
John ChauExplorer
W-EMT at Whiskeytown, soccer coach, and adventurer - making the most of every opportunity that comes my way. Check out my blog at: theruggedtrail.wordpress.com. If you need a guide, email at: johnachau@gmail.com!
Hike to Upper Palisades Lake
6.6 mi
/ 1200 ft gain
Park at the Sunrise Point parking lot and find the Palisades Trail at the northeast corner of the parking lot. If you bring along a pair of binoculars, you can stop at the first overlook on the left and scan the adjacent mountain slopes for the wh...
Hike to the top of South Fork Mountain
5 mi
/ 4181 ft gain
Starting from the Kanaka Peak Trailhead, follow the Kanaka Peak Trail all the way, continuing on past the Peltier Trail Junction and the Kanaka Cutoff Trail Junction until the trail begins to head east (about 2-2.5 miles from the trailhead) and th...
Hike Kanaka Peak
4.5
3.5 mi
/ 1100 ft gain
Head to the Peltier Bridge Campground after entering Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and then go 1.1 miles along the road through the campground until you reach the trailhead for Kanaka Peak. The road from the campground is open from late spr...
Hike Up Table Mountain
4.7
16 mi
/ 3350 ft gain
Hike up into the forest (take the right path, not the one going left), and follow it all the way until you get to "Carpenter Lake" (which always seems to be just an empty, marshy field). Keep going and do not take the right path at the first Y spl...
Hike to Hemmed-In Hollow Falls
5.0
5 mi
After parking at the Hemmed-In Hollow Falls Trailhead, follow the path down as it descends into the valley. As you approach one of the vistas, you’ll be able to spot the emerald green waters of the Buffalo River, as well as the bluffs to your east...
Hike to Hideout Hollow
4.0
2 mi
After parking at the trailhead, head down the well-trodden path and follow it the 0.85 miles downhill to the overlook. Once you are at the overlook, go left and follow the path as it loops around the top of the overhang. You’ll arrive at a small c...
Backpacking Cecil Creek
5.0
8 mi
From Tulsa, head out east along US-412 until you reach HWY 103. Take a right (south) on HWY 103 and follow it toward Compton, Arkansas. Shortly before reaching Compton, take the dirt road on the right (before the road starts to head north), and fo...
Camp at Nickel Creek
4.0
5 mi
/ 300 ft gain
First, check in at the Crescent City Ranger Information Center in Crescent City to pick up your free backcountry permit and get permission to park your car at the Crescent City Beach Education Center off of Enderts Beach Road. This is the safest p...
Hike Munra Point
4.9
5.8 mi
/ 1870 ft gain
This hike starts at the Wahclella Falls trailhead, but does not use that trail. Instead, walk back towards the freeway and take a left onto the Columbia River Highway Trail. Go over the Tanner Creek bridge and take a left onto Trail #400. From h...
Backpack to the Natural Bridge
8 mi
After you drive across the one-lane bridge and take the dirt road immediately after it, follow that dirt road until it begins to bend to the left. Park your vehicle in the turnoff on the right, and be sure to lock it and take (or hide) any valuabl...
Kayak the Illinois River
4.0
From Tulsa, head out east along US-412 until you reach US-82. Take Exit 6 and go right (south) along US-82 until you reach E Steely Hollow Rd. Turn left and follow E Steely Hollow Rd. until you reach the T-intersection with OK-10. Pull into a park...
Backpack along Hurricane Creek
6 mi
After arriving at the trailhead near the Shores Lake Campground (there is a $3 parking fee, so bring cash), head along the path and go west at the T-junction. Continue going west/northwest and you’ll cross over a forest road. Stay on the trail as ...
Backpack Along Whitaker Creek
5 mi
After arriving at the Whitaker Point/Hawksbill Crag trailhead, start going down the path for about 1/8th of a mile. You’ll cross a small stream, and here is where you’ll turn off the trail. Using Whitaker Creek as your guide, follow it like a hand...
Climb to the Top of Mount Defiance, OR
3.7
12 mi
/ 4870 ft gain
This hike starts at the Starvation Creek Rest Area. After parking, head west back along the shoulder of the freeway, where you’ll see a wooden sign stating “Mt. Defiance Trail.” Continue heading west along the abandoned Columbia River Highway. Kee...
Hike to Diaz Beach
0.5 mi
/ -450 ft gain
After parking at the Cape Point parking lot, simply take the small unpaved path that leads south towards the ocean. Head down the gravel steps and follow it as it bears west (right) along a wooden boardwalk. Stay on the boardwalk until it ends at ...
Hike to the top of Chapman's Peak
1.5 mi
/ 1252 ft gain
Starting from the trailhead on Chapman's Peak Drive (one of the most scenic drives in the world), simply follow the trail up as it gradually climbs up east toward a 4-junction. Take that first right at the junction and follow it as it heads south ...
Hike up Devil's Peak
4.0
4 mi
/ 2000 ft gain
Starting from the parking lot on Tafelberg Road, simply head south from the trailhead and follow the path as it meanders up multiple switchbacks. Stay on the main path at the 4-way junction and continue going straight up through the pine gully and...
Snorkel at Elephant Beach
3 mi
Assuming that you made the ferry from Port Blair to Havelock Island, the best way to reach the trailhead would be to either rent a bicycle ($2/day typically) or a scooter/motorcycle ($8/day) and pedal or drive to the small sheltered bus station at...
Underground Urbexing in Tulsa
4.3
3 mi
Park at the Blue Rose restaurant’s parking lot on Riverside Drive and head south along the trail until you reach the 23rd Street Bridge. Head down toward the river and you'll soon see the large entryway into the tunnel. Large amounts of graffiti ...
Backpack to North Lake
13 mi
/ 4220 ft gain
Park at the Wyeth Trailhead parking lot and start hiking south along the old road bed. At the junction with the Gorge-Wyeth Trail, bear left and follow the Wyeth Trail as it goes beneath several power lines. Follow the trail as it goes back into t...
Backpacking Along the Buffalo River
5.0
12 mi
Park at the Centerpoint Trailhead and follow the Centerpoint trail as it heads about 3 miles downhill towards Big Bluff. You’ll know you’ve reached the trail junction for Big Bluff when you come to a clearing that has a large firepit in the middle...
Shark Diving in Gaansbai
4.0
Although this adventure usually takes place in Gaansbai (due to the higher percentage of Great Whites in the water there), you typically will be picked up in Cape Town at a hotel or hostel by the tour operator (usually very, very early in the morn...
Explore Noordhoek Beach
5.0
5 mi
The northernmost part of Noordhoek Beach that touches the jagged rocks of Chapman's Peak is the more scenic place to start exploring (see map location for directions to the north parking lot). Otherwise, one can park down at one of the beach-acces...
Visit the Slangkop Lighthouse
0.5 mi
/ 35 ft gain
After parking in the dirt parking lot, you can simply walk over to the lighthouse (if it's open) and talk to the kind staff there who might let you in for a peek (or a small fee).Otherwise, you can be content with walking around it and taking some...
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