The Downhill Hiking Club

Author: Dom Joly
Publisher: Constable
ISBN: 1472128427
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 320

Book Description
Three men. 470 kilometres. Twenty-one days. Welcome to the Downhill Hiking Club . . . At a boozy, cricket-filled afternoon at Lord's, Dom Joly convinces his two closest friends to agree to the unthinkable: a challenging hike across Lebanon, from the Israeli border in the south, along the spine of the country's mountain range, all the way to the Syrian border in the north. For Joly it is something of a homecoming, having grown up in Beirut. It was a happy childhood, though he did go to school with Osama bin Laden. Arriving in Lebanon armed with copious amounts of Vaseline - and no walking experience, bar taking the dog for the occasional stroll - Dom, Chris and Harry don't quite know what they've got themselves into. Joined by their bemused chaperone Caroll, they meet a variety of characters along the way including Ali, a stony-faced Hezbollah Museum guide who seems unperturbed by circling Israeli jets, and part-time Londoner Raf, who challenges Dom and the boys to a brain-freeze drinking contest. From a hair-raising creep along the 'Valley of the Skulls' to accidentally flashing an unsuspecting Ethiopian cook, the three friends just about manage to keep going. With more than a smattering of persiflage and some cringe-worthy moments, The Downhill Hiking Club is a big-hearted, witty and affectionate love letter to Lebanon and its rich history with a meditation on family and homeland at its heart. Written with Dom's trademark humour, it is a paean to both the simple joys of friendship and to growing old disgracefully.

The Hezbollah Hiking Club

Author: Dom Joly
Publisher: Constable
ISBN: 9781472128447
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
Three men. 470 kilometres. Twenty-one days. Welcome to the Hezbollah Hiking Club . . . At a boozy, cricket-filled afternoon at Lord's, Dom Joly convinces his two closest friends to agree to the unthinkable: a challenging hike across Lebanon, from the Israeli border in the south, along the spine of the country's mountain range, all the way to the Syrian border in the north. For Joly it is something of a homecoming, having grown up in Beirut. It was a happy childhood, though he did go to school with Osama bin Laden. Arriving in Lebanon armed with copious amounts of Vaseline - and no walking experience, bar taking the dog for the occasional stroll - Dom, Chris and Harry don't quite know what they've got themselves into. Joined by their bemused chaperone Caroll, they meet a variety of characters along the way including Ali, a stony-faced Hezbollah Museum guide who seems unperturbed by circling Israeli jets, and part-time Londoner Raf, who challenges Dom and the boys to a brain-freeze drinking contest. From a hair-raising creep along the 'Valley of the Skulls' to accidentally flashing an unsuspecting Ethiopian cook, the three friends just about manage to keep going. With more than a smattering of persiflage and some cringe-worthy moments, The Hezbollah Hiking Club is a big-hearted, witty and affectionate love letter to Lebanon and its rich history with a meditation on family and homeland at its heart. Written with Dom's trademark humour, it is a paean to both the simple joys of friendship and to growing old disgracefully.

The Unlikely Thru-Hiker

Author: Derick Lugo
Publisher: Appalachian Mountain Club
ISBN: 9781628421187
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 224

Book Description
Derick Lugo had never been hiking. He didn't even know if he liked being outside all that much. He certainly couldn't imagine going more than a day without manicuring his goatee. But with a job overseas cut short and no immediate plans, this fixture of the greater New York comedy circuit began to think about what he might do with months of free time and no commitments. He had heard of the Appalachian Trail and knew of its potential for danger and adventure, but he had never seriously considered attempting to hike all 2,192 miles of it. Then again, what could go wrong for a young black man from the city trekking solo through the East Coast backwoods? The Unlikely Thru-Hiker is the story of how an unknowing ambassador of one of the AT's least common demographics, unfamiliar with both the outdoors and thru-hiking culture, sets off with an extremely overweight pack and a willfully can-do attitude to conquer the infamous trail. What follows are eye-opening lessons on preparation, humility, race relations, and nature's wild unpredictability. But this isn't a hard-nosed memoir of discouragement or intolerance. What sets Lugo apart from the typical walk in the woods is his refusal to let any challenge squash his inner Pollyanna. Through it all, he perseveres with humor, tenacity, and an unshakeable commitment to grooming--earning him the trail name "Mr. Fabulous"--that sees him from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin in Maine.

The Dark Tourist

Author: Dom Joly
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1847377920
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 312

Book Description
'Dark tourism is the act of travel and visitation to sites, attractions and exhibitions which have real or recreated death, suffering or the seemingly macabre as a main theme' Ever since he can remember, Dom Joly has been fascinated by travel to odd places. In part this stems from a childhood spent in war-torn Lebanon, where instead of swapping marbles in the schoolyard, he had a shrapnel collection -- the schoolboy currency of Beirut. Dom's upbringing was interspersed with terrifying days and nights spent hunkered in the family basement under Syrian rocket attack or coming across a pile of severed heads from a sectarian execution in the pine forests near his home. These early experiences left Dom with a profound loathing for the sanitized experiences of the modern day travel industry and a taste for the darkest of places. And in this brilliantly odd and hilariously told travel memoir, Dom Joly sets out on a quest to visit those destinations from which the average tourist would, and should, run a mile. The more insalubrious the place, the more interesting is the journey and so we follow Dom as he skis in Iran on segregated slopes, picnics in the Syrian Desert with a trigger-happy government minder and fires rocket propelled grenades at live cows in Cambodia (he missed on purpose, he just couldn't do it). Funny and frightening in equal measure, this is a uniquely bizarre and compelling travelogue from one of the most fearless and innovative comedians around.

When You Find My Body

Author: D. Dauphinee
Publisher: Down East Books
ISBN: 1608936910
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 208

Book Description
Geraldine Largay vanished in July 2013, while hiking the Appalachian Trail in Maine. Her disappearance sparked the largest lost-person search in Maine history, which culminated in her being presumed dead. She was never again seen alive.

Free Outside

Author: Jeff Garmire
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781733487504
Category : Appalachian Trail
Languages : en
Pages : 264

Book Description
Jeff Garmire was living the fast paced life of a successful young professional when he gave it all up to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. He set out to become only the fifth person to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail and Continental Divide Trail in a single calendar year. Finishing the 8,000 mile Calendar Year Triple Crown would be an adventure of a lifetime. The journey was riddled with inclement weather, shady characters, wildlife attacks, and injuries. Along the way Jeff swam frozen rivers, encountered wildfires and battled his own mind. He offers a captivating story of strength and courage. Hiking through some of the most remote areas in America, Jeff is continually overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of strangers. Free Outside is the fascinating story of Jeff Garmire's journey along the national historic trails that define wild America. Finishing would take everything he had, and he was willing to give it all.

Hiking Trails of Southwestern Colorado, Fifth Edition

Author: John Peel
Publisher: Graphic Arts Books
ISBN: 151326298X
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 241

Book Description
Now with a fresh design, this fifth edition of the bestselling authoritative guide for hikers in Southwestern Colorado features new and updated trails, clear maps, and beautiful color photographs. Used by beginner and seasoned hikers alike for years now, Hiking Trails of Southwestern Colorado shares the best nature-walking excursions around Durango, Silverton, Vallecito, and the Colorado Trail areas. Taking you everywhere from the refreshing waters of Ice Lakes Basin to the glorious views of Engineer Mountain, this new edition of the guidebook includes: More than 60 trails and climbs plus 12 new hikes, accompanied by corresponding maps and color photographs Distance, elevation, difficulty rating, and duration for each hike General overview of the trail as well as quick but important details on the route Options to other paths and trails for the wandering adventurer Enjoy the natural landscape and wild beauty of Southwestern Colorado with this comprehensive guide to Southwestern Colorado’s favorite trails.

South Africa: Hiking Trails in and Around Pretoria and Johannesburg

Author: Gregory Maassen
Publisher: Wandel Guides
ISBN: 1973873893
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 335

Book Description
With this detailed guide, you can save valuable time when planning your hiking adventure in South Africa. For three years, the authors explored and recorded 837 kilometers (523 miles) of astonishing hiking trails and walks in amazing landscapes, encountering giraffes, zebras and rhinos, magnificent valleys, and unique people and culture. Most trails can be completed in 4-6 hours as day trips from Pretoria and Johannesburg. The more than 120 hiking trails in this guidebook have been grouped into the following geographic areas: • Pretoria and surroundings; • The Magaliesberg Mountain Range (northern and southern slopes); and • Johannesburg and surroundings. The book provides easy to understand custom-made hiking maps and trail descriptions. Users of the book also have access to a unique collection of GPS E-trails. Trails in the guidebook are classified either as a wildlife or nature hike/walk. A trail can be easy, moderately difficult or best suited for advanced hikers. Although most trails can be completed without a GPS device, owners of the book can download carefully recorded E-trails (1,136 waypoints) to maximize their time on the trail, exploring the hiking grounds using GPS devices and GPS enabled smart phones and tablets. Users of the book also have access to the Day Trip Finder and the Itinerary Planner. These interactive planning tools provide hikers easy access to trail descriptions based on many search criteria including waterfalls, historic sites, wildlife (zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, rhinos, etc.) and other interesting artifacts on the trail. The guidebook has been written with the independent traveler in mind, but is also a valuable source of hiking ideas if you plan to organize your holiday with a travel company. --- With the Cape Peninsula, Garden Route, Kruger Park and the Drakensberg Mountain Range, South Africa is a major tourist destination. Millions of tourists explore these magnificent places annually, bringing home memories of a beautiful and diverse country. Less known are the incredible national and municipal parks, numerous private nature reserves and the many little towns in the northern part of South Africa in and around Pretoria and Johannesburg that offer equally interesting experiences. If you visit South Africa beyond the major tourist centers or if you live in the major metropolitan areas, you will be amazed what the country presents in terms of its people, culture, nature, wildlife sightings, hiking, walking, food, wine, local craft beers and entertainment. Unknown to many, the nature reserves and wildlife parks in and around Pretoria and Johannesburg have outstanding hiking opportunities that can easily compete with other destinations in South Africa. --- Travelers will find South Africa: Hiking Trails in and Around Pretoria and Johannesburg and its multimedia resources an invaluable "next generation" resource guide to explore the region from a truly unique perspective.

Moon New England Hiking

Author: Moon Travel Guides
Publisher: Moon Travel
ISBN: 1640490213
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 550

Book Description
Discover local adventures in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut with Moon New England Hiking. Inside you'll find: 150 Outdoor Getaways including easy day hikes and multi-day backpacking trips Diverse Hiking Options from breathtaking seaside walks in Coastal Maine to challenging backcountry treks in the Berkshires Find Your Hike: Choose from strategic lists like the best spots for a swim, high-elevation vistas, New England oddities, and hikes with nearby breweries, plus a breakdown of the best hikes for each season The Top Outdoor Experiences: Cool off under a cascading waterfall, pick wild blueberries from a meadow, and take in views of endless autumnal foliage. Take a dip in the ocean after scaling the cliffs in Acadia or meander through shorebird habitats in Rhode Island. Visit a replica of Thoreau's cabin at historic Walden Pond, enjoy a peaceful afternoon on a secluded trail, and marvel at the Boston skyline from afar Nearby Fun: Relax after your hike at a local brewery, find a nearby campground, or stop for lunch at a mom n' pop eatery Essential Planning Details: Each hike is described in detail and marked with round-trip distance and hiking time, difficulty, terrain type, elevation gain, and access points Maps and Directions: Easy-to-use maps, driving directions to each trailhead, and details on where to park Full-color photos throughout Expert Advice: Seasoned hikers Miles Howard and Kelsey Perrett reveal their experienced insights, local secrets, and honest opinions of each trail Tips and Tools: Advice on gear, first aid, protecting the environment, and getting park passes, plus background information on climate, landscape, and wildlife Whether you're a veteran or a first-time hiker, Moon's comprehensive coverage and local expertise will have you gearing up for your next adventure. Exploring the region by car? Check out Moon New England Road Trip.

Best Hikes Cleveland

Author: Joe Baur
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1493038680
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 257

Book Description
Who says you have to travel far from home to go on a great hike? In Best Hikes Cleveland author Joe Baur details the best hikes within an hour's drive of the greater Cleveland area perfect for the urban and suburbanite hard-pressed to find great outdoor activities close to home. Each featured hike includes detailed hike specs, a brief hike description, trailhead location, directional cues, a detailed map, and color photos.