We are explorers, wanderers, travelers, nomads. We strive to project the authenticity of places we visit through honest words and visuals. Enjoy!
All tagged hiking
Jeju Island is often referred to as the “Korean Hawaii”. In March 2024, we walked the majority of the Jeju Olle Trail (제주도 올레길), a 437 kilometer (270 miles) walking path that circumnavigates the island. Budget, logistics, food, and life on the trail…
Daily notes and initial impressions from our first three days of the Jeju Olle Trail. Photos and commentary on courses 20 and 21 from Gimnyeong (김녕리) to Siheung (시흥). Highlights included Woljeong Beach and Sehwa Beach, Haenyeo Museum…
We hiked South Korea’s Jeju Olle Trail in March 2024. This post covers days 4-7, courses 1, 1-1, and 2. Scenic landmarks include: Seongsan Ilchubong, Udo Island, and more…
We hiked South Korea’s Jeju Olle Trail in March 2024. This post covers days 8-10, courses 3-5. Cultural highlights: Kim Young Gap gallery (Course 3), Jeju Folk Village (Course 4), and Baramseom (바람섬) Sculpture Gallery (Course 5)…
We hiked South Korea’s Jeju Olle Trail in March 2024. This post covers days 11-12 along course 6 - 8, including major attractions in and around Seogwipo…
We hiked South Korea’s Jeju Olle Trail in March 2024. This post covers days 13-15, courses 14, 13 and 12, walking counter-clockwise. Highlights: Hyeopjae and Keumneung Beaches, artist village, and UNESCO Geopark…
We hiked South Korea’s Jeju Olle Trail in March 2024. This post covers our final two days on courses 11 and 10. Highlights: Mt. Sanbang, Alddreu Airforce Base, Songaksan viewpoint…
This post series details our 5-day high altitude hut-to-hut trek in the Japan Northern Alps in late September 2023. Our trek started at Murodo and ended at Shin-Hotaka in Chūbu-Sangaku National Park, covering 40 miles and loads of ascent and descent…
Japan Alps: This post provides cost, budget and logistical details for our 5-day hut-to-hut trek in the Japanese Northern Alps.
Day 1 of our five day Japan Alps Trek started at 8,000+ feet above sea level, with no acclimatization. It was up-and-down over steep, rocky terrain for the next several hours, with swirling mist, rugged ridge tops, and juniper-covered Alpine meadows…
Day 2 of the Japan Alps Trek was the longest and most strenuous section, with several rock scramble peaks, steep descents, and a final ridge-back climb to Mt. Yakushi, one of Japan’s “100 Most Famous Mountains”…
Day 3 of the Japan Alps Trek was the highlight of our trek, traversing broad highland meadows with magnificent views. A long descent into the cirque of Mt. Kurobegoro was brilliant with the first blazes of the Fall foliage. Lots of photos in this stage…
Day 4 of the Japan Alps Trek was short and wild as we hiked through gale force winds in a whiteout! Sugoroku-goya Hut offered a festive, safe shelter to weather the storm…
Day 5 of the Japan Alps Trek was a descent to Shin Hotaka hot springs resort area, with a fantastic cloud show and a peak at Yari-ga-dake…
Kamikochi in Chubu Sangaku National Park is the most iconic tourist destination in the region. We spent our last day in the Japan Alps walking a forest path, soaking in the sights, and planning our return trip…
A weekend of relaxation and contemplation is just 3 hours from Seoul on the KTX high speed train to Suncheon, in South Jeolla Province. This get-away is zero stress! Activities include deeply inhaling the sweet smell of pine, listening to the entrancing sway of bamboo, sipping green tea, and embracing silence.
My biggest take-away from our 24 days on the John Muir Trail is that every person’s journey on any trail is going to be unique, shaped by prior hiking experience, physical conditioning, ability to acclimate, weather, gear and many other variables. Sure - watch and read other people’s reports to get a sense for what to expect. But walk into the wilderness expecting the unexpected…because it’s the “unexpected” that turns a planned through-hike into a memorable adventure.
This post costs our packing list, base weight details, and budget for our 24 day through-hike of the John Muir Trail in 2022.
Summer 2022 John Muir Trail. First leg of our SOBO JMT hike: Tuolumne Meadows to Reds Meado. Highlights: Lyell Canyon, Donahue Pass, Maries Lakes, Thousand Islands & Garnet Lakes, Mts. Lyell, Banner & Ritter, Shadow Lake, Devils Postpile, and Reds Meadow.
Summer 2022 John Muir Trail. 2nd leg of our SOBO JMT hike: Reds Meadow to Vermillion Valley Resort. Highlights: Duck Creek, Purple Lake, Virginia Lake, Tully Hole, Squaw Lake, Silver Pass, Lake Thomas Edison, and Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR).
