Summer ends too quickly when you’re living in the Kootenays of British Columbia.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO my partner and I headed out on what will most likely be one of the last hikes of the dry season to Gwillim Lakes, a basin located high in the Valhalla mountain range. The days are getting shorter and the nights chillier; too soon it will be time to bust out the snowshoes and toques (that’s beanies for you non-Canadian folk).
With that in mind, I felt inspired to put together this little gallery to help keep the stoke going until the snow melts and the long johns are put away next summer.
1
The Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye, Scotland
After Lewis and Harris, Skye is the second largest island in Scotland, measuring 639 square miles. It's home to abundant wildlife such as the Golden Eagle and Red Deer. Photo: Moyan Brenn
2
Buckskin Gulch, Utah
Evidence shows that the first human presence in the area dates back to around 8,000 years ago.Photo: firehole
3
Kepler Track, New Zealand
On the South Island of New Zealand, the Kepler Track measures 37 miles in a big loop. Imagine making the entire trek in under five hours. This is what competitors do in the annual Kepler Challenge. Photo: Nomad Tales
According to the photographer, the falls - at 380m - are the fifth highest in the world. They're also one of the most touristed sights in Austria. Photo: Ben
Jotunheimen means "Home of the Giants" - there are over 250 peaks higher than 6,000ft, which include Northern Europe's two tallest: Galdhøpiggen (8,100ft) and Glittertind (8,087ft). Photo: ~ solstizio ~
7
Camino de Santiago, Spain
The Way of St. James has been around for over a thousand years. In medieval times - as is the case today for some - it was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages. Photo: Zahoяí
Gwillim Lakes sit in a basin in the Valhalla mountain range in the Kootenay region of BC. My partner and I hiked about three hours to this point after driving a gravel logging road for 40km. Solitude.
9
Paria Canyon, Arizona
The entire Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness area is 112,500 acres and crosses the border into Utah. Photo: AlphaTangoBravo
10
Peak District National Park, United Kingdom
In 1951, this region became the first national park in the UK. It draws an average of 22 million visitors per year. Photo: tricky (rick harrison)
11
Lake Harris, Routeburn Track, New Zealand
One of the most famous hikes in New Zealand, the Routeburn Track, on the South Island, is 20 miles long and has four huts along the way. Photo: Kathrin Marks
This park, covering 815 square kilometers, is varied in its terrain. There you'll come across sandstone formations, canyons, oases, and grassland. While you're in Madagascar, don't miss the Avenue du Baobab. Photo: looking4poetry
13
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail runs between the states of Georgia and Maine and is around 2184 miles long. The shot above was taken at McAfee Knob in Virginia. Photo: asafantman
14
Overland Track, Tasmania, Australia
The Overland Track on the island of Tasmania is one of Australia's most popular hikes. Its official length is 40 miles but many choose to extend it to 51 miles by tacking on a hike along Lake St. Clair. For more Tassie shots, check out Scott Sporleder's video of his two-week trip to Tasmania. Photo: heart2beat
15
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
This park's name is actually a misnomer - Bryce Canyon is not a canyon, but a series of large natural amphitheaters. Here, hikers descend switchbacks on the Navajo Loop Trail. Photo: andrewasmith
16
Barranco de Fañabé, Tenerife
This beautiful coastline is from the Canary Islands; the peak to the left of center is Roque del Conde. According to the photographer, this image is HDR using five images. Photo: Michael Bolognesi
17
South Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The Grand Canyon is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World and needs absolutely no introduction. Photo: Grand Canyon NPS
18
Italian Dolomites, Italy
I remember driving through the Dolomites in 2007 in an old campervan. I wish I had hiked there. Photo: OneEighteen
This was taken by yours truly after completing what's known as the hike to the Keyhole in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park. And it truly is a glacier - this was smack in the middle of summer.
21
Swiss Alps, Switzerland
Hikers near the town of Grindelwald. Photo: Jofre Ferrer
I love the precariousness of the situation. This hike, near Hope Slide in BC, is 13km long. Photo: Dru!
25
GR20, Corsica, France
The GR20 is a trail that goes north-south across the island of Corsica. It's about 112 miles long and takes the average trekker 15 days to complete. Photo: akunamatata
26
Chugach Mountains near Anchorage, Alaska
The photographer was part of a group called the Anchorage Adventurers Meet-up. They organize "hikes, bike rides, and all sorts of outdoor activities." Sign me up! Photo: Alaskan Dude
27
Continental Divide Trail 1
The Continental Divide Trail is a 3100-mile track - mostly on trail and small roads - that runs from Canada to Mexico. Photo: asafantman
28
Continental Divide Trail 2
According to Wikipedia, "only about two dozen people a year attempt to hike the entire trail, taking about six months to complete it." Photo: asafantman
29
Dune walking in Morocco
Morocco is 78% desert and dry zone. Photo: Lens linker
In southern Peru, this trek requires a couple days of altitude acclimatization. This image was shot at 5,200m (17,060ft). Photo: dyonis
32
Naramata, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada
By looking at this image, it's easy to figure out why agriculture and tourism are the primary industries of the little town of Naramata. Photo: Preserved Light by Caillum Smith
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