Walks

The Walk : decision

Outline

• Some background facts • Three trail options

– Info• Links• Photos• Whatever

• Decision (some arbitrary point in the future)– Criteria :

• Length • Location • Cost • Overall prettiness• Vacational feasibility

Some background facts

• The idea : "ooooh. I'd like to go on a walk. Josh and I should go on a walk.”

• The date : next summer (2013)• The original possible locations : – Scotland– Long Trail– Kayaking – Atlantic Canada

Option one : Staying close to home

The Long Trail

The Long Trail : Some basic facts…

• Location – Vermont• oldest long-distance trail in US (1910-1930)• 272 miles

– Massachusetts border (near Williamstown, Massachusetts) to the Canadian border (near North Troy, Vermont)

– Coincides with the Appalachian Trail for 100 miles (160 km)• traverses almost all of the Green Mountains' major

summits, including (S->N) : Glastenbury Mountain, Stratton Mountain, Killington Peak, Mount Abraham, Mount Ellen, Camel's Hump, Mount Mansfield, and Jay Peak.

• nearly 70 primitive shelters

… and some narrative description

• Although the Long Trail is known as Vermont's "footpath in the wilderness," its character may more accurately be described as backcountry.

• climbs rugged peaks and passes pristine ponds, alpine bogs, hardwood forests and swift streams.

• steep in some places, muddy in others, and rugged in most.

• the Long Trail offers endless hiking opportunities for the day hiker, weekend overnighter, and extended backpacker.

Some photos from Google Image Search :

… and some more

And a few points from Josh :

• It’s in Vermont!• The North-East is nice. It really is.• 272 miles is long, but not wow-that’ll-take-

forever long– Southern Upland Way : 212 miles, took me 15 days– GR10 (1st portion…) : ~200 miles (?), 20 days

• Close to home, etc. is good• Fulfils life-long goal (Cat)

Option two: Penance and pilgrimage

Route of Santiago de Compostela

The Way : Some basic facts…

• Pretty much as long or short as you want… and can take in Northern Spain, Basque country, southern Spain, and/or Western France

• pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia (NW Spain)– remains of the apostle Saint James are buried– one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval

times• UNESCO World Heritage Site• Pilgrim Office of Santiago awards more than 100,000

compostelas a year• The Way stars Martin Sheen, and I will watch it this weekend

A map from Wikipedia

… and some photos

Option three: West Side

Pacific Crest Trail (not the whole thing…)

Some basic facts

• 2,650 miles• Mexico to Canada through Cali, Oregon and Washington• passes through six out of seven of North America's

ecozones including:– high and low desert– old-growth forest – alpine country

• ranges in elevation: just above sea level at the Oregon-Washington border, to 13,153 feet (4,009 m) at Forester Pass in the Sierra Nevada.

• passes through 25 national forests and 7 national parks

A bit of narrative

• Obviously, this is a broad suggestion, nothing specific– Would need to be narrowed down…

• Could check off some places from my list of Places To Go

• Guaranteed good weather (in certain places)

A map and a picture

And some more pictures

Costs

• Long Trail : $• Chemin de St Jacques : $$$• PCT : $$ - $$$

Scenery

• Spectacularness :– Long Trail : **– The Way : *– PCT : ***

• Hillyness : – Long Trail : **– The Way : * – PCT : ** to ***