Category: hiking

Nov 2nd, 2014

On By Rick McIn books, hiking, travel2 Comments

I spent my 57th birthday tenting in a stone Yak shack at 4110m, close to the Tibet border in Nepal.

Langtang campsite

Next morning I scrambled up that gap towards Tilman’s Pass.

During the long, cold night cocooned in down and nylon, I listened to one of my favourite authors, Peter Matthiessen, read one of my favourite books, The Snow Leopard.

It’s his classic philosophical account of a November 1973 Nepal trek to Shey Gompa, Crystal Mountain. A spiritual journey.

If you wonder why I keep returning to Nepal, read Snow Leopard. Matthiessen is most eloquent on the joys and challenges.

happy Diwali

On By Rick McIn hiking, travelLeave a comment

Diwali also known as Deepavali and the “festival of lights“, is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn every year.

The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair.

The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five day period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. …

Tonight. 🙂

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In Nepal, Diwali is known as “Tihar” or “Swanti” …

I was in Nepal last year for Tihar, and I’m back for another month this year. There’s no better place for me in November than the Himalaya.

click for more festival photos
click for more festival photos

The mainstream media news reports on the Nepal snowstorm disaster, by the way, are not accurate. Click over to wikipedia for ongoing updates and an a more objective overview of the tragedy.

I’ll be careful up there, as I was last year on the Annapurna, just after a snow storm. 🙂

Nanning China in September

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, hiking, travelLeave a comment

UPDATE: arrived Nanning – 28 hours in transit:

4am Canada …
car to Nanaimo
ferry to Vancouver
bus & train to YVR airport
flight to Guangzhou
flight to Nanning
courtesy car to official hotel
taxi to my hostel
… midnight China time

I’m staying at the Green Forest hostel. Facebook and twitter are blocked but my websites are working.

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I fly today out of Vancouver.  Arrive Nanning Sept 25th for the World Gymnastics Championships.

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Nanning is known as the “Green City” because of its abundance of lush tropical foliage. …

Nanning has a warm, monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate …

Nanning is close to scenic Guilin, with its world famous hillscape, northern and western Guangxi and its minority villages …

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I’ll exit by train to Vietnam en route to Nepal. Hiking in both those nations.

Here’s my post just prior to my 1st trip to China Aug. 1998 – have you eaten?

farewell Port Townsend

On By Rick McIn cycling, friends, gymnastics, hiking, travelLeave a comment

I had another wonderful visit hosted by Doug and Diana Davis.

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I was there finishing final videotaping of Gymnastics Games. They should be released SOON. 🙂

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Port Townsend is for outdoor adventure. I spent a lot of time on Doug’s excellent road bike.

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Doug just invested in a company producing Elf bicycles in the USA.

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I had one issue. An ingrown nail blew up. For some days I considered fleeing to the socialized Health Care of Canada.

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It quickly healed after we released the pus. A-OK now.

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Farewell PT. I should be back after New Years. 🙂

Expedition Idaho Adventure Race

On By Rick McIn cycling, friends, health & fitness, hikingLeave a comment

7-days of continuous physical and mental challenge, almost no sleep, bad food, questionable water. Who invented this sport? 🙂

To stagger the start of Expedition Idaho, Race Director Dave Adlard, set a unique prologue.

Teams had to climb the toughest waterslide, starting over if anyone slipped.

If successful, they then took a victory lap … running the Lazy River. Backwards. 🙂

This is even tougher than it looks.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Gymnastics sport scientist Jeni McNeal is running this race.

Good luck.