Stranger Things
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d e v o n
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
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Xuebing Du
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open
if i look back, i am lost
noise dept.
Kaledo Art
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oozey mess
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@insideepic
We feel incredibly excited to highlight and feature this people, who inspire us to dream big, dare new adventures and explore new lands!
They show us that nothing is impossible and fuel us with energy to live our life to the fullest!
All of them have amazing stories to tell, moments to show and journeys to follow. We are looking forward to share this stories with the world!
Stay tuned. Keep exploring!
Urgh this morning is a cold, wind in the face, foggy, truck-laden affair. But…still smiling!
The boys from Expedition1000 are kicking butt! Keep on whiking!
Exploring Northern India
India is a magic country, so vast and diverse, it would take months or even years to see it all. The Northern part of the country, because of its proximity to the Himalayas, is by far the best if you're looking for a good trek.
Trek the Milam Glacier
The Milam Glacier (3450m) trek is a challenging 8 day, 118km trek that starts off in Munsyari. The trail allows you to see the beautiful ancient trade route to Tibet and the spectacular gorges of the Gori Ganga River . Be sure you take all your food and water supplies for you as the villages along the route may not be able to provide it. Permits are free but you will need your passport. You can also hire a guide, porters and a cook in Munsyari if you want to trek in style.
The Valley of Flowers National Park
The Valley of Flowers is unlike anything you've seen before. Just imagine flowers everywhere, 87km2 of beautiful colourful flowers. It is completely worth the full day trek you will have to do to reach it. Depart from Govindghat and hike the well signposted trail until Ghangaria. The next day, you'll be able to enter the valley of flowers and take a long 6km hike through it to fully appreciate its uniqueness and beauty.
Explore Delhi
Delhi is a dazzling and exhausting city. Ancient monuments, magnificent museums, amazing food and constant activity can be both amazing and confusing to a first time visitor. Take your time and fully embrace the culture.
Visit Agra and the Taj Mahal
A trip to Northern India wouldn't be complete without seeing the mythical Taj Mahal. Agra is only 2 hours from Delhi by train and from there you can easily take a rickshaw that will take you there. Don't forget to visit the Agra Fort and the Fatehpur Sikri that are also UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Photo by Christian Haugen
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Paddle on Lake Nainital
Nainital is a popular destination known for its beautiful lake and forested hills that make it a perfect place to relax and take a breath of fresh air while looking at the Himalayas in the background. Naintal is easily accessible by train or bus from Delhi or the Nepal border.
Do a pit stop in Amritsar
Amritsar is right at the border of India and Pakistan and is home to the beautiful Golden Temple, a place of daily worship fir over 100,000 people. Take the chance to witness the border ceremony in Wagah (about 45min driving from Amritsar). It happens every day at sunset and is an impressive display of military pride.
The Chadar Trek
Hiking the Chadar, also known as the River Zanskar, is an unforgettable experience. This relatively easy 6 day trek involves trekking the frozen river in extreme conditions (temperatures reach -30°C-). You will be camping in caves, walk by frozen waterfalls and visit remote villages. This trek can only be done with a guide. The departure point is Leh about an hour out of Delhi by plane.
Photo by Partha Chowdhury
Chandrashila Trek
The Chandrashila Trek is relatively short but rewarding trek. It takes you to the world's highest Shiva temple (3600m) situated in Tungnath. You can keep trekking after the temple to reach the summit at 3900m where you'll have unbelievable views of the surroundings. Depart from Chopta and from there the trek is about 10km, doable in one day.
Photo by Paul Hamilton
Hands Up – The Pose: a social-experiment-turned-charity-liaison
We all crave adventure.
Kayaking through uncharted fjords in Iceland and Greenland doesn’t faze us, nor does free-soloing a massive flat-faced mountain in North America.
And that’s why we turn to Epiclist.
Epiclist fosters a communal sense of adventure, reminding those of us who dare to push the limits of daily life and travel that we’re not alone – and we never have to be. We have a desire for the liberation that only unrestricted travel and adventure can impart. And there’s nothing quite as rewarding as sharing that which we’ve accomplished with those who can truly appreciate the significance of our conquests. Inspiring others to new heights – sometimes literally -- is merely the beginning of what the Epiclist community has the capability of doing.
Hands Up – The Pose, a social-experiment-turned-charity-liaison, takes the idea of collective adventure and pushes it even further.
Imagine taking that journey you’ve always been dreaming of, like scaling Mt. Fuji, exploring the Franz Joseph Glacier in New Zealand, ascending Machu Picchu in Peru, or even going exploring via camel in Morocco and, at the same, time raising money for various charities fighting for great causes.
It is possible, and we can help!
How? By doing exactly what we’ve been doing all this time: fostering that fiery passion that urges us to travel and explore and seek boundless adventure, but adding a new element to the experience. Next time, when reaching that perfect view overlooking an endless ocean or a breathtaking summit, throw your hands up in air to celebrate and be sure to capture that perfect moment of exultation!
For a number of years a small organization has been urging people to do unbelievable things and travel to unimaginable places to snap a photo with their hands up. Each picture received generates another bit of money to a very deserving charity.
So let’s keep doing what we’re doing. Continue hiking across the hilltops of Scotland and don’t stop backpacking through Bali; keep reinventing these beautiful journeys and sharing them with the world. Only from now on, take a few minutes before you embark to look at Hands Up – The Pose on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to see if your destination is on the list for the World Wide Scavenger Hunt (launching June 15, 2014) or if it’s a part of one of the monthly charity challenges that run from September through May.
Check out this short video to learn more about what Hands Up – The Pose is and why it was started. Then take all of your expeditions and use them to help a great cause! \0/
Hands Up - The Pose has already been in Spain, Vietnam, Rome, The Taj Mahal, Amsterdam, Antarctica, Bangkok, Singapore, Afghanistan and many more places to be discovered on the Epiclist App.
Summit Aconcagua
Aconcagua is one of the "Seven Summits", the highest peaks on each continent. At 6962m, you're looking at a 2 week climb. Situated in Argentina, Aconcagua is South America's highest mountain and summiting it takes you on step closer to achieving every mountaineering's dream: Conquering all seven.
Gear up!
Summiting this 6962m monster should be improvised. Not to discourage you, but the success rate of climbing Aconcagua is about 60%. At high altitudes, it will get cold so make sure you bring warm clothes and the appropriate sleeping bag. You'll also need an ice axe and light crampons. If you decide to do a guided trek then all this equipment should be provided to you. Each of your bag cannot be more than 30kgs, the maximum a mule can carry. If you go solo, you'll have to purchase a permit before heading up - this can be done from Mendoza.
Get there
The best way to reach the Aconcagua Park is through the city of Mendoza, which is situated about 2 hours away from the start of the trails. It's also there that you will be able to book a guided trek if you wish to do so. The trails start from Penitentes.
Pick your route
There are many ways to summit Aconcagua but two of them are particularly popular: you can opt for the Normal Route or for the Polish Glacier Traverse Route. Both of these are the ones that have the lowest technical difficulties. Whichever way you choose to summit Aconcagua, you will need approximately 2 weeks. We chose to talk to you about the Normal Route. If you'd like to take on a challenge, check out the other potential trails there.
From Penitentes to Confluencia
This trek starts you off easy: only 4 or 5 hours of walking. At that point, you'll already be hiking from 2700m to 3370m so it is quite a steep ascent. Take your time, make sure you get used to the altitude.
From Confluencia to Plaza Francia and back
Plaza Francia is the best camp of the Aconcagua South Wall. This is probably one of the nicest point of the expedition. This day is dedicated to acclimatisation: hike to Plaza Francia, 4200m and come back to spend the night in Confluencia. You're looking at about 8 hours of trekking.
Hike to Base Camp Plaza de Mulas
From 3300 m to 4260m, this 9 hour hike is a tough one. Not only is it long but it's steep. At the end of the day, you'll have reached the biggest base camp of Aconcagua. When you reach it, you might start to feel a little lightheaded from the altitude. That's why it is recommended to take the next day to rest, hydrate yourself and eat a good meal.
Acclimatise
This one is an acclimatisation hike. Hike about 4 hours to take the equipment up the the base camp at 5200m and hike back down to Plaza de Mulas.
Up to Plaza Canada
Now that you should feel better with the altitude, hike to Plaza Canada, 5200m. This hike is about 4 hours.
From Plaza Canada to Nido De Condores
This climb will only take about 3 hours and, at 5400m, the views from Nido de Condores are spectacular if you have the chance to be there on a clear day.
Hiking to Camp Colera
As usual, do an acclimatisation climb. Take the equipment up to Camp Colera, at 6000m and hike back down. This is roughly a 6 hour return trip. Spend the night at Nido de Condores and go back up the next day.
Summit Day
By far the most demanding and most rewarding day of the climb. Make sure you get up early because this is a long climb, about 13 hours return. You'll pass through Independencia Refuge at 6500m before going up the Portezuelo del Viento and climbing La Canaleta and finally making it to the top. Let that overwhelming feeling success invade you, look around you, take a picture… You did it! Be proud.
Trek back from Plaza de Mulas to the Penitentes
You'll need a day or two to hike back down but it will be a piece of cake after the two weeks you've had. Enjoy a good meal and a hot shower, you did it. Go home and make sure to tell all your friends how much of a fantastic climb you are.
Discover Ireland's natural wonders
The Emerald Isle is small and yet offers some of the most beautiful natural wonders you could imagine. The small country is well worth the detour if you're looking for almost unreal landscapes.
Hiking the Gap of Dunloe and the lakes of Killarney
This 11km day long hike will take you through some rugged scenery of a mountain. As you hike up, you'll get some beautiful views of the surrounding lakes.
Visit the Giant's Causeway
This spectacular rock formation is Northern's Ireland"s only UNESCO World Heritage site. You'll have a hard time believing it's natural. The entrance is free so make sure you take a walk around this beautiful area.
Go around the Ring of Kerry
The Ring of kerry is the most common route to see the famous County Kerry, one of Ireland's most beautiful area. Start off from Killarney, either by car or by bike. If you go by car, do it counterclockwise and start early to avoid the tour buses.
Sea Kayaking in West Cork
Atlantic Sea Kayaking offers half day, full day and darkness kayaking trips that will take you along the coast where you can fully experience the nature around you. Sea kayaks are extremely stable, so don't be scared, book your expedition (from 50€)!
Coasteering in Connemara
Connemara is surely one of the beautiful areas in Ireland. A simple drive around will be enough to amaze you. If you want more of an adrenaline rush, coasteering is what you need. This mix of swimming through caves, climbing and jumping off cliffs all along the coastline should give you a good overview of Ireland's most precious gem.
Cycling in County Mayo
Cycling is very popular in Ireland. The County Mayo offers great trails with endless fantastic scenery: villages, lowlands, islands, castles, historic sites and beautiful coastal views. There are trails adapted to all levels of fitness.
Drive the Wild Atlantic Way
Supposably the longest define coastal drive in the world, the Wild Atlantic Way covers 2400km, offering incomparable views of the coastline and taking you through charming villages and ruins of ancient castles. Rent a car and drive from Inishowen Peninsula, all the way to Kinsale. A truly epic road trip.
Explore Dingle
This open air museum is best discovered by car. Make sure you drive to the top of Ireland's second tallest mountain, Mount Brandon (1000m). The rest of the peninsula is full of monuments, reminders of other times. Get lost in the mist that coats the coast and if you're brave enough, grab a surf board and dive into the freezing waters.
Ride the Black Swell
Professional surfers flock to Cornwall in January to experience the Black Swell, waves that go over 15m. Stay away if you're not experienced. That being said, Ireland has plenty of great surfing spots for amateurs such as Sligo or Donegal
Epiclist Evolution: We are live in 20 new App Stores
6 weeks ago we have released the 1.0 version of Epiclist on several App Stores. We have been thrilled to see the Epiclist community growing by thousands of new members. Together, you have created almost 3000 journeys and almost 10.000 steps, contributing with your travel experiences from around the world. Last week we have taken another big step on our journey: Epiclist is now live in 20 new App Stores, including India, New Zealand, Canada, Germany and Northern Europe. Its incredible how fast time goes by and how our journey keeps evolving, taking our team across the planet: - 2011: Me and my co-founder Olga start our backpacking journey in South-East-Asia, which kicked off our vision of the new travel discovery app! - 2013: We join Startup Chile and move to Santiago - 01.2014: We release the first official version of Epiclist in the US and Chilean App Stores - 03.2014: We release in 20 new App Stores and welcome new users across the planet! Onwards! Make sure to check out the new update here: download.epiclist.io
Roadtrip through Southern Germany
Southern Germany is probably one of the most scenic areas of Germany due to its diverse landscapes. Whether you want to go to skiing in the mountains or cycling endless green meadows, Bavaria is the way to go!
Discover the Partnachklamm
This 700m long narrow gorge is spectacular. Just an hour south of Munich, its gorgeous waterfalls, water rapids and beautiful hikes make it a place to not be missed. Two safe paths allows you to see the gorge from its most beautiful view points and will take you right up to the waters. Open from 8AM to 6PM in summer and 9AM to 5PM in winter ; 3€ entry.
Bavarian Forest National Park
"Let nature be nature". That is the philosophy that goes into managing this park. There, you'll encounter truly wild forests, you'll get the chance to see bears, wolves, boars and many other wild animals and you'll get to be marvelled by the beauty of Lake Rachel. 165km south of Munich, you can access the park by bus. The park is equally beautiful in summer when it is green and wild or in winter when it is covered by a thick coat of snow. Grab your hiking shoes and explore its 300km of hiking trails or choose to bike its 200km of cycling trails.
Zugspitze Glacier
Zugspitze is the highest peak in Germany and gets snow a good six months of the year. Its impressive 360° panorama and its cable cars make it worth the trip even if you don't ski. If you are a winter sports fan, you'll also find great slopes for snowboarding and skiing. Accessible from the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Lake Chiemsee
Not on is this the biggest lake in Bavaria but it also has tides, just like the sea. And that makes it a great place for sailing. In winter, the lake freezes over which turns it into an 80km2 ice skating rink. You can get to the lake from the city of Prien.
Hike across the border from Prien
Bavaria's diverse landscapes offer extraordinary hiking. The most accessible hiking trail of the Via Alpina (the Alps) is the Purple Trail. This trail is made out of 66 segments between 7 and 35km long. The one that crosses the border is 21km long and takes you to a stunning view point and is relatively undemanding.
Neuschwanstein Castle
This impressive castle is perched over one of the prettiest gorges of Germany. It is about an hour from Munich and pretty close to the popular ski resort of Garmish-Partenkirchen. Make sure you take a guided tour of the castle and get on the Marienbruecke (the bridge) to get a beautiful snap of the surrounding waterfalls.
Cycle along the Danube
The Danube is a river of legends: it spans over 10 countries and is 2840km long. The German section of the Danube is about 600km and can be done in a week (more or less). It starts off in Donaueschingen, ends in Passau and passes though the spectacular Danube gorge, the UNESCO World Heritagr town of Regensburg and a number of beautiful forests as well as the Donauried basin and the Franconian hills. The route is signposted all the way and gets pretty crowded in summer.
Epiclist just got a lot cooler. Discover the new update 1.1!
Last 4 weeks have been amazing! We have released the first 1.0 version of Epiclist on several App Stores. We have been thrilled to see the Epiclist community growing by thousands of new members. Together, we have created over 2500 journeys and almost 10.000 steps, sharing extraordinary travel experiences from all around the world. We have been super excited to hear and read all of your feedback, suggesting new ideas and things to improve. We have listened and now we are ready to share all the new exciting updates with you. Today, Epiclist 1.1 is available for you! What is new? 1. Explore journeys nearby: This is a new feature we are super excited about. Allow Epiclist to grab your current location and instantly show you travel experiences around you within a 300km radius. Everything which you can do within a day or a weekend of your time.
Of course many locations will not have nearby results. We are just 1 month old. But imagine if you can open Epiclist whenever you go and instantly discover the best ways to experience this place on the go. Where should you go to capture the best sunset, see the best city views from above, hike the best nearby trails, explore nearby waterfalls or surf the best waves - Every location around the world has its own vibe and own ways to experience it. We want to unlock this experiences! Do you know your hood? Go ahead and create a journey for your area, helping others to discover and experience it by following your footsteps! And, as always, earn some pulse for your profile and your Pioneer credentials!
3. Explore now from one central tab: Based on your feedback, we have simplified several things. Now you have a tab in your navigation bar called "Explore". Here you will find new "Featured" journeys (we feature new user journeys several times a week). Next tab opens the "Curated" journeys: Every day our team searches for new adventures from around the world and curates new journeys and steps for those.
Finally, the "Nearby" journeys are displayed in the third section. Go ahead and add any steps from this journeys to plan your next weekend getaways or ways to explore your area. Sometimes you can be surprised to rediscover your own neighbourhood! All new activities, posted by Epiclist users, are now shown in the central "Newsfeed", so you can always find new exciting things to do by browsing through this feed.
3. Get inspired and inspire others:
Epiclist is all about inspiring people and get inspired from other people, as you go along and discover new experiences to live. Whenever you inspire someone to follow your footsteps and add any step from your journey, your name will always go along with this inspiration, reminding the user that you have helped them to plan a step, as well as link back to your original journey to see more. You will notice this change in your own journeys as well.
4. Many small updates: - Tap on all images to see them in full screen and show credentials of authors. - More immersive experience: We have expanded all feeds to be even more immersive. - Epiclist smoothly reminds you to add steps to your past journeys.
Go ahead and discover the updated Epiclist: download.epiclist.io
And let us know how you like it!
Off the beaten track Berlin
Berlin is an exciting city, boasting a rich history and an incredible night life. The capital of Germany has so much to offer, from its street art to its beautiful parks. Choose to discover it from up high or by kayaking down its main rivers.
Flying over Berlin
Hot air balloon, helicopter or seaplane, head to the Air Service Berlin to get a view of the city from above. Go ahead and step into "Raisin bomber", the Western Allied aircraft that flew supplies in from East to West Berlin during the Soviet Blockade of 1948. Flight time vary and prices start from $265
Do pretty much anything at the Tempelhofer Park
This disaffected airport offers the perfect outdoor playground. The smooth surface of the runway is great for skateboarding and roller blading, you can play soccer in between the few planes that have been abandoned there or simply have a picnic in the middle of the huge field.
Cycle the Berlin Wall trail
Recognised by Lonely Planet among the Greatest City Hikes, embark on a 160km journey along the mythical Berlin Wall. The trail is signposted all the way and has boards explaining you the history of Germany and of the Wall. The trail is divided in 14 sections that are between 7 and 21km long and each of them is easy to reach by public transport so you can choose to do one or all of them.
Experience the street art culture
Berlin has an incredibly rich artistic community and that's noticeable all around the city that displays impressive street art, especially in the East Gallery. If you want to get a full grasp of the culture, take a walk around the city with Get Your Guide
Kayaking in Berlin
The River Spree and the Landwehrkanal offer a great kayaking way around the city; Get Your Guide offers a 3.5 hour tour that will show you everything you need to see. You could also make it a day trip and head to Wannsee or Muggelsee lakes, a little out of Berlin, that offer beautiful scenery and all the peace and quiet you could ever want. You can rent a boat for the day, starting from 21€ (minimum of 4 boats) or take a guided tour from 30€: bei-anruf-boot.de.
Bunkers and tunnels under Berlin
Curious about underground Berlin? Take a tour to visit all the hidden tunnels, which are in fact old cellars result of Berlin's intensive beer culture, and bunkers, legacy of WWII and discover Berlin from a completely different angle. Berliner Unterwelten ffers expeditions all year long.
Mountain bike Grunewald
3000 hectares of forest, cut in half by the Havel River - an amazing terrain for some mountain biking (which can be hired for 10€ per day). There are number of routes available depending on what you'd like to do. Some circuits are doable at night with The Berlin Off-Road Mountain Bike Race weekly session.
Spreepark deserted funfair
This former amusement park has been deserted since 2002 after a scandal forced it to close. Nature has now taken over and the attractions are covered in foliage and populated by frogs. Wait until dark to play urban explorer and get lost in that spooky attraction or opt for a the more conventional organised tour (€15, on saturdays and sundays at 1PM), given in German by the eccentric daughter of the ex-owner. You can reach the park from S-bahnhof Treptower park.
Rockclimb a bunker
Berlin is a very flat city, which makes it perfect for biking, not so much for climbing. Luckily, Berliners adapt. Der Kegel offers bouldering and climbing at Cassiopeia, one of Berlin's many clubs. If you're feeling more adventurous, you can also climb your way up an old bunker left from WWII (6€)
Explore Spreewald
UNESCO biosphere reserve, this massive park an hour outside of Berlin is all meadows and lakes. It offers a unique scenery, perfect for a day trip outside the city if you want to do some leisurely hiking. You can enter the park through Lubben or Lubbenau, both reachable by train.
New Zealand Part 2: The North Island
A couple of weeks ago, we showed you some of the amazing stuff there is to do in the south island of New Zealand - this week, it's the north island! And it's equally amazing! Skydiving, hiking, diving, kayaking and more, all in some of the most scenic landscapes you could imagine.
Kayak the geothermic Lake Tarawera
This lake is the centre of geothermal activity in New Zeland. Some patches of the lake are heated to 100°C+ degrees. You can safely kayak across the lake but make sure you keep your arms and legs inside. Only 8kms away from the town of Rotorua, you can get there by bus or via shuttle if you go on a kayak expedition.
Diving the East Coast
White Island and the Poor Knights Islands, a short boat ride away from Aukland are some of the finest diving locations you can come across. The volcanic nature of the islands creates an interesting diving landscape: incredible archways and caves will fully satisfy experienced divers. Rikoriko Cave is the largest surveyed sea cave in the world. There, you'll encounter plenty of types of fish, coral and rays. The penetrating light makes for wonderful underwater pictures.
The area is also full of wrecks where underwater wildlife gathers and flourishes. Expeditions can easily be arranged from Aukland.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Take a boat trip through the caves solely lit by the greenish glow of thousands of glowworms. You will need to get a guide to go into the caves, this can be organised from Hamilton, about an hour away (One hour from Auckland)
Skydive above Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo is the biggest volcanic crater in the world and it is set amidst spectacular mountain scenery and beautiful forests. It is one of the best places (and cheapest) to skydive. Jump from 15000 feet and get a stunning view of the lake during your 60 seconds of free fall.
If you don't feel like skydiving, Taupo is also a great place to bungy jump - 47m above the crystal clear ayers of the Waikato river.
Tongariro Crossing
Ever seen Lords of the Rings? Mt Doom rings a bell? Well, here you are. This trail is by far the most spectacular day hike you can do in New Zealand. This 20km trek is quite challenging, steep most of the time and the weather is unpredictable, however the views are fantastic and the crater lakes unforgettable. It's doable in about 7 to 9 hours depending on your physical shape and you won't need a guide. However, make sure you book a mountain shuttle to drop you off and pick you up. The shuttle drops you off at Mangatepoo and picks you up from Ketetahi and costs about $30.
Surf in Raglan
While New Zealand is not famous for being a surfing spot (the waters are pretty cold), Raglan has one of the longest left-handed breaks in the world.
Whitewater rafting in Kaituna River
With a grade of 4 and 5, Kaituna River is the highest commercially rafted waterfall known (7m). The Kaituna River is a pool drop river which means you get some time to cool down before going in for the next set. Don't let that scare you though, you'll have a guide there to help you which means that even the most unexperienced can take part in this great adventure!
4 women. 3 countries. 4.400 kilometers. One free-flowing river.
“We spend a lot of time making things happen in our lives. But the Amur River happened to us. We needed to go there – for us, for the Amur, and for some reasons I still do not fully understand.”
An all-woman team went on an adventure in the Summer of 2013 to explore the third longest free-flowing river in the world - the Amur.
Read their story:
“Most adventurers dream of climbing big mountains, dropping waterfalls, or skiing the steep and deep. I am not a talented athlete or wild risk taker. But I dream of falling off the map. And that is exactly how we found ourselves: 4 Western women, lost in the middle of the Far East on one of the wildest rivers left on our planet. In a world where wilderness is shrinking, ice caps are melting, species are dwindling, falling off the map is increasingly difficult. We found our own “last of its kind” adventure.
We wanted to travel and document the length of the Amur River. The Amur and its Onon River headwaters comprise the 3rd longest free-flowing river left on this planet. It stands as a fleeting example of what rivers do when largely unaltered by human construction. Not to mention it claims the title of the most bio-diverse watershed in all of Asia. It accommodates stunning species such as Amur Tigers, Siberian Leopards, Red Crown Cranes, the prized freshwater Taimen, and Wild Ginseng. When we first learned about this watershed it blew our minds that so few people know anything about it. So we set out to change that.
What ensued was the most serendipitous and unusual journey of our lives across Mongolia and Far Eastern Russia, linked by epic Trans-Siberian train travel.
We slogged for three days on makeshift saddles through marshes and deep creeks with our team of four horsepackers, thirteen horses, one translator, and the four of us. When we finally saw her, set against the broad valleys of the Khan Khentii, no one said a word. We understood instantly why locals called this beautiful, peaceful river Mother Onon.
We paddled 22 days and 500 kilometers across wild Mongolia and the largest grasslands in the world. We watched as the river changed from its headwaters to the Russian Border. The upper section of the river was a dream of stunning wilderness—double rainbows, bear prints everywhere, vast expanses of untouched forests, and this perfect, beautiful river that flowed through it all. We did not find a single sign that humanity had ever existed. The place was absolute magic—the soul-shaking kind. The lower section took us through less remote though equally stunning country—huge towering cliffs, grasslands, shifting moody skies and a whole lot of beautiful silence. Then all at once we were looking at Russia across the river.
We returned to Ulan Bator and changed gears completely. We began a different kind of adventure: traveling by trans-siberian railway across Southern Siberia with an expedition’s worth of gear. It took nearly 10 days, with a few short stops in between. And though we became more adept at “sneaking” onto trains with all our luggage while the train matrons cursed us, each load and unload was an epic adventure all its own.
It was a relief to finally land in Khabarovsk, the Amur River city where we began our river journey again. We launched in the industrial heart of Khabarovsk with the plan to paddle 400 kilometers to town of Komsomolsk. We paddled 9 indescribable days through the impossibly large and braided channels of the lower Amur River. This river stretches 6 kilometers wide in parts with hundreds of kilometers of flooplains and wetlands around it - unfathomable size even when you are amidst it. It flew by in a whirl of wind, water, incessant bugs, insanity inducing itching, 4 a.m. wake up calls, 50 kilometer paddles, sleep deprivation, humid swamp living, perfect glassy mornings on the water, constant navigational confusion through braided channels and sheer exhaustion.
Some 5,000 kilometers and two months down the line we did finally reach the Sea of Okhotsk and the Amur River Delta - by nearly every means of transportation you can imagine. And as we touched on those Pacific ocean waters, I felt equally grateful and relieved to be at the end of this long bizarre journey.
This trip was not our typical adventure - the kind punctuated with daily adrenaline. It was endurance and daily struggle. Quiet peaceful paddles. Awe and beauty. Sadness and raw reality. It was punctuated instead by outdated soviet era maps, raging monsoon storms, wild Mongolian ponies, the unexpected kindness of a Russian Military Officer, and the buzzing aliveness of the impossibly large and braided Lower Amur River. These seemingly peripheral details are the real story - the faces we connect with, the hands we hold, the fears we overcome, the joy that explodes and transforms us. Adventure is only context. Expanding and learning about ourselves and the world is the real story. This is the reason we go. The reason we keep struggling. And the reason we should never stop finding the edges of our own maps."
“Adventure exists anytime we tip toe across the line between our comfort zones and the unknown. It is not defined by the activity we are doing or the place we are in. It is not something that happens out there. It burns inside each of us every time we take that leap.”
Thank you Becca Dennis, Sabra Purdy, Amber Valenti and Krystle Wright for sharing your story with us.
This project was completed with support from a National Geographic Young Explorers Grant and a Polartec Challenge Grant.
Read more here:
Nobody’s River: Paddling the Spine of Asia’s Untamed Black Dragon The Clymb – October 21st, 2013
Nobody’s River Full Expedition Trip Report Eddie Bauer Adventure Blog – October 14th, 2013
Paddling the Eastern Hemisphere’s Longest, Wildest Free-Flowing River Adventure Journal – October 8th, 2013
Weekend Escapes and Adventures out of Santiago
Hey guys, as many have asked us to share insights for weekend escapes and adventures next to Santiago, as well as best places to experience Chile and just finding awesome things to do, we decided to share some of our tips here.
We have curated all of this info with photos and maps on Epiclist, but because we are just on iPhone now, many of you can not download the app... So here are a couple of ideas to keep you busy with adventure during your time here in Chile. If you have more suggestions, please let us know in the comments and we will add them to this list:
1. Hiking to the Mountain Peaks around Santiago: Santiago is surrounded by mountains. Many of them offer incredible hikes! Close to downtown, start from Cerro San Cristobal, rising 300m above the rest of Santiago, for a great viewing point for the city skyline and the surrounding mountains. Move on to Cerro Manquehue, a three hour hike to reach 567m. If you´re ready, take a full day to climb to 2750m peak of Cerro Provincia, one of the most favourite weekend hikes for Chileans. Or take two days to stay one night on the top of Provincia and walk all the way across the mountain ridge to reach the 3200m peak of San Ramon (Horacio Melo´s favorite:) - Every weekend can be a new mini-adventure climbing those! You can do those hikes yourself if you know what to do or hire a tour company to take you out ($80-$160 for a day).
Andes Handbook is a great ressource for info
Photo: Olga, Agu and Ting on the Ramon Traverse, with views on Santiago below
2. Experience Cajon del Maipo:
- We did a hike to San Francisco Glacier / El Morado Glacier (1,5h car drive from Santiago) and it was awesome! If you go not in summer, you will find lots of little or heavy snow passages on this easy trek (quite flat for most of the time). Find some info here
- Heat it up in the Colina Thermal Pools: Hot thermal pools of Colina, just 20min by car from Banos Morales / El Morado (2h from Santiago). There are hot pools (under the stars in the night??) and a little camping area: Find more info here
- Go for horseriding, climbing or rafting (pretty mild) here as well.
Photo: Our team went together by car with our friends from Estonia and Felipe Milan to hike to the San Francisco Glacier
3. Surf in Pichilemu: Named one of the best place to surf in Chile, Pichilemu is the destination with long black sands, laid-back vibe and and great waves! It doesn't matter if you´re a pro or a newby, come here to experience the surfer´s lifestyle in Chile! Its easy to get a bus from Santiago and spend a weekend there, renting boards on the beach or take a surfing course. Make sure to surf both in Pichilemu and Punta de Lobos next to it!
Photo: Olga and Alex Asher in Pichilemu
4. Get lost in the dunes of Concon:
Concon is a great surfing spot, not only for your surfboard, but also for your sandboard. Head to the massive sand dunes between Renaca and Concon (you can take a minibus from Vina del Mar and ride for about 15min - you will not miss your exit stop). Rent a board ($2 for 1hour) or just go up, jump crazy around in the dunes and enjoy stunning views from the top.
Photo: Sand dunes of Concon
5. Explore Pucon and climb the active volcano Villarica: Pucon is such a great town with a chilled, laid-back vibe. And its full of adventure in the same time! Go for rafting or white-water kayaking class III-IV, hike national parks, go downhill MTB, hire some ATV and chill afterwards in thermal springs. But the highlight of Pucon is definitely the active Villarica volcano. Hike through snow and reach the peak and you´ll be rewarded with a unique view from the crater´s edge at 2847m. Aguaventura is the Epiclist Partner down there and can help you organize the best experiences. Check in with them here!
You can easily take an overnight bus from Santiago and wake up next day in Pucon (about 10h drive) from Thu/Friday to Saturday and go back Sunday on Monday to be back in the office for your morning coffee!
In Pucon, make sure to grab some of the best burgers in the world in a place called Latitude49! You will not regret it!
Photo: StartupChile teams, geared up, on the top of Villarica
7. Escapes to the beach:
Obviously most people head to Vina del Mar or Renaca to the beach and the ocean. The water is cold, but who cares? There is way more you can do. Rent a car and just follow north from Vina del Mar along the coast to visit chilled beach towns like Horcon and others, which all have their own vibe, great food and way less tourists!
8. Longer journeys in Chile
Most travellers head to the Atacama desert in the north and Patagonia (mostly Torres del Paine) in the south. Both are incredible adventures, but you need more time to make the most out of it and experience them to the fullest. We recommend around 5 days for Atacama and at least 7 days for the whole trip to Patagonia.
Our team has been in Torres del Paine and created a little guide from our journey here: https://medium.com/p/b7652edf758a
As well this beautiful guide by SUPper Sergio Marreiro: https://medium.com/travel-hospitality/a0d5c2f1d21a
Photo: Olga and Stan in Torres del Paine National Park
Now its just time for you to get going and explore!
If you have an iPhone, simple add those experiences and create your own journeys with Epiclist: download.epiclist.io
Cheers,
Story of the Week: Alex Honnold
Story of the Week: An Epic Roadtrip
Temporary Story from Vadim Sahakian on Vimeo.
The idea was to road trip from Alaska to Los Angeles, explore Southern and Central Africa, and tour South America on dirt bikes. Reaching a tipping point, my friend and I decided it was time. We booked a one-way ticket to Alaska, bought a used truck, and hit the road.
This documents our journey for 6 months, over 3 continents, in 13 countries. Our travels stretched across the United States, Canada, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.
Editing & Narration by: Vadim Sahakian Featuring: Vadim Sahakian and Artia Moghbel Filmed with: Canon 60D/T2i and GoPro Read more: artia.tumblr.com
Explore New Zealand - Part 1: The South Island
Bungy Jump in Christchurch
Did you know Christchurch is the place where bunny jumping was invented? Yep, 1986, by AJ Hackett. To this day, people still go there just for a good jump. At about NZ$180, it'd be silly to miss out on the experience!
The Nevis Swing in Queenstown
The Nevis Swing take you for a ride at 160m high. Don't eat anything before hand and make sure you empty your pockets because you're in for a wild ride, check out this video: http://goo.gl/z0qbPu. You can book this experience here, it will cost you $180, transportation is included (mandatory since it's on private land) and it is only doable in the morning, daily departure at 8.40AM.
Kaikoura Peninsula
Kaikoura Peninsula is the area between Christchurch and Nelson. It includes the Waipara Valley, a wonderful place to take a wine tour and relax for a day, thermal pools in Hanmer Springs and beautiful coastal tracks for a day trek. The main appeal of the Peninsula is its amazing marine wildlife. Go on a day adventure from the town of Kaikoura to go whale watching and see dolphins and seals.
Chill at Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo is famous for its crystal clear turquoise waters and its pure air. It's the perfect place to stargaze as New Zealand has one of the clearest skies in the world. Lake Tekapo is also a great place for some easy hiking and swimming in hot springs. You can get there by bus from Christchurch, Queenstown and Wanaka. Lake Tekapo is situated right next to Mount Cook so it's a great place to relax right before or after completing that challenging hike.
Paparoa National Park
Paparoa National Park is 30000ha of lush rainforest, mountain tops and secluded beaches. The closest town is Westport, 55km away, from which you can take the bus to the park. The most spectacular part of the park is the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes, rocks that have taken bizarre shapes due to seismic activity and other natural phenomena. You can also do some caving in the park. You can opt for a one or multi day hike or explore some of the caves in the park. There are camping sites inside the park and guides aren't needed.
Hike the Glaciers
Fox and Franz Josef are the most beautiful glaciers in that area, also known as Glacier Country. It will take the entire day to hike through the forest that surrounds the glaciers. From there, you'll have an amazing view of the ice.
You can also hike the glaciers themselves. This option known as hell hike involves being dropped of on the glacier by helicopter where you will be guided by a specialist. This is an extremely popular option, be sure to reserve in advance. It will cost you about $400 but the experience is worth it.
Explore Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park
Ancient rain forests, waterfalls cascading into deep black fjords, shimmering lakes, snowy peaks, this World Heritage Site is probably one of the most dramatically beautiful places you'll see in New Zealand. Milford Sound is the most beautiful fiord in the area - Rudyard Kipling called it the eight wonder of the world. You can take a boat to cross the fjord. If you're lucky, you might see some seals and even maybe whales.
Hike the Routeburn in Fiordland National Park
The best way to see Fiordland National Park is to hike it.The three main walks are "the Milford", the Kepler and the Routeburn. The most famous, the Milford, starts off Te Anau and covers 53km and takes about 4 days. It's possible to do independently or without a guide, in which case you'll need your own camping equipment.
Aoraki Mt Cook National Park
Mt Cook, also known as Aoraki, 'the cloud piercer' in Maori, is the highest peak in New Zealand (a little over 3000m) and it's the perfect spot for all alpine activities. The best way to get there is by car, either hired or arranged by a tour provider. You can ascend the peak without a guide but don't underestimate it, there is no non technical way up so be prepared and equipped. To get to the summit, you'll need about five days but if you do make it to the top, do not stand right at the summit, it's considered an insult by the Maoris. There is no best time of the year to do it, but the most popular is between May and October.
Hiking The Grand Canyon rim to rim - the four day hike
Hike the Grand Canyon from rim-to-rim in four days! 446km long, 29km wide, one hell of a challenge! This hike goes from the South rim to the North rim but you can also do it the other way. No previous hiking experience required but try to avoid the summer months if you can.
Gear up!
Hiking the Grand Canyon requires a minimum of preparation, especially in summer. Don't forget to bring a sufficient amount of water, about 2L per person per day, food, a first aid kit and appropriate clothing if you're staying overnight - it can get pretty cold. There are some locations where drinking water is available but these sources are unreliable: always carry water with you. Yet, remember to not overpack, you'll have to carry it on your back for 4 days!
Depart from the South Rim Village
To get to the hiking trails, you'll need to get a shuttle as the area is closed to private vehicles. You can take the shuttle from the South Rim village and it will take you to the trail in 20 minutes. Once you get there, take a second to stand on the rim and admire the view from 2213m high - it is stunning
Day 1: Hike from South Kaibab to Bright Angel Campground
The South Kaibab is considered one of the most scenic trails of the canyon. On your way down, you'll get to enjoy the panoramic views of the canyon. This hike is about 6kms and should take you between two and four hours. Keep an eye out for wildlife as you walk across the Black Bridge above the Colorado river, you might see some eagles, condors and other prey birds, some coyotes, elks and even mountain lions. Enjoy the sunset from Bright Angel Campground and if you have the energy, head to Phantom Ranch Lodge for a cold lemonade.
You can also stay at the Phantom Ranch Lodge for about $50 per night per person. It is the only accommodation facility available in the park so be sure to book well in advance if you want to stay there.
Day 2: Ribbon Falls
Ribbons Falls is situated about 8km from Phantom Ranch, up the Bright Angel canyon. The canyon is very narrow and the hike can be difficult but you reach the oasis at the end of the trail, it will all be worth it. Emerge from the trail and you'll come face to face with the waterfalls, cascading over a bright green moss covered 15m high rock. If you have the energy, you can climb the path that will lead you behind the falls. Take some time to enjoy the water, and even have a picnic, before heading back where you came from.
Day 3: The Bright Angel trail
You start the day with a 2km hike along the Colorado river before turning onto Bright Angel trail. Take the opportunity to take a dip in the Bright Angel creek on the way. You'll then hike up 7km (4 miles) to Indian Gardens campground where you'll spend your last night. Along the way, you can stop in Plateau Point, situated 400m above the river, where the views are breathtaking.
Day 4: Hike your way out
This is your last day of hiking and by far the easiest since you did all the effort the day before. You're almost there! The last part of the hike is a bit more than 7km and takes you up to the North rim. You made it - have an ice cream, sit down, relax, enjoy the feeling and go brag to your friends about completing this epic challenge!
