Extreme Hiking

"Go early, go light, go fast, go far, go high" that's the motto of extreme day hikers. This tough sport is catching on among those who are looking for a challenge with a minimum investment in money and time.

Are you looking for a sport that will test your endurance and reward you with unsurpassed vistas of nature's beauty? Extreme day hiking may be for you. Catching on around the world, enthusiasts have organized a global network of trails to enjoy in the company of other hikers or on their own. The idea is to take a day, starting in the early morning hours, and trekking up to 25 kilometres (15 miles) before returning to home base in time for dinner.

The beauty of day hiking is that it requires low overhead, very little experience and the simple ability to walk. Because brisk walking is just as effective as running or cycling for a cardio-vascular workout, the health benefits are ideal, with little danger of physical injury compared to the high impact of running.

Extreme day hikes may involve trekking to the summits of mountains over 1300 metres (4000 feet), traversing long abandoned telegraph lines cut through heavily forested wilderness, or following the shore line of lakes, rivers and oceans. In most cases, the trails will be clearly marked and are monitored by rangers for safety.

Where Can I Find Trails?

Routes specifically designed for extreme day hiking are found on every continent and directories are published on the internet. A good place to start is http://www.dayhiker.com/direc tory/listing.htm. Here you will find trails in California, Colorado, Yosemite, Palm Springs, Arizona, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Take note especially that there are three prime day-hike trails in the Grand Canyon.

Trails in Canada are listed on http://www.out-there.com/htl_ bpk.htm and include spectacular hikes in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. In particular, Vancouver Island offers spectacular routes through its rain forests and along the west coast. There are many sections along the Niagara Escarpment and Bruce Trail in Ontario that are perfect for extreme day hikes.

For sites in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, check out http://www.extremeelements.co m/sports/hiking. You will find trails in the

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