Saturday 20/10/2018 Mount Lady MacDonald
Banff National Park, Alberta, CANADA
Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Beth Davies
This is a stunning and exhilarating day hike if the conditions are favourable. Be prepared for constant climbing uphill, steep at times, for five kilometres. This is a well frequented trail but is adjacent a wildlife corridor so the usual precautions including carrying bear spray are necessary.
Friday 19/10/2018 Peyto Lake
Banff National Park, Alberta, CANADA
Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Beth Davies
The trailhead for this short but outstanding walk is at the Bow Summit car park, on the Icefields Parkway 42km north of Lake Louise.
Friday 19/10/2018 Wilcox Pass
Jasper National Park, Alberta, CANADA
Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Beth Davies
The trailhead for this scenic walk is located near the Columbia Icefields 100km south of Jasper at the entrance to the Wilcox Creek Campground. On a clear day you can expect to see expansive views of the Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefields but be prepared to share the trail with wildlife including mountain sheep.
Thursday 18/10/2018 Valley of the Five Lakes
Jasper National Park, Alberta, CANADA
Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Beth Davies
The trailhead for this pleasant half day walk is located along the Icefield Parkway 9km south of Jasper. There are five scenic lakes with views of the surrounding peaks, varied vegetation and wildlife encounters along the route.
Monday 8/10/2018 Chester Lake
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
Alberta, CANADA
Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Beth Davies
This out and back forested trail leads to an alpine meadow and lake (Chester Lake) below Mount Chester. Wildlife encounters can include bears, birds and rabbits. This is a year round maintained trail which would be a pleasant cross country ski during the colder months. In sections the trail is segregated for skiers. It is accessed via the trailhead on the Smith Dorrien / Spray Lakes road.
Sunday 7/10/2018 Ptarmigan Cirque
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
Kananaskis Country, Alberta, CANADA
Participants: Beth Davies, Sue Davies (Report and Photos)
Ptarmigan Cirque trail leads to a high mountain bowl between Mount Arethusa and Mount Rae close to the Highwood Pass in Peter Lougheed Park near Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada. The Ptarmigan Cirque hiking trail is a short loop in the cirque. Possible wildlife sighting may include deer, bears and mountain sheep. There are wonderful panoramic views for relatively little effort.
Saturday 17/08/2018 Ghost Gum Walk, Ormiston Gorge
West MacDonnell National Park, NORTHERN TERRITORY
Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Moore
Ormiston Gorge is one of several spectacular gorges along the Finke River which are easily accessible by two wheel drive vehicle from Alice Springs.
Tuesday 14/08/2018 Wangi Falls
Litchfield National Park, NORTHERN TERRITORY
Marranunggu country
Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Moore
This short walk starts at the base of the Wangi Falls where there is a tempting plunge pool. The pool is surrounded by river pandanus which provides food for fish and turtles. Saltwater and freshwater crocodiles inhabit the pools during the wet season. The sun unfortunately was in the wrong position early in the morning for good photos of the falls.
Tuesday 14/08/2018 Tjaetaba Falls
Litchfield National Park, NORTHERN TERRITORY
Marranunggu country
Participants: Sue Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Moore
The walk commences at Greenant Creek picnic area which is difficult to spot when driving from Tolmar Falls as there is no sign on the side of the road. Driving back from Wangi Falls there was a sign for the picnic area.
18/4/2018 – 5/5/2018 Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley
NEPAL
Distance: 362km Total Ascent: 35,900m Total Descent: 34,800m Time: 123 hours
NB: The GPS tracking results of distance, ascents and descents on this trek with its very deep valleys and surrounding high peaks is highly exaggerated, see my Track Info!
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Kaka Dural (Porter), Emily Jayne, Prabin Kumar Karki (Guide), Ralston Keyt, Sarah Keyt, Pawan Nepali (Porter), Ravi Phuyal (Porter), Rosan Rai (Assistant Guide), Wendy Young
At 8,163m the impressive Manaslu is the eighth highest mountain in the world. Meaning “mountain of the spirit” it’s name is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning “intellect” or “soul”. This trek is considered to a less crowded alternative to the more popular Everest Base camp or Annapurna circuit treks.
As with most treks in Nepal, it starts and finishes in Kathmandu. It is mandatory to have a guide on the Manaslu circuit, we had a very positive experience with Kathmandu based Himilayan Encounters.
This trek provides geographical and cultural diversity and when also completing the Tsum valley, provides an insight into remote Nepali village life.
The diversity of the scenery was remarkable over the 18 days of the walk, from subtropical jungle to the desolate and cold Larkya La pass at 5,160m. Stunning alpine scenery, unique remote villages and beautiful Tibetan Buddhist monasteries all combine to make this one of the best treks in Nepal.
11/10/2018 – 15/10/2018 Guthega – Twynam Creek – Mount Northcote – Watsons Crags – Mount Twynam
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo country
Distance: 61km Total Ascent: 3,620m Total Descent: 3,730m
Time: 61 hours
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Caroline Houghton (2 days), Ian Houghton (2 days), Mike Parkinson (3 days), Stephen Poole
5/10/2018 – 11/10/2018 Guthega – Mount Twynam – Mount Anderson – Watsons Crags – Little Twynam – Crummer Spur – Twynam Creek
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo country
Distance: 80km Total Ascent: 5,270m Total Descent: 5,270m
Time: 80 hours Track Info
Participants: Monika Binder (4 days), Melinda Brouwer (4 days), Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Stephen Poole