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:: T R E K K I N G A N D M O U N T A I N E E R I N G ::

Click your way through a myriad of trekking and mountaineering adventures, since 1988

Jebel Toubkal, High Atlas Mountains – Winter in Morocco, 2007

So far, we have been trekking as well as climbed volcanoes and mountains in very different locations. In the following we try to elaborate on and show pictures from our adventures in:

Anatolia & Persia: Turkish Kurdistan, Iran

Indian Subcontinent: India, Sikkim, Bhutan, Pakistan, Kashmir

South-East Asia: Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Borneo

North Africa & Middle East: Morocco, Egypt, Jordan

Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua

North America: United States of America

Europe: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, France, Spain, Portugal

Mountaineering in Iran

Without a doubt, Iran offers the best high-altitude trekking and mountain climbing in the Middle East. The country is very mountainous with two major mountain ranges, the Alborz in the north and the Zagros in the southwest. There are 11 peaks in Iran which are more than 4500m high and over fifty +4000m climbs. Some of the climbs are technically demanding, and you can find volcanic systems as well as mountainous massifs. In summer 2009, we climbed Iran’s highest summit, Mount Damavand, ending our 4-week roundtrip in Iran before venturing east into Kurdistan. Mount Damavand, at 5671m height, is a dormant perfect-cone volcano with a narrow summit and intact crater, situated dramatically in the Alborz range, thus surrounded on every side by high peaks and ridges. It is the roof of the Middle east and the highest peak between the Alps in Europe and the Tien Shan and Hindukush-Himalaya regions in East Asia. Furthermore, Damavand ranks as the highest volcano in Asia, and the third highest of the Volcanic Seven Summits.

Although we climbed Damavand in three challenging days – and were fit due to a preceding climb of +5000m Mt. Ararat in Eastern Turkey - we recommend at least four or even five days on Damavand to gain proper acclimatization and avoid high-altitude sickness which is a general concern.

· Mount Damavand / Kuh-e Damavand, Alborz Range (2009)

Climbing Mount Damavand (5671 m), Alborz Mountains, Iran, 2009

Mountaineering in Turkish Kurdistan

Mount Ararat is a dormant volcano situated in the Eastern-most part of Turkey, also known as Turkish Kurdistan. Mount Ararat, with a height of 5165m (newer measures claiming 5137m), rise steeply from the Anatolian plateau, thus standing as a lone giant on the fertile plains. It is the highest mountain in Turkey and the fourth-highest mountain in geographic Europe, only exceeded by three peaks in the Caucasus, including Mt Elbrus. In religious contexts, it is generally believed that Noah's Ark rests on Mount Ararat.

In summer 2009, we spent 5 days on the mountain trying to reach the summit, but were, due to bad weather conditions, caught for three days in high-altitude basecamp at 4200m. During these days, we experienced strong wind forces, rain, foggy weather, large hailstones, sleet and even thunderstorms - all in a very cold climate. We only saw clear skies a few times and only for small periods of time, and due to bad weather forecasts we failed the summit and went down. Ararat is very beautiful and, Insch’Allah, soon we will gain a new opportunity to get revenge and conquer Mt Ararat.

· Mount Ararat / Ağri Daği, Eastern Anatolia (2009)

Climbing Mount Ararat (5165 m), East Anatolian Plateau, Eastern Turkey / Kurdistan, 2009

Trekking in India & Sikkim

India is, as all other countries encompassing parts of the Himalayas, a trekker’s paradise! Kashmir, Ladakh, HP, UP, Sikkim, West-Bengal, and the hill states in east all offer good climbing and trekking possibilities. In 2007, Jakob did some excellent trekking in Kullu and Solang Valleys in HP. They year after, in 2008, Anders did the so-called monastery loop in the former Kingdom of Sikkim, landlocked between Nepal, Tibet, West-Bengal and Bhutan. Highlights were the Pemayangtse Gompa, Sangachoeling Gompa, and view of Khangchendzonga, the world’s third highest mountain. Also, Sikkim is a highly Buddhist county and somewhat of a budget version of Bhutan. If you can’t afford Bhutan, do Sikkim instead.

· Pelling & Monastery Loop, Sikkim (2008)

· Kulu Valley, Himachal Pradesh (2007)

· Solang Valley & Rohtang Pass, Himachal Pradesh (2007)

Trekking to remote Monasteries, Pelling, East Indian Himalaya, West Sikkim, 2008

Through Kullu Valley, West Indian Himalaya, Himachal Pradesh 2007

Trekking in Solang Valley & Rohtang Pass, West Indian Himalaya, Himachal Pradesh 2007

Trekking in Bhutan

Wow! Are you ready for the friendliest and some of the let’s-preserve-and-sustain-our-ancient-culture-oriented people on earth? Bhutan is, geographically, a trekker’s paradise. In terms of expenses, however, it’s hard to keep a positive attitude on a trek when you pay US$ 250 a day for being in Bhutan. That is, it’s hard to substitute a four star hotel and monastery sightseeing with a tent and possibly bad stomach in remote regions that are time-consuming to arrive at. Nevertheless, it’s possible to do great day treks in Upper Paro Vally and in parts of the vast Thimpu Valley. Some of the remoter monasteries are located deep in the mountains and it may involve a full day of trekking to go there.

· Upper Paro Valley (2008)

· Northern and eastern parts of Thimpu Valley (2008)

Trekking in Upper Paro Valley, Bhutan, 2008

Trekking in northern and eastern parts of Thimpu Valley, Bhutan, 2008

Trekking in Pakistan & Kashmir

If you are into trekking you might have heard of the Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges, but many people don’t know or haven’t realized that these ranges are, for many reasons, far more appealing than the fabled Himalayas. Sure Pakistan is a hard-line Islamic nation, but locals in the mountain areas are extremely friendly, curious, welcoming, and they display a lifestyle as if they were still living in the 18^th or 19^th century. Also, the Karakoram range is the most compact mountain area in the world with several 7- and 8-thousand meter peaks. Moreover, prices are extremely low for hiring guide, tent, cooking equipment, buying food etc. For the price of one week in Nepal, you can do 3 weeks in Pakistan in rural areas without meeting any other trekkers at all! Nowadays, solitude is a scarce resource – even for intrepid travelers.

· Upper Naltar Valley, Karakoram Range (2008)

· Rakaposhi Base Camp & Diran Base Camp, Karakoram Range (2008)

Trekking in Upper Naltar Valley, Karakoram Range, Pakistan, 2008

Trekking to Rakaposhi & Diran Basce Camps along the Minapin Glacier, Pakistan, 2008

Trekking and Mountaineering in Indonesia

Encompassing larger parts of the so-called Ring of Fire belt, Indonesia is a land of volcanic islands. Consequently, you’ll find a myriad of sleeping and active volcanoes that can easily be climbed. From Sumatra in the west to Papua in the west there is a vast number of appealing treks that only few people engage on.

In Northern Sulawesi, Gunung Lokon and Gunung Mahawu are active volcanoes located in the Minahasa highlands. The former has an almost perfect cone and offers beautiful views towards Bunaken Island, Manado Tua island and the tip of Sulawesi. In Central Sulawesi, Gunung Minahawu is placed in the heart of Tana Toraja, an extremely exotic and culturally rich region. From some of the highland-villages there are paths leading up the slopes of this mountain.

In Bali, Gunung Agung, 3142m, is easily the highest peak. We climbed it back in 2004, and the trek started at 3 a.m. in a small village and at 10 a.m. we were at the summit. The trek was quite challenging and can only be recommended for the physically fit. Atop Agung we could see all of Bali, East-Java, Lombok and Gunung Rinjani on Lombok, as well as more islands in the Nusa Tenggara archipelago.

On Lombok, Gunung Rinjani offers phenomenal trekking. The base camp offers a surreal view towards the 3726m summit. Inside the enormous crater is situated a lake and in the center of the lake is located a miniature volcano; a volcano inside the volcano. Rinjani is highly recommendable and perhaps the most beautiful trek in Indonesia and all of South East Asia.

· Gunung Lokon, Minahasa Highlands, Sulawesi (2006)

· Gunung Mahawu, Minahasa Highlands, Sulawesi (2006)

· Gunung Minahawu, Tana Toraja, Sulawesi (2006)

· Rice paddy walks near Ubud, Bali (2005)

· Gunung Agung, Bali (2004)

· Gunung Rinjani, Lombok (2004)

Gunung Lokon & Gunung Mahawu, Minahasa Highlands, Sulawesi, 2006

Trekking to the summit of Gunung Minahawu, Tana Toraja Highlands, Central Sulawesi, 2006

Trekking to the summit of Gunung Agung, Bali, Indonesia, 2004

Trekking to the summit of Gunung Rinjani, Lombok, Indonesia, 2004

Mountaineering in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo

In 2004, on a two months trip from Bali to Bangkok, we went to Borneo to climb 4101m high Kinabalu, the highest, second highest or third highest mountain in South-East Asia, dependent on your geographical point of view (cf. whether you count in Hakakabo Razi in Myanmar and Carstenz Pyramid in Papua). The trek to the summit is normally undertaken in 2 days, but we did it in one long day. The view along the way was amazing, but the summit itself was cold, windy and foggy.

· Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo (2004)

Trekking in the Philippines

In Camiguin we were glad to do some trekking up Hibok-Hibok, an active strato volcano. It has a symmetric dome complex, stretches 1.332m into the air and displays a base diameter of approximately 1000m. A friend of our hostess arranged the trek, which was great, because normally you have to obtain a permit from the DENR office in Mambajao. We started the trek at Ardent Hot Springs around 6 a.m. so as to avoid the hot midday sun. The path was quite over-grown with forest and fringed with rushes, and the last 500-600m was somewhat steep.

· Hibok-Hibok Volcano, Camiguin Island (2005)

Trekking atop Hibok-Hibok volcano, Camiguin Island, Mindanao province, Philippines, 2005

Trekking and Mountaineering in Morocco

Morocco seems to have it all! Lush olive landscapes, rocky gorges, snowy mountains and vast sand dune seas. In spring 2007, we spent more than 3 weeks in Morocco and did a lot of trekking in different locations. E.g. a 5 day winter-expedition to the highest peak in Morocco and Northern Africa. Also, a well-planned expedition to Ourika Vally, in an attempt to circle around the highest peak in Morocco during Winter time, got ruined on day 2 by a rendezvous with a snow storm in approximately 3200m height. Later on we moved towards the Sahara region and did treks in Gorge du Dadés and a longer camel trek in the Sand Dune Sea and Black Desert out of Merzourga, near the border with Algeria.

· Jebel Toubkal, High Atlas (2007)

· Ourika Valley, High Atlas (2007)

· Gorge du Dadés, Sahra region (2007)

· Camel trek in Merzourga Sand Dune Sea and Black Desert, near Algeria (2007)

Climbing Jebel Toubkal, High Atlas Mountains, winter in Morocco, 2007

Trekking in Ourika Valley, Morocco, 2007

Trekking Gorge du Dadés, Sahara Region, Morocco, 2007

Camel trek in Merzourga Sand Sea and black desert, near Algeria (2007)

Trekking in Jordan

Wadi Rum lies in the southern part of Jordan as one of the most beautiful and breathtaking desertscapes in the world. The Moon-like area is covered by massive mountain cliffs rising vertically out of the desert sand, thus creating wild canyons, step crags and rock bridges begging to be hiked through and climbed. The area is known for excellent rock climbing and several rocks are more than 1500 meters high.

Jakob went there during Christmas 2007 and trekked around the whole area, living in nomadic camps inhabited by Bedouin tribal people. Even though the desert trekking was magnificent, the best experience was a traditional Bedouin wedding, where countless platters of rice and sheep head, including tea, was enjoyed under the starry desert sky.

· Wadi Rum rock desert, Jordan (2007)

Tramping in the Wadi Rum desert, Jordan, 2007

Trekking in Egypt

In the Sinai Peninsua, squeezed in between Africa and the Asian continent, is a range of impenetrable mountains with rocky and extremely dry topography. The drive there through the desert is long – especially if your car breaks down as in our case!

The Moses Mountain – Gebel Musa or Mount Sinai – is not the highest mountain in Egypt, but certainly the most well-known. The 2285m mountain offers magical views towards Mars-like landscapes with red and brown spiky-like mountains. At 2646m, Gebel Katharina is the highest mountain in Egypt, and it takes a little planning to reach the summit, because the mountain is owned by the local Sheik. We stayed with the Bedouins in the Mohammed Fox Camp, and contacted the local Sheik Musa to get a permit to climb his mountain. After drinking tea, smoking cigarettes, and “hanging out” with the Sheik, we got his blessing and consent. The following day, we got up at the crack of dawn and spent 10-12 hours hiking up and down. A local boy guided us up the mountain the first half of the way.

· Gebel Musa, Sinai Peninsula (2005)

· Gebel Katharina, Sinai Peninsula (2005)

Climbing Gebel Musa (Mt. Sinai or Mt. Moses), Egypt, spring 2005

Climbing Gebel Katharina, the highest mountain in Egypt, spring 2005

Trekking in Nicaragua

Nicaragua has several mountain ranges with extinct or very alive volcanoes. In 2007, Anders did some enjoyable trekking on an island, Isla de Ometepe, in the largest lake of Nicaragua. On 1394m high Volcan Maderas, Anders went before the group on the way down, got completely lost, and ended up running down the slope before the sun went down – and, in the end, he tried to convince a local farmer to persuade a truck driver to drive him back to my hostel some 10-15 km away. It worked and he actually returned before the group.

· Volcan Maderas (1.374m), Isla de Ometepe (2007)

· Volcan Conceptión (1610m), Isla de Ometepe (2007)

Trekking to the summit of Volcan Maderas and Volcan Conceptión, Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua, 2007

Trekking in El Salvador

A plan to climb the highest peak in El Salvador got totally ruined by seriously bad weather. No transportation to the mountain and bandits in the area further messed up the plan. Anders ended up doing some trekking in the mountains around the cool mountain village of La Paz. And to be honest… as he hadn’t seen tropical islands for nearly one month he decided to leave the mountains and head for the Caribbean islands off the coast of northern Honduras.

· La Paz (2007)

Trekking in La Paz, El Salvador, 2007

Trekking in Guatemala

Lago de Atitlán has one of the most beautifully settings in Central America with three 3000+ volcanoes and clear blue waters. The trek up Volcan San Pedro goes through the village of San Pedro, fields of maize and primary forest. Unfortunately we had cloudy weather at the summit, but random holes in the skies provided magnificent glimpses down at the lake and its surroundings. Generally, the volcanoes in Guatemala (especially around Antigua) are the everyday “workplace” for local bandits. We’re not kidding, the forests and slopes lay claim to a lot of robbers earning a lot from ignorant or badly informed trekkers (I meet two victims within three days). So, what do you do if you by all means have got to climb one of them? Get a guide and a security guard with a machine gun! Result: Great views, smoking summits and rolling, red lava stones.

· Semuc Champey jungle lagoons and Grutas de Lanquín, Alta Verapaz region (2007)

· Volcan San Pedro, Lago de Atitlán (2007)

· Volcan Pacaya, near Antigua (2007)

Semuc Champey jungle lagoons and Grutas de Lanquín, Alta Verapaz region, Guatemala, 2007

Trekking the summit of Volcan San Pedro, Lago de Atitlán, Guatemala, 2007

Trekking to the summit of Volcan Pacaya, Guatemala, 2007

Trekking in Sweden

The successful attempt to climb the highest mountain in Sweden, Kebnekaise (2111m), was carried out on a teenage expedition to Stora Sjöfallets National Park in Swedish Lapland in 2000. The point of departure and end station was the village of Kiruna, near Abisko. Earlier, in 1998, we did an expedition in Stora Sjöfallets National Park in Swedish Laplandalong the so-called Kungsleden. 5 out of 6 pictures are taken by Niels Skovmand, with whom we did some trekking in the Scandinavian mountains.

· Kebnekaise, Lapland (2000)

· Kungsleden, Lapland (1998)

Trekking in Lapland, Sweden, 1998 and 2000

Trekking in Norway

Norway is the Switzerland of Scandinavia with relatively young mountain ranges and, consequently, a vast number of jagged peaks that are snow-covered all year. In 1999, we trekked in the Norwegian Oppland region on a 9-day trek in Jountunheimen National Park. During the trip we climbed the second highest peak in Norway, Glittertinnen (2470m), and climbed the famed Bessegen.

· Jontunheimen NP & Glittertinnen (1999)

Trekking in Jountunheimen National Park and atop Glittertinnen, Norway, 1999

Trekking in USA

In 1994, after spending some time in New York City and Novo Scotia in Canada, we rented a car in San Francisco and went on a family road trip covering Redwood National Park, Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, Lee Vining, Yosemite National Park and Mono Lake. Near Lake Tahoe we climbed one of the Twin Peaks (2.706m) and in Yosemite National Park we did some excellent tramping.

· Twin Peak, Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe (1994)

· Yosemite National Park, California (1994)

Lake Tahoe and Twin Peaks, California, USA, 1994

Yosemite National Park, California, USA 1994

Hiking in Portugal

In summer 2002, Jakob climbed the highest peak on the stunning Portuguese Islands of Madeira, Pico Ruivo (1862m). There are excellent views across the volcanic island and into deep fertile and green valleys. Due to black sand beaches, Madeira is, unlike the Canary Islands a bit further south in the Atlantic Ocean, not known for bathing but rather hiking.

Pico Ruivo can easily reached from a nearby parking lot, but the island is perhaps better known for its large network of Levadas – a huge network of dramatically situated irrigation channels on mountain ridges throughout the mountain range, which function as natural hiking trails.

Parque Naturel de Madeira, Madeira Island, 2002

Trekking in Spain

In 1988, at the age of six, we had our first trekking experience out of Denmark! Picos del Europa (2648m) in the region of Asturias are beautiful and this trip can be considered a stepping stone for a handful of trekking experiences in our teen-ages and grown up life until now. Tow years later, in 1990, Pico del Teide, the highest peak in Spain located in the Canary Islands, called for out attention. Tramping the slopes of the mighty volcano offers an almost surreal experience and offers associations to moon-like landscapes.

In 2002, during a 6 week inter rail trip through Germany, France and Spain, Anders ended up in Málaga in the region of Andalusia from where he did two enjoyable treks in the magnificent Sierra Nevada mountain range. The weather was perfect in late July as it is for more than 300 days a year in this region.

· Picos del Europa National Park, Cordillera Cantabria (1988)

· Parque El Teide, Tenerife, Canary Islands (1990)

· Sierra Nevada, Andalusia (2002)

· Tramuntana Mountains, Isla de Mallorca (2008)

Picos del Europa National Park, Spain, 1988

Parque El Teide, Tenerife, Canary Islands, 1990

Sierra Nevada, Andalusia, 2002

Tramuntana Mountains and Cabo de Formentor, Isla de Mallorca, 2008

Trekking in France

We have been in Alsace 7 times, usually staying in our family camping wagon in the village of Wihr-au-Wal. We always did numerous treks in the Vogeser Mountains, e.g. treks to cold mountain lakes and through harsh and steep landscapes. We really hope to return as we almost have been “raised” in this region during summer time. In 1989 we were not more than 7 years.

· Vogeser Mountains, Alsace (1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2000)

Trekking in the Vogeser Mountains, Alsace, France, 1991

Walks in Denmark

Yes, Denmark is flat, but this does not mean that the landscape is monotonous. Being an island nation, Denmark has a lot of beaches, meadow landscapes, in-land lake areas, forests and hilly peninsulas.

One of the most beautiful walks is the two-day and 50km trip from Silkeborg to Skanderborg. On this route, we tested material and legs for the trips to Damavand and Ararat in 2009, Gebel Toubkal in 2007, Glittertinnan in 1999, as well as Lapland in 1998 and 2000. It is probably one of the most beautiful regions in all of Denmark.

Some other walks that we can recommend are:

· Torø, Western Funen

· Sønderby Bjerge, Western Funen

· Helnæs, Western Funen

· Avernakø, South Funen

· Lyø, South Funen

· Bogø, Western Funen

· Fanø, South-West Jutland

· Klitmøller & Hanstholm beaches, North-West Jutland

· Hvidesande beaches, Western Jutland

· Hærvejen, Southern and Central Jutland

· Blåvandshuk & Kallesmærsk Hede, Western Jutland

· Samsø, Kattegat

· Silkeborgsøerne & Himmelbjerget, Central Jutland lake area

· Rytterknægten, Bornholm

Early morning sunrise, Mos Lake, central Jutland’s lake highland, Denmark, 2007

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