Category: hiking

Expedition Idaho Race

On By Rick McIn health & fitness, hiking1 Comment

I’m down in Kellogg, Idaho volunteering for a week long Adventure Race.

Here are racers from around the world, still clean and happy at the START …

They’ll race from Sunday 10am until the following Saturday night, finishing at a Blues and Beer Fest. Nearly a full week on bike, paddle and feet.

Check out our website. (I’m working on the BLOG portion.)

my new Out There AS-1 backpack

On By Rick McIn hiking, product endorsements1 Comment

$189 is the cost of the best all-around adventure pack on the market right now.

I got mine yesterday from Mike Kloser himself. He packed it for me. Adjusted it for me. … And then made me chase him around the mountains of north Idaho for 12hrs continuous to test it.

The pack did great. I’m a wee bit exhausted.

Mike was testing 40 miles of the 400 mile Expedition Idaho Race coming up in a couple of weeks. I tagged along.

There are too many features to list. Watch the video on the site if you might be interested in getting one for yourself.

For pure hiking I’ll stick with my minimalist Granite Gear inflatable frame pack, but for any trip requiring “toys”, I’ll be using the AS-1.

survived Corsica’s GR 20 …

On By Rick McIn hiking, travel6 Comments

I grossly underestimated the difficulty of “Europe’s toughest trek“, the 180km long GR 20.

The second night was my low point, both hamstrings cramped. … I thought I’d need to quit, following two other hikers who decided to limp out due to blisters.

But each day I got stronger, the pack lighter. I ended up doing the tougher ‘half’ of the total route over 6 challenging days.

The last day was a long scramble to the summit of Monte d’Oro.

That was FUN. Perfect weather.

Less fun, from there (7837ft / 2389m) … it’s about 1400m straight down to the narrow gauge railway line at Vizzavona, where I made my escape.

That’s my toughest hike ever, by far.

… Rick offline hiking Corsica

On By Rick McIn hiking, travel2 Comments

The GR 20 is about 180km long.

The walk for most people takes around 15 days. I’m hoping to finish in 8 or 9 nights.

It’s a busy track this late in June, alpine huts and hot meals available. The first few days, including the “Cirque de la Solitude”, are the most intensely scenic. Unfortunately that’s when my pack will be heaviest. 🙂

Sarkozy willin’ and the ferry don’t sink, I’ll start trekking Sunday afternoon, June 26th.

touring Iclandic fjords …

On By Rick McIn hiking, travelLeave a comment

Blue sky in the sunshine destination of Iceland today.

I can see the Arctic Circle from where I slept outside under the stars.

I’m supposed to be circumnavigating the island by rent-a-car, but can’t seem to get out of these gorgeous NW fjords