I believe that would count as "Ultra heavy" and "speed hiking"
I believe that would count as "Ultra heavy" and "speed hiking"
Me: Ricky
Husky: Jack
Skeeter-Beeter Pro Hammock.
From Dalton, Georgia (65 mi above Altanta, 15mi south of Chattanooga)
High points would be treks in Ladahk, Nepal (Annapurna, Goyko treks), and Southern Africa, but a 5 day hike south from Landmannalaugar to Skogar blows everything else away. Going back next year.
In 2007, I hiked the W in Parque Nacional Torres del Paine in Chile. Makes the Georgia AT in late March seem sparsely populated.
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On that same trip, we also backpacked on the west coast of Chiloé, an island on the Pacific coast of the country. Much more wild and adventurous.
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There are awesome day hikes in Sri Lanka, where I lived for six months, but I would say it's impossible to go backpacking there. This is Ella Rock from Little Adam's Peak:
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And this is on the way down real Adam's Peak. It's more of a tourist/pilgrimage climb than a hike but it kicked my ass more than any hike before or since has:
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"Hahk your own hahk." - Ron Haven
"The world is a book, of which those who do not travel read only a page." - St. Augustine
http://www.scrubhiker.com/
Was very lucky this year did Machu Piccu and The 5 day Salkantay.
I'm back two weeks ago from a backpacking trip of one hundred Kilometers in southwestern part of Sichuan Province, China. The whole experience was fantastic and sometimes thrilling considering the particular terrain and weather condition. The highest point on the trail that I walked through is about 4800~4900 meters ASL. I didn't get a chance to go a much higher ground to see Mt. Minya Konga, which is at 7,556 meters ASL, as I was still recovering from body fatigue(mainly poor diet) and AMS. It took me 7 1/2 hiking days (one zero) to complete the trail including a lot of road walks. Some pictures of this trip show as below,
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Backpacking route, where triangles indicates my camp site, or lodging place.
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My backpacking starting point, kang Ding.
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Looking back at Kang Ding. There're many construction sites.
There's a lot of pavement walk for me.
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Walking along the valley on a country road. A roadway cuts through
the low point at left side of the mountain and goes to the east side of
Mt. Minya Konga, also a national scenic area.
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There're a couple of 20,000'+ peaks shrouded in clouds.
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Majority of hikers or backpackers doing this trail start their hiking,
or horse riding from the hydroelectric dam where a gravel road ends.
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The trail just gets a little tough, but might be good on the feet.
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A beautiful and flat pasture land where I set my camp for the night.
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The trail changes to the other side of the river bank.
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The trail is more used by horses and yaks. It's obvious and consolidated.
Met a very nice couple in their tent made of yak's hair , and had a dinner
with them.
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Started a new day by seeing Mt. Little Konga, a 20,000'+ peak
that resembles a perfect cone shape.
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Passed by another pasture land. Met another couple, and declined to have some
milk tea with them.
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Reached the last pasture land in the valley, the spot I made a retreat in 2011
due to severe AMS.
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This area is above 14,000' already. I had a light headache as before. I had
my friendly yaks mowing the grass loudly right against my head all night!
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Two high peaks of 20,000'+ in the clouds. The herders were getting their yaks
back for the night. They invited me a few times for a free dinner, which I also
declined.
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Toughest day for me. Poor diet in the last three days, and AMS made me spend
more than double amount of time taking breaks in relative to walking!
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Another high plateau where I could see the valley and high peaks at valley end.
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A few awesome 20,000' peaks just didn't want to show me their true faces.
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Melting glacier in summer provides abundant water in the streams, as well as moisture
in the air that caused rainfalls everyday, no matter in daytime or at night!
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Felt tired and thought it could be a "Five Star" campground, decided to cut the day short.
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I made it through the night at an altitude of 15,500'(+/-). The temperature
inside my tent in the morning was merely 38.9F.
A little ascending, I could see the "legendary" upper pass, basically a notch
at the sharp ridge.
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The highest point at the trail.
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The altimeter reading was not accurate. The Google may give it a better answer,
the notch is somewhere between 4,800 and 4,900 meters ASL, definitely above 16,000'.
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Getting down to Mo Xi Valley.
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Met a group of horses and mules.
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Crossed the stream in my bare feet.
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Walked in a mid rain for nearly two hours.
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So tempted by a shelter and fire warmth! Decided to stay here overnight.
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Next morning. Had to cross to the other side of the river from the log bridge.
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One hour later, a big challenge, life or death!
Spent nearly one hour to complete the rapids' crossing. Butt riding the slippery log.
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Probable last camp site before going a roller coaster section in steep mountains.
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A flooded area in a valley of more than 10,000'.
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An easy road walk led to this popular area.
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High peaks of 20,000'+ rise above the flooded area.
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A view toward the southeast shoulder of Mt. Minya Kong, which stays about 2 Kilometers
behind.
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Pavement walking was hard on my feet, falling rocks was threatening my life, but the
views were just very rewarding.
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A road walk toward civilization.
I think I will come back again to do the section when the trail drops down to the valley.
Last edited by Highway Man; 07-22-2014 at 04:41.
The country of Georgia!
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2010 AT NoBo Thru "attempt" (guess 1,700 miles didn't quite get me all the way through ;) )
Various adventures in Siberia 2016
Adventures past and present!
(and maybe 2018 PCT NoBo)