Canyoning, Paragliding, and Hiking - Switzerland's Jungfrau Region Has More Than Just Skiing - Video

The 'Jungfrau' Region of the Swiss Alps, so named for the 13,669 ft. (4,166m) peak that looks down on the numerous lesser prominences and valleys spanning its base, is home to some of the best skiing in Europe. Yet, despite being home to what many consider the best skiing in the world - including this year and next year's Ski World Cup in Jungfrau's town of Wengen, the region refuses to be pigeonholed as just a "ski destination."

In addition to skiing, snow tubing, and sledging, the Jungfrau Region offers a perfect environment for numerous other mountain sport activities, including paragliding and BASE jumping, hiking, and canyoning.

The area's craggy landscape and deep valleys seem to posses an almost irresistible lure for folks who like to throw themselves off terra firma and into the secure embrace of a parachute harness. Watch in the video below as a band of BASE jumpers from the UK wax poetic while they tackle both the Eiger and the cliff face overlooking the valley between the villages of Lauterbrunnen and Stechelberg, one of the deepest in the Alpine chain:

Wild Yunnan - China's Hidden Gem

China is an intriguing mystery to many trekkers and adventurers, with nowhere more compelling than the wilds of western China: pandas in Sichuan province and the wide open Tibetan plateau in Qinghai province, to say nothing of Tibet itself. Owing largely to many travelers' only superficial familiarity with China, too many of the country's most worthwhile sights and experiences are missed - possibly nowhere more than in southwesterly Yunnan province.

Beautiful Lugu Lake in Yunnan's northern mountains

Not only is Yunnan where the Himalayas fade into the sultry jungles of Southeast Asia, it is home to 25 of China's 55 ethnic minorities and some of the greatest outdoor experiences you've never heard of. The pristine natural landscapes blend with the rich variety of minority cultures to offer a wealth of memorable adventure travel opportunities.

Enjoy a Climb Dali route
over Yunnan's Er Lake

Earlier we wrote about hiking the trails in Yunnan's Tiger Leaping Gorge, reportedly the deepest gorge in the world, where a tributary of the upper Yangtze cuts between two 5,000+ meter peaks to create thundering rapids, and Celeste LeCompte has just reported on her experience rafting Yunnan's Nu River with raft guiding outfit Last Descents in her Outside Online article China's Last Wild River. 

Other organizations, such as Climb Dali, Bike Yunnan, and Action Asia's Lijiang 3-Day Ultra Marathon, offer tailored experiences that delve deep into the treasures that lie hidden in Yunnan's far corners. While the outdoor sporting market is certainly still in its fledgling stages in Yunnan, there are a growing number of credentialed guide outfits offering forays into southwest China's best kept secret.

Last Descents leads Tibetan monks on whitewater fun

One additional aspect of choosing one of Yunnan's many adventures that should not go overlooked is the invaluable difference tourism dollars can make in tipping the scales in favor of conserving, rather than developing, China's vast but shrinking natural beauty.

A laudable example, Last Descents' owner Travis Winn uses his raft guiding as a platform to raise awareness among local Chinese policy makers and the many up-and-coming Chinese who are beginning to head for the outdoors of the need for conservation efforts in many of China's lesser-known travel spots which are in danger of being overrun by China's modernization efforts.

No matter what type of adventure you are looking for, chances are Yunnan has it!

World's Best Hikes According to National Geographic

Though it's just a tease for many, National Geographic has put out a list of "epic trails" to hike.

Santa Cruz Trek in Peru's Cordillera Blanca 

National Geographic - World's Best Hikes: Epic Trails

Hey, it can't hurt to dream, and with a little planning, it's not hard for you to take the initiative to turn your dream into an epic hike!

Whitewater and (Much) More: U.S. National Whitewater Center - Video

Climbing wall at the USNWC

Located on the Catawba River, just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, the U.S. National Whitewater Center is an à la carte outdoor sports heaven. Let me explain.

The 400-acre, non profit "outdoor recreation and athletic training facility" offers over 2 dozen activities to anyone who wants to participate, ranging from stand-up paddle boarding to rock climbing, a survival school, trail races and triathlons, and seemingly everything in between.

In addition to a multitude of outdoor activities, the USNWC offers a dog-friendly environment where you can hang out and catch a meal, watch whitewater rafters and kayakers on the world's largest recirculating artificial whitewater river, and even attend a music festival or two.

Hiking Boots - What Is The Right Footwear For Your Trail?

The right hiking boots are the means
to many memorable miles

Trekking, hiking, tramping, walkabout - whatever you call it, a hike is a great way to get out and enjoy the outdoors. When it comes to hiking, not too much is needed - an idea of where you're going (a map and compass are probably a good idea), proper hydration, protection from the elements, and of course, adequate footwear.

50 years ago, the "choice" was pretty basic - full leather hiking boots with aggressive lugs on the sole. There wasn't really anything else on the market. However, since that time not only have the number of options burgeoned, so have the number of categories of hiking footwear - so how do you navigate the increasingly congested waters of outdoor footwear?

Tiger Leaping Gorge - Yunnan

Yangtze River cutting
through the Gorge

Hidden deep in the northeast corner of China's Yunnan province lies Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world. The gorge has been cut into the Himalayan foothills as the Yangtze River powers through, creating some breathtaking landscapes.

Luckily for world travelers and outdoor enthusiasts, a system of trails and primitive guest houses have cropped up around the gorge, making it one of the finest hiking destinations in all of China.

Lijiang Old Town

From the town of Lijiang (whose historic "old town" is also worth a visit), a bus can be taken to the trailhead in the town of Qiaotou (桥头 in Chinese) for ¥30 (~ US$5). Hiking the length of the trail, which is approximately 15 miles long, should take between one-and-a-half and three days, depending on your pace.

The beginning of the well-marked trail winds through rural Naxi villages and terraced farmland. As the trail continues, some of the sights worth seeing include 28 Bends, a grueling introduction to the trail, a vertical climb composed of 28 switchbacks ("bends"), waterfalls (including one that flows across the trail), the local guesthouses, the site of the "Leaping Tiger Legend," and the occasional rockslide.

Sunset at Half-Way Guesthouse

Helpful information about preparing for and hiking the trail can be found here: Wikitravel - Tiger Leaping Gorge

I would recommend pushing to the Half-Way Guesthouse if possible. The restaurant and rooms are adequate and the view from the porch is quite possibly the best on the trail. Catching the sunset on Haba Snow Mountain (17,074 ft.) is a great way to end a day's hike.


Most of the available trail maps are hand drawn and approximate at best, but the trail is well marked and there are plenty of locals along the trail to help point you in the right direction. Below is one of the more helpful trekking maps: