Hiking

USA: There is more to New York than the City

Published October 2018 by Trevor. Updated February 2021.

. Welcome to Upstate New York!

“Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach of us more than we can ever learn from books.” – John Lubbock.

Well, I think I found the above and more.

In this post:

My Go North adventure started in Corning, upstate New York, where we drove for around 5 hours to stay the first night at a gorgeous lodge situated on Long Lake. The Long View lodge is run by a couple of brothers who happen to own a boutique hotel in San Francisco and boy oh boy, the food and the newly renovated rooms were amazing – probably the best food and service I’ve had in all my travels throughout the US!

The next day we drove to Lake Placid, where we stayed the night at the lovely High Peaks Resort. Then the next day it was onto Plattsburgh, followed by a night at the luxurious Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls. Our final night was spent in Saratoga Springs.

My friends at Go North (see link below) have put together a nice 8 day itinerary summarised below. Themes along the lines of hike, eat, learn, play and shop.

Horse at Saratoga Race Track — Retired thoroughbred race horse at Old Friends at Cabin Creek

Saratoga Jockey — Very cute racing jockey

Day 1 and 2: Saratoga County

Saratoga County is a short drive from Albany or around 3 hours if travelling from New York City. The Saratoga region is home to 300 years of history, being at the centre of Americas’s story and every major movement had a moment here. Visit historic homes, battlefields and museums; enjoy eclectic galleries, unique shops, top-rated restaurants and lodging.

Travellers seek out Saratoga for the world class thoroughbred racing, renowned arts and culture offerings and a multitude of wellness activities. Inspiring natural adventures and experiences are minutes from the award-winning downtown of Saratoga Springs.

Saratoga Adelphi Hotel — Famous Adelphi Hotel in Saratoga Springs

Hot tips

Take a guided walk of Saratoga Springs downtown – check in with the visitor centre.
Hike Saratoga Spa State Park and while you’re there, take a hot mineral bath at the Roosevelt Baths and Spa.
Dine at Hattie’s Restaurant – great southern soul food. While there, check out Caffe Lena next door where Don McLean is rumoured to have wrote the words to American Pie.
Grab an ice cream of your choice at Ben and Jerry’s – iconic Vermont based ice cream parlour.

Check out the famous Saratoga Horse Racing Track and see the horses training at the Oklahoma Training Track close by.
While there, take a tour of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
Visit a retired thoroughbred farm at Old Friends at Cabin Creek.

Day 3 and 4: Lake George Area

Just a half hour’s drive north from Saratoga Springs you will discover the Lake George Area, home to the ‘Queen of American Lakes’, 32 mile (51.4km) long, Lake George. Positioned at the gateway to the Adirondacks, or as the locals call them ‘the Dacks’, the area is a collaboration of vibrant city streets, quaint villages, rolling mountains and sparking lakes, ponds, rivers and streams surrounded by deep forests.

Discover outdoor adventure, natural scenic beauty, fun and affordable activities for families, couples and singles, fascinating history and one-of-a kind events.

Hot tips

Hike up Prospect Mountain.
Take a two hour cruise on Lake George.
Stay at the lovely restored and historic Queensbury Hotel located in the charming downtown city of Glens Falls. The Queensbury Hotel is highly regarded as the town’s centrepiece, with its gorgeous Victorian architecture, grand lobby, heated indoor pool, restaurant, longe and meeting space.
Glens Falls is being transformed into a vibrant and technology savvy town.

Lake George from the top of Prospect Mountain

Day 5 and 6: Tupper Lake and Lake Placid

After visiting Lake George and its surrounding area, head into the centre of the Adirondack Park and visit the Wild Centre in Tupper Lake, on your way to Lake Placid, the site of two Winter Olympics. The beautiful Adirondacks is one of the largest protected areas in the continental U.S. Pass hundreds of lakes, thousands of miles of rivers and streams and beautiful mountains.

The area’s proximity to great food, Olympic history and luxurious spas make it possible to have a thrilling outdoor adventure and pamper yourself, all in the same day.

Tupper Lake Kayak — Canoeing on the Raquette River, Upstate New York

Hot tips

Check into the Wild Centre at Tupper Lake. Explore the ‘wild walk’ suspended amongst the tree tops, interactive displays or simply canoe the Raquette River.
Stay at the charming High Peaks Resort of Lake Placid.

Take a walk down the main street of Lake Placid and check out the various ice cream parlours, cafes or boutique shops and grab yourself a souvenir.
While in Lake Placid, take a tour of the Olympic Museum.

Drive up Whiteface Mountain (4,867ft/1,483m) – a famed Adirondack 46er (so called because of the 46 peaks over 4,000ft), with great views on a clear day spanning hundreds of miles across Upstate New York stretching to the Adirondack High Peaks, Green and White Mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire and the Laurentian Mountains of Canada.

Day 7 and 8: The Adirondack Coast

Stretching across the western shores of Lake Champlain in the shadow of New York’s Adirondack Mountains and just an hour drive from Lake Placid, the Adirondack Coast offers unprecedented views, endless recreation and a central location. Lakeside villages, charming hamlets and the historic city of Plattsburgh dot the landscape.

Soak up the rich history of a young American nation, or in the deep waters of Lake Champlain. Lose yourself in the open spaces of the Adirondacks or the quite confines of an Adirondacks Chair. Discover amazing treasures in a chasm millions of years old, or a unique shop on the quaint streets of downtown.

Ausable Chasm Swingbridge — One of the many obstacles on the Via Ferrata course at Ausable Chasm

Hot tips

Undertake the Via Ferrata at Ausable Chasm or just take a casual walk and check out the waterfalls and amazing history.
Pick some apples in the fall or berries in the summer at Rulfs Orchard. They may even let you make an apple pie from the apples you pick.

Homemade Apple Pie — My homemade Apple Pie creation at Rulfs Orchard

Be spooked by a ghost tour in downtown Plattsburgh and while there, check out the history of Lake Champlain and the famous naval battle that took place.

Ghost Tour at Plattsburgh — Ghost Tour in Plattsburgh

Check out Valcour Brewing Co., and sample a glass of craft beer or two. Or stay in the historic army barracks.

Craft Beer Tasting — Craft beer tasting at Valcour Brewing

Onwards and upwards!

Trevor

Insights

Best time to visit Upstate New York is around September during Fall and after US schools go back and when the leaves on the trees start changing colour.
If driving, you may want to avoid the winter months as these areas receive lots of snow and roads may be impassable, but if you’re into skiing or back country hiking then go for it.
A little known fact about the Adirondack State Park – it’s the same size as the State of Vermont and combined, you could fit both Yellowstone and Yosemite into the State Park. Yes, the State Park is huge!
Note: If you’re driving from Buffalo or any of the Northern States, then you could do this trip in reverse order.
For further information, check out the website – Go North.

Lake George from Prospect Mountain — Lake George from the top of Prospect Mountain

Australia: Hiking the Ormiston Gorge, Macdonnell Ranges

Published October 2018 by Trevor. Updated July 2020.

Hiking the Ormiston Gorge in winter provided the perfect backdrop to explore this lovely area in the Macdonnell ranges. We found that the Ormiston Gorge is a huge amphitheatre surrounded by hills and ridges. Massive geological forces created the towering red walls of the Gorge and is full of colour.

Vivid colours of the red rock and blue sky

Within Ormiston Gorge, there is a permanent waterhole. This is estimated to be at least 14 metres deep. In the hot summer months, it provides for a refreshing end to a day’s exploring.

The seven kilometre long Ormiston Gorge walk is a full circuit from the visitor centre. Heading in a clockwise direction, you head up a well made trail section with a few stairs up onto a ridge which provides you with panoramic views, down across the rocky slopes, onto the flat floor of the pound and returns along the gorge via the main waterhole.

View from the lookout looking down into the Gorge

Hiking the full circuit will take you around four hours.

You can undertake this walk at any time of the year. In summer, the heat can be oppressive which makes the waterhole crossing that much more enjoyable as the water is best described as freezing. Once you cross over the waterhole you can continue along the creek bed back to Ormiston Gorge or take the alternate faster route via the Ghost Gum walk. This provides for great views back through the gorge you have just walked and back towards the Ormiston Gorge complex.

Billabong towards the end of the trail near the Visitors Centre

Getting There

Ormiston Gorge is situated 135km (84mi) west of Alice Springs in the Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park. Access is via Larapinta and Namatjira Drives. The Visitor Centre is approximately 8kms from the Ormiston Gorge turn-off on Namatjira Drive. Sealed roads provide access by conventional vehicles. Note, some roads can be impassable for a short period after heavy rain.

Onwards and upwards!

Trevor

Striking colours of the outback landscape.

Insights

The West MacDonnell National Park is accessible all year round. The cooler months (April to October) are the most pleasant.
The Ormiston Gorge trailhead forms part of the famous Larapinta Trail. It even comes with a kiosk providing coffee and cake!

The well-known Larapinta Trail goes through this area.

The gorge has a waterhole that is there all year round and is great for swimming, especially in warmer months.

Amongst the trees near a billabong (waterhole).

But remember that most swimming holes are very cold so be careful swimming at any time of year. Long exposure, even in summer, can lead to hypothermia.
Ormiston Gorge Ranger Station phone: + 61 8 8956 7799. Contact Parks and Wildlife Alice Springs for more tourist information. Kiosk phone: +61 8 8954 0152

The trail winds through the base of the Gorge — The trail winds down into the base of the Gorge

New Zealand: Nelson Lakes National Park

Published July 2018 by Cut Lunch Adventures. Updated August 2020.

This post on the Travers-Sabine Circuit including Lake Angelus, is based in the Nelson Lakes National Park. It was written for us by Colin, based in Sydney, Australia. Colin is an avid hiker/tramper and was previously an adventure travel guide in the Australian Alps.

In this post:

Day 1

While a reasonably hardy bunch of six we all felt a healthy level of apprehension on the trampers bus taking us 1.5 hours from Nelson into the Nelson Lakes National Park to the start of the walk at St Arnaud. 100kms over 7 days with full packs and some grinding ascents and descents promised to be a challenge for 60 year old well worn knees.

We checked in at the St Arnaud NZ Parks office at the start of the walk on Lake Rotoiti. Then on a balmy March afternoon, we commenced the day’s three hour walk skirting the Lake to Lakeside Hut.

The group by Lake Rotoiti — The group setting off from Lake Rotoiti

The trail though native forest alongside the lake

Lakeside Hut at the base of St Arnaud Range

Day 2

Day 2 started with a gentle amble through native grasslands between the towering St Arnaud and Travers Ranges. Being an eight hour walk ascending some 700m mainly at days end, we knew we should treasure the morning stroll. By midday, the valley narrowed to the extent that we were scrambling along the rocky banks of Travers River. Travers River Falls provides a rewarding rest stop before the mid-afternoon goal of Travers Hut was reached.

The final push of the day to Upper Travers Hut was made as the learned ranger at Travers Hut informed us that ‘next to Upper Travers Hut there is a hot natural spring that accommodates six blokes”. How good was that!. The only problem was that when we arrived at the Hut there was no spring in sight and the gullible Aussies had clearly had their legs pulled! (Ed: Aussie leg-pulling is a national sport in New Zealand!)

Approaching Upper Travers Hut, Nelson Lakes National Park

Day 3

Day three’s eight hours walk comprised a 500m ascent to Travers Saddle followed by a knee grinding decent to the Sabine River and West Sabine Hut. Off to the left of the Saddle is a beautiful tarn that was too tempting for some of the group to not strip and jump into. We were all saddened though to read a note on the Saddle cairn that asked that trampers look out for any evidence of an eighteen year old German male last seen along on the Saddle March 2015.

During the relentless afternoon decent a completely focused woman powered past us ascending the rocky scree slopes like a gazelle. 20 minutes later her tramping partner approached and happily responded to our queries about the powerhouse that was now just a speck way above us. ”We call her ‘Marilyn the machine’ and although you’d never know it she’s well into her 70’s”. As I hobbled into West Sabine Hut late in the day we were still speculating if there was something in the water that made Kiwis such a hardy bunch.

Descent to West Sabine Hut — The relentless descent to West Sabine Hut

Day 4

Day four provided a timely break from carrying a still heavy pack with an out and back walk five hour walk further up the river to Blue Lake. It is also known as (as the unpronounceable) Rotomairewhenau. (Ed: only unpronounceable for Aussies 🙂 try this – Ro-to-ma-i-re-whe-na-u). According to NZ Parks it is the world’s clearest water and as we lunched on its shores we had no reason to doubt this fact.

Day 5

Day five was a comparatively easy five hour walk down the river valley to Sabine Hut located on Lake Rotoroa. Walking in the tranquillity of the mossy forest was temporarily shattered however when a wasp nest was disturbed and a hostile swarm of wasps attacked the exposed legs of some of our party.

Day 6

Day six offered a choice of routes. Either a leisurely four hour walk to Speargrass Hut followed by the final day’s walk out to St Arnaud OR a 1,300m steep climb to Mt Cedric and 200m descent to Lake Angelus followed on the last day with an eight hour traverse of Roberts Ridge descending to the trail head at St Arnaud.

With the weather looking good, we decided to climb Mt Cedric. About 2.5 hours after starting the day’s walk we broke through the tree line and onwards to the summit of Mt Cedric. The views were magnificent and the highlight of the tramp to date.

The best however was to come. As we scrambled the rocky ridges of the Travers Range the views were spectacular and then the magnificent Lake Angelus gradually revealed its grandeur to us.

Day 7

After a relaxed night soaking up the serenity from the very comfortable Lake Angelus Hut we departed early for the final days eight hour walk back to St Arnaud. At 5am with head torches on we scrambled carefully up to the ridge of the Travers Range. The scrambling continued well beyond daybreak but eventually the trail changed to fine scree then to a near ideal grassy surface. The final drop to the trailhead was another treat with beautiful views stretching out to a very distant horizon.

Group with lake in background — The group on the final walk back to St Arnaud

Thanks again to Colin for sharing his great adventure with us.

15 Reasons You Should Go Trekking

Published July 2018 by Emma. Updated February 2026.

If you’re searching for the next big thing in your life, here are 15 reasons you should go trekking. Try it – we did – and it became a series of life changing adventures! Our on-the-ground research of talking to fellow trekkers has revealed that these are the most popular reasons to trek, in no particular order:

1. When you need a new challenge and to get out of your comfort zone

Read more in our post – Courage to Face a Challenge

Reasons You Should Go Trekking - Trekking up Kohpra Ridge

2. When you’re reaching a milestone birthday

Reasons You Should Go Trekking - View to Dhaulagiri from Kohpra Ridge

3. When you want a break from modern busy life, and to enjoy the simplicity of being in the mountains and wilderness

Read more in our post – Experience Simplicity

Reasons You Should Go Trekking - experience the Swingbridge near Namche Bazaar

4. When you want to see what you’re capable of

Read our post – Discover What You’re Capable Of

Reasons You Should Go Trekking - Everest Base Camp bucket

5. When you need a circuit-breaker from daily life

Reasons You Should Go Trekking - Snowy Trekking to Lobuche

6. When you want a new goal or purpose

Reasons You Should Go Trekking - See you goal - Looking up Kohpra Ridge

7. To meet like-minded adventurers and enjoy some great company with people from diverse backgrounds

Reasons You Should Go Trekking - Hiking in Chilcotin Coast Mountains

8. When you need to get away from it all after a significant event in your life

Reasons You Should Go Trekking - Everest Circuit Trek in snow

9. To tick your bucket list

Reasons You Should Go Trekking - Achieve the Summit of the Cho La Pass

10. To solve problems or puzzles in your life with new perspectives. Ask the mountains questions and they give you answers!

Reasons You Should Go Trekking - Experience the Cho La Pass

11. To step up to something bigger than single day hikes

Reasons You Should Go Trekking - Step Up from the Tongariro Winter Crossing

12. A great incentive to get fit!

Reasons You Should Go Trekking - Great Hiking in British Columbia

13. A holiday with purpose – a bigger objective than sightseeing

Reasons You Should Go Trekking - View to Dhaulagiri from campsite

14. A new cultural or spiritual experience in the mountains

Reasons You Should Go Trekking - Buddhist Stupa Above Namche Bazaar

15. To see some spectacular scenery and the world’s highest mountains!

Read our blogpost on Experiencing Awe

Reasons You Should Go Trekking - Views to Everest and Ama Dablam

So what are you waiting for?

Explore trekking by reading about some of our experiences in the Himalayas, New Zealand, Australia and other areas of the world.

You might like to read our other posts on self-discovery.

If you’re new to trekking then read our guide to trekking for beginners.

New Zealand: Mt Taranaki

Published July 2018 by Trevor. Updated August 2021.

Attempting to summit Mt Taranaki (aka, Mt Egmont) is a test of both endurance and weather, irrespective of the season.

The view to the summit. — Looking up to the summit.

On this day in January, it was cloudy, windy and wet with the odd rock slide to boot.

Navigating the landslide — Navigating the rock slide.

While we didn’t quite make the summit due to the inclement weather, we did the next best thing and decided on a traverse below the summit.

Hardy hikers — The hardy hikers heading off.

Navigating our way using a map, crisscrossing a raging river on a traverse below the summit and getting lost was an interesting challenge. Topography map reading skills that day came in very handy, along with a fair degree of perseverance with very wet feet and boots.

dramatic terrain — The terrain is quite dramatic!

We came across some fellow trampers coming in the opposite direction who exclaimed ‘but we’re not wet’. “Hah, but you will soon be’, I uttered quietly under my breath.

My partner’s brother and his son, who live in New Plymouth, climb this mountain a few times a year. From all accounts, they are very agile and fast in both getting up and down. Next time, we plan to summit with them, weather permitting!

Onwards and upwards!

Trevor

Insights

Mt Taranaki summit is 2,518m (8,261ft).
The summit is 6.3km (3.91mi) one way, return via same track from the car park at North Egmont.
Allow 5-6 hours up; 3-4 hours down (dependant on the weather).

Surrounding view of the Egmont National Park

In winter/spring conditions, snow and ice on the mountain requires New Zealand mountaineering experience and alpine equipment and a different route.
The best time of year to attempt the summit without alpine equipment is February to mid April. Always check with the Egmont National Park Visitor Centre for up to date information as conditions can change suddenly. Thick cloud can descend suddenly on the mountain anytime, making navigation very difficult – be prepared to turn back.

Holly Hut – one of the Department of Conservation huts on the track

While the distance may not seem far to the summit – it’s the elevation gain that will get you puffing. In 6.3km (3.9mi) from North Egmont to the summit area, the gain in height is 1,600m (5,249ft) – that’s steep!
Mt Taranaki has great spiritual significance to local Maori: the crater and summit is the sacred head of Taranaki, the rocks and ridge are his bones, rivers his blood and plants and trees are his cloak and offer protection from the weather.

Note: There is nowhere in Taranaki to hire ice axe and crampons/alpine equipment or tramping gear. Either bring your own or hire gear prior to your arrival.
Check out the latest weather forecast for Egmont National Park before you set out.
You might also like our posts on Climbing Mt Taranaki and Discover Your Perseverance