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kayaking – what would be the best sattelite device to use when walking or kayaking, also using os grid references.?

skywalker — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:11:55 +0000

Question by stuart g: what would be the best sattelite device to use when walking or kayaking, also using os grid references.?
I am looking for a value for money device that will give me altitude, compass and os grid ref’s via sat nav for use during kayaking and walking in the uk. it must be water proof.

Best answer:

Answer by whycantigetagoodnickname
I tihnk they will all do this. To add to the waterproofness you can buy a waterproof case to strap to your boyancy aid.

Germin are the big name brand here.

Of course, you shouldnt substitute a GPS system for map and navigation ability, just use it in addition to it

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mountaineering – Mountain Walking Holidays In The Eastern Rhodope Mountains

skywalker — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 05:12:20 +0000

There are few places in Europe as beautiful as landscapes in Bulgaria. It is the ultimate destination for adventure seekers who love mountain walking holidays. The country has the most exhilarating, inspiring and exciting mountains which can mesmerize anybody. A holiday here is quite a breather far from the everyday routine amid noise and traffic.

Activity Choices

Mountain walking holidays offers adventure, beauty and an escape from the hustle of city life. A person can enjoy fresh air and breathtaking scenery venturing on trails according to their taste. These holidays can be customized according to the needs of the traveler.

One can opt for adventurous activities like kayaking, biking, mountain climbing or can also choose a package for a more relaxed vacation. Distant hikes, easy strolls, or local rambles are other activities offered by the travel company. Every activity can be enjoyed amid the most beautiful variety of flora, fauna and the mountains.

Lodging:

Accommodation at a good mountain retreat in Bulgaria is extremely comfortable with modern facilities, double and twin beds, kitchenette, attached bathrooms and dining area and large living spaces. Besides, the view of the mountains from the balcony is simply breathtaking. Tourists can select from meals delivered to their doorstep or self-catered meals. The accommodations are very comfortable with room for 2 to 4 guests and are furnished with modern furniture and fittings. Towels and linens are provided and there is a steady supply of fresh mountain water. Lodging, activities and food are all environmentally friendly.

The Great Mountains

Mountain walking holidays is a rich experience of slow pace life amid splendid natural beauty. There are delightful mountain hikes in the eastern Rhodope Mountains where you can see a huge variety of fauna and flora. Captivating waterfalls, streams and lakes welcome travelers to this heavenly abode.

One can experience bird-watching or take a trip to the glorious Slavyanka, Pirin, and Rhodope Mountains and several historical, archeological, architectural and sites too. One can see rare plants, herbs, species of reptiles, mammals and amphibians, and the like. One can also enjoy overwhelming views of the caves and gorges and discover story book villages nestled in these mountains.

The Tours

Mountain walking holidays give the freedom to discover easy tracks that lace in and out of the pinewood forests. One can also choose from more demanding trekking options. If the trek is long and rigorous, you can expect to be walking the whole day. Excursions are normally customized to suit every traveler’s needs.

Travelers are also allowed to select a holiday with private accommodations and can explore the place on their own. They can explore whatever region they like and will be provided with directions and maps.

There are many packages for exploring this beautiful region. From strolling to treading rigorous tracks, mountain walking holidays is a perfect mixture of relaxation, adventure and enjoyment. It will give you the much needed break from punishing routines and stress of urban lifestyles.

trekking – What is the difference between Nordic walking and Trekking [Hill Walking] and do the poles differ?

skywalker — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:11:52 +0000

Question by vervetlaw: What is the difference between Nordic walking and Trekking [Hill Walking] and do the poles differ?
I wish to start hill walking but my eye has been caught by Nordic walking. I want to be certain about the differences.

Best answer:

Answer by Daniel Baldwin
nordic walking, you use the poles to really push you along, it is more of a full body workout, you burn more calories

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mountaineering – I need a versatile walking boot for winter mountaineering in scotland, which is the best?

skywalker — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 23:12:52 +0000

Question by jmssklly: I need a versatile walking boot for winter mountaineering in scotland, which is the best?
Apart from Scarpa Mantas (grrrr)

Best answer:

Answer by Cliff
sawnoff wellie

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mountaineering – Choose Mountain Walking Holidays

skywalker — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 05:12:36 +0000

If you have a passion for walking and trekking, you should try mountain walking holidays in the Rhodopes, Bulgaria. It is the most inspiring, exhilarating and exciting way to experience one of the most captivating and breathtaking areas of the world. Take a break from the traffic and the noise of everyday life and enjoy beautiful surroundings while being active at the same time.

Activity Choices

Mountain holidays offer beauty, adventure and an escape from the hectic routine of your daily life. You can enjoy spectacular scenery and fresh air, with activity suited to your taste. Mountain walking holidays can be planned according to your needs.

Choose a leisurely relaxed vacation or you can include adventure activities such as biking, kayaking, fishing and mountain climbing. You can select easy strolls, distant hikes or local rambles. Whatever activity you select you have the added pleasure of viewing exquisitely beautiful flora, fauna and panoramic views of the mountain ranges.

Accommodations

Booking your mountain walking holiday with Melanya, Bulgaria, is a rewarding and thrilling experience, complete with the pleasures only a holiday in the mountains can bring. You will be given very comfortable accommodation with modern amenities, twin and double beds, attached bathroom, kitchenette and dining area and spacious self-contained living space. You have beautiful views of mountain scenery from every window and your private balcony. You can choose self-catered or hot meals delivered to your doorstep. The apartments are comfortable with space for two to four guests and equipped with modern fittings and furniture. Linens and towels are supplied, and there is a constant supply of fresh mountain spring water.

The accommodation, food and activities are environmentally friendly and include organic produce. You will experience the pleasures of simple living in a peaceful mountain retreat.

The Mountains

Plan to visit to Melanya in Bulgaria on mountain walking holidays. There are magical mountain hikes in the Rhodope Mountains where there is rich flora and fauna among age-old forests and greenery. Enchanting waterfalls, lakes, streams and scenic splendor welcome you in this extravagantly beautiful part of the world.

Experience bird-watching or take a day trip to Pamporovo or the highest peak Perelik. You can see ancient fortresses, rare plants, herbs, grass and trees and species of reptiles, amphibians and mammals. You can enjoy awe-inspiring views of gorges and caves and botanical paradises. Discover magical story book villages hidden in the mountains. The mountains give you a necessary break from the stress and punishing routines of urban lifestyles.

Walking Tours

The mountain walking gives you freedom to explore tracks that weave in and out of pinewood forests at your own pace. You can choose a rigorous trek or a simple stroll. Walks usually take an entire day if you choose to walk to Devil’s Bridge or head cross-country to the river Arda. Excursions are tailored to suit each traveler’s choice.

You can choose independent walking holidays with individual accommodations and take off on your own for mountain treks. You can explore whichever region you like and will be given maps and directions.

Choices to explore the region are many. You can view among others the Thracian City of Perperikon, an ancient archaeological wonder, and Devil’s Bridge which spans the river Arda. Mountain walking holidays is a perfect mix of adventure, relaxation and enjoyment.

running – What is ChiRunning or Chiwalking? Making Running or Walking Easier

skywalker — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 09:12:08 +0000

When I signed up to do the 2008 ING New York City Marathon, I sprained my ankle about a month before the start of the race. So after my doctor confirmed the micro tear in my left ankle. I’ve worked from never breaking a sweat for the past 15 years to running up to 20 miles alone. I told him that there was no way that was going to bow out of this marathon. So I wasn’t going to let some pain stop me from finishing. And so I hobbled across the finish line in over 6 hours and enjoyed every second of an experience of a lifetime. If I didn’t cross that finish line, I would have never gotten a very special chance to run with my wife, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and a couple of friends to raise over ,000 for Team for Kids and run together in the 2009 ING New York City Marathon.

After receiving my finisher’s medal, I was hooked on being fit. However, I’ve been running with some kind of injury, ailment or ache in the limbs of the lower extremities. Do I suck it up or run with shin splints, knee pain, hip pain, and/or foot pain? I grew up in a family, where you don’t give up. All I know is that running started to become unfun. Dealing with all these injuries made me want to avoid running.

So I was at my local gym, and one of the trainers, actually two of them both recommended a method of running called, ChiRunning . They basically said that the program would teach you how to run injury free. I was intrigued and wanted to learn more.

Earlier this year, I find myself with my wife, who also is dealing with similar injuries, sitting in a renovated manufacturing plant that has been converted into a artist colony, and towards the end of the building was a yoga studio. In attendance, was a small group with different backgrounds, shapes and sizes.

Danny Dreyer created ChiRunning during one of his Tai Chi classes. He noticed the inner focus and flow of Tai Chi and wanted to combine it with the power and energy of running. With Most classes, such as ChiRunning you become more aware of your running so you can run more efficiently by running naturally with less pain. Danny is a renowned running/walking instructor with over 35 years of experience, and has run many Ultramarathons (26.2+ miles). Danny has written ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-free Running in 2004 and ChiWalking: Five Mindful Steps to Lifelong Health and Energy in 2006. He is also a sought after speaker, and has spoken at the Boston and Chicago Marathons.

ChiWalking was created from all the ChiRunners who walked to share ChiRunning for all the walkers in their lives. The basic principles are similar if not the same to Most classes, such as ChiRunning .

Like most martial arts, it’s about technique. By having the right alignment and balance, you can avoid injuries. For example, by having your shoulders lined up over your hips, over your knees, over your feet, you make sure that the forces you create from running are maximized into the ground, and minimized in other directions. It’s the same principle of having all of the blocks lined up. If you start deviating just a little bit, you will notice the blocks will eventually collapse. Also, if you ever run or walk with something out of alignment, you tend to over compensate. This compensation results eventually an injury because you overuse that side of the limb.

Another technique is to use gravity to help you run. Gravity is everywhere, so why fight it. You can use it to help you run. When you lean enough into your stride, you end up having to move forward, so take advantage of the technique by continually falling. Most people, while trying to catch themselves from doing a faceplant, would put on the brakes by landing with their heel. If they practice enough they can then “catch” themselves and land in a way that would push off to the next step.

The more you practice, the easier it becomes. So I’ve been using the ChiRunning techniques, and I have become very comfortable running like never before. I have been able to recover faster after long runs, and the pains that I usually have are no longer a hindrance. I’ve recently dropped 2 minutes off my pace, and I am looking forward to running more efficiently and faster as a result.

If you want to run or walk better, get out there and do it. Before taking on any exercise regimen, consult with your healthcare team, and take a lesson or class on running or walking, so you don’t have to deal with the constant aches and pains that I went through. Most classes, such as ChiRunning will include warm up exercises, after workout stretches, and plenty of advice.

Enjoy the run!

marathon – What Every Exercise-hater Must Know About Marathon Walking

skywalker — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:13:20 +0000

The word marathon is meant to inspire terror. It’s a 26.2 mile run that takes even super athletes hours to complete. You can’t just sign up and do a marathon. You have to train rigorously to even have a hope of finishing. So why do some people think this is fun?

Yet a growing movement is occurring around the world that allows more and more people the opportunity to participate in marathons and other races by walking and not running. Walking is a much lower stress activity than running or even jogging.

Walking marathons allows for people of all ages, particularly older people, to enjoy the health benefits of marathon training.

And mile for mile, walking burns the same calories as running. So why don’t more people walk marathons?

First, not all marathons are open to walkers and some permit walkers but do not officially encourage them. Marathons that invite walkers are sometimes advertised as “walker friendly.” (Not all of them are!)

The biggest concern for marathon walkers who participate in official races is how long the track is open. A top runner completes a marathon in slightly over two hours. Most reasonably good athletes can do a marathon in four hours. Even slower runners can complete a marathon in five or six hours. (A six-hour marathon time means the runner ran 13 minute miles … not exactly a super-fast time!) However, walkers need six to eight hours to complete a marathon. Walking consistent 15-minute miles, it would take a little over six-and-a-half hours to walk a marathon. Factor in some bathroom breaks, inconsistent performance, or slower walking times and you end up with marathon walkers who turn in times of seven or eight hours.

Most marathons keep the track open six hours. After that, they begin to “sweep” or start at the beginning of the track and pick up stragglers, the injured, and the clean up the mess at water stations.

While walkers can dodge the sweepers for a while, eventually the walkers will be compelled to leave the track and the marathon unfinished.

The Los Angeles Marathon is known for being super-friendly to walkers because the track is open long enough for even slow walkers to complete the race before getting “swept up.”

In some ways, walkers face the same training challenges as runners. It takes consistent training over a period of many months to build up the stamina and technique required to go 26.2 miles at once.

Training programs for walkers tend to be sporadic and are not always offered in groups training to enter a marathon. When walking programs are available, there may be only a few participants and no real experts at walking technique.

Marathon walkers also face their own unique challenges. Although a very fast elite walker can actually out-pace a slow runner, most walkers are on the track and exercising longer than the runners. That means they need to allow extra time, extra hydration and even some food. It is not unusual for marathon walkers to bring along packets of bars, gels, or liquids to take in along the way. Bathroom breaks are also more necessary during a six or seven hour period of exercise than for those who can do the course in much shorter times.

The best training program for walkers involves consistent training over a period of about six months or more before the race.

Every week, the walker should go out four times in “maintenance walks” that start out at 30 minutes and gradually extend to full hours. Once a week, there should be a “long walk.” This can start out at 15 or 30 minutes; the walker should add 15 minutes more each week until the walk is about 1 hour and 45 minutes long.

During these initial weeks, walkers should learn good form and technique and only concentrate on time, not speed or distance. Obviously, it’s a good idea to gradually try to improve speed, but the main focus is doing the time.

After 1 hour and 45 minutes, it’s time to switch over to distance. At this point, long walks are measured in miles, starting with 6 miles and adding a mile a week until the walks get up to 10 or 11 miles.

At this point, marathon walkers should defer to training manuals for marathon runners. A very crucial skill that marathoners must learn is how to add six more miles to the distance. This means one week the long walk is 10 miles, the next week it’s 16. The following week it’s back to 10, then the next week to 11, and then it’s 17 miles.

This pattern is important, because it drills into the marathoner a very important confidence and ability: the ability to go six more miles, no matter what.

Once the long walk hits 20 miles, that’s an important marker in training. No long walk during training should ever exceed 20 miles. However, before taking on a race, a marathon walker should have done at least three long walks of 20 miles.

A few weeks before the actual race, training ramps down. Walks get shorter. While the walker maintains a consistent schedule of four hour-long, fairly fast maintenance walks a week, the “long walks” dwindle down to a mere 10 or 12 miles.

On race day, the newbie marathon walker faces his or her first 26.2 mile walk. But he or she has learned two vital skills: the ability to go 20 miles with confidence and the ability to be able to go six more miles no matter what. The last 0.2 miles that makes up the marathon is run on adrenalin and crowd noise. To be able to participate in a marathon, a training schedule should be set up to map onto race day. Once a marathon walker is fully in training, he or she can easily modify the schedule to accommodate other races during the year. In fact, many people get so addicted to marathon walking that they do four, five or more races a year.

marathon
Robert Cheruiyot wins Chicago Marathon 10/22/06 with a time of 2:07:35 but slips at finish line – OUCH! 10/24/06 Update: CHICAGO (AP) – Chicago Marathon winner Robert Cheruiyot left the hospital on Tuesday after spending two nights there with a mild concussion he sustained when he slipped at the finish line. The 28-year-old had sprinted away from fellow Kenyan Daniel Njenga during the final stretch of Sunday’s race when he slipped backward and banged his head, causing internal and external bleeding. His momentum carried him across the line, making him the winner in two hours seven minutes 35 seconds. Cheruiyot, this year’s Boston Marathon champion, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He had no recollection of what had happened immediately afterward and asked his coach if he had won. But his agent, Federico Rosa, said his client’s memory is intact. There were decals with the marathon’s logo at the finish line, but Rosa did not blame them for the fall. He suggested after the race and during a news conference on Monday that wet conditions, shoes and even just a lack of balance caused Cheruiyot to slip.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Part 4 Volunteering in an orphanage in Nepal gave me an amazing new start in life

Luke Bream — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:23:06 +0000

This guest post is by Viktoria Barna. This is Part 4 and concluding part in a beautiful series of articles chronicling her experiences as a volunteer in a Nepalese orphanage and trekking through the Himalayas which gave her a new start in life. Read Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Annapurna Circuit Trek

I got to know Kate on the trek who lives in Nepal with her Nepalese hubby Amrit, and worked for VSN back then. She told me about their plan to do another trek, because her brother and his wife were visiting them from England. I got invited to do it with them, and it was going to happen in just 3 weeks time!! I was so excited. I was going to do the Annapurna Circuit Trek!!

Before my story on the most amazing trek I’ve ever done, let me tell you where our money went which we fundraised. I was lucky enough to witness our 33 orphans move to a clean, new, safe home. I was moved from my ‘home’ as well, and lived with a young couple and their son.

Once again, they lived in one room and I had my own. Only this time, they even had the kitchen in their room? With the new home, the children got a big scrubbing and some new clothes, shoes, school bags. They were over the moon.

We had a cook, and fresh vegetables and fruits every day. The children were no longer malnourished. It was all worth it at the end….working hard back in England, not going out while my friends were having the time of their life, saving every penny…I would do it again.

Kate and I were so excited. We had been to Everest Base Camp and now it was time to do the Annapurna Circuit Trek, which means a longer and more steady climb…no altitude sickness this time, please?

We had Kate’s husband as a guide, and one of the porters –who we called Elephant- from Everest Base Camp Trek was coming with us, though we were carrying our own bags this time. My bag weighed 18 kg at he start of our trek, out of that 3kg was chocolate?

It was 7.30am, 13th November 2009 (wow! Exactly 3 years ago today!) that we left Kathmandu in a little van we hired. For about two and a half hours we were stuck in traffic, and once we got the speed back, we had a flat tyre.

It got changed in no time, and we were on the top of a bus from Besi Sahar (760m;2493 feet) to Khudi (790m;2591 feet) which was one hour of hell.

We were on the roof top of the bus, legs hanging down from the side. We thought it would be fun to try to travel like locals do. If it wasn’t enough that we had to watch out for wires pulled across roads in order not be decapitated before our adventures even began, here is another one.

The roads were so bad, that the bus was constantly swinging and there was a massive drop right beneath my feet with a raging river at the bottom. I aged at least 10 years on that ride?

After the bus ride we walked to Bhulbhule (840m;2756 feet) where stayed for the night. The next day was an easy walk, which was great to get me used to my backpack.

After a night in Ghermu (1100m;3609 feet) we started the day with a steep climb. We stopped for lunch in a little village, where we picked some beans, pulled up some radish, and in about an hour we had the most delicious dhal baat in front of us. I had about three servings. The rule with dhal baat is, one can have as much as one wants. In my case, as much as there is?

The landscape was beautiful. There were papaya and banana trees, ferns, on the top of the rocky hills some palm trees. We even saw some naughty monkeys.

Before we got to Tal (1700m;5577 feet) –our destination for the day- we were stopped by the army, because they were blasting a mountain side to build a new path or road. BANG! BANG! BANG! There were some Israeli trekkers, who didn’t even blink, while Kate and I almost jumped out of our skins, and ended up giggling a lot.

The next day was so much fun. We had lots of uphill, and at one point our way was blocked by donkeys, so a villager told us to take a different path. We ended up where we supposed to anyway, but we were walking along a river, and we had to rock climb a little, and use a dodgy bamboo ladder instead of just a boring path.

It was lovely to enjoy the peace and quiet of our lovely lodge in Danakyu (2300m;7546 feet) until some guys turned up and made so much noise all night. Annoying.

After the usual Tibetan bread for breakfast, we set off to Chame (2670m;8760 feet). We had a very steep start, but not a very long day, so we had the pleasure of playing card for hours and hours in the afternoon and after dinner.

The next day was very easy. We stayed in Lower Pisang (3200m;10498 feet) in a very nice teahouse. We had hot water. While on the Everest Base Camp trek I would go for days without showering, and even then it would be freezing cold, here most of the lodges had hot water. Luxury.

We did an acclimatization trek to Upper Pisang to a Buddhist Monastery. It was so cold, we ran all the way down to our lodge. It was colder on this trek than any time on the Everest one.

The next day was once again an easy walk with breathtaking views, and as we were arriving to a village, a lovely lady brought out some freshly baked chocolate croissants on a tray. Tea time it was. They were the best croissants I’ve ever had!

In the afternoon we got to Manang (3540m;11614 feet) where we found more bakeries with more delicious snacks. We spent two nights here and did an acclimatization trek to the ‘100 rupees Lama’ who lives in a cave and gives blessings for safe trekking if one gives him 100 Rupees.

In the evening we went for a lecture on altitude sickness, which was very interesting. I went back to give some donations, and had a hot chocolate and a nice chat with a volunteer doctor from Norway.
We had a very short walk to our next stop in Gunsang (3900m;12795 feet), so me and a couple went for a walk. We saw some Tibetan prayer flags on a hill, so our goal was to reach that. Two hours up-up-up the hill. Slowly, but we made it.

On the way down I was going much faster then the couple, so I sat on a big flat rock and I was taking in the beautiful view that surrounded me. Majestic mountains, birds flying.. I had the most amazing experience. For a moment there was no wind, no sound. Total silence. I felt one with everything and felt like I was all alone. I can’t describe it, but it was one of the most precious moments in my life.

The next day we stayed in Letdar (4200m;13780 feet). It was freezing, but our lodge had the best Chinese blankets ever, so we didn’t feel the cold at night. We ate like horses at this stage. After each meal we would have a Snickers bar with no guilt whatsoever?

Our last night before the pass was in Thorung Phedi (4450m;14600 feet). It was so windy, I thought the lodge would take off and some guys were chatting for a long time, so I didn’t have a good night.
We had breakfast at 5.15am and left for our toughest day yet around 6am.

20 minutes after we left I stopped to have a sip of my drink, and to my surprise it turned into slush. That’s how cold it was! The first 1 hour and 10 minutes was steep uphill till upper base camp, where we had tea and met Kate, who was going to the top on pony back. I went to the toilet, and it felt like I was skating on poo and pee. Yuck!

We had such a good weather. It was a beautiful sunny day, no wind. Perfect. It was more and more difficult to breathe as we were getting to the top, and my heart was pounding so much. The last half an hour was so hard. I had to stop after every 10 steps and catch my breath, and felt dizzy from time to time and our speed was extremely slow, but we made it over the Thorung La Pass (5416m;17770 feet).

The way down was the icing on the cake! It was steep-steep down hill for 5 hours. Not a tea house in sight, nothing. It was like walking on the Moon.

It was tough. I was exhausted. We stopped for a bowl of soup after 5 hours. I was dead at this point. I remember sitting down and crashing on the table, while my soup was prepared. The soup put some life back into us, and we made our way to Muktinath (3760m;12336 feet).

After our well deserved breakfast, we went to Muktinath Temple. It’s the second most important Hindu pilgrim destination. I washed my head with the 108 ice cold holy water, which gave me the ticket to heaven (that’s what so special about the place!?)

We also visited a Buddhist Temple which holds the ‘eternal flame’. It was a lovely place. Took us 2 hours to walk to Kagbeni (2800m;9186 feet). The way there was like walking on the Moon. I was imagining some giant spider-like creatures crawling out of the weird shaped rocks. Sci-fi live?

I took a walk in the village. I was taken by it’s old, medieval streets, buildings. Chickens, cows, all sort of animals wandering around the streets while dirty, smiley children played with bones and strings alongside them. I loved that place!

There was a special stupa in this village which had some paintings inside it. If one stands inside and sees the paintings, one shall be released from all sins. Of course I did it, so I did a good job today. I made sure I’m going to heaven without any sins?

The next day we had a very windy walk through a valley to Marpha (2670m;) This place is known for it’s apple. We did have a lovely apple juice, apple pie and saw lots and lots of apples getting dried on the roof tops.

We were getting close to the end of our journey. We passed through many more of lovely villages, enjoyed more dhal baat and I didn’t want the adventure to end.

But like everything, this amazing trek had to come to an end too.
Took me a while to adjust to the busy streets of Kathmandu, the noise but it was sure nice to wash my hair after three weeks?

I had some really nice pictures from this trek, but I have moved around a lot in the past few years and somehow I managed to lose them. I learned to live with this one too?

I had a month left in Nepal, and it was great. I went to Chitwan National Park in the south of Nepal for a long weekend, where I rode an elephant, I went for a jungle walk and saw some rhinos and managed to scare the hell out of some people. I copied the trek guide and climbed up on a tree, so I could see the rhino better. Everyone was so cautious and quiet. “It’s coming!” I said really loud. You should’ve seen people’s faces! It was so funny!

I felt a bit bad after my guide told us how he got attacked by a rhino, and he showed his scar, which was massive. I probably scared him to death. But he got me back by telling us his rhino attack story while we were walking through the jungle?

I met some really crazy, interesting, fun people while volunteering and with some of them I’m still in touch. Going to Nepal has definitely changed my life, the way I think, the way I act. I would go back and do it all over a gain 100 times.

I spent two weeks in Thailand, 10 days in Mayanmar (Burma) and 4 days in Oman before my return to England. I had fun, but it was nice to be back.

Then I checked my e-mails. “Come home. Mum passed away.” Said the massage from my brother.We just don’t know when it’s our time to go….

Live here, live now.

To follow up on this inspirational volunteer story please connect with Viktoria Barna on Facebook

Credits for the images in this article about voluntary work in Nepal and getting fit for trekking in the Himalayas belong to Viktoria Barna. To view more of Viktoria’s images visit everest base camp | orphanage | annapurna circuit trek

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The Adventure of a Lifetime – Cycling, Walking and Mountaineering

Luke Bream — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:04:13 +0000

This guest post is by Lee Hughes. who is preparing for a worldwide expedition that includes cycling, walking and mountaineering. I wish him the best of luck.

The Adventure of a Lifetime

“Firstly I would like to thank Luke for allowing me to contribute to this fantastic website were we can become inspired and live or our dreams.

So, What am I doing here?

Well, shortly after university, rather than getting caught up trying to find a job a place to live etc etc I have decided to take life by the scruff of the neck and see what it can offer and what I can learn from it.

I will do this by doing 3 expeditions, cycling, walking and climbing… A 4th to be announced.

So, on the 5th January I will leave my house and cycle to 12,000 miles to New Zealand. Once in New Zealand, I plan to walk the entire length of both islands (3000km) then after some time in New Zealand I shall cycle my way up the Americas onward to Alaska. Now, once in Alaska Mount Mckinley is on my hit list…

It’s a long way a way yet but I am looking forward to updating my website and giving advice into how to set up a expedition. I will be documenting my adventure in various styles…. blog posts, photography, audio, film and a web series.

To follow up on this inspirational adventure of a lifetime please visit www.LeeHughes.co.uk

Credits for the images in this article about an adventure of a lifetime belong to Lee Hughes.

Please support CrazyJourneys.com by taking a moment to comment on this adventure story and also tweet or share it. Help Luke to spread the word. The buttons are below:

Part 3 Volunteering in an orphanage in Nepal gave me an amazing new start in life

Luke Bream — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:14:01 +0000

This guest post is by Viktoria Barna. This is Part 3 in a beautiful series of articles chronicling her experiences as a volunteer in a Nepalese orphanage and trekking through the Himalayas which gave her a new start in life. Read Part 1 Part 2

Everest Base Camp

We did an acclimatization trek to Everest View Hotel, which is the highest 5*Hotel. It was a 3.5 hours trek, elevation 350-400m. It could’ve been our first time to see Everest if it wasn’t cloudy. No luck.

After we got back to the teahouse I started to feel unwell. I lost my appetite and couldn’t eat dinner. The first sign of altitude sickness. ‘No!!! This can’t be happening to me!!’ I was screaming inside. Our guides Ram Krishna and Sujan made me eat a bowl of super strong garlic soup. Everyone was feeling sick now, because of the smell of my garlic soup.

They told me it was a difficult day, so I hopefully was going to feel better after some rest. The next day we did a 6 hour trek to Tengboche (3860m;12664 feet). One of the guys carried my bag from half way, because I was feeling weak. Everyone was really supportive and worried, of course. Our guides were great! They made me feel strong(er) and kept a good eye on me…and gave me more garlic soup?

There was a bakery, and my buddy ‘Sahara’ brought me back a muffin, which I couldn’t eat. That night I had a mouse running all the way up from my legs to my back. It made me jump like nothing ever before and the naughty one ate my muffin…all of it!

The next morning I felt better. I had proper breakfast. We went for the morning ceremony to the highest monastery on Everest region at 6.30am.

We did another 5-6 hour trek. The landscape was amazing! At about 4000m (13123 feet) the trees suddenly disappeared and rocky mountains took their places.

We spent two nights in Dingboche (4410m;14468 feet) where most of us felt pretty ill at arrival, but after a good night sleep we were ready for more adventure. I awoke myself by catching for breath a couple of times. There was 57% oxygen in the air at this point compared to the amount at sea level.

We did an acclimatization trek to Chukhung (4730m;15518 feet). It was getting more and more challenging. One of the girls was told to turn around, because she felt really bad, but she refused. She would not give up this close to our destination, even if she had to crawl to Base Camp.

We were in Lobuche (4910m;16109 feet) at this point. That day was really long and hard. Many steep climbs and the altitude made it really hard to breathe. We got to our last teahouse before the big day in Gorak Shep (5140m;16863).

We got up at 4am, and after a cup of hot lemon we were off to Everest Base Camp. It was a cloudless morning, with the white, snow capped mountains glowing in the dark, surrounding us, making us feel so tiny…and the full moon was shining above. It was breathtaking.

It was also a very difficult climb. Not only because of the altitude, but the rocky path made us watch every single step we took. The last half an hour we were walking on glaciers. Around 2pm we were sitting at Everest Base Camp (5364m;17598 feet), watching four of our crazy boys change into their pink ladies underwear, and light a cigar…what a sight!

It was a good feeling, but to be honest, I was a little bit disappointed. I imagined Base Camp being at the foothill of Everest, and from Base Camp to Base 1 one has to climb up a glacier, which is what we saw. Everest was high above it, and all we could see was like a piece of a Toblerone chocolate.

But someone once said, it’s not the destination that makes a journey special, it’s the journey itself. How very true.

On the way down I threw up. We were all feeling rough and at this point, every single one of us hated Everest. It was now time to finish the other half of the journey, and walk back to Lukla. We were playing cards most of the afternoons, visited some lovely villages, ate delicious pastries in a bakery, danced to our Nepalese porter’s songs.

At one teahouse the walls were so thin, that me and ‘Sahara’ could hear the guys next to us chat, so we joined in…and Dan in the room next to theirs joined us too. The walls in the teahouses all along the journey were so thin, I could hear the person sleeping in the room next to mine breathe.

We were chased by some beautiful beasts called yaks, which was quiet scary due to their sizes. They’re such cool animals though.
Our guides and porters bought some chickens, which we killed and plucked and ate. It was their way of ending our adventures in Everest region. Food, drinks, singing Nepalese songs and some dancing. What else could’ve we wished for?

At the end of our trek we had a good night out, which ended with a hole in the dance floor and some very sore heads the next morning.
If you wonder why I don’t show any pictures of the trek…well, in a moment of blondness, I managed to format my memory card in my camera on the way back. I stopped beating myself up for it.

Once we were back in Kathmandu, we rented some bicycles and explored the town. It was very similar to a play station game, but here we only had one life and luckily we all made it?

This story continues tomorrow as Viktoria tackles the Annapurna Circuit Trek.

To follow up on this inspirational volunteer story please connect with Viktoria Barna on Facebook

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Part 2 Volunteering in an orphanage in Nepal gave me an amazing new start in life

Luke Bream — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:41:02 +0000

This guest post is by Viktoria Barna. This is Part 2 in a beautiful series of articles chronicling her experiences as a volunteer in a Nepalese orphanage and trekking through the Himalayas which gave her a new start in life. Read Part 1

An Orphanage in Nepal

My duty as a volunteer was to look after 33 orphans’ health, clean their sores every day, take them for dental check ups, stay with them in hospital when needed, make sure the –not very nice- manager gives food to them, and buy fruits and vitamins from donations.

They were 3-17 years old. Some of these children had parents, but they lived far away and were very poor, so they would pay the manager of the orphanage to take care of their child, and send them to school (which they couldn’t afford). Now, sometimes the managers’ heart is truly in it, and they do everything to make the children’s life better and happier.

BUT, there are managers who would save money on buying food for them, or would sell the pretty girls in India. The later was true to the manager of the orphanage I was placed. Our lovely manager, Emma was on the case. Her goal was to take over, and move the children to a better home.

I spent the first day in the orphanage in shock. It was dirty, smelly, and the children’s little bodies were full of infected sores from scabies, and head lice was common too. I went home feeling angry, sad, disappointed and ashamed to be a human. How can we let this happen!???

The next day I went back and saw these children smiling, getting ready for school. They were happy. They don’t know any better. This is the life they know, and they just get on with it. They don’t demand anything! They didn’t have anything…when a volunteer bought a football for them, they would jump around with joy, and take it to the fields as soon as they could. It was so much fun playing with them. They loved flying kites too.

I gave them two dried dates each one day, which I brought with me from Oman, where I spent a few days staying with a friend before going to Nepal. Those children were savouring them for 10 minutes…and there we go. Umm umm umm….a whole box gone in a minute. It was amazing to watch them enjoy every little bite they took.

After a month and a half spent in Nepal, it was time for my exciting adventure. Everest Base Camp Fundraising Trek, which was organized by VSN and the money fund raised was going towards a new home for the children I was looking after, as soon as VSN took over from that horrible manager.

A group of 12 of us from 7 different countries met in Vaishali Hotel, Kathmandu and took an early morning flight to Lukla on 2nd October 2006. It was a scary flight with a breathtaking view. The tiniest plane, flying through the Himalayas landing on a 100m long -or short in this case- landing strip, which is built into the mountain side. Crazy!

After a tea and a cheese sandwich in Lukla (2840m;93117 feet) we started to make our way to Everest Base Camp. We stopped walking in the afternoon and spent the evening playing cards, drinking endless amount of tea, reading and chatting. These were the activities for most of our evenings.

After waking up, we saw the most spectacular snow capped mountains, what weren’t visible when we arrived. At this point we didn’t know each other too well, but we all had a twinkle in our eyes, which said. This is going to be such a fun adventure!

The second day was the most difficult one, simply because it was the steepest climb, and we had reached the altitude where ‘altitude sickness’ can kick in. We left Phakding (2610m;8563 feet) after breakfast and walked through forests and passed many suspension bridges. One of the many rivers was roaming below, giving a lovely background noise throughout the trek.

We were stopped by the Maoist and we had to “donate” some money. Lucky we were with guides, and that it was a fundraising trek, otherwise we would’ve had to “donate” much more.

We arrived to Namche Bazaar (3440m;11286 feet), which is the last town before Everest therefore a major stop off point for those trekking to Everest Base Camp.

Some of the porters we saw on the way made our jaws drop to the ground. They carry all sort of stuff from food to metal wires wearing flip flops, taking us over. And there goes the German guy with his full on gear huffing and puffing. Sorry, nothing against Germans, it’s just they are probably the most prepared bunch out of all nations, right?
I got to taste my very first deep fried Mars bar here, which I think was the last one as well.

This story continues tomorrow as Viktoria reaches Everest Base Camp and prepares for the Annapurna Circuit Trek.

To follow up on this inspirational volunteer story please connect with Viktoria Barna on Facebook

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CrazyJourney Community comments on travel in Nepal

I’ve just done a 100 mile run in himalayas in indian/napal border. Amazing. Heres my race review | www.johnnysultrablog.co.uk

I trekked the Annapurna Himalayas last year – SO amazing, fell in love, want to go back and do Everest Base Camp.
www.desireekoh.com

Never Nepal, but yes to Rockies, Appalachians, Andes, Alps and several mountain peaks in the Caribbean. All exciting and fun
www.walknevis.com

Not for luxury travellers, for most it is beautiful, people are friendly, take your shots before going, drink bottle water. jimsswong.yolasite.com

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Famous Explorer, Mike Horn, has a history of World Record Expeditions

Luke Bream — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:32:27 +0000

Reading through the famous explorer Mike Horn’s book conquering the impossible about his world record solo circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle I was struck by two important lessons that we can apply to life in general or our own expedition preparations.

In 2004 he finished a staggering feat of human endurance when his expedition a two-year, 3 month solo circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle – by boat, kayak, ski kite and on foot ended.

Starting and finishing at North Cape in Norway, he became the first man to travel the Arctic Circle without motorized transport, completing a 20,000km journey through Greenland, Canada, Alaska, the Bering Strait and Russia’s Siberia, pulling a kevlar sledge piled with 180kg of equipment and food.

Prior to this Mike had an outstanding pedigree in extreme expeditions. Including Amazon Expedition, a solo, un-motorized traverse of the South American continent taking 6 months and Latitude Zero, the circumvolution of the world around the equator. Taking 18 months Mike Horn sailed, paddled, canoed and cycled around the world.

Valuable lessons from one of worlds greatest explorers

Before attempting the solo circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle expedition in 2004, Mike Horn did 2 things which I think we can learn alot from. Both in the sense that he was humble enough to do them and also how we can apply them to our own expedition projects.

The arctic was a completely foreign landscape to him and he recognized that he didn’t have a hope of being successful there without serving some kind of apprenticeship and learning from the best.

The first thing he did was to get himself invited on an expedition to Greenland with two Swiss explorer JeanTroillet and Erhard Loretan (3rd man to climb all the 8000m peaks without oxygen). This gave Mike the opportunity to be mentored by two of the world’s greatest Himalayan mountaineering experts.

On this Greenland expedition he basically worked as a packhorse but it gave him the opportunity to watch, listen, learn and soak up as much knowledge and information as possible. The most valuable and life saving lesson was the art of PATIENCE.

In conditions of extreme cold knowing when to stay in the tent and not to push on can be the difference between life and death. A naturally impatient and impulsive man it was a difficult lesson to learn. But vital as in arctic whiteout conditions many explorers have become lost and frozen to death just 2m from their tents

Mike Horn posses two of the most important characteristics of an extreme expedition explorer. These being a rock solid, steady temperament and an enormous capacity for physical endurance. But on returning from the Greenland Expedition he wondered if these were enough to fulfil his dreams of a solo circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle.

With this in mind he sought the advice and guidance of Borge Ousland, the first man to reach the North Pole solo as well as the first to cross Antarctica solo. Mike visited Norway to apprentice with him. To learn everything he could about this famous explorer, his way of life, his personality, the way he worked, his attitudes, and daily routines.

Mike didn’t know and had never met Borge however he was welcomed into his home and and over a number of days shared his polar knowledge and experience.

These examples of serving apprenticeships with expedition experts and learning everything we can from them are valuable and give us an insight into the character of Mike Horn and demonstrate why he went on to become one of the world’s most famous expedition explorers.

Mike has written an account of his solo circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle expedition called conquering the impossible

He is currently leading a fantastic ocean expedition for young explorers. For more information please visit Pangaea

Credits for the images in this article about extreme adventure expeditions and the lessons that famous explorers can teach us belong to Mike Horn

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