From the Highlands to the Himalayas, these hikes take in some “of the worlds” most spectacular landscapes. Theyre not for the faint-hearted, but keen trekkers will desire the challenges posed by each
Makalu Base Camp, Nepal
The trek to the base of the fifth highest mountain in the world passes from dense rain forests over steep elapses, to high-pitched grasslands below glacier-clad pinnacles. Although only 125 miles long, the trek is tough as it commits an ascent of more than 7,000 metres and remote and rugged terrain. Once over the 4,100 -metre Shipton La( pass ), the street descends into the stunning Barun river valley and clamber to the tongue of the Barun glacier, below the largest dark wedge of Makalu.As the only mode to get back is over the Shipton La, there is a degree of commitment not required on numerous treks. There are few the towns and teahouses, making this even more of a wilderness trekIt. passes through every climatic zone, from tropical forest to tundra and is an excellent route to event the huge series of environs found in Nepal.
Twelve-day navigated trek( 14 darkness total) with KE Adventure in October or November, 2,445 pp full-board
Mountain tufts , Corsica
The Grand Randonne 20( GR20) is a move for those working with a good head for summits who are happy scrambling over steep rocks for hours and epoches at a time. This dazzling direction guides along the spine of Corsica, following the comb of the mountains. The crux of the road is the swoop into and climb out of the great boulder container of the Cirque de la Solitude. Here, chains and a ladder are bolted to the boulder in places to aid progress.Its not a region to decline. The GR20 is 112 miles long but takes most walkers at least 2 week, because of the engulf, bumpy terrain.
Two-week navigated trek with KE Adventure , varying weekly 3 July and 4 September, 1,595 pp full-board
Cross the Arctic Circle , Sweden
In Lapland, in the far northward of Sweden, a 280 -mile footpath crosses the Arctic Circle and runs through four national parks and the most significant nature reserve in Europe. This is the Kungsleden the Kings Way and it is splendid. Starting at Hemavan in the south, the route leads through pristine yearn and birch groves and Arctic tundra before finishing at Abisko, on the shores of Tornetrsk lake. “Theres” lodges along the way, run by the Swedish Tourist Association, although camping is necessary on some nights which I recommend anyway. Long lakes are traversed by ferries run by local beings, or by rowing craft. Glacier-clad mountains strand the roadway, including the highest in Sweden: 2,097 -metre Kebnekaise. The latter can be climbed on an extra excursion. Its an interesting rising and the views from the summit are tremendous.
Eight-day self-guided path with Macs Adventure , 425 pp including some banquets and telephone help
After the watershed, Scotland
Running for 745 miles from Peel Fell in the Cheviot Hills, to the north-east tip-off of Scotland at Duncansby Head, the Scottish Watershed( between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea) is a twine, circuitous roadway. It averages 450 metres in height and crosses numerous peaks, including 44 munros( slopes above 914 metres) and 24 corbetts( between 762 and 914 metres ). Theres no direction and the lane is not always as obvious as youd expect, so good sailing abilities are indispensable. The Watershed doesnt run in anything like a straight line and, on occasion, you can be thoughts south even though you are following it northwards.The terrain is also a challenge, often bumpy and boggy, sometimes dense with trees, sometimes steep and rocky.There are few buildings on or near the Watershed. Its surprisingly remote and lonely but also a superb walk.
ribbonofwildness.co.uk
High and remote, Pyrenees
Several trails run along the mountains from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Of these, the Haute Randonne Pyrnenne( HRP) is the most remote and challenging as it remains high in the mountains, intersecting many transfers and climbing various tops. The mete between France and Spain guides along the pinnacle of the Pyrenees and the HRP spans it many times. It is about 500 miles long and takes around six weeks to complete. T as the direction isnt specified and numerous changes are possible. There is a path much of the method but the direction isnt often waymarked and the terrain is steep and rocky. Mountain huts are sometimes a few days apart, so camping is a necessity and a boon as there are a lot lovely spots to pitch in. The HRP overtakes through numerous landscapes: some luxuriant and dark-green, some alpine, some almost desert.
Guided HRP amble with Mountain Bug causes the option of address the trail in three one-week stages, varying 30 July, 6 Aug and 13 Aug, from 710 full-board
The Pacific Northwest Trail, US
Far less well known, and much newer than the Appalachian or Pacific Crest Trails, the Pacific Northwest Trail( PNT) runs 1,200 miles from the Continental Divide to the Pacific Ocean. Starting in the Rocky Mountains in Montana, it bridges the remote, little-visited Purcell and Selkirk mountains and the Kettle River range, before spanning the arid sagebrush country of the Okanogan and climbing into the North Cascades. Then sees a coastal and island segment around Puget Sound before the final mountains of the Olympic range and a finish along the spectacular Pacific coast to Cape Alava, the westernmost part in the contiguous 48 governments. Three national park are swept Glacier, North Cascades and Olympic plus various designated wilderness orbits, includes the immense and beautiful Pasayten Wilderness. The PNT is a defying roadway with few waymarks and often no clear trail.
pnt.org
The Arizona Trail, US
The desert terrain of the US south-west is a difficult but reinforcing target for baby-walkers. One splendid footpath passes some 810 miles, through the heart of Arizona from Mexico to Utah. En route, the Arizona Trailpasses through deserts, canyons, woods and mountains. In the southern part of the state are the sky islands: small, steep forested mountain ranges that soar above the desert. These then fade into the flat, red-hot Sonoran desert( take spate of liquid) before the route climbs into two more extensive mountain ranges the Mazatzals and the Superstitions. These mountains all have a touch of the desert about them.This changes in the northern part of Arizona as the immense Ponderosa pine forests of the Colorado Plateau are intersected, but before that, there is the foreground of the footpath, the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon.
aztrail.org
Great Divide Trail, Canada
Running some 745 miles through the southern half of the Canadian Rockies, from Waterton Lakes near the US border to Kakwa provincial park in north Alberta, the Great Divide Trail( GDT) is a wilderness mountain roadway that closely parallels the watershed between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. It takes in five national parks Waterton Lakes, Banff, Kootenay, Yoho and Jasper along with four designated wilderness the regions and seven county ballparks. The view is breathtaking and wildlife includes grizzly births, wolves, moose and mountain goats. The footpath isnt waymarked and there are some slice with no trail at all often of the street is in remote country and there are few agreements. “Theres” steep ascents and swoops and brooks that have to be forded. This is not a path for novices, but the honors for the effort necessary are great.
greatdividetrail.com
Lands End to John OGroats, UK
Walking from the south-west angle of Britain to the north-east is a wonderful practice to appreciate the enormous variety of view found in our small island. The numerous parties stepping and cycling it for kindnes every year mainly stick to the roads though. To truly suffer the pomp of this step you need to follow footpaths and racetracks. Numerous long-distance paths can be linked to create a superb step. The South-West Coast Path( with a diversion to Dartmoor if you tire of the coast ), the Quantock Way, Offas Dyke, the Pennine Way, the West Highland Way, the Great Glen Way, and the Cape Wrath Trail can all be followed in full or in part. Theres no list route, so they are able to differ it as much as you like. The total distance is around 1,250 miles but maybe you want to take in the Lake District or the Cairngorms and add to that.
landsendjohnogroats.info
Continental Divide Trail, US
Stretching 3,000 -plus miles from Canada to Mexico, this course follows the watershed of the US along the Rocky Mountains. In Wyoming it contacts the Parting of the Waters, where Two Ocean Creek divides, one division starting a 3,500 -mile journey to the Atlantic, the other a 1,350 -mile journey to the Pacific. The CDT guides through much remote mountain and desert wilderness and is a challenging walk. Its not fully complete yet and there are cross-country segments as well as age-old roads and clay roads. Signposts are rare. The trail flows through many varied landscapes the prescribing crests of the Northern Rockies in Montana and Idaho, the thermal geysers and hot spring of Yellowstone national park, the flat desert of the Great Divide Basin in Wyoming, sumptuous meridians again on the highest slouse of the walk in the Colorado Rockies, and finally the deserts and semi-deserts of New Mexico.
continentaldividetrail.org
Chris Townsend has wasted over four decades as a long-distance walker. His latest book, Out There , issued by Sandstone Press, 8.99. To buy a photocopy for 7.19 including UK p& p see theguardianbookshop.com or call 0330 333 6846
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