Posts in the Natural Wonders Category

March 13, 2008

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro Day 7– The Summit

n579765782_1007430_8868.jpg


11:40pm

It is freezing. The wind is howling. We are waiting on some of our group to get up out of bed. Somehow Marv and I are awake, changed, and ready to go in ten minutes. Most of our group is here. What could possibly be taking Isaac so long? We are currently at 4600 meters high. By sunrise we need to get close Uhuru Peak. The highest point in Africa is 5825 meters high. That is a long way up.

Marv and I are layered up like a pair of 4 year olds going outside to play in the snow. 3 pairs of socks. Long johns. 2 pairs of pants. 2 sets of gloves. T-shirt. Undershirt. Fleece. Ski Jacket. Hat. Face-mask. It could get as cold as 20 below tonight. I hope we are prepared.

Most importantly, we need to be ready mentally. Minds can play tricks at this altitude. Sub zero wind chill does not help either.

Read more

Popularity: 23% [?]

Africa (2008), Mt. Kilimanjaro, Natural Wonders, Top Life Travel Experiences, Treks Comments( 6 )
June 10, 2007

Salar De Uyuni ¨The Bolivian Salt Flats¨

In front of Colarada Lagoon

The Boys in front of one of the Many Volcanoes

The Salt Flats of Bolivia is by and large the weirdest place I have ever been in my entire life. It felt like we were on an entirely different planet. There are miles, and miles, and miles of just salt. The bizarre nature of this place got even crazier when we visited coral reef caves, massive red sanded deserts, volcanoes galore, red lagoons, and flamingos. We also got up close and personal with a really weird French dude.

Sidenote: I have come to the conclusion that France should be on a completely different planet (more on this later).

Salar de Uyuni is the worlds largest Salt Flat at 4085 square miles. Its also just over 3500 meters high. At the highest point of our tour we reached just over 5000 meters. Needless to say, the altitude effects you on the Salt Flats.

Read more

Popularity: 5% [?]

Bolivia, Natural Wonders, South American Trip (2007), Top Life Travel Experiences Comments( 2 )
April 20, 2007

Lake Titicaca: Puno, Peru and Copacabana, Bolivia

Our bus got into Puno at 4am on the dot, and we were immediately accosted by all kinds of locals offering rooms for rent and tours. This tends to happen quite frequently, and has both good and bad ramifications. Its great that you do not have to wander aimlessly into remote foreign cities trying to figure things out on the fly, and its bad that you are prone to be consistently ripped off by seedy locals. If only I did not look like the biggest gringo on planet earth. The magnanimous target on my back can be spotted two miles away.

Read more

Popularity: 2% [?]

Bolivia, Natural Wonders, Peru, South American Trip (2007) Comments ( 1 )
March 16, 2007

The “Devil’s Throat” at Iguazu Falls, Argentina

After consulting Wikipedia to find out just what the 7 wonders of the world actually are, and after telling people for months that Iguazu Falls is indeed a wonder of the world, I was disappointed to find that it does not appear on any list. Although, I was very pleased to find that the Falls did appear in a few episodes of Miami Vice in the 1980′s.

So, in accordance with my findings, I have decided to start Dave Ford’s 8 wonders of the world. As of now I have four (this list can change at any time, and at no time promises to be reasonable). There is no criteria or restrictions. I can pick a person, place, or whatever else I deem worthy.

DF’s 8 Wonders of the World
—————————–
1. The Continent of Antarctica
2. The Steaks of Buenos Aires
3. Torres Del Paine
4. Iguazu Falls
5. ?
6. ?
7. ?
8. ?

The story of a rather large waterfall…..

John and I took a bus from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls in the northernmost corner of Argentina. When I say bus, what I really mean is the sweetest mode of transportation on the entire planet! We took a Cama Suite model. For a couple of extra bones you get a bed that reclines almost all the way back, a really good meal, and a few nightcaps right before bed. You also get the standard medley of 80′s songs right before bedtime. We were blessed with the likes of Lionel Richie, Celine Dion, and Tony Braxton. Thank God for the nightcaps or it might have turned ugly.

Read more

Popularity: 7% [?]

Argentina, Natural Wonders, South American Trip (2007) Comments ( 0 )
February 15, 2007

Torres del Paine: 35 miles with an Englishman and two Israeli Soldiers

Yesterday I escaped Torres Del Paine. It was one of the most worthwhile yet extremely painful adventures of my life. We walked the equivalent of 35 miles up mountains, down mountains, through valleys, by lakes, up more mountains, over the river, and through the woods. We saw glaciers, wildlife, and natural wonders that I had only seen in books and movies.

When I say that this is one of one of the toughest endeavors of my life, I mean it.

I feel like there are four factors that attributed to just how hard it really was:

1. Torres Del Paine is a physically challenging place to hike. In the four days we were there we ran into backpacking and outdoor enthusiasts of all shapes and sizes. We met mountain climbers, mountain guides,  park rangers, and trail runners.

2. Any day in the park you can encounter up to 4 seasons. It goes from 70 and sunny to 40 and windy in a blink of an eye. Then 15 minutes later it is 80 degrees. You are constantly putting on and taking off layers. The winds can be unpredictable and very strong as well.

3. We hiked the 35 miles in 4 days, where we should have broken it up into 5 days.
This was stupid and I paid for it.

4. At this point in my life I am in the worse shape of my life.

The trekking and backpacking options for Torres Del Paine are to take a day trip, to hike the 4-5 day “W” path, or to do the 10-12 day circuit. We choose the middle of the pack and decided to hike the “W”.

Pictured below is a map of the trail. The Red W shape is the path we took. The first day we went up the far right hand side of the W. The second day we walked from the top of the right spoke to the base of the middle spoke. The third day we walked up and back on the middle spoke, then to the base of the far left spoke. The fourth day we walked up and back on the left spoke. FYI: I would have died if I would have attempted the 10-12 day circuit.

Read more

Popularity: 13% [?]

Chile, Natural Wonders, Patagonia, South American Trip (2007), Top Life Travel Experiences, Treks Comments( 2 )
« Older Posts