Gaia GPS Premium and Outside
I’ve had a free Gaia account since 2018 — but have used, instead, a paid AllTrails account as it seemed to be better in my home region.
But with Gaia Premium and an Outside bundle at 60% off, I’ll compare these two hiking apps again for the coming year.
I’ll download both for offline use, and compare.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
2024 West Coast Trail: Reservations.
The West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, Canada is our #1 hike in the world.
It’s not easy to get a permit.
Reservations can be made for the coming summer at 8 a.m. PST January 22, 2024.
Be online with one or more devices and be ready to apply as quickly as possible. With luck, you’ll get on to the wait list.
Details on the Parks Canada West Coast Trail: Reservations page.
We have a HOW TO SURVIVE THE WEST COAST TRAIL playlist on YouTube. It includes all potential hazards. 
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Indonesia Volcano Hiking VIDEO
My latest experiment in video editing is software called Audio Sound Design.
Not inexpensive, but I did get 50% off a perpetual license during Black Friday.
Audio Design Desk comes with 70,000 royalty free sounds, loops and music cues.
Adding them to your video is a breeze. All audio in this short edit of stock video was added with the software.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Colorado Trail in 6 Minutes
This video is a short montage that summarizes the highlights of the Colorado Trail, which allows you to have a good idea of what you will see, hoping that it gives you the taste to hike it in section or in full! …
Challenge yourself with exhilarating hikes, heart-pumping mountain biking sessions, or test your endurance by backpacking along the trail’s magnificent 500-mile length.
•Time Needed to complete the whole CT: 29 days
•Highest Elevation: 13,334 ft. – Coney Summit
•Lowest Elevation: 5,520 ft. – Waterton Canyon
•Elevation Gain (approx.): 89,000 ft.
– Ratatrail
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Mountain Warehouse Summit II Mens Baselayer T-Shirt
This is the t-shirt I wear most often the past couple of years.
Great price. IF you watch for a sale.
CAD $39.19 (USD $28.50) in 2023.
It’s only a Polyester & Wool blend — but seems to stay relatively odour free. For days.
Light weight. Doesn’t wrinkle in the backpack. Easy to wash. Very durable.
For that price, it can’t be beat.
I asked Perplexity AI.
A better list than I expected to get from Artificial Intelligence:
A mixed assortment, of course. It’s difficult to compare an easy day hike like the Kjeragbolten to the Greater Patagonian Trail.
Moab is a fantastic jumping off point for outdoor adventure, a special mecca for crack climbing.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
But the “strip” can be loud, ugly, hot and aggravating. Once you get away from the highway, the town’s much prettier. They have a good library and great bike trails.
Moab … in eastern Utah … is 233 miles (374 km) southeast of Salt Lake City and 354 miles (569 km) west of Denver, Colorado …
The population was 4,779 at the 2000 census. … Moab hosts a large number of tourists every year, mostly visitors of the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, which are located close by. The town is also a popular base for mountain bikers who come to ride the extensive network of trails including the famed Slickrock Trail …
More interesting photos tagged Moab, Utah.
Our favourite hikes out of Moab are:
• Chesler Park
• Devil’s Garden
• Delicate Arch
• Syncline Loop
• Upper Salt Creek
• Murphy Basin
• Gooseberry-Dogleg Loop
There are many, many more. This is Edward Abbey country.
Click through for more “best hikes” in the S.W. USA.
Hike here Spring and Fall. It’s HOT in the summer.
My gear gurus — Dave and Kraig — consistently list Matador one of their favourite gear companies.
The Matador Freerain22 is an amazing pack at only 300g (10.6oz).
I’d call it water resistant, not submersible. It’s not a dry bag.
Not inexpensive (about $100), I bought the Freerain to replace my last Matador packable which I had used for hundreds of days of travel. Incredibly durable and useful.
It’s my second pack ➙ the one I use for a short day hike, picking up groceries, shopping, etc.
I don’t need any more frame or suspension for short day hikes. I typically push an extra layer down towards the lumbar portion of the bag — and that’s plenty of padding.
Click PLAY or watch the Matador video on YouTube.
Read the Packhacker detailed review.
Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles
I’d hiked out of Madonna di Campiglio in 2009. Loved it.
The Dolomites are one of our top 10 hiking regions of the world..
Mid-June 2023 I returned, wanting — this time — to do some of the famed via ferrata routes there.
Sadly, the cablecars going up high had not started yet. In fact, Madonna di Campiglio doesn’t really get going 100% for summer hiking until the end of June.
Instead, I did the most popular lower level day hike as it was the best available the one day I ended up staying.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I followed this route recommended on AllTrails:
5 Laghi: Ritort – Lambin – Gelato – Serodoli – Nambino
(AKA Giro dei cinque laghi)
This shorter (less expensive) Spinale cable car was running up from town. You loop 5 lakes in about 4-5 hours.
LAKES !
When the sun comes out, it’s lovely and warm in the Dolomites.
BUT both times I’ve hiked here, I’ve had afternoon rain almost every day — and sometimes lightning storms. Be prepared for bad weather.
I actually opted to hike all the way down past a sixth lake ( Nambino) — but would recommend the cable car both ways instead.
The hike was better than expected. A good workout with the next lake to look forward to around every corner.
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