Bryan Young

Sani Pass is the highest mountain pass in South Africa, connecting the town of Underberg in KZN to Mokhotlong in Lesotho. It is strictly a 4x4 vehicle drive and takes visitors from a starting elevation of 5,065 ft (1,544 m) at the South African border post all the way up the winding road to 9,435 ft (2,876 m) at the top and the Lesotho border post.Just to be clear, if you arrive from South Afri...

Sehlabathebe National Park is one of the most remote areas of Lesotho. It is also one of the most unique places in the entire country. Due to its isolation the park does not see vast amounts of visitors and you can find solitude quite easily. However, don’t let it’s remoteness deter you, this is one of the prettiest parks I have been to in the world!Upon your arrival to the park, check in at th...

Sentinel Peak is a great day trip, but if you can spend the night it will reward you will magnificent sunset and sunrise views! The 7.5 mile (12 km) roundtrip hike begins from the Sentinel Peak Car Park just up the smooth dirt road past the sign for the Witsiehoek Mountain Lodge. (They are in the process of paving the road to the top!) After you park make sure to check in and pay the rangers fe...

Located just 4 hours southwest of the capital of Namibia – Windhoek – Sossusvlei is an otherworldly park, and one of Namibia’s most well-known attractions. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is best known for it’s towering red sand dunes, photographic salt flats and, for well, making you feel like you have just stepped out of your vehicle and landed on Mars. Sossusvlei is part of the world’s ol...

Situated in the heart of the Naukluft Mountain range, the Namib-Naukluft Zebra Mountain Park is a remote park with two amazing hikes – the 17 km Waterkloof Trail and the 10 km Olive Trail. Waterkloof Trail – 17 km (6-7 hours) The Waterkloof Trail is the park’s longest trail, listed by the park at 17 km (10.5 miles). It’s a beautiful hike that begins right from the Main Lodge and is marked w...

The adventure begins at Semonkong Lodge in the heart of the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho. Here you will spend your weekend learning the ropes (get it?!?!) of abseiling and relaxing in the remote mountain village before taking on the world’s longest single-drop abseil in the world.  Day 1: You will head out to a nearby cliff, just a mere 82 feet (25 m) with the abseil team to complete 3 practice ...

From the Camp Misery Trailhead (elev. 5,717 ft) take the left Trail 8 for .6 miles. At the junction continue left for a 1.3 mile gently ascent into Jewel Basin. Nearing Twin Lakes continue left on Trail 7 for .6 miles until you reach Trail 55. Continue right, and make sure that after a short .3 miles you keep on the trail and keep left on Trail 55. Do not turn right on Trail 719. Follow Trail 5...

Sunset Point Trail is an quick and easy 0.4 mile hike near the entrance of the park that provides you with beautiful views of the Capital Reef rim from the opposite side of the park. As the evening descends the setting sun illuminates the red rim rock formations giving them the best photographic views! At the end of the hike there is an exciting rock formation with nature-made koozies, perfect...

Lesotho is wonderful because it is quite easy to escape the city and enjoy remote adventures! Just an hours drive from Maseru you will take Main South 1 toward Roma, making sure to follow signs directing you toward Mohale Dam. As you drive you will climb up into the mountains. At the second pass, God Help Me Pass, you will see a sign for the Basotho Pony Trekking Centre on the left. This is whe...

Platteklip Gorge is the shortest route to hike to the summit of Table Mountain. It’s the most direct because the only direction the route takes you is up! The trail begins on Tafelberg Road just past the cableway station at 1,180 ft (360 m). From the get go the trail is steep and if you can imagine it ends steeper. In just under 2 miles the trail ascends 2,300 feet, taking you to a summit eleva...

Choquequirao, located in Apurimac Canyon, is a remote historical site of the ancient Incas also known as “the Lost Machu Picchu.” Most treks to Choquequirao take 4 to 5 days as you must cover 28 miles (45 km) and hike up and down the Apurimac Canyon.Day 1: When you arrive at the trail you can see your Choquequirao if you carefully look across the canyon for the break in the trees where the stee...

Spitzkoppe is located just three hours from the capital of Namibia – Windhoek – and provides the perfect adventure for any person. Reachable on tar roads (a rarity for Namibia), Spitzkoppe is an iconic granite destination that gives its visitors lots of adventures from technical climbing, to mountain hiking and photography, basically anything that can suit all types of visitors!The tallest part...

El Paso is a sprawling city that is remarkably split by the Franklin Mountains. By driving up the Transmountain Road you can get a view of city, but stopping at Franklin State Park and climbing the North Franklin Mountain Peak you can top the city! To start, enter Franklin State Park and pay the entry fee ($5). Park at the trailhead (first right into the park). From here head up the rocky minin...

Navajo Knobs is one of Capital Reef’s most spectacular hikes. It brings you, moderately, to one of Capital Reef’s most spectacular viewpoints of the main park’s viewpoints. (Tip: Upon arriving at the park the Ranger recommended this as her favorite hike, and it lived up to the hype! If you’re looking to experience all of the park in one hike, this is it!) To start, park at the TH for the Hick...

Wadi Qelt is a word that stands for valley or stream. The Lower Wadi Qelt trail begins on top of what can be described as a canyon and brings you down to the stream that passes by St. George’s Monastery.Starting from the parking lot trailhead, you will follow a steep and roughly paved road down into the Lower Wadi Qelt. Just remember, what goes down, must come up! As you follow this you will ge...

Misquamicut is one of Rhode Island’s most popular beach locations during the day. As the evening approaches most beach goers pack up, tired from a day of playing in the waves and lounging on the beach’s beautiful sand. It’s during this time, when the crowds disperse and the day begins to turn to night, that Misquamicut transforms from beach playground into a tranquil refuge for those ready to r...

The Parking Area & Trailhead have been updated by the BLM from the previous starting point at Mugrage Campground, which is no longer open.  The BLM has also built a relatively short and easy trail from the new parking area to the hot springs. The springs are not too hot, about 80-90 degree F as they mix slightly with the cool Colorado River that flows adjacent to the spring. There is fr...

The trick to this view is that the park gate closes at 5 pm. Therefore you have two options: Option 1Park at the entrance of the park (outside of the gate) and hike into the park. From there walk along the road to the park entrance ($5 entrance fee) and continue to the first left road where you turn and then walk to the TH of the Upper Sunset Trail and then hike up approxim...

The Four Notch Loop is a relaxing ~10 mile hike just north of Houston. The southern half of the loop follows on a 4 mile stretch of the 140 mile Lone Star Hiking Trail while the north part circles back to complete the loop.  From the large dirt and leaf covered Four Notch and Hunter Camp TH hike .3 miles until you reach the loop junction. From here you can choose to travel left to hike the Four...

Begin at Camp Misery (elev. 5,717 ft). This is a total misname by the way! It should be titled Camp On The Way To Awesomeness! Anyway, head .6 miles on Trail 8 to the intersection of trail. From here turn right on Trail 68 and hike .7 miles until the intersection where you turn right on Trail 7 for your ascent into Jewel Basin. At the next trail junction take the right onto Trail 392 for .4 mil...