Hole in the Wall, a short day hike, is a is fast becoming a major attraction for the Vancouver Island community.

The hole is all that remains of a decades old water line.

Check in at the Port Alberni Visitor Centre for directions.

Parking is difficult though the trail itself is only an easy 1.3km return walk.

Rather than following the normal route as posted on AllTrails Port Alberni Hole in the Wall, I walked instead from an industrial park end of Sherwood Road.

Definitely muddier and less traveled, I did find it interesting. Nobody else parked there.

Here are the rough trails as shown on Maps.me.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse of my hike on YouTube.

Nanga Parbat is the 9th highest mountain.

The Mountain Company is offering a new guided trip circumambulating the massif summer 2022.

Looks great.

High point is Mazeno La 5400m.

Details.

The Everest Base Camp via 3 Passes is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute introduction on YouTube.

Base Camp / 3 Passes

Everyone wants to hike to Everest Base Camp (5,320m / 17,450ft). The 3 Passes route is the most epic.

Based on weather and fitness, you can do one or more passes as well as peaks like Kala Pattar (5,545m) that don’t require a permit.

AT A GLANCE

• majority of hikers in the Everest region hire a guide, porter(s) and/or pack animal(s) but it’s fairly easy to do independently
• guided trekkers stay in lodges, or sprawling tent encampments

• October to November best months
• beginning of March to mid-May next best

• 16-18 days minimum for 3 Passes. 21 days would allow for rest / illness / sidetrip / and other unanticipated delays.
• if you don’t have time, it’s recommended 14 days just to get to Base Camp and back safely.
• generally easy hiking on good trails with a light pack. Some very challenging, potentially dangerous sections, if you cross any of the 3 Passes
• on the main trails buy food as you go and stay in simple “lodges”
• Everest trails are not expensive, but many spend more than they anticipate on luxuries
• be clear — you might have to QUIT if by bad luck or rushed ascent you suffer altitude sickness (Acute Mountain Sickness or AMS).
• many suffer respiratory problems. And fatigue.

Read more on our Everest Base Camp / 3 Passes information page.

BestHike editor Rick McCharles

I applied online during the first few minutes applications opened for sections 500 miles or longer.

BUT I reckon there’s less than a 50% chance I’ll actually get on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2021:

• could be cancelled due to COVID, as in 2020
• travel could be impossible due to COVID
• forest fires are often an issue
• might decide travel is unethical in 2021

BUT hope for the best, plan for the worst.

I’m hoping for at least 500 miles.

Starting mile 702 – Kennedy Meadows – starting July 10th heading north towards the Oregon border.

That’s good timing for the John Muir Trail, the best section of the PCT.

I watched Tim Seymour‘s excellent John Muir Trail northbound video for tips on how to get started on my way up to Whitney.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The 2020/2021 Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival is now available online.

Cost US $15 for each of 2 hours of film.

Buy both for US $28.

Details.

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.