Osprey Backpack Review

Destinations

One of America's best hiking trails is the Pacific Crest Trail which runs from Mexico to Canada and crosses  Washington, Oregon, and California.

The  Pacific Crest Trail was first conceived in 1932 Clinton C. Clarke and designated a National Scenic Trail in 1968, and finally completed in 1993. The trail runs along the coast of the Pacific Ocean for over one hundred miles and crosses through six of the seven ecozones that are found in the United States. From blisteringly hot deserts to moist rain forests, the Pacific Crest Trail offers an amazing hiking experience. The Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Mojave Desert, Mt. Whitney, Northern California's Russian Wilderness, Marble Mountain, Yosemite National Park, the volcanoes in the Cascades, Mount Hood, Mount Shasta, the Columbia River Gorge, Crater Lake, the Northern Cascades, and Mount Rainier are all found along the trail.

Each year, there are over 300 people who try to hike the entire Pacific Crest Trail in one season. Unlike the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Trail doesn't only have thru-hikers. It also has thru-riders. These are people who ride a horse through the entire trail. Both thru-hiking and thru-riding are massive undertakings, because the trail runs two thousand six hundred and fifty miles.

The usual duration of such a trip is between four and six months. The average distance covered in a day is about twenty miles. Each year, about 180 people reach their goal of completing a thru-hike. The first thru-hike is said to have been made in 1970 by a 17-year-old kid named Eric Ryback. He wrote a book about his travels. There is debate about the validity of Ryback's achievements, with books by Wilderness Press claiming that he accepted rides along the trail. The Pacific Crest Trail is the place to see America's most extraordinary landscapes, alongside coyotes, cougars, lizards and snakes.

A great opportunity for you to use your Osprey Aether 70 backpack!

You just got yourself to Valdez, Alaska and now you're wondering what people do up here besides fish. Why don't you grab your Osprey Aether 70 backpack and your camera and check out the many trails Valdez has to offer.

The trails listed below are one of Valdez's best kept secrets because they are not very well publicized. The breathtaking scenery you will see is second to none! Valdez has frequently been called "Little Switzerland" for good reason. For directions to any of these trails, check with the Valdez Visitor's Center or just ask one of the friendly locals who are  always happy to help. So this is what to expect when you head off to Valdez, Alaska.

Dock Point Trail

This short trail is full of numerous photographic opportunities. The variety of plant life to be seenon this trail is enough to keep any nature lover happy. You will see excellent views around Port Valdez, including snow capped mountains rising from the water's edge that is enough to take your breath away. Give yourself at least 45 minutes to enjoy this three-quarters mile round trip. To find this trail simply walk across the road from the boat launch ramp.

Mineral Creek Trail

The Mineral Creek Valley is a photographer's dream with high mountains towering above the river and too many waterfalls to count. Most of this six mile plus trail is actually a rough gravel road.

Due to washouts and rockslides you won't get very far in a vehicle. I would recommend you take mountain bikes, which can be rented in town if you didn't bring your own. The last eight-tenths of a mile is a dirt trail that leads back to an old stamp mill where gold ore used to be processed. This is gold country and you may also see recent signs of gold prospecting on your trek. Bring a gold pan along and try your luck in the river.You never know – it might pay for you holiday!

Solomon Gulch Trail

This beautiful hike takes starts off Dayville Road near Allison Point. This moderately difficult route (has a couple steep spots) will take you through spruce forests and along a short section of the pipeline maintenance road. Sorry, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline is buried along this stretch. There is a viewing area near the top that offers a great view of Port Valdez. Valdez looks so small tucked against the mountains on the other side. A well marked trail will take you the rest of the way up to the dam and Solomon Lake. One of the first things you will notice is the unusual green color of the water. This is due to large amounts of copper in the area. In fact, there is even an old copper mine submerged when the valley was flooded.

Shoup Bay Trail

This scenic trail cuts across the Mineral Creek flats and meanders along the base of the Chugach Mountains. The many varieties of Alaskan wildflowers will astound you. In late summer, you may lose track of time as you stop to feast on Salmonberries along the way. The first three miles will bring you to Gold Creek. This is a good turning around point for most folks. There is a bridge, but recent floods have rerouted the creek around it. You may need a good sense of adventure, and rubber boots, to get across. Once across Gold Creek, the next six and a half miles will bring you to Shoup Bay where you can check out Shoup Glacier and a Kittiwake rookery. This section of the trail can be difficult but the views are worth it.

Keystone Canyon

I personally think that Keystone Canyon is one of the most beautiful places in Alaska. Keystone Canyon has two restored trails: The Keystone Canyon Pack Trail and the Goat Trail. I It is recommended to park at the pullout across from Bridal Veil Falls. The Goat Trail starts here and climbs to wind through the canyon. A short way along you will find the Pack Trail diverging off the Goat trail. This will take you over the top of Horsetail Falls and wind back down to the Valdez side of Keystone Canyon. Along both trails be on the lookout for old artifacts as this was the original route through Keystone Canyon long before the road existed. Along all of these trails, remember you are in Alaska. You may see bears or other wildlife. Be a noisy hiker so they know you're coming. Keep your distance if you do spot wildlife. Wear sturdy walking shoes and bring along plenty of water. Alaskan weather is always prone to change, so bring along an extra sweater, just in case. Make sure your camera is fully charged and enjoy your hiking along the trails of Valdez.

If you’re a die hard backpacker, this is one hike you won’t want to miss.

A trip to Paria Canyon is not as famous as other hikes in the south-west, but it is one of the most unique. As you walk along the canyon you will be surrounded by the distinctive red sandstone of this area, creating a visual experience that is second to none.

This area was officially designated a wilderness in 1980 and it covers an area of thirty-eight square miles of the Arizona and Utah desert. Over the entire length of the walk the canyon widens and narrows, approaching only 25 meters in some places. When you get to Buckskin Gulch its even narrower,  just 3 feet wide in some places. Buckskin Gulch is in fact, the longest and deepest canyon in the United States.

Your hike through Paria Canyon will take several days depending on the route you choose and whether you make a detour and take all the side trips along the way, such as Arch or Buckskin Gulch Wrather. Depending on your speed your hiking trip through the gorge will take anywhere from four to seven days. The more time you spend on your trip, more fun you'll have to explore your surroundings as you make your way through Paria.

To preserve the pristine nature of the desert, just twenty permits per day are given out to hikers in the canyon. In addition, hikers should prepare to carry their own waste with them.

The trek takes you along the bed of  the river canyon. Usually you will find that the water is ankle deep though this depends of course on the amount of rainfall there has been. You will also encounter large boulders along the way which will have to be traversed, as well as some steep slopes along the way. The barrel is not entirely devoid of evidence of human presence, however. Along the Paria Canyon, hikers will come across petroglyphs. These old drawings reflect indigenous peoples that once inhabited  the canyon.

There is much desert wildlife to be seen along the way, including eagles, mule deer and wild rabbits. You may also see desert bighorn sheep  and the endangered California Condor.

Paria Canyon is a unique destination that should undoubtedly be placed in any hiker's bucket-list. The fact that Pariah is not as well known as some other attractions in the south-west, will make your journey more memorable and one that others will never have the opportunity to share.

For places to stay, I recommend Paria Canyon Adventure Ranch

I wanted to tell you about one of my favorite parts of the world you might like to take your trusty Osprey Aether Backpack to! Snowdonia National Park is located in Northern Wales.

The landscape is dramatic and varied with mountains, high passes, craggy peaks, sheer precipices and cascading waterfalls, it contains over 100 glacial lakes (or Tarns) See picture.

Snowdonia National Park has well over 100 summits of varying heights and difficulties, to test the most experienced of climbers. Snowdonia was the training ground for some of the early mountaineers, who conquered Everest. Mount Snowdon is the highest peak 3560 feet (1085 meters).

For those of us who are not climbers, there is an amazing railway which rises within 66ft of the summit. This is one of the great railway journeys of the world – an unforgettable experience. Snowdonia National Park's geology consists of four types of rock, Pre-Cambrian, Cambrian, Ordovician and the youngest, Silurian over 400 million years old.

The shape and character of these ancient mountains changed when the glaciers melted after the Ice Age, taking out vast sections of the mountains, which became separated by deep valleys, creating the glacial lakes beneath. There are also numerous castles, fortress and museums that can be visited in this area.

More information can be found on the Snowdonia National Park Website.

In the far North West of England, near the border with Scotland is England's largest National Park, the Lake District . You will also find England's highest peak here, Scafell Pike and England's largest lake, Lake Windermere.

For the hiker, climber, mountaineer and mountain biker there are an endless number of expeditions to be made across this timeless and dramatic landscape.

Not be missed are the quaint small towns of Ambleside, Coniston, Grasmere, Keswick and Windermere where you will find places to stay and shops that sell all the right equipment you will need.

Napes Needle (see picture) is one of the most famous climbs in the Lake District, mainly because it was one of the first. Apparently modern rock climbing was invented here. For more information go to the Lake District National Park website.

What can I say about the well trodden 180 mile route that is the Tahoe-Yosemite trail? It is one of the most famous trails in North America and there have been countless books written about it. You know what?

I'm not going to say anymore, but instead point you to the best book on the Tahoe-Yosemite trail.