Shuanghe Cave was officially found to be Asia’s longest cave in 2018. Until then it was simply a contender, with Mulu park in Malaysia boasting tentatively that Clearwater Cave was Asia’s longest. French caver Jean Bottazzi secured the designation when he discovered a new chamber connecting two known entrances to ‘different’ caves. Thus was the…
I’ve learned to be skeptical about destinations whose claim to fame is their imitation of other locations. Zhenyuan 镇远 in Guizhou, China, then, ought to have rung the alarm bell. Venice is one of a kind and its distinct Italian flavor makes it nearly impossible to imitate well. I’ve also learned to be forgiving, however.…
I’ve hated biking my whole life. Chances are it’s because I always owned $50 Walmart cycles that were heavy as they were ugly. Not a great combo when your cardio is lackluster. This, though, is a guide about biking across Taiwan’s East coast. Obviously I don’t hate it anymore, so why bring up the fact…
If you haven’t already, now’s a good time to check out part one of this report. My whole plan for this Western Sichuan trip had been to climb a random 5000 meter peak in Tagong with no guide or logistical support. My partner on that expedition and I did not succeed. We gave up at…
A picture is worth a thousand words when it causes you to spend a thousand dollars. Or when it forces you to act, and spray thousands of words about your goal to anyone who’ll listen. In this case the goal was 5000 meters, and the town a Tibetan hamlet called Tagong. My idea started with…
Western Sichuan has it all: jaw-dropping vistas, vertiginous alpine lakes and rolling grassland populated by nomads, all dotted with proprietary stupas, temples, prayer flags, and monks carrying relics of Tibetan Buddhism.
Stop Procrastinating and See the World Now “A thousand mile journey begins with one step” – Lao Zi Or, in your case, one plane ticket. Preferably one-way. I have tons of friends who’ve never left the country. Who don’t even have a passport. Who always say, ‘I’d love to get out there and see the…
It’s all too easy to give up on exercise while traveling. “But wait! I move all the time, walking around, hauling packs, adventuring..” Sure, you move. But that’s not enough to keep up the healthy (physical) lifestyle that long-term travel can obliterate with it’s wanton dietary and time-schedule demands. Because of this, I’ve compiled a…
Huanguoshu: The Largest Waterfall in Asia Guizhou, China, is a rather far-flung destination. Most people (myself included, before I got here) couldn’t find it on a map. Yet Guizhou (pronounced gway-joe) is a powerhouse of unique destinations. Beyond it’s ethnic villages, world-class climbing, and record-breaking caves Guizhou boasts Asia’s largest waterfall. Huangguoshu, at 77.8m tall…
If you’re looking to bag your first 5000 meter peak, I suggest tackling DaFeng in Siguniangshan, China. For the most part, high-altitude mountain climbing is no joke. It requires a commitment to fitness and to a situation in which many of the variables are out of your control. Though objective danger varies from peak to…