Ok,

A thinking person’s outdoor website and blog you ask?

Yep, they are few and far between, as many are full of advertisements or  information copied from other sites,  like Our Hiking Blog!

We have just discovered a terrific and highly recommended site maintained by Dave Pidgeon called Compass Points. With  conversations such as:

• Does real wilderness exist in the US?
• Use of webcams by rangers in the “wilderness”
• A father’s Wilderness Journey
• Change the Climate Change debate is it well worth a visit.

Hiking the Loyalsock Trail in Pennsylvania.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/compasspointsmedia/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

Why do we like it?
√ Well written

√ Well researched

√ Beautifully presented

√ Great image selection

√ Unbiased gear reviews

√ Leaning to “the left” and very Green

It √ all the boxes for us!

In addition, Dave has put together Compass Points TV a channel on You Tube and has several video’s due for release in March. A very busy young fellow we think!

Who is Dave?

From his site:

Dave is an avid backpacker and hiker having trekked across diverse environments from the Adirondacks to Arizona. His international travels have swept him from the impoverished Gold Coast of the Dominican Republic to the old battleground neighborhoods of Belfast, Northern Ireland, always in search of compelling stories to tell. He also enjoys giving hiking and traveling gear rigorous testing and is available to publications for regular gear testing.

Dave lives in Lititz, Pa., with his wife, Alison.

So, for any of you kind readers who have the time or inclination to read some great outdoor information, drop by the site and check it out.  It’s a refreshing place, a bit different and a good read.  Well done Dave.

Thinking of hiking in the Grand Canyon?

Looking for some outdoor adventure, spectacular scenery and fantastic vistas?

In this guest post, Alan, recounts his recent backpacking trip on the  South Kaibab trail to Bright Angel Creek campground and then  up the Bright Angel Trail to Indian Gardens and beyond in the Grand Canyon National Park.

Alan - Plateau Point

Over to Alan and his trip report:

Frank has asked me to contribute a piece to the blog about my recent  5 day, 4 night backpacking trip in Grand Canyon National Park.

I think that only Frank and Sue’s enthusiasm for The Overland Track matches mine for Grand Canyon.

Make no mistake about it, Grand Canyon is one of the most beautiful places on the planet.  Most visitors only stand at the rim of this vast canyon – over 200 miles long, over 15 miles across and 1 mile deep.  Formed over the last 6-7 million years by the mighty Colorado River, it is a walk through geologic time.  Rock walls at the bottom of the canyon are over 1.3 billion years old.

Grand Canyon -First view of Colorado River

I have visited the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona (about an 8 hour drive east from Los Angeles or a 4 hour drive north from Phoenix (Arizona’s capital) several times, always for great day hikes but until this recent trip had never hiked to the bottom and back out.

This is an effort that needs to be treated with respect.  I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that hiking in the canyon is serious business.  With summer temperatures often reaching 120 degrees Fahrenheit and little shade, one has to really prepare.  It is strongly advised to avoid the hottest months.  Water is scarce at times and being rescued is not always possible.

Mule Deer -Grand Canyon

My friend Roger and I planned our early November trip (late autumn in the US) so as to avoid hot weather.  We arrived at the south rim of the canyon in time for a 7 am shuttle bus to the trailhead for the South Kaibab trail.  Early morning greeted us with very cold weather, however, on that day, it warmed up quickly.  Deserts are known for their big temperature swings.  We hiked down the South Kaibab trail for about 7 hours, frequently pausing to admire the amazing scenery that seems to change by the minute depending upon how the sunlight hits the canyon walls.

The Grand Canyon

During the 7 hours on the trail we descended from 7000 feet above sea level to about 2400 feet.  Plant life and rock formations continue to change throughout our descent.  At the bottom we finally reached the Colorado River, having seen it from afar and heard the sound of its rapids as we approached.  Our destination was Bright Angel Campground along the Bright Angel Creek near Phantom ranch.  (Yes, there is actually a ranch with lodging and food at the very bottom).

Tents at Bright Angel Campground

Here we spent 2 nights in our tents along with the constant, pleasant sound of the creek just meters from us.  On our 2nd day we went on a great day hike along the river and across 2 suspension bridges

Grand Canyon - Suspension Bridge

(I also tried to heal – with the help of ice from the park ranger and a bandage – my badly twisted ankle)After our 2^nd night we began a several hour hike up the Bright Angel Trail to our next destination – Indian Gardens.  About half-way up we spent 2 nights at this desert oasis with water and Cottonwood trees managing a great day hike to an area overlooking the river called Plateau Point from where we experienced unbelievably awesome views of this spectacular place.

Grand Canyon -from Plateau Point

After two nights at Indian Gardens (weathering a hail storm during the second night) we began our final several hour hike out.  Miles of switchbacks, no reliable water sources, and relentless uphill hiking finally led us back to the canyon’s south rim.

Grand Canyon -switchbacks

It is nearly impossible to describe the beauty of the Grand Canyon.  Photographs hardly do it justice.  The vastness is difficult to imagine.

Visitors must be prepared for all extremes of weather, food and water.  Water was available at our camping areas and river water can be used if purified, however, we often carried 5-7 liters.  Fires are not permitted and backcountry permits are required for any overnight camping – they should be arranged months in advance.

I could go on forever about the beauty, the hazards, the poisonous scorpions (but in Australia you aren’t too intimidated by these things), the mule trains and more.

If you are tempted to plan a trip, feel free to contact me via the blog and I’ll gladly give you more information.

Many thanks to Alan for his great trip report, it certainly has inspired us to think about a trip to the States to do some hiking in the Grand Canyon.

Side Note:  Alan and Frank met via Our Hiking Blog a couple of years ago when Alan contacted us about hiking the Overland Track in Tasmania.  We struck up a great friendship (you know, one of those  internet relationships!)  and Frank decided to join Alan on the trip to Tasmania.

Of course we blogged about it, here are the two posts:

The Overland Track – what scenery?  Trip report with Alan

Backpacking the Overland Track – a view from the States