If there’s one thing about guidebooks that I dislike, it’s that the maps are usually really
really bad. If you want a topo or a decent trail map, you almost inevitably have to drop by your nearby REI or EMS
or mountain store. Well, no longer. Now with a site called Trails.com, you can
subscribe and have access to what the site purports is 30,000 trail descriptions and topo maps. Of course, less and
less on the Web can be had for free these days, and many will find the $49.95 annual fee steeper than the Hillary
step. In fact, I think it’s about $20 too much. But if you climb and hike a lot and are also fed up with the lousy
quality of maps available in most books, it might be worth it. .
Backpackers Who Never Return
Damn sad. This story talks a
little bit about the dangers and the tragedy of travel. Most of the deaths are abductions or random acts of violence.
Some are orchestrated by groups who target foreigners and often seek cash either from the victims themselves or in
extortion. Tihs is a big probelm in places like Columbia. Then there are stories like that of 19-year-old
David Pleydell-Bouverie was mauled to death by a pride of lions
while on safari in Zimbabwe in August 1999. What a way to go.
Southeast Asia on a Shoestring
Citing available flights and ample new opportunities for adventure,
this article is very bullish on
travel to Southeast Asia. I am hardcore bullish on going there anytime and anyplace as well, since I love it so
much, but they run the numbers and show that the dollar gets you a lot these days. So if you can find yourself a cheap
flight, perhaps using the new “dream team” service. Go for
it.
Navigating the Mahoosuc Notch
A nice article on hiking the
Appalachian Trail, with a
focus on the difficlties of Maine’s Mahoosuc Notch, a notoriously difficult stretch of the trail. What is the
Notch you ask?:
Mahoosuc Notch is a narrow gorge between Fulling Mill and Mahoosuc mountains. The trail travels through a
boulder-filled obstacle course that hikers scramble over, squeeze between and slide down. In several places the
jumble of boulders creates caves where hikers must crawl on hands and knees, removing backpacks to squeeze through
narrow passageways.
I’ve never been on the trail that far north, but I’d love to get up there. Ever since reading Bill Bryson’s
A Walk in the Woods, I’ve had a
desire to do the whole damn thing. Sadly, such will likely have to wait until spring.
Praise for Patagonia
As we slide sweetly into winter, it is worth remembering that the solstice ushers in the coming of summer in the
southern hemisphere. So if you have some spare frequent flier miles or moola around (sell off those Google shares), I
suggest taking a trip to South America. And one place in particular that I recommend is
Patagonia. I took a trip down there about 7
years ago and hiked through Torres del Paine National Park, and let me tell you, there are few places as grand.
Thinking about how much I’d like to go down there again, I came upon this trip being offered by the engaged folks at Mountain Sobek. If you can, go. Now. It is honestly one of the world’s great places.