnel Slot Canyons in Escalante, Utah are unique. The banding in the sandstone in Zebra is not like many other slots. The colors are different and nature’s design is one of a kind. Although the canyon is very short it has a lot to offer to the… Watch here
Choosing The Best Fleece Jacket For Hiking
- At February 08, 2017
- By Iala Jaggs
- In hiking
- 1
A fleece jacket is one of the essential ear that comes in handy especially during hiking. But with a lot of different manufacturers and materials to choose from, how do we pick the fleece jacket that suits us the best?
FLEECE JACKETS 101
Have you ever wondered how to find the best fleece jacket to suit your lifestyle? Maybe you live in a cold climate and could use some warmth or only need a specialized one just for outdoor sports. Whatever the reason, a fleece jacket is an essential layer of clothing that comes in handy for… Read more at Adventure Junkies
In the past years, there are a lot of significant advances and technology in features like flame resistance, water resistance, and windproof features. These features have improved the quality of fleece jackets. Whether you prefer a lightweight fleece jacket or a sturdy one to protect you from all the elements during during your hike.
7 Features You Should Look for in a Fleece Jacket
While buyers will need to tailor their search to their specific needs, there are seven features that most women will want to look for in a fleece jacket. These seven key features are material and weight, breathability, water resistance, windproof layers, a snug collar and… Read more at Ebay.com
Fleeces and Softshells | Best value: Patagonia R1 Full-Zip Jacket
Walk magazine’s gear expert, Simon Powell, explains why the R1 fleece jacket from Patagonia was his ‘best value’ pick from our round-up of the top mid-layers for hillwalking… Watch here
