Let me introduce some of my interests and limitations. I am not a professional writer on the Camino de Santiago nor an athlete; I am an amateur (in the original sense of the word). Overtime I hope that I've become a bit of a connoisseur. These last few years it has become almost an obsession and I have spent many leisure hours reading about Compostela. Walking is my physical activity of choice and hiking is my favorite outdoor activity.
Santiago de Compostela: Rhéaume's account continues here
Munro Film Production Footage from James Urquhart on Vimeo.
More info on climbing the Munros in Scotland
It’s two a.m. when a man’s voice announces wakeup throughout the mountain hut. One by one, the sardine-squeezed sleeping bags begin to wiggle and unzip. Headlamps turn on and people start shuffling.
Outside, we hear the sound of wind and rain beating against the thin walls of the mountain hut. My neighbour is discouraged. She complains that she couldn’t sleep last night. The altitude air is too thin, the hut too cold and too noisy with snorers. A quick peak through the window reveals that the darkness outside is windy, rainy and freezing cold. There will be no sunrise, she decides, and she goes back to sleep vanquished.
Read more about hiking up Mount Fuji
In most people’s minds, Japan invokes images of crowded supermetropolises bustling with jam-packed subways, neon-drenched electronic districts and futuristic travel systems. Indeed, Japan has a highly urbanized population and some of the world’s largest cities. To visit Japan during the August high season, when the whole country grinds to a halt for the annual Obon vacation, is to suffer the stifling heat of this country’s hottest month in the suffocating pressure of the summer crowds. Or so goes popular wisdom.
But as large as Japan’s 128 million strong population may be, most of it is concentrated in a small portion of the country, leaving vast mountainous areas wild and untouched by urbanism. A prime example is Yakushima.
I am one of those people who don't take holidays, and yet complains about that very fact constantly to anyone whithin earshot. Mostly because I don't like leaving my shop behind, but also because I enjoy complaining. My business partners told me they had had enough and so it was decided for me- holidays before I implode into an intergalactic ball of nothingness.
Like all good holidays I decided to travel with my good friend's wife. In the heat of the midday sun we placed Montreal firmly in our rearview mirror. Being a rare breed of flying peacock, Lara and I need to spread our wings, and to do so we decided to head down to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. About flying peacocks, you need to know they are indecisive. During our heated debates about party invitations, and well on our way to beautiful New Hampshire we had an about-face and realized that the soothing waters of Maine would do our fragile souls some (more) profound healing.
Read on about Mark's holidays by clicking here
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. But sometimes even the toughest boots give up at some time. Reflections on leather boots.
Click here to read more about the trek through Jasper National Park
Christian "The Crusher" Letendre is back from his hike through the Appalachian Trail. We caught up with him to talk about his experience. And what happened to his beard.
Click here to get his thoughts and impressions on hiking the Appalachian Trail
Jakob and Mona, although they've got loads of hiking experience, encounter a new problem. They also decide to make an MVP of the day.
Click here to read about the long way through Jasper National Park
I did tell you that I keep my promises, right?! And here we go: this day had a lot of what you can expect on a hike. The good moments and the bad moments.
One of the bad moments definitely was the rain during the night. We packed the stuff and planned to have breakfast later at the waterfall. I had to strap the fly sheet on the outside of my backpack – with no chance of drying during the day. It hadn’t looked like the weather was going to be better. We left the camp and were curious of what we will see today. The first major highlight was the Snake Indian Falls. And I can tell you. It is absolutely magnificent.
Click here to read on about Jakob, Mona and Jasper National Park
We got up at 7:30 and enjoyed a wonderful morning, while we packed our stuff and had a nice breakfast. Alex had left already so we were just the two of us. The trail continued on a very unspectacular unused ATV road. We were a little bit disappointed but had hope, ‘cause we will be on the trail for a couple more days. I can tell you this hike is nothing for a hiking gourmet. No view but woods. No hiking trail but an ATV road. No elevation but long flat straight.
Read more about the second day in Jasper National Park
On our first day, Alex, a guy from Montreal joined us. Mona and I enjoyed the company of Alex very much. Not because he is funny, but he had driven us to the trailhead.
Just kidding.
Read more about the first day in Jasper National Park
I hate to disappoint some of you, but I did not complete the trail naked, eating twigs and berries. Here's the gear I used for my West Coast Trail fun.
Read on about the gear Jean-Yves used on the West Coast Trail
Have you smelled the woods, eaten lunch with bears, heard the hauling of wolves lately? If not, come with us on a long distance backcountry hike in Jasper Nationalpark! I promise a true hiking experience. And I keep my promises. Promise. Now that you are in the team I should introduce our small hiking party. We - that is Mona, 28, my girlfriend, just finished university and me, mostly I answer to the name of Jakob, 26. And so far you missed a little bit, because we started our adventure six weeks ago in Denali National Park, Alaska. We hiked, canoed, hitch-hiked and took a ferry on our way to Jasper National Park in Alberta. But now you are here. This is our story.
Read more Jasper National Park: The long way through
My West Coast Trail (WCT) experience started with as a rather impulsive decision. I had been in Victoria to spend a week sailing in with my friend in the gulf islands (an amazing experience where wildlife –whales, dolphins, seals, otters, bald eagles, wild deer etc… met awe-strikingly beautiful coastal landscapes). Since we’d been anchoring in bays and camping on random islands, I had most of my lightweight gear with me, but I had given up my early hopes to hike the trail for want of time –I had only four days between the planned return from sailing and my flight home. But when we sailed in to Victoria a day early, I quickly did the math and decided that I could do the trail in three days (probably a foolish conclusion), bought a bus ticket and hopped on the trail the next morning.
Read more about Jean-Yves and the West Coast Trail
Stretching 85 kilometers along the west coast of Vancouver Island, the West Coast Trail stands at the edge of the world. Snaking along the jagged contour of a hostile shore where the endless sea batters relentlessly the sharp rocks rising from its depth, this trail literally marks end of land and the western limit of the pangean coast. There are no roads crossing this trail, no village, no service station, just mile after mile of the jaw-dropping rugged beauty of the Pacific Rim National Park.
Originally dubbed the Dominion Life Saving Trail, it was first built in 1907 as a way for rescuers to reach survivors of the far-too-frequent shipwrecks of the treacherous western coast. Hundreds of people have been victimized in the countless wrecks that have marred this coast, the remains of some of which can still be seen from the trail. Today, satellite navigation and modern SAR has rendered the narrow trail obsolete as a lifesaving medium, and it has been recycled as one of Canada’s most beautiful national parks.
Read more about Jean-Yves's overview of the West Coast Trail
Juan Altitude and the Altitude-blog.com team take you on a discovery tour of Montreal's hidden gems. Third stop: Dic Ann's, Montreal's answer to cookie cutter burger joints. Enjoy! Altitude Blog: altitude-blog.com Dic Ann's: www.dicanns.ca
Juan Altitude and the Altitude-blog.com team take you on a discovery tour of Montreal's hidden gems. Second stop: Dépanneure Peluso the beer valhalla in the Plateau. Enjoy! Altitude Blog: altitude-blog.com Dépanneur Peluso: depanneurpeluso.com
Juan Altitude and the Altitude-blog.com team take you on a discovery tour of Montreal's hidden gems. First stop: Café Pavé in Old Montréal. Enjoy! Altitude Blog: altitude-blog.com Café Pavé: www.cafepave.com
Juan Altitude and the Altitude-blog.com team take you on a discovery tour of Montreal's hidden gems. First stop: Café Pavé in Old Montréal. Enjoy! Altitude Blog: altitude-blog.com Café Pavé: www.cafepave.com See the HD version here www.youtube.com
The North Face McMurdo: For serious warmth in serious cold. To purchase: bit.ly For more info: altitude-blog.com
