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Last Updated on Tuesday, 22 December 2009 09:19
Taming the Mighty Mississippi... in a Canoe, USA
The muddy waters of the Mississippi River run wild and furious, forever changing, continually carving their own route from the north to their southern dumping grounds in the Gulf of Mexico. Despite manâs attempts to straighten her out with the hopes of making tug boat trails easier to navigate and flood waters fewer, she, a typical female, only becomes turbulent and argumentative when forced to change her ways, according to John Ruskey, a man of the river, for the river and with the river. For the coming days we will navigate currents, dodge tugboat waves and camp out in the wild wilderness of the Mississippi.
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Last Updated on Monday, 06 April 2009 13:49
Bugaboo, Glacial Wilderness in Canada's mountains
We know the Conrad Kain Hut is about 950 meters above where we stand. The hike will take us about 1.5 hours but the elevation gain is somewhat extreme. Before we even begin to sort out backpacks, food and water for the hike we must guard the car against those rubber and cable nibbling guys who will make our journey back somewhat troublesome. You see, Canadian porcupines love rubber and have a liking to chew all the cables they can find. Chicken wire, stones and logs guard the car as we head off to view one of the oldest glacial faces in the Rockies.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 26 March 2009 19:54
Hiking the Tamarack trail, Waterton NP, Alberta, Canada
Alpine meadows, glades, moraines, crags and cliffs, untouched beauty, that is Waterton. The Tamarack tree, or Alpine Larch, is everywhere. Though the national park itself is quite small compared to its big Rocky Mountain neighbours, Waterton's geological location and unique biosphere makes it one of the most protected regions worldwide. Highlight of the trail, is the Lineham Ridge Walk. The Tamarack Trail is pure wilderness but typical to Canadian National Parks the trail is well marked and campsites well controlled. But be 'bear aware'. This is their country. We are the visitors!
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Last Updated on Thursday, 26 March 2009 19:52
Pasetta, grandson of the last Wolfhunter, Abruzzo, Italy
Pasetta's energy is endless. His every step is planted with certainty and awareness. As his forefathers have done for decades Pasetta thrives in the wilderness finding his way by instinct and the 'call of the wild'. For us it is as though we have ventured into another world. We stop periodically to fully appreciate our surroundings; the views over Barrea Lake, fields of wild flowers, ancient forests and a special treat, Pasetta's favourite perch, high above where he touches the sky and feels at peace. But our greatest treasure of all is the stories of years past when Pasetta was a young boy, in the mountains that are his home.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 26 March 2009 19:52
Paddling the Backwaters of Kerala, South India
The sun is rising. We must get the kayaks in the water, There are many kilometres to cover and much to explore!" Our guide Unni, feels most at home on the water. What better way to carry your night dreams into daydreams along the silky soft backwaters of Kerala. We are the tourists gliding by in our brightly coloured kayaks and though everyone is intrigued by our presence, daily life continues. The morning bath, washing dishes, chasing chickens and hanging the laundry all happen at the water's edge. With waves and welcoming smiles we paddle through what the locals call, 'God's Own Country'.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 26 March 2009 19:51
The Hilltribes of Pai, Mae Hong Son, Northern Thailand
The town of Pai is laid back, a bit over-run with foreigners, yet emanates a sense of peace and contentment. It is a treasure chest of street stalls, live music, street buskers, and a huge array of restaurants to choose from. It is easy to see why so many travellers decide to hang out in this little piece of paradise. Except for being a regular and often longer term stop on the backpackers trail, it is also a base for curious trekkers who have come to the region to venture through the thick forests and tea plantations to visit and experience the lives and culture of the local hill tribes.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 March 2009 09:55
Kicking ass! Muay Thai Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand
Unlike 'tae kwon do', 'kung fu' and other Asian martial arts, Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) is full contact and usually quite brutal. In Bangkok, where many of the world's international champions have been groomed, new trainees must be prepared to conform to all the rules from gruelling daily schedules, specific diet regimes, to the basic of accommodations. No pampering allowed! Intrigued and competitive, I give it a try. A trial session of three hours at the renowned Sor Vorapin Gym in Bangkok almost did me in; however, once in the ring it is amazing how the adrenalin rush keeps you kicking!
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 March 2009 09:54
Catching the Early Birds in Khao Sok NP, Thailand
Khao Sok National Park is a natural and highly protected sanctuary for many species of endangered wildlife. Before the Ratcha Prapha Dam was built in 1980, the entire area was thick primary jungle. Now the park covers hundreds of square kilometres as a reserve, where Mother Nature is once again in charge. The park creates an ideal setting for kayaking deep into the heart of a jungle which once was completely impenetrable until the valleys flooded. Environmentalist Dave Williams of Paddle Asia will take us there where a floating bamboo hut becomes home for the duration of our adventure. .
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Last Updated on Sunday, 02 August 2009 18:18
The Monasteries of Meteora, Northern Greece
The Monasteries of Meteora, Greece As the wind rustles the autumn leaves, we hear what seems to be the faint sound of elves in the forest. Last night we arrived in Meteora searching for a campsite in thick fog. We finally settled in for the night not knowing exactly where we were. In the early morning we discover that the only flat spot we could find just so happens to be a place of worship for pilgrims. The clouds have lifted and we find ourselves on a viewpoint overlooking the monastery of Rousanou, visible on a high rocky outcrop. Our elves were a choir of pilgrims from Korea who came to worship in this sacred place.
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Last Updated on Friday, 03 April 2009 20:37
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Cajun Bayou, Canoeing the swamps of Louisiana, USA
From the flatlands and cotton plantations of Mississippi, Bayou Country beckons with its mystical murky swamps, finger lickinâ Cajun cooking and some infectious Zydeco and Cajun music that is sure to get you stompinâ. Our rented houseboat in the Atchafalaya Basin swamps sits completely isolated deep in the wilderness. âI wonder if Huck Finn and Jim could find us way out here.â We are totally alone. Only the gators and other âcrittersâ are aware of our presence. We rest, read and relax until we are towed back to dock and let lose at Cafe des Amis in Breaux Bridge. It is Saturday morning and the place is hoppinâ!
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Last Updated on Sunday, 02 August 2009 21:17
Hiking the Highline Trail, Alberta, BC, Canada
The Banff Highline Trail is a wonderful journey through the Canadian Rockies during which we encounter much of the diversity to be found in these beautiful mountains. Day after day we cross spectacular passes interspersed with alpine lakes. Craggy peaks give way to the massive gun-metal grey limestone slabs typical of the Front Ranges. A daily constant will be Mount Assiniboine's massive pyramid, first seen from Arnica ridge on Day 2, gradually getting closer until we reach its base three days later then to be last seen as we drive back to Canmore with more than 100 km of trail behind us.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 26 March 2009 19:54
Hiking the Rockwall Trail, Kootenay NP, BC, Canada
The Rockwall Trail starts at Floe Lake, at the base of the massive 700-meter-high cliffs of the Vermillion Range. In summer months, glaciers calve off the Rockwall's limestone and dolomite bands to crash in the lake below. The traces the base of the limestone wall over three breath-catching passes, hanging glaciers and alpine cirques. It ends at the majestic 1,200-foot waterfall at Helmet Creek. Several superb campsites dot the trail, and are equipped with bear poles to deter four-legged critters. A loop trip can be made from Paint Pots parking lot to Helmet Falls, over Wolverine Pass to Tumbling Pass.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 26 March 2009 19:53
Mountain Meadow Trail Rides, Alberta, Canada
Cowboy? Cowgirl? They actually do exist and ride hard out on the ranch in Southern Alberta. When the base camp bell rings in the morning it is pancake, bacon, eggs and more before saddling up and breaking the trail in Canada's Wild West! At Nelson Ranch, on the edge of the Rocky Mountains, we have the real deal on hand. Owner Dan Nelson and ranch hand Calin are rodeo champs and know just about all there is to know about ridin' the range and roping that stray calf. We are in good hands and about to discover what this ranch life is all about while riding into the sunset.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 26 March 2009 19:50
The treasures of the Andaman Nicobar Islands of India
The sea plays with your feet as you walk along glistening white sandy beaches which wrap around the islands like a velvet cloak. We have made our way to one of the two isolated archipelagos belonging to India. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The network of mangrove branches reach out in every direction. It would be so easy to get lost here! Our guide cautions us to stay close as we paddle through the soft and what appear to be calm waters. Along the shore mud skippers jump through their maze of clay like castles as we paddle softly by, hoping to see some salt water crocs enjoying the early morning sunlight.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 26 March 2009 19:51
Smoking Volcanoes of Sicily and the Aeolian Islands, Italy
From the bottom of the sea, some one million years ago, the earth started to rumble deep below the Tyrrhenian Sea when three massive intersecting fractures collided deep in the earth's core. The formation of what we see now as Mount Etna and the cluster of islands off the coast of Sicily, the 'Y' configuration of the Aeolian Archipelago, has been shaping and re-shaping over thousands of years, creating the landscape for some of the world's most spectacular treks. Each of the volcanoes on the islands is a unique experience to witness our planet's continual transformation.
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Last Updated on Friday, 03 April 2009 20:48
Elephant traffic in the Golden Triangle of Thailand
With a lack of traffic signs and rules, it seems the best choice is to give the right of way to the big guys, the elephants. After all, weighing anywhere from 2500 to 4000 kilos they do most of the heavy work around Ban Ruammit, in northern Thailand. Since early morning, we, a small group of international adventurers, left the calm serenity of our hotel on mountain bikes, challenging city chaos to get to the longtail boats. We will travel from Chiang Rai along the Mae Kok, mountain bikes on board, to visit these enormously graceful creatures, then cycle the hilly road back to Chiang Rai.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 March 2009 09:55
Kayaking the Salty Waters of Phang Nga, Thailand
At Koh Yao Noi (little long island) where traditional culture flourishes, the welcoming, "Sa wat dii kha" never seems to end, nor do the smiles. The local people are more than enthusiastic to welcome you into their homes and to arrange any sort of activity, from fishing for squid at midnight, crab netting, or a visit to the medicine man to see how tiger balm is made. Often the owner of a local 'home-stay' will also be the fisherman plus transport for you and your kayak to the perfect launch point. Here extraordinary rock formations, acres of mangroves and hidden caves are a kayaker's delight.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 March 2009 09:52
Snowshoeing in Fairyland. Goreme, Cappadocia, Turkey
Deep in Central Anatolia is the land of the 'Fairy Chimneys'. It's true! Well, partially true. The fairy part is up to each individual's imagination. Yet, once setting eyes on the chimneys and caves in this treasure land of beauty, mystery and history, it is easy to imagine it to be the perfect place for fairies to fly about granting wishes! The winter months bring sunshine and crystal reflections to the freshly coated white landscape, creating the perfect day for a hike on top of and through the valleys. We are surrounded by silence and an oddly natural beauty that renders us speechless.
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Last Updated on Friday, 03 April 2009 20:38
Trekking from Hut to Hut, Berchtesgaden, Germany
Mt Watzmann (Mr.), at 2713 meters, is the second highest mountain in Germany. It consists of three peaks all of which are connected by a narrow ridge. Next to this ridge is a second peak called the Watzmann Frau (Mrs). In between are the smaller pinnacles, known as the children. Early in the morning at 0500, after a terrifying thunderstorm, we find that just above the low ceiling of clouds the sky is clear. As we get higher I see the Watzmann hut floating far above a sea of clouds. It appears so close but, experience tells us, we still have quite some distance to travel.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 02 August 2009 18:21
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