Category: hiking

arrived Johannesburg

On By Rick McIn hiking, travelLeave a comment

My host Derick Sholtz, owner and coach at Vision Gymnastics, picked me up at the airport after 35hrs or so in transit on Turkish Airlines.

(I contacted Turkish Airlines to inform how they had bungled the code share leg out of Seattle.)

After dropping by the gym to say hello to everyone, Derick dropped me at a lovely African themed accommodation called Didiloni.

P1270008

I stayed in Warthog Hut.

P1270012

I’m off via Baz Bus for 2wks hiking in the Drakensberg mountains. Back to the big city (8 million) for the month of February, volunteering.

JoBurg has the best weather in the world.

My biggest worry in South Africa is not crime … but possible vitamin D overdose. 🙂

P1270009

en route to South Africa

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, hiking, travelLeave a comment

today I fly,
the reason why

weather JoBurg

I spent 3 weeks in South Africa last year. And I’m going back to southern Africa for at least 6 weeks this time. Hiking. And as a Gymnastics volunteer.

I’ll be based out of JoBurg. Visiting Lesotho and Mozambique.

Johannesburg claims the best climate in the world. 🙂

Work or Play?

On By Rick McIn about Rick, books, hiking, philosophyLeave a comment

Kelley Durbin-Williams linked to this great truth:

“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him, he is always doing both.”

~ James Michener

West Coast Trail
West Coast Trail

Pokhara, Nepal

On By Rick McIn hiking, travel1 Comment

14yrs ago I loved Pokhara.

My favourite mountain in the world is Fishtail, a stunning sight from town. If haze and pollution don’t obscure the view.

P1260659

In 2013, Pokhara is bigger. Busier.

The tourist strip of Lakeside is not as ugly as Thamel in Kathmandu, but it’s still ugly. The same 14 kinds of businesses endlessly repeated.

The lake itself is pretty.

P1260663

P1260672

P1260671

Pokhara … is the third largest city of Nepal after Kathmandu and Biratnagar respectively with … a population of 264,991 … situated about 200 km west of the capital Kathmandu.

… Three out of the ten highest mountains in the world — Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I and Manaslu — are situated within 30 miles (linear distance) of the city, so that the northern skyline of the city offers a very close view of the Himalayas. …

… the city is also a base for trekkers undertaking the Annapurna Circuit …

… There are two 5-star hotels and approximately 305 other hotels that includes five 3-star, fifteen 2-star and non-star hotels in the city. …

Adventure sports such as base jumping, paragliding, canyoning, rock climbing, etc. are targeted towards tourists. …

P1260667

On the other hand, after 17 days in-a-row on the trail, it was glorious to get back to civilization.

I ate nearly every meal at Lemon Tree. Fantastic!

I stayed a Phil’s Inn for $9 / night. Hot showers. Comfortable. And quiet. Phil, a lay Christian preacher, is a terrific host.

In November 2013 flights Pokhara to Kathmandu were $106. The luxury bus $20.

P1260680

That includes a terrific all-you-can-eat buffet en route at this resort.

P1260687

Take the bus, if you can.

P1260660

see my Pokhara pics & a few of the bus ride back to Kathmandu

gone trekking …

On By Rick McIn hiking, travelLeave a comment

UPDATE: All is well on the Manasulu so far. Two more days until we cross the BIG pass. Mike and I are trekking with a couple from Alaska and a couple from Colorado.

Manasulu Circuit with Mike Howarth (UK).

Mostly offline until about Nov 20th.

Kathmandu

delayed in Nepal

On By Rick McIn government, hiking, travelLeave a comment

We’d planned to start trekking the Manasul Circuit (11 days) on Nov. 4th at latest.

Unfortunately government offices are closed for 3 days due to National holidays in Nepal.

tihar_banner_en

Even the dogs are off work.

dog Nepal

The city is lit up like Christmas in Canada.

pro_ktm_deepwali

So … our new start date is Nov 7th.

We’re doing the lightest, fastest trek allowed under Nepali law. Two hikers, one guide. Total cost is about $500ea.

The big news in Nepal is the upcoming election:

As the country goes to the polls on November 19, tussles among contesting political parties and election candidates could pose a bigger security threat than underground outfits or poll-opposing parties in the central Tarai, police have said. …

Clash among candidates worries cops

We’ll likely still be in the mountains during the election.

China and India …

On By Rick McIn economics, friends, good news, government, hiking, things getting betterLeave a comment

China and India sounded a new optimistic tone in their relationship … as they signed an agreement to boost meetings between their militaries to avoid any repeat of this year’s tense standoff along their disputed Himalayan border.

The accord followed a meeting in Beijing between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who also had trade ties on the agenda as India seeks to gain greater access to Chinese markets and readjust a trade balance tilted heavily toward China. …

China, India Sign Border Cooperation Agreement

India China

Rishikesh Adventure Sports

On By Rick McIn health & fitness, hiking, travel, travel IndiaLeave a comment

For centuries a Holy city, Rishikesh, India is today branding itself as an outdoor Adventure Sports centre. Especially for white water rafting. The Ganges here offers medium to rough rapids rated class 3 and class 4.

Raft Ganges

Bungee jumping was recently introduced, the only leap in India.

I’m here for trekking. But the trekking guides are NOT busy though it’s still high season.

My contact at Red Chili Adventures blames it on the Spring flooding which damaged many of the mountain roads. You can still see the damage here in Rishikesh.

June 2013, Rishikesh
June 2013, Rishikesh

In any case, I hope to survive a 9hr drive over those damaged roads tomorrow. En route to the Kuari Trek. Vistas of Nanda Devi.

I hear most of the flood damage has been cleaned up. In Rishkesh, it’s ongoing.

Sadhu River

damage Ganges

More Rishikesh photos.

32 Parents Who Nailed It On Halloween

On By Rick McIn hiking, travel, travel IndiaLeave a comment

Looking for Halloween costume inspiration?

Walt and Jesse

see more photos on Buzzfeed

It’s Durga Purja (Dasain) where I’m at, celebrated October 11-15th this year.

… Durga Puja festival marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the evil buffalo demon Mahishasura. Thus, Durga Puja festival epitomizes the victory of Good over Evil. …

Durga

The Goddess requires blood sacrifice. I notice the goats of Dehradun, India are eating well in the days leading up to the Festival.

I’m here getting organized to head up into the Himalaya.