Maybe it's the scale of it all. But after ten years since my first trip to the Lake District I still can't get over this place.

Home to both England's biggest lake and its tallest mountain, you could visit 100 times and still feel like you're missing things. This time I'm here to spend a few days with Nemo Equipment - a high end outdoor brand with a focus on lightweight kit.

For the uninitiated, Nemo was founded in the US by MIT graduate and sometime spacesuit engineer Cam Brensinger, who, after spending five night's bad sleep in a poorly designed bivvy sack, decided he could do better. Fast forward 20 something years and Nemo is firmly established in the US as a go-to for thoughtfully-made ultralight gear with a sustainable focus.

It's a newer presence in the UK though, and so I'm here as part of a campout to find out more about Nemo's latest products, along with Advnture contributor Gary Moore (who also happens to be my partner) and other journalists, including Sian Lewis, who was involved in the launch of this very site.

Gary and I have already been in the Lakes for 24 hours before the Nemo campout, taking the opportunity to photograph kit including the best wetsuit I've ever had, and an update on a Patagonia classic. Day one saw us hiking off the Hardknott Pass and swimming in the very cold and very fast River Esk, and then staying the night in a fun Scandinavian barbeque hut near Ambleside.

The next morning we head to Grasmere to photograph more kit, including two excellent changing robes from Zone3 and Red, before driving on to the National Trust's campsite at Great Langdale to meet the group for the campout. The campsite is definitely on the fancy side, with a dedicated drying room (more on that later) and hot showers available 24/7. With the forecast promising heavy rain, we're going to need both, but weather regardless, we arrive very much in the mood for more swimming, more hiking, and lots of gear chat.

There are half a dozen other outdoor writers in camp and in theory we're all competitors, working for rival sites and publications. In practice though, many of us already know each other, having bonded at trade shows and events over our mutual love of the outdoors and nerdish level of interest in the kit. From the outset, it's clear that we're going to get along just fine.

After a short round of introductions the Nemo team wastes no time giving us the low down on the brand's latest kit.

The technical bit: new tents

If you're familiar with Nemo tents already, you'll know that they're very light, beautifully designed, and come with a price tag that reflects both those qualities.

We're shown both existing tents, and upgraded versions coming in the next year, with the Dagger, Dragonfly and Hornet, all making an appearance. Coming for next season are more sustainable fabrics, solution dyes, and more room.

Despite their relatively low profiles, it's possible to sit up in every tent - a boon in rainy British weather, when you may unexpectedly get stuck under canvas for a couple of days. All the tents also have a 'landing zone' in the vestibule to stick shoes and backpacks for more sleeping space, and the larger tents have an opening on each side.

While Gary is very much a thru-hiker, having recently walked from Bristol to Ireland, I'm more of a car camper, so it's been a while since I slept in a tiny tent. Happily, the Nemo Dagger Ridge 3P we've been allocated easily keeps us cozy and dry, despite the often torrential rain that has unhelpfully decided to arrive after a month-long drought.

The Ridge versions of Nemo's tents have an updated pole structure, which adds both height, and more usable space - without extra weight. After two nights sleeping in this one, I'm a fan.

The technical bit: ultralight mats

Finding a sleep mat that's light, packable, comfortable and well-insulated, is a holy grail for any wild camper, and Nemo's Tensor sleep mats seek to answer that quest.

We're shown the latest Tensor sleep mats, including the Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions sleep mat, which all feature 'suspended' insulation, that hangs between the top and bottom layer of the mat, massively reducing the noisy crinkling sound you often get when rolling over on a lightweight mat.

These mats are super lightweight and pack down to almost nothing, and I find myself marvelling - yet again - at how far this industry has come. We're also given a demo on how to use a pump sack, which I could have done with this summer when struggling to use one on my Therm-a-Rest mat.

The technical bit: spoon-shape sleeping bags

We're taken through a range of sleeping bags, most with Nemo's 'spoon' shape - which has a narrower middle section, but then flares out at the feet. It's an interesting compromise between rectangular bags and mummy-styles, that saves weight, while being a more comfortable option than mummy bags and better for side sleepers. Many of the bags have 'Thermo Gills' in the front - small sections that you can unzip to dump heat, which is a clever touch. I spend the first night in a Riff sack, while Gary has the Disco.

Both down bags hold up to the chilly damp conditions with remarkable ease and we agree the spoon shape is a winner, but I'm reminded when I wake up with a tight chest on the first morning that I'm slightly allergic to down and switch to the synthetic Forte for the second night. It's just as good, and it's going on my Christmas list.

Magic chairs: the Nemo Stargaze

With all that technical chat out of the way, it's time to relax. The Nemo team cook up a feast on the firepit (special shout out must go to Jo for her amazing homemade cakes) and we kick back in Nemo Stargaze chairs. Imagine a camping chair combined with a rocking chair and a recliner and you're on the right track. They are obscenely comfortable (admittedly with a pretty hefty price tag). There are two versions - the original Stargaze reclining chair, and the Stargaze Evo-X, which is a bit sturdier, a bit plusher, and quickly wins the vote over which of the two we prefer.

The group quickly divides between the rockers and 'non'-rockers, although, as you can see in my Insta post below, most of us eventually succumb. If I could take home a single piece of kit from the campout, it would be one of these.

The chat takes in some of our recent adventures and the revelation that one of our number doesn't know who Ilona Maher (US rugby legend) is - if you don't know either, you can check out her Instagram here and thank me later. We spend a while marvelling at how she's built her profile to become the most-followed rugby player in the world. We all agree she's awesome.

Swimming with monsters

The next morning the group splits into those keen for a five hour hike up the Langdale Pikes and, well, me. I have an old knee injury that makes me less nimble on the trails than I'd like. If I join the guided hike I'll be the one lagging at the back the whole time. And that's no fun.

So I set off on a solo adventure instead, making a short hike around the edge of Side Pike to Blea Tarn, where I want to swim. Once I'm off the road, a short wander around the side of another hill and through some very prehistoric-feeling woods, brings me to the lake.

Blea Tarn has existed for so long that the sediment on the bottom of the deepest parts hasn't been disturbed since this land was still covered in glaciers. I feel very privileged to be here.

It's pouring with rain and my only company is a female duck, who I share some of my lunch with before my dip. Because it's high up, the water is still and icy cold but I'm used to cold water, so I just chuck on my wetsuit and get in, admittedly with a gasp.

In recent years I've stopped putting my face in the water when I go wild swimming in the UK - the pollution scare stories are no joke. But I don't worry about that here. The water is clean and clear and high up enough that it's extremely unlikely that anything nasty is getting pumped into it,

I dip my head under and the water is pitch black. My lizard brain kicks in and I immediately foresee death by plesiosaur in my near future. The creeping dread so many people experience in open water is upon me. I know it's just a prey instinct, a genetic hangover designed to remind me not to swim with deep water underneath me (for there once were monsters), but it takes me a minute to recalibrate.

After managing to relax again and bobbing around for quite a while I feel like I've had enough, so I peel off my wetsuit in the water (much easier that way), but then the feeling of the cold against my actual skin is so lovely, I decide to stay in for a bit longer, and eventually strip off my bikini to swim naked. Life's too short not to skinny dip.

I do my best to dry off in the now pouring rain, and wander back to the campsite, taking in a pebbled path that runs down the side of Side Pike. I'm grateful for the Vivobarefoot hiking boots I've been testing recently, and my Silva walking poles, that aren't really designed for 'proper' hiking, but help to keep me upright on the steep decline anyway.

I arrive back at camp a little before the rest of the crew, and spread out my entire kit in the drying room before having a much needed hot shower.

The happy hikers return soon enough, with talk of swimming in waterfalls and trekking above the cloud line. I feel a pang of jealousy at not having been able to join in, but that's forgotten soon enough as the Nemo team starts cooking tonight's veggie chilli and we discuss the perfect S'mores combo.

As night falls the clouds miraculously clears and we pull our chairs out from under the awning, to spot a few constellations and track satellites across the sky.

Swimming in Coniston

After an action-packed couple of days we're ready to pass out soon enough, and crawl into our respective tents. Lots of heart-felt goodbyes are had the next morning, before Gary and I make one final stop - to swim in Coniston Water (here I keep my face out, as the big Lakes have seen increasing pollution).

The water is much warmer here, and there are ducks again.

I marvel at finding such peace in the middle of this crazy world and stretch out across the lake, once again reminded of how lucky I am to so all this and somehow call it work.

Food and accommodation at Great Langdale were provided by Nemo Equipment, without any editorial input to this piece aside from some of the photos you see here.

Workers at Yosemite National Park have been forced to contend with one of its busiest summers on record, and a whopping 40% increase in rescues as drastic Trump administration cuts take their toll.

Data from the National Park Service reveals that 2,919,772 people visited the park between January and August of this year, a 7% increase over the same period last year. Between January and July, there was a huge 40% increase in rescues, according to data reported by Politico.

The busy period coincided with large-scale staffing cuts introduced by the Trump administration.

Internal NPS data reported by NPCA suggests that national parks across the US have lost almost a quarter of their full-time staff to the cuts and voluntary redundancies. In response, they've only hired about half of the usual number of temporary employees.

It's unclear exactly how many staff have left their jobs at Yosemite, but former employees suggest the cuts are taking a dangerous toll, especially on rescue workers.

Former Superintendent Cicely Muldoon retired from her position in February and told Politico's E&E News that "there are a lot of folks doing the jobs that three people used to do".

"The search and rescue loads are intense. The traffic and parking, and Yosemite crowds are intense. People are always exhausted by the end."

Despite the cuts and increase in rescues, officials at Yosemite are insistent that the park is doing well.

A statement from Acting Superintendent Ray McPadden reads: “This summer, we expanded access, offered new and improved facilities, experiences, and programs, all in testament to our dedicated park staff and partners.

“Their extraordinary efforts allowed millions of Americans and visitors from across the globe to enjoy Yosemite and create lifelong memories. Yosemite is open year-round and with fall’s arrival, visitors can expect cooler conditions and fewer crowds while accessing all major areas of the park.”

Park workers and advocates are less optimistic, fearing for the long-term health of national parks in the US without proper funding or ample staff.

John Garder, of the National Parks Conservation Association, which advocates for the NPS and its workers, told Advnture last month that parks across the country could sustain serious structural and ecological damage if underfunding continues.

"We're seeing a situation where there are professional staff who care for resources, who do scientific work, who perform law enforcement, and are needed for their normal duties, who are now maintaining bathrooms, and are doing some of the other work so that visitors don't see the impact that this is having," he explained.

"The long-term threat, which is very alarming, is not necessarily visible to park visitors, but if this keeps up, this eventually is going to be the case as resources get degraded."

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A British endurance athlete has made history by becoming the first person to swim around Iceland's entire coastline.

Ross Edgley, 39, began the mammoth journey in May and has covered more than 1,000 miles (1,610km) in the months since, encountering violent storms, unpredictable currents, and chilly temperatures.

On Monday, September 8, he arrived on Nautholsvik Beach in Reykjavik to jubilation from friends, family, and support staff gathered at the scene.

“This has been the toughest and most ambitious challenge I have attempted yet,” said Edgley, who previously swam all the way around mainland Britain, and holds the record for the world's longest non-stop river swim, covering 317 miles (510km) down Canada’s Yukon River in 2024.

“Iceland provided an incredible opportunity to test my physical and mental limits - the country has provided some insane experiences I will never forget," he added.

Edgley and team used a 68ft (21m) expedition yacht as a floating base throughout the journey. On board, Ross was fed, hydrated, and given medical attention to deal with the various injuries he sustained in the water.

He also partnered with local scientists and researchers to monitor the impact of climate change in the North Atlantic and collected more than 100 eDNA microplastic samples, which will be used for further research on land.

"We wanted to help scientists understand how these waters are changing," he continued.

"Swimming day in and day out gave us a completely unique perspective on the ocean, and it was a privilege to support real-time research that could aid in future conservation efforts."

Want to watch Ross's latest challenge for yourself? He was filmed throughout by a crew from the UK's Channel 4, who will be turning his mammoth effort into three one-hour documentaries, due to air later this year.

• The best changing robes: cocoon yourself post-swim in a protective layer
• The best water shoes: fast-draining, quick-drying and ready to take you from the shore to the sea

Authorities in British Columbia, Canada, say they have now found the bodies of all three hikers who fell from the Meachen Creek Falls in the East Kootenays.

After a week of intensive searching, rescuers from Kimberley RCMP uncovered the third body, of a 35-year-old man, who had already been presumed dead.

Authorities were originally alerted to the incident on September 1, when they received an SOS signal from a GPS device. A swift search and rescue mission promptly followed, and rescuers soon discovered the body of a 68-year-old woman halfway down the falls.

Days later, with the help of drones, police dogs, and two Big Horn helicopters, they found the body of a 35-year-old female hiker and then confirmed that all three had likely perished.

Local police confirmed the final discovery and thanked rescuers for their efforts in a statement.

It reads: “Their efforts and skill have been appreciated by visiting members of the deceased family."

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased.”

Hiking around waterfalls can be treacherous. Check out our expert guide for some thorough safety tips.

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A damage report has revealed the devastating impact of a violent wildfire, which decimated large sections of the Grand Canyon National Park over the past couple of months.

The Dragon Bravo wildfire began on July 4 after a lightning strike, and spread rapidly thanks to high winds and scorching temperatures inside the canyon. As of today, it has burned over 140,000 acres of Arizona wilderness and is 80% contained, with hundreds of firefighters still battling the blaze.

The latest assessment from the Department of the Interior’s Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team states that nearly half of the structures in the park's North Rim section have been severely damaged or destroyed by the blaze.

A total of 106 affected structures include the historic Grand Canyon lodge, the visitor centre, and a vital wastewater treatment plant. Roughly 1,000ft (305m) of the area's 3,300ft (1,006m) water pipeline also sustained serious damage.

Ed Keable, superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park, described the assessment as the "first step towards recovery on the North Rim of Grand Canyon."

"By evaluating risks and identifying treatments now, we are laying the foundation for long-term landscape resilience. This careful, science-based work is essential to ensuring that areas can reopen safely.”

The North Rim, which is usually popular with hikers, will remain closed for the rest of the season, along with multiple inner canyon corridors and campgrounds. Trails affected include the North Kaibab Trail, South Kaibab Trail, Phantom Ranch, and Bright Angel Trail (below Havasupai Gardens).

A social media post from the National Park Service expands: "With assessments complete, the park and interagency partners are now shifting to stabilization, mitigation, and long-term recovery efforts. Protecting human health and safety remains the top priority."

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One hiker has died, and two others remain missing after they fell from the Meachen Creek Falls in Canada's East Kootenays over the weekend.

Authorities from the nearby Kimberley Search and Rescue were notified of the incident by an SOS signal from a GPS device, and quickly began a search operation.

The organization dispatched a drone, police dogs, and two Big Horn helicopters to find the hikers. Only one has been confirmed dead thus far.

Waterfall safety

A scenic waterfall is almost guaranteed to be the highlight of any hike, but falls can also be dangerous and cause multiple deaths every year.

Check out some of our top safety tips if you're planning a hiking trip to or via a waterfall.

• Wear the right shoes - Wet surfaces near waterfalls can become slippery and dangerous, especially if you're wearing the wrong footwear. Wear a proper pair of hiking shoes or boots to get the most grip possible. Wear water shoes to help avoid nasty slips if you're planning to swim.
• Check the weather - Poor weather conditions can increase danger. Check the forecast before your hike and look out for heavy rain or ice. Shaded areas can be particularly precarious as they maintain ice for longer.
• Research the falls - Jumping into a waterfall that you don't know much about can be very dangerous. Research the falls you're visiting to understand their depth, what lies beneath the surface, and whether you're ok to swim. Avoid swimming above waterfalls where you could get swept over the edge.
• Stick to established routes - Off-trail and restricted areas are off-limits for good reason. Stick to established trails and use viewing platforms to get a good look at the falls.
• Take a friend - Hiking is always safer with a friend or in a group, who can provide assistance in an emergency and call for specialist help if needed.

For more waterfall safety advice, check out our expert guide.

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An elderly Japanese hiker has become the oldest known person to scale Mount Fuji, at the age of 102.

Kokichi Akuzawa climbed the 12,388ft (3,776m) mountain over three days with the help of several climbing partners, including his 70-year-old daughter and members of the Gunma Mountaineering Club, where Akuzawa is the honorary chairman.

The experienced climber, who last scaled Fuji at 96, took the popular Yoshida route to the summit and broke up the journey by staying in mountain huts along the way.

On his third day of trekking, Akuzawa made the final push and reached Fuji's summit, where he was awarded a Guinness World Record certificate for his achievement.

He told the organization: "It was tough, and it felt a lot different to the last time I climbed it. I'm amazed that I made it to the top. I couldn't have done it without everyone's help. I'm feeling pleased now."

Despite his success, Akuzawa was eager to rule out a repeat climb in the near future.

“Never again. If you ask me next year, maybe you’ll get a different answer, but for now, I’m happy with that climb.”

Akuzawa trained for his adventure by taking an hour-long walk each morning and climbing a smaller mountain once a week in preparation.

In the past year, he's survived a fall, shingles, and an incident of heart failure.

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An 85-year-old hiker has died after being trampled by cows in the Austrian Alps.

The unnamed man and his wife were charged at by an aggressive herd on Sunday, August 31, while they walked their dog in the Ramsau am Dachstein area of Austria's Styria province.

Local police spokesman Markus Lamb told AFP: "A retired couple from Vienna and their dog were walking just below the so-called Austria hut when a herd of nine cows, including three calves, charged and severely injured them."

Nearby hikers and refuge workers witnessed the attack, alerted emergency services, and administered first aid to the couple, who were taken to a hospital in Salzburg. The man died of his injuries before he could undergo surgery.

Cow safety

Depending on where you're trekking, cows might not be high on your list of worries, but they might be a little more dangerous than you expect.

Believe it or not, cows are the deadliest animals in the UK, killing upwards of 70 people in the past 15 years. They're equally dangerous across the Atlantic, accounting for roughly 22 deaths each year in the US.

Cows are generally peaceful animals, but there are a few things to keep in mind when passing by them, so prepare in advance with some of our top safety tips

• Reroute when necessary - Look around before you enter a cow field and take a different route if you see calves or a bull. Like most animals, cows are extremely protective of their young, and bulls, identified by their humped shoulders and muscular necks, are notoriously ill-tempered. Cows are also known to take a keen interest in pregnant women, so they're best avoided altogether if you're expecting.
• Alert the cows to your presence - Cows can become aggressive if surprised, so make plenty of noise when they're in your way.
• Walk quickly and avoid eye contact - Avoid antagonizing cows by passing them at speed and allowing them plenty of room.
• Keep dogs on a short lead - Excitable furry friends can wind up cattle, so keep yours on a short lead and keep it from barking if possible.
• Don't panic - Keep calm if cows move towards you. Continue walking at a steady pace towards your exit and give them a gentle shove if they come within touching distance.
• Don't run - If cows become aggressive, running will only spur them on. Instead, make yourself as big as possible, wave your arms, and yell the expletive of your choice to avoid getting trampled.

For a detailed safety breakdown, check out our expert guide to cattle safety.

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A 73-year-old hiker has died in Montana's Glacier National Park after falling from one of its most popular routes.

Diane Bunker of Muscatine, Iowa, was hiking the famous Highline Trail on Friday, August 29, when she tripped and fell roughly 450ft (137m). Search and rescue officials rushed to her location and found Bunker dead at the scene with sustained traumatic injuries.

Glacier National Park officials confirmed the incident in a news release obtained by the Daily Montanan.

It reads: "While hiking with a large group, Bunker tripped and fell off the edge of the trail, out of sight from her hiking party."

"Two Bear Air was dispatched to search for the fallen hiker. Two Bear Air located and recovered her below the trail."

The stunning but potentially dangerous Highline Trail is one of Glacier's most popular routes, guiding trekkers through 14.9 miles (24km) of Wyoming wilderness and gaining 2,621ft (798.9m) in elevation.

The route offers breathtaking views of Glacier National Park, but can also be dangerous, featuring a narrow, exposed cliffside section, with steep drops and a tricky cable handrail.

"The trail can be 3 - 5 feet wide in places, with a large drop-off on one side of the trail," explains the National Park Service website, which says there is a hand cable available for about 50 yards of the trail.

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It’s 3:20am as I tiptoe down the creaky stairs of the Buddha Lodge teahouse in Gorak Shep and push the front door open to an icy blast of alpine air.

“Good morning,” says Jonathan Davies, who’s already waiting outside in the dark with two of our Himalayan guides, his headlamp strapped to his head in anticipation of our pre-dawn hike.

The celebrated Welsh rugby player and I have been trekking in Nepal for the last eight days with a small group pulled together by his friend and mentor, Rhys David, the new CEO of EverTrek, an adventure company that Davies has recently become a brand ambassador for.

Yesterday, we finally reached Everest Base Camp, at 17,598ft (5,364m) above sea level, where we hugged, high-fived, and clambered giddily onto a famous boulder for a group photo. After an hour or so ogling the Khumbu icefall and the smattering of yellow tents that remain late in climbing season when most mountaineers have summited or been repelled by the mountain one way or another, we hiked back down to Gorak Shep to spend the night before beginning our descent.

Before we do that, though, Davies and I have opted in to an excruciating alpine start to climb another 1,000ft (300m) higher than Base Camp up Kala Patthar to watch the sun rise over Everest and Lhotse. Our trekking companions have, quite sensibly, chosen to remain in bed.

The last scrum

The 37-year-old, affectionately known as 'Foxy' – a nickname he tells me people are often disappointed to learn he only earned because his parents owned the Fox and Hound Pub in Carmarthenshire and nothing more salacious – recently retired from a hugely successful 18-year rugby career. After signing with the Llanelli Scarlets immediately out of high school, his impressive stint saw him play for Wales 96 times, as well as in four Six Nations tournaments, two grand slams, and two Lions tours.

In May of 2024, right around the time his first son was born, Davies played his last game with the Scarlets, and decided to take a break to spend time with his growing family and think about his next move.

“I’ve been around for so much more than a lot of new dads get, and that’s the most important thing,” says Davies.

“There’s a bigger purpose in my life now. So it was great timing.”

After nearly six months, he says he knew that the more time he spent off the pitch, the more he realized he didn’t miss the game. Davies announced his retirement from the sport in October 2024, and tells me he did so without any regrets or reservations.

“I look back at my career and there’s not much else I could have done, so I’m happy, very fortunate.”

A fox on the trot

When we begin our starlit march across the high alpine desert terrain to Kala Patthar, it’s been almost exactly a year since his last game, and if you’ve been watching him play for a long time, it shows. In a 2024 interview with the BBC, Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel describes the first time he set eyes on Davies when he made his debut aged 18.

"There was a lot of talk of this kid coming through from Bancyfelin, and when he turned up to training, he was a monster," says Peel.

"It was a shock because of how big he was physically. He was more developed than most of the senior team.”

Though he’s still dedicated to physical conditioning – one of the first things he does when we get back to Kathmandu after 11 days of trekking is hit the hotel gym – with the intense training of his professional days behind him, he’s slimmed down to 210lb (95kg). But this lighter version of Davies turns out to be as strong and nimble as ever, and no less afraid of a challenge.

“I had one eye on Kala Patthar the whole time because it was that little bit higher than Base Camp, and I wanted to see if it would stress me,” he tells me of his decision to take our guides up on the optional extra hike.

Breaking the elastic

The walk up Kala Patthar itself is relatively short, with just over a mile of climbing, but in that time, we gain more than 1,300ft (396m) in elevation, and we’re quickly subdued into a breathless silence.

As minutes tick by, the silhouettes of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumori, Ama Dablam, and more start to loom out of the receding darkness, and I become aware of a growing distance between myself and the rugby player. Perhaps I expected to have an edge over him, what with my many decades of experience trekking around the world, but as we near the ridgeline and every breath becomes an effort, I can’t help but slow down while he digs in. In professional cycling, something we’re both big fans of, there’s a term for this: “breaking the elastic”.

Knowing that sunrise is mere minutes away and if he keeps slowing down for my sake, he could miss it, I give Davies the nod, and within seconds, the elastic is in shreds, he and one of our guides have all but disappeared from view as they scurry up to a radio tower that marks the highest point. Myself and our remaining guide clamber weakly up to a ridgeline where I plop down on a frosty rock, my heart pounding, and watch the snow on the biggest mountains on earth turn dusky pink.

“The size of the whole mountain range is just breath taking, but I think Kala Patthar was the exclamation mark on it all,” says Davies later, after we’ve regrouped, met up with our trekking companions, and walked another eight miles down to Dingboche to spend the night.

A love of the outdoors

For fans used to seeing Davies scoring tries and spot-blitzing in his ever-present scrum cap (something his mother insisted he wear after his family witnessed a rugby player losing an ear during a tackle in a freak accident), images of him wearing hiking boots from The North Face might seem like something of a departure. But for those who know him, seeing Davies getting outdoors more these days is no surprise.

“When I’m outdoors, whether I’m on a mountain or in the woodlands, even on the beach, I feel calm. I wouldn’t say I’m uptight, but it just seems to take me away from everything else.”

Davies and his wife, Lou, first got bitten by the outdoor bug in 2019, during a nearly month-long trip to America’s west coast, where they discovered the tumbling waterfalls of Yosemite, endless salt flats of Death Valley, and glittering Lake Tahoe.

In Vancouver, the couple did the Grouse Grind, a popular fitness challenge where hikers see how quickly they can cover a 1.8-mile ascent with 2,800ft (853m) of elevation gain – something they enjoyed so much they did it again to beat their previous time a couple of years later when they returned to the Canadian Rockies on their honeymoon.

“I just feel so comfortable when I’m with the family outdoors or with friends exploring new areas of the world,” says Davies, who spent months before our trek training in the mountains of north Wales and on the trails of Cornwall with his son loaded up in an Osprey carrier.

“If I’m doing something, I really focus and try to get the full benefit from it.”

Reaching new heights

Despite his efforts in the lead up to the trek, Davies is the first to admit that spending nearly two weeks walking over 80 miles without a rest day and at high altitude is a totally different ball game to his previous adventures.

“This is on a far bigger scale than anything I’ve done before,” he tells me.

Trekking to the foot of Everest via the standard Khumbu Valley route we’ve taken isn’t exactly technical, but it requires, at minimum, six hours of hiking each day carrying a backpack, the dexterity to leap off the trail at any moment to avoid the sharp horns of a herd of yak, and the effects of ever-decreasing oxygen levels. At Kala Pattahr, we’re getting 50 percent less oxygen with each breath than we’d get down at sea level back in the UK.

“You can train as hard as you want, but you just don’t know how altitude is going to treat you, so that was a real worry of mine,” says Davies, who says he was "apprehensive" as to how he'd react after his days at rugby training camps in Switzerland. He knows from experience that altitude can be an unpredictable beast no matter how conditioned you are.

Of course, at camps with altitude-adjusted rooms, players can simply open their hotel room doors to get more oxygen after a long day of training. Here in Nepal, there’s no such option, and none of our group, guides included, escapes the crushing headaches, racing heart, and broken sleep that increasing altitude bestows upon the intrepid Base Camp hiker.

Big deep breaths outdoors

I’ve spent a lot of the last eight days looking at Davies’ calf muscles. Not because I’m a creep, but because he’s generally towards the front of the pack. Davies walks steadily, day after day, head up and unencumbered by the trekking poles most of the rest of us rely on.

His demeanor is steady, too. He’s happy to join the banter, even when it’s at his expense (he earns the nickname “Peter Andre” owing to a physique that could put the 1990s Australian pop star to shame). He’s just as at ease with more serious conversation, periods of silence and reflection.

“I’m very comfortable in my own skin,” he says. “I never wanted attention.”

Davies isn’t immune to the challenges an experience like this poses (though he may hide it better than the rest of us), but his years on the pitch have also reinforced a certain in-built resilience that’s a huge merit when you’re walking through this unforgiving landscape. He views the demands as an opportunity for self-inquiry rather than grumbling, and this is one of the things he says he loves most about exploring the outdoors.

“You have time to think about things, process things, it helps with your next steps, and it clears your mind.”

When I ask him if he thinks hiking could help professional athletes bridge the gap between structured days and constant time in spotlight to the new life that awaits them after retirement, he’s keen not to downplay the importance of mentorship, but adds that in some ways, hiking can be “like cheap therapy” that could be hugely beneficial for retiring athletes.

“Just going for a walk with friends and talking things through, that helps. I think it gives you a connection to yourself. There’s nothing more refreshing than big deep breaths outdoors.”

Foxy's kit for Everest Base Camp

• Ayacucho merino wool base layer
• Montane Fireball Lite softshell jacket
• Montane Anti Freeze XT down jacket
• The North Face Hedgehog hiking boots
• Osprey Talon 33 backpack

• Best hiking boots: hit the trail
• Best base layers: the foundation of your hiking garb

Open water swimmers in Germany can head into wild waters with a little more confidence, following the introduction of 'Dolphin' lifeguarding drones at multiple popular spots.

These small, remote-controlled devices are designed to help wild swimmers in emergencies, providing something for them to hold on to and safely tugging them back to shore.

They're a little over a yard long and can reach speeds of up to 16 miles per hour (25kmph) on their way to a person, and 3.1mph (5kmph) with two adults holding on. On board, there's a video camera that sends feedback to the drone operator. The devices can be controlled from up to roughly half a mile away (800m).

These potentially life-saving machines have popped up at 14 open water swimming spots around Germany as part of a testing programme run by the German Life-Saving Association (DLRG).

The DLRG began the programme after a deadly 2024 for German swimmers. There were 411 drowning deaths in the nation last year, the highest number since the pandemic and a significant jump compared to the 380 in 2023.

The devices, known officially as Dolphin 3s, are made by Hong Kong company, OceanAlpha, and are already in consistent use by Chinese lifeguarding organizations.

The OceanAlpha website reads: "Dolphin 3 can propel itself to rescue a casualty faster than any skilled swimmer, while the rescuer can operate it with a remote controller to stay safe and dry."

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• The best water shoes: gear up for wild aqua adventures

Is it time for a new national park? Lawmakers in Florida certainly think so. They're pushing for 2,800 square miles of Florida wilderness to become America's 64th national park, in a move to protect the sensitive habitats of the Florida springs and bolster interest in the area.

The 'Path to Florida Springs National Park Act' has already been introduced to lawmakers in America's House of Representatives and is currently undergoing a special resource study to determine its suitability and feasibility. If this goes without hiccups, the proposed bill would need to pass Congress before a new park is formally created, although it's unclear how long this would take.

If approved, the bill would designate large parts of the Florida wilderness, including the popular Ocala National Forest, as a new national park. This land would benefit from greater funding and conservation efforts, and advocates hope it could lead to increased tourism.

Suzanne Scheiber, founder of Florida's Green Dream Volusia environmental group, told Spectrum 13 News that a new national park could be "one of the best things that’s happened locally. Our springs need more attention, and if this helps with that by bringing attention and federal funding, then I think that it’s an exciting time."

The Florida Springs

The proposed national park would cover a large area of land in central and northern Florida, including the stunning Ocala National Forest and the Lower Wekiwa River Preserve.

These wilderness areas feature large waterways, forests, and natural pools, which are already popular with hikers and open water swimmers.

They're also home to a wide variety of animals, including black bears, alligators, and bald eagles. National park designation could lead to increased study of the area's wildlife and greater protection efforts.

America's National Parks

National Parks were first designated in the 1800s to protect and manage America's vast, unspoiled wilderness. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson established the National Park Service to oversee the areas and help visitors enjoy them safely.

As of 2025, there are 63 national parks. They're visited by over 300 million people every year, who come to hike, camp, and climb in the serene North American nature.

The New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia was the last to be designated, in 2021.

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Yosemite National Park has fired a ranger who helped to hang a trans pride flag on El Capitan, despite a ban on flag displays only coming in after the event.

Shannon Joslin, who is trans and uses they-them pronouns, had worked as a ranger and wildlife biologist at the park since 2021, but was terminated after taking part in the display.

On May 19, they joined climbers from Trans is Natural, a group of trans, queer, and allied climbers, to hang what's thought to be the largest flag ever displayed on the iconic Yosemite rock formation.

The flag measured 55ft by 35ft (17m x 11m) and flew for 90 minutes to celebrate and welcome trans people after the Trump administration issued a variety of executive orders targeting them, and removed mentions of 'transgender' and 'intersex' people from government websites.

Weeks later, the park banned climbers from rigging large flags to wilderness fixtures, but there was no such ban in place when it was first hung.

Joslin told NBC that they were told they were fired for failing to "demonstrate acceptable conduct" by taking part in the display.

"I'm devastated," they said.

“We don’t take our positions in the park service to make money or to have any kind of huge career gains. We take it because we love the places that we work."

In response, NPS spokesperson Rachel Pawlitz told NBC that the service is "pursuing administrative action against several Yosemite National Park employees and possible criminal charges against several park visitors who are alleged to have violated federal laws and regulations related to demonstrations”.

Pawlitz declined to explain which regulations were allegedly violated, but emphasized that most demonstrations require a permit.

Trans is Natural isn't the only group to rig a flag to the side of El Cap in recent months.

In February, climbers rigged an upside-down American flag from El Cap during the peak's annual firefall display to protest the Trump administration's federal hiring freeze, which affected seasonal park workers. In June 2024, a "Stop the genocide" flag was unfurled to protest the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza.

“Hanging flags has been a tradition that climbers have done on El Cap for decades, and that’s both individuals who are visiting the park, but also employees that are on their off time,” continued Joslin.

"There’s never been any kind of ramifications to any of those flag-hanging activities. I’m the only one who’s been fired for it.”

Joslin now plans to seek legal counsel and contest the decision, promising to fight "tooth and nail" to defend their freedom of speech.

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A hiker has been hospitalized after an alligator attacked and bit her on a Florida hiking trail, authorities say.

The woman, who has not been identified, was hiking on the Bird Rookery Swamp Trail in Collier County, between Naples and Fort Myers, when the incident took place on Sunday, August 17.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says the alligator came out of the water and bit the woman on her arm and leg. Details of her condition have not been released.

ABC Gulf Coast reports that a contracted nuisance alligator trapper was called in to relocate the alligator.

The Bird Rookery Swamp Trail is a maple-cypress swamp on the outskirts of Naples that is home to alligators, otters, Florida panthers, bobcats, and white-tailed deer with 12 miles of hiking trails.

Alligator safety

Alligator attacks in Florida are rare, but they do happen, and as recently as May of this year, a fatal incident occurred when a 61-year-old woman was attacked while canoeing near Orlando.

The majority of attacks are on people engaged in water sports, but as this story reveals, hiking in Florida does require some vigilance. As is typically the case with wildlife, the key to avoiding an interaction with an alligator lies in preventing it in the first place, which you can typically do by following these straightforward, common sense rules:

• Hike during daylight hours.
• Enjoy them from afar – give alligators a wide berth.
• Don’t feed alligators – it is illegal, bad for them and can cause them to lose their fear of humans.
• Keep your dog away from the shores – your beloved pet is just another snack to a gator.
• Yell and make noise if an alligator seems interested in you.
• Only swim in designated areas, during daylight hours.

You can learn more in our article on alligator safety.

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Hundreds of visitors may have been exposed to rabies after a suspected bat colony was found living in the attic space of a lodge in Grand Teton National Park.

According to a news bulletin provided by the Wyoming park's officials dated August 8, the colony was discovered at the historic Jackson Lake Lodge.

"Wyoming Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are leading the effort to coordinate with the affected guests' local public health officials, who will conduct rabies risk assessments," states the report.

The colony was located above guest rooms 516, 518, 520, 522, 524, 526, 528, and 530, and while officials state that there is no immediate threat to the public, Grand Teton Lodge Company says it has received eight reports of overnight guests who may have been exposed to bats in the lodge since June 2.

The affected rooms have been closed, and efforts are now underway to contact all guests who stayed in those rooms between May 5 and July 27.

If you stayed at Jackson Lake Lodge this summer and think you might have been exposed to a bat, which officials explain means any physical contact, including a bite or scratch, contact Grand Teton Lodge Company at RoomsGTLC@vailresorts.com or (307) 543-3044.

Officials explain that a bat bite might not bleed or be visible or painful. If you were staying in an affected room, you will be put in touch with a public health official.

"Individuals who meet the risk criteria for a rabies exposure will be connected with the appropriate provider in their home state for preventive treatment," state officials advise.

Bats are a healthy part of the ecosystem at Grand Teton National Park and little brown bats are the most common there. In September 2022, a rabid bat was found near Jenny Lake boat dock in the park.

What to do if you come into contact with a bat

Whether a bat flies into your home through an open window or you accidentally grab onto one when you’re crack climbing, you should assume that you’ve been exposed to rabies and act straight away. Bat bites are small and you won’t always know you’ve been bitten, according to the CDC, which offers the following advice:

• The best protection is to stay away from bats – if you see a bat outdoors, just enjoy it from a distance,
• Don’t touch bats – most bites occur when people try to pick bats up.
• If you realize you’ve been sharing a room with a bat, speak to your doctor immediately about your exposure risk and whether or not you need to be vaccinated.
• If you suspect you may have been bitten or scratched by a bat, immediately wash the area with soap and water, then seek medical attention.

Learn more in our article on protecting yourself against bats in the wild.

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• Best hiking boots: hit the trail

A man has died after being bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking in a Tennessee state park.

Authorities say the hiker was about a half mile along a trail in Savage Gulf State Park in Grundy County on Friday, August 8, when he picked the rattlesnake up. The snake bit him in the hand.

Rescue crews were called to the scene at around 12:30pm where they administered CPR to the man, who has not been identified. He was transported to the hospital, where he later died.

Savage Gulf State Park is approximately 65 miles northwest of Chattanooga and offers more than 60 miles of wilderness hiking trails.

Rattlesnake safety

Rattlesnake bites are rare, but it's important to be alert if you're hiking in areas where rattlesnakes are found. Rattlesnake activity rises with the temperatures, and they are most active between April and October.

The US Forest Service advises you to protect yourself from such accidental encounters by keeping your distance from rattlesnakes and wearing long hiking pants if you're off the beaten path.

It's safest to stick to well-used trails and avoid wading through tall grass or bushes where snakes may be hiding.

Make sure you are aware of where you're walking, and don't put your feet or hands anywhere you can't see. Learn more in our article on what to do if you see a snake on the trail.

• The best first aid kits: be prepared for accidents and emergencies
• The best hiking boots: protect your feet on any trail with our top choices

A search and rescue operation is underway after a 23-year-old man was reported missing from Rocky Mountain National Park.

The National Park Service reports that crews are searching for Blake Kieckhafer of Omaha, Nebraska, after family members reported him missing on Monday, August 11.

According to social media appeals from family members, Kieckhafer had traveled by himself to Colorado and left his car at a Walmart parking lot in Greeley before taking an Uber into the park. He was dropped off at approximately 5:20pm on Thursday, August 7 in the Upper Beaver Meadows area, around a mile west of Beaver Meadows Entrance on the east side of the park. He has not been seen or heard from since.

Kieckhafer doesn't appear to have been adequately equipped for spending the night in the wild, with the NPS reporting he was dressed in a dark-colored T-shirt, pants and a baseball cap with no logo, and carrying only a small maroon daypack.

Kieckhafer is described as 5’11,” tall and weighs 180lbs. He has buzzed/short blonde hair and a mustache, and blue/green eyes.

The NPS requests that anyone with information as to Kieckhafer's whereabouts call or text them at (888) 653 0009, or submit a tip at https://go.nps.gov/SubmitATip.

There are currently several missing persons cases in Rocky Mountain National Park, including trail runner Chad Pallansch, 48, who disappeared in October 2023, and 70-year-old James Pruitt, who vanished in 2019. Human remains were discovered on the Alpine Ridge Trail in June, but officials have not yet confirmed identification.

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As someone who attended every rally and protest about the recent attempt by a wealthy landlord to remove the right to legally wild camp on Dartmoor, and a regular wild camper myself, I dread waking up to news reports such as this one, claiming there has been a surge in fly camping since the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the general public retaining the right to spend the night on the moor.

The first thing that raises my hackles (after the fact that some people will stoop to such conduct) is the instant and seemingly gleeful conflation of wild camping with nuisance camping and general bad behaviour in the outdoors. Although the article does admittedly make an attempt to explain the ethics of wild camping as opposed to fly camping, the dots are neatly set out for the casual reader to join the two activities, as if one is an inevitable consequence of the other.

In reality, the fly camping described in the BBC piece has absolutely nothing to do with wild camping, and there are already laws in place proscribing such destructive behaviour. Wild camping involves hiking or biking some distance into a remote place with things you can carry in a backpack (ie not a generator, large speakers and a coolbox full of beer), and then leaving the area at least as pristine as you found it (many wild campers will remove litter left by others).

Going wild

Had the recent court case gone the other way, this problematic activity would very likely still be happening (especially in a summer that has seen four freakish heatwaves so far), but all the responsible wild campers would have been criminalised or deterred from spending time on Dartmoor as well, leaving fewer people to help clear up the resulting mess and/or alert authorities to serious wrongdoing taking place in the National Park.

To draw an analogy: it’s currently perfectly acceptable all over Britain to enjoy a picnic in a park with friends, but that doesn’t make it OK to drive across the grass, chuck empty soda cans and McDonald’s wrappers all over the place, bust out a sound system, hold an impromptu rave and leave your old sofa and busted fridge in the hedge.

These two sets of behaviors are pretty clearly distinct from one another, right? Well, it’s the same with wild camping and fly camping. Except no one is suggesting that a countrywide ban on picnicking is a good idea, or that responsible sandwich munchers should all be criminalized.

Under Pressure

Did the court case and media coverage of it draw attention to the fact that Dartmoor is the only place in the whole of England and Wales that you can legally camp in a natural setting without paying for the privilege? Yes, of course it did. And that has inevitably increased the numbers of people visiting the moor to do just that, which only goes to highlight how ludicrous that situation is.

Some people literally drive down the country to Devon from the North and the Midlands, passing all kinds of wonderful wild places, just so they can enjoy a night under the stars on Dartmoor without the threat of getting moved on. And the vast majority of these people proceed to wild camp completely responsibly, but they should be free to do this in myriad remote spots around the country.

To draw another analogy – currently anyone and everyone is free to fish from any publicly accessible beach or headland in Britain, without a permit (and, sadly, some of the people who interpret that right in entirely the wrong way leave broken beer bottles and fishing line laced with hooks behind on the sand for kids and dogs to find with their feet the next day). Can you imagine if ‘wild fishing’ was legal in just a couple of coves in one county – picture the pressure that would put that small piece of coastline under.

Optics and evidence

Part of the problem with fly camping is that it only takes a few groups of people doing it to create a massive and very visible mess. An increase in real wild campers is much harder to monitor, because they leave no trace (and therefore cause no problems).

“We have seen lots more wild campers coming to spend time in popular areas such as Postbridge recently,” says Gillian Heally – who is a Dartmoor Guide, running walking excursions across the moor, and a co-ordinator for The Stars are for Everyone, a group that has been at the forefront of the fight for the continued right to wild camp on Dartmoor. “But the next day you wouldn’t know anyone had been there.”

Sadly, the same is not true when you get an increase in vehicle visitation, whether people stay overnight in vans or tents (and, once again for those at the back, camping by your car is not wild camping), or just come for the day.

“I’m on a forum for outdoor leaders, and there has been a lot of talk this summer about the rise in problem behaviour like littering in popular outdoor areas across the country,” Gillian tells me. “And just look at the state festival sites are left in. We live in a throw-away culture. I think the best solution is through education – not through putting up barriers stop people going outdoors.”

Access and education

And this is the crux of the problem. If you make it hard, or impossible, for groups and families to take children out and legally spend quality time in the wilderness, how can you expect the next generation to know how to behave in, or to properly value, green spaces? And corralling campers into paid-for sites (as good as many of them are) just teaches people there’s a litter bin on every corner, which isn’t the case in the wild, where you need to pack everything back out with you.

The fact there’s still only one tiny corner of one county in the whole of England and Wales where you are allowed to do something as simple as sleep outside is staggering. And the attention that has been brought to this ridiculous situation has obviously increased pressure on parts of Dartmoor – especially in a post-lockdown era of outdoor online influencers (many of whom, to be fair, do stress the importance of leave no trace ethics) with enormous followings.

And this is why organisations such as the BMC are pushing for an expansion of the right to wild camp across the country, in a campaign I passionately support. But wherever you stand on the issue, make sure you leave the spot at least as green, clean, pretty and pristine as it was when you found it in the first place.

It was a landmark ruling widely celebrated in the outdoors community - the right to wild camp on Dartmoor was enshrined in a court ruling in May.

But now reports have emerged of an increase in fly camping in the national park, with claims that some people are using the wilderness "like a festival site".

There have been reports of campers heading into the national park with large family tents and items like generators, mini fridges and boom boxes. Trash left behind, roadside camping and irresponsible fires have all been reported too. Sam Le Bailly, a national park ranger, said, "It's really crazy what you see. It still surprises me."

Richard Drysdale, director of conservation and communities at Dartmoor Naitonal Park said: "There has been a real rise in the number of people thinking that within this incredible area that they can treat it like a festival site".

This comes after the right to legally wild camp across parts of the national park was restored by the Supreme Court in May following a legal challenge against wild campers by a wealthy landowner.

Wild camping and fly camping

Deputy head ranger Ella Briens added, "We want to be really clear about what backpack or wild camping is and what's fly camping."

Wild camping is a form of camping that takes place away from designated camp sites. It typically takes place high up on open access land by individuals or small groups who follow the Leave no Trace principles by camping discretely and leaving the environment as they found it.

Fly camping does not adhere to the Leave no Trace principles and often involves indiscrete groups pitching tents near the roadside down in the valley. Discarded trash, tents and ruined sites, as well as anti-social behavior are commonplace, with fly campers often leaving scorched earth due to campfires.

Fly camping epidemic

This all comes a month after we reported on fly campers around Ullswater in the English Lake District. Local residents said that they were "frustrated" that more wasn't being done by the local council and national bodies like the National Trust to challenge fly camping.

In a separate incident last week, Keswick Mountain Rescue was called out by local police to carry out a welfare check on a tent pitched at an inaccessible location above the Lake District's Langsrath Valley. At the time, the region was in the grip of a named storm – Storm Floris – adding to both the urgency of the potential rescue and also the difficulties the rescuers could face.

As it turned out, the tent had been abandoned and contained the remains of food and a sopping wet sleeping bag. "Yet another case of fly campers" Keswick Mountain Rescue bemoaned on its official Instagram feed.

Dartmoor camping in the news again

Wild camping in Dartmoor National Park has been in the news a great deal over the last few years. It's the only place in England where it's currently legal to wild camp, though the practice is generally tolerated across the country if the Leave no Trace principles are adhered to. However, the right to wild camp on Dartmoor came under threat after a legal challenge by wealthy hedge fund manager Alexander Darwall and his wife Diana, who own the 4,000-acre Blachford Estate in the south of the national park.

After a nail-biting seven month wait for Right to Roam campaigners, the right to legally wild camp in large parts of Dartmoor was restored and the Darwalls' appeal was thrown out by the Supreme Court.

It's a result that has galvanized all who would love to see the right to legally wild camp extended across all of England and Wales, just as it is in neighboring Scotland. However, instances of fly camping continue to harm this cause, providing landowners with a legitimate argument against opening up the land to all.

We Wild Camp campaign

In June 2025 the British Mountaineering Council – the national representative body for climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers – launched its We Wild Camp campaign. The campaign is designed to improve education around responsible camping and deal with the rise of fly camping while raising wild camping's profile, leading to reform and sharing best practice.

One of the ways the BMC is combatting fly camping is via the Wild campers tackling fly camping Facebook group, a forum to "discuss how to leave the countryside better than we found it".

The campaign is also calling for six key changes to allow for reform. These include:

• National Park Authorities to be given the power to create wild camping zones to help manage responsible wild camping and tackle fly camping.
• Guidance on how to wild camp responsibly to be included within an updated version of the countryside code.
• Additional funding for National Parks, National Landscapes, and land managers to support responsible wild camping in the right place.
• A substantial new investment in young people's outdoor education to help improve understanding and skills needed to wild camp responsibly.

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In just a few weeks, the cost of a permit to climb Everest will rise sharply in a bid to reduce congestion on the world’s tallest mountain. Now, the Nepali government has announced plans to make it easier to climb other Himalayan peaks – for those willing to get off the beaten path.

The Nepali government has waived climbing fees for 97 peaks in a bid to encourage mountaineers to visit more remote areas of the country. Most of the thousands of alpinists who head to the country each year are concentrated in the Everest region in northeast and central Nepal. The move by the tourism department aims to get more people to travel to the more remote Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.

The country recently increased the cost of climbing permits from $250 to $350 for a smaller mountain, and from $11,000 to $15,000 to climb Mount Everest. Those changes are due to go into effect on September 1.

The mountains in the plan range from 19,258ft (5,870m) to 23,398ft (7,132m) and will be free to climb for the next two years.

Himal Gautam, director at the Department of Tourism, tells the Kathmandu Post that the initiative aims to improve the economy in those remote provinces.

“Despite their breathtaking beauty, the number of tourists and mountaineers here is very low as access is so difficult. We hope the new provision will help.”

He says that fewer than 70 climbers have traveled to these peaks in the past two years.

The government also recently announced that anyone wishing to climb Everest must first climb another 7,000m peak in Nepal. Now, at least they can choose from Mount Saipal, Api, and Api Wes, all in Sudurpaschim, without incurring an additional permit charge.

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Hiking trails on Italy's Mount Vesuvius have been closed to the public as firefighters battle a massive blaze that erupted last week.

The wildfire in Vesuvius National Park first broke out on August 5 and by the weekend had reached nearly two miles (3km) in width, with smoke visible from Naples.

Crews were hoping to be able to contain the fire over the weekend, but fire services announced Sunday that despite work from 12 ground teams and six Canadair aircraft, the situation had grown worse.

Today, Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reports that a new wave of flames opened up overnight, and there are now three active fires burning in the pine forest between Pompeii and Torre del Greco.

A heatwave is complicating efforts, with temperatures in the area expected to reach 90°F (32°C) for the coming days and no rain expected until at least Friday.

The fire is far from any homes, but the trail network on the volcano remains closed for safety concerns, while Pompeii remains open to visitors. Mount Vesuvius, which famously erupted in 79BCE and devastated the Roman port city of Pompeii, remains active and one of the most popular hiking spots in Italy, with visitors climbing 4,200ft (1,281m) to walk around the huge crater and enjoy extensive views of the Bay of Naples.

Elsewhere in Europe, officials in France have been battling the country's largest wildfire in 75 years, blamed with one death and multiple injuries, while in Scotland, Edinburgh's famous Arthur's Seat erupted in flames on Sunday. In Canada, Nova Scotia officials banned hiking and camping in the woods last week in efforts to reduce wildfire risk.

If you're planning on recreating in a wildfire-prone area, read our articles on wildfire safety and hiking in wildfire smoke before setting off.

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Visiting North America's most popular National Parks can be the experience of a lifetime, but doing it by car can also mean long hours spent waiting at the entrance gates in the heat and circling around looking for available parking spots. That's just one reason why the famous Rocky Mountaineer train service is introducing a new route that runs between Canada's Banff and Jasper National Parks.

Pack your best hiking boots, because starting in summer 2026, you'll be able to take the train between the two iconic parks and discover some of the best of the Canadian West. The new route, called Passage to the Peaks, travels in both directions through the Canadian Rockies, taking in spectacular sights like Lake Louise, Rundle Mountain, Castle Mountain and Pyramid Falls along the way.

While on board, you can get the best of the views thanks to custom-designed coaches that provide you with panoramic views of your surroundings, locally-inspired cuisine and knowledgeable guides.

The are several itineraries to choose from, which all involve two days aboard the train during daylight hours, and between one and nine nights in hotels along the way, depending on how much time you have and how much you want to spend. Packages range from $2,107 to $4,761, with limited booking available now for June and July 2026.

Rocky Mountaineer launched in 1990 and offers luxury train journeys through Western Canada and the American Southwest.

If you're planning on hitting the trails along the way, read our 11 tips for your first hiking vacation before you go.

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The National Park Service is facing an all-out crisis after losing roughly 24% of its full-time staff to a series of brutal cuts and redundancies imposed by the Trump administration.

Visitors to the parks have been forced to contend with long lines, reduced opening hours, and other issues as parks across the country struggle to cope without sufficient staff. Conservation and scientific efforts have also been impacted as employees are forced to perform various visitor-facing roles and clean the bathrooms, due to a lack of maintenance staff.

To find out just how bad things have gotten, I caught up with John Garder, Senior Director of Budget and Appropriations at the National Parks Conservation Association.

The NPCA is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to protecting America's National Parks and their staff.

What happened?

The past few months have been extremely damaging for the NPS.

Days after taking office, President Trump announced a federal hiring freeze, which stopped America's 63 national parks from recruiting the thousands of temporary workers they rely on each year during the busy summer season, and asked full-time employees to take redundancy.

Weeks later, one thousand further staff were fired in a bulk email, popularly referred to as the 'Valentine's Day massacre'.

In total, internal NPS data reported by NPCA suggests that the parks have lost almost a quarter of their full-time staff, and have only hired around half of the usual number of temporary employees.

Visitor experience

Inadequate staff numbers have had a drastic impact on the visitor experience at America's 63 national parks.

"We are seeing late openings of campgrounds, long lines at the visitor centre, challenges keeping up with maintenance, reduced hours at parks, reduced hours at visitor centres, and other impacts," Garder explains.

Delays have been a common occurrence throughout the summer. Parks across the country are recording record visitor numbers, but without ample staff to man the facilities, some visitors have been forced to wait in lengthy lines before they can even get through the gate.

To make up for the missing maintenance workers, Garder claims that law enforcement officers, scientists, and other non-public-facing staff have been forced away from their usual work to help visitors.

"We're seeing a situation where there are professional staff who care for resources, who do scientific work, who perform law enforcement, and are needed for their normal duties, who are now maintaining bathrooms, and are doing some of the other work so that visitors don't see the impact that this is having," he tells me.

Internal NPS emails seen by SFGate appear to confirm Garder's claims, asking biologists, hydrologists, and archaeologists at Yosemite National Park to take on bathroom shifts due to insufficient staff numbers.

Garder continues: "The long-term threat, which is very alarming, is not necessarily visible to park visitors, but if this keeps up, this eventually is going to be the case as resources get degraded."

Conservation

With conservation staff forced elsewhere to deal with other, 'collateral duties', Garder fears that their vital work monitoring wildlife, addressing invasive species, and restoring habitats is in danger.

"All of those things are at risk as professionals are being lost, and those staff who remain are, in many cases, being sent to perform other duties, many of which are visitor-facing," he explains.

Multiple conservation employees have also lost work in Trump's mass firings, and many more have taken the administration's redundancy package.

Campsites

Campsites are one of the few areas where the parks are just about coping. Although multiple sites were unable to open on time earlier in the summer, the rehiring of some seasonal staff has lifted the burden.

"As they've been able to hire more seasonal staff, which is not at the level that the Interior Secretary promised, they have been able to do more things like open up campgrounds," says Garder.

What's next?

The future of America's national parks remains in the balance, but there's a possibility that things could get even worse before they get better.

In June, President Trump's Interior Secretary Doug Burgum proposed a whopping $1.2 billion cut to the NPS in its 2026 budget proposal to Congress.

The announcement sent a shudder through the outdoor community. The NPS already has a monster deferred maintenance backlog of over $20 billion, and nature lovers feared that it wouldn't be able to cope with just two-thirds of its 2025 budget.

Congress, thankfully, listened to the budget's many critics, and a House appropriations subcommittee recently marked it up with a restored NPS budget of $3.1 billion, which would essentially keep funding the same as this year.

"We're relieved to see that Congress is declining some of the administration's worst proposals, at least so far," says Garder, who remains deeply concerned about the service's future under the Trump administration.

"The Interior Secretary has engaged in a steady, all-out assault on the National Park Service," he claims.

"This is historic in nature, and we're alarmed by it. It's important that Americans continue to demonstrate outrage, and the administration and Congress listen to them."

• The best camping tents: for superb backcountry adventures
• The best hiking boots and shoes for wide feet: stride out with confidence in well-fitting footwear

An abandoned vehicle has been found in the search for a New Jersey man who has been missing in Grand Canyon National Park for nearly two weeks.

In a news release, the National Park Service says a Tesla Cybertruck belonging to Thomas Daniel Gibbs has been found at Grandview Point Parking lot. Gibbs, 35, was last in contact with family and friends on July 22 and was reported missing on July 28. He is believed to have been hiking in the Grandview Trail / Horseshoe Mesa area on the South Rim.

Gibbs was visiting the park from Freehold, NJ, and is described by officials as white, 6'1" tall with brown hair and brown eyes. It is not known how he was dressed when he disappeared.

Park rangers are asking anyone who was on the Grandview Trail around July 22 and who may have seen Gibbs or has information on his whereabouts to contact the NPS Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at 888-653-0009. Tips can also be submitted online at www.nps.gov/ISB or via email at nps_isb@nps.gov.

Conditions in the park have been hazardous in recent weeks. Yesterday saw widespread trail closures due to an extreme heat warning that was forecast to bring temperatures as high as 112°F (44°C) to the area, as well as smoky conditions. The North Rim is closed for the remainder of the 2025 season because of damage and losses caused by the massive Dragon Bravo Wildfire.

Grand View Trail is a steep, rugged, precarious hike that descends into the canyon. Hiking to Horsehoe Canyon entails a six-mile round-trip journey and the NPS warns that trail conditions are tougher than the popular Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trails and advises that it only be attempted by experienced desert hikers.

• Best hiking boots: hit the trail
• Best hiking water bottles: stay hydrated on the trails

Good news outdoor lovers, Untamed has been renewed for a second season!

The murder-mystery series set in Yosemite National Park was a smash hit when it premiered on Netflix last month, earning critical acclaim and drawing plenty of eyeballs.

Although it's yet to confirm a release date, Netflix has announced that Untamed will be returning to our screens.

“I am absolutely thrilled that we get the chance to bring another season of Untamed to life. The response to season one has been a testament to the incredible effort by our crew to deliver something truly unique," said lead actor Eric Bana, who plays the brooding special agent, Kyle Turner.

Season one follows Turner as he investigates the death of a woman who appears to have fallen from Yosemite's towering El Capitan. He teams up with fresh-faced National Park Service ranger Naya Vasquez, played by Lily Santiago, to investigate the incident, and soon realizes that all isn't what it seems.

You can watch the trailer for season one below:

The show is set within Yosemite National Park, and takes viewers to all corners of the 1,169-square-mile (3,028²) wilderness area.

The series debuted earlier this month to worldwide success, topping Netflix’s global Top 10 English-language shows table for the week commencing July 14. It's now earned more than 25 million viewers.

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is one of America's largest and most popular parks. It's visited by upwards of four million people annually, who come to run, hike, camp, and climb in the stunning North American wilderness.

Along with hundreds of picturesque hiking trails, Yosemite is home to the towering El Capitan peak, which sits around 7,569ft (2,307m) above sea level and offers breathtaking views to anyone bold enough to climb it.

El Cap is well-known in the climbing community, but gained new notoriety in 2018 with the release of Free Solo, a film documenting climber Alex Honnold's journey to become the first person to scale the Californian behemoth without additional safety equipment.

• The best climbing films: 10 great movies about incredible mountain adventures
• The best trekking poles: take the pressure off when you're out on the trails

Hikers and climbers in the Italian Dolomites have been told to stay off Cima Falkner after a series of rockfalls on its western and eastern sides. Popular trails on and surrounding the mountain have been closed as investigators work to assess their safety.

“All hikers in the area have been evacuated. We urge everyone to pay maximum attention and strictly follow the ordinances to ensure their own safety," warned officials from the local Trentino-Alto Adige council.

The mountain is currently going through permafrost degradation, meaning that ground that usually stays frozen all year round is thawing, allowing rocks to become loose and tumble down the mountain. This phenomenon has caused the summit to open "like a flower," according to the council.

“The fractures, previously filled with ice, are now partially empty, indicating a change in the morphology of Cima Falkner,” it explained.

Although it's difficult to link single events to climate change, scientists have previously warned that increasingly extreme heat can melt the vital ice that holds otherwise unstable mountain rocks in place.

The Scientific Committee of the Italian Alpine Club told La Repubblica: "Landslides are on the rise, and the main cause is the climate crisis. There’s no doubt about it.

"Mountains, by definition, are destined to collapse, they won’t remain as we know them forever. What’s different now is that we’re seeing a clear acceleration of these processes, driven by heat and extreme weather events intensified by the climate crisis," it continued.

The local council says that Cima Falkner has already shed over 12,360,13 cubic ft (35,000m³) of rock and could lose upwards of 24,72027 cubic ft (70,000ft³) before the rockfalls stop.

Rockfall safety

Despite their dangers, rockfalls are relatively uncommon on hiking trails. Even so, it's important to be prepared, so check out some of our top tips to keep yourself safe from falling rocks in the mountains.

• Stick to proper paths - Established trails are more likely to be well-maintained, and offer better stability than untamed wilderness sections.
• Check the weather - Heavy rain and strong winds increase the likelihood of rockfalls, especially in steep or wild sections, so make sure to check the weather ahead of time and prepare accordingly.
• Heed warnings - Local mountain authorities will publish rockfall warnings if incidents are likely or have been reported. You should check ahead of time and take any warnings seriously before embarking on a trek.
• Don't go alone - Hiking with a friend or in a group is a great way to stay safe in the mountains, as they can call for help in an emergency situations, including rockfalls.

For more top tips, check out our expert rockslides safety guide.

• The best lightweight hiking boots and shoes: pick up speed on the trails and stay agile on your scrambles
• The best first aid kits: be prepared for accidents and emergencies

Looking forward to taking some picturesque snaps on your trip to the Italian Alps? You might need to pay for them, after fed-up farmers set up turnstiles to charge selfie-loving visitors.

More than 120 million people visit the Alps every year to run, hike, climb, and relax in the serene mountain surroundings, but not everyone is pleased to see them. Frustrated Italian farmers say tourists are trespassing on their land to find popular 'Instagrammable' spots for a selfie.

Now they have set up turnstiles to charge visitors €5 ($5.77) for access in areas like the Seceda and Drei Zinnen regions.

Carlo Zanella, president of the Alto Adige Alpine Club, says that the boom of social media has brought more tourists to the region, rather than the hikers who once populated it.

“Once upon a time, those who came up to the mountains were prepared, dressed for the mountains, and came for hiking," reads a statement he shared with CNN.

“Now I’ve seen people go up to Seceda with sun umbrellas and flip-flops and get stuck because the cable car closed and they hadn’t checked the lift schedules.

"This isn’t what the mountains should be."

Local tourism bodies have insisted that the issue is overblown and asked authorities to close down the turnstiles to avoid discouraging visitors. Italian laws allow free access to wild spaces like the Alps, but farmers say they haven't received any backlash from authorities.

The Santa Cristina Tourist Board, which is responsible for the alpine region where many of the turnstiles have been erected, has instead hired four rangers to keep tourists on the trails and away from private land.

President Lukas Demetz told CNN that "things have improved significantly" with the new rangers.

“And even the litter problem isn’t as serious as people say. It’s significantly reduced."

Turnstiles and rangers aren't the only tools in use to keep the crowds down in Italy. Some wilderness areas, like the picturesque Lake Braies, now charge visitors €40 ($46.22) to park. Elsewhere, parking spots are limited to as few as 150, to dissuade overcrowding and protect the alpine ecosystems.

• The best trekking poles: take the pressure off when you're out on the trails
• The best hiking socks: keep your feet comfy all year round

Need some new kit to wear as you wade into open waters this summer? Iconic swimming brand Speedo has come out with three new editions to their open water swimming range to help you navigate wild waters in comfort.

The new mask-style goggles and swimsuit were designed for swimmers who love an adventure and can't wait to get moving in the water.

Read on for our run-down of the latest kit.

Biofuse 2.0 Mask goggles

The Biofuse 2.0 Mask goggles are a water-sports-friendly pair, designed for unimpeded vision. They're made from flexible silicone and feature a unique curved lens, so you can benefit from an expanded field of vision as you make your way through the water.

They're kept in place by an updated split strap design, which aims to provide plenty of stability without sacrificing comfort.

At $52 (£32), the Biofuse 2.0 Mask goggles aren't outrageously priced, but certainly fall towards the expensive end of the goggles price range.

Hydrosity Mask Goggles

Speedo says that its new Hydrosity Mask goggles are a great all-rounder for maximum visibility during both indoor and outdoor swimming.

They feature a split strap lens like the Biofuse 2.0 Mask goggles, but have a different one-piece lens. The view on offer is a little slimmer, but still provides unobstructed visuals according to Speedos.

At $38 (£23), the Hydrosity Mask Goggles are a slightly more budget-friendly alternative to Speedos' other new goggles.

Women's Long Sleeve Zip Back One Piece

The new women's Long Sleeve Zip Back One Piece is designed to be a versatile option for swimming, surfing, or whatever else you're doing in open water.

It's made from Speedo's 'Ocean Flex Fabric', which combines nylon, elastane, and spandex to create a durable suit that's meant to be resistant to chlorine and pilling.

The Long Sleeve Zip Back One Piece, which costs $144 (£120), features a back zip pocket, and a full mesh lining designed to promote water flow.

For more wild water swimming advice, check out our expert guide to the best open water swimming gear.

• The best changing robes: cocoon yourself post-swim in a protective layer
• The best water shoes: fast-draining, quick-drying and ready to take you from the shore to the sea

Rescuers at Sequoia National Park have found a body in the search for a missing Californian woman who was swept away from the shore while trying to help her sister.

Jomarie Calasanz, 26, was pulled into fast-moving waters in the Kaweah River and carried away on May 25. After two months of searching, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park shared a statement on Wednesday, July 30, saying that rescuers had located a body and confirmed it to be hers.

The search, which took place throughout June and July, included the use of drones, ground teams, dive teams, and dogs, but was brought to a halt by dangerous weather conditions in July.

Calasanz's body was finally discovered on July 24, less than a mile from where she had disappeared.

"Water flow calculations were continually monitored, and it was determined July 24 would be the first and best opportunity to safely locate Jomarie," reads the statement.

"The National Park Service, Sheriff Boudreaux, and the men and women of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office offer our deepest condolences to Jomarie's family."

The La Puente resident had been swimming with her sister, Joanne, who was pulled away from the shore by a strong current. Calasanz swam out to save her sister before both women were dragged further. Joanne told the Los Angeles Times that she was able to find her footing, but Jomarie was swept into the river.

After the discovery, Francis Calasanz thanked the rescue crews, and everyone involved in the search in a Facebook post on behalf of the Calasanz family.

It reads: "Praise God for an amazing outcome to such a terrible tragedy. We thank Him and His Goodness and though our hearts remain heavy with sorrow, we are deeply grateful to share that Jomarie has been found, and after 65 days, we can now bring her home to rest."

Open water safety

Following the announcement, officials at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park took the opportunity to warn visitors about the water's dangers.

"We would like to remind the public that rivers remain dangerous even with lower flow rates later in the season," they said in a statement.

"Please stay away from swift water, be sure to wear a life jacket, and keep children close along the river’s edge."

Swimming in open water can be a safe and enjoyable activity if done right, but it's important to remember the essentials.

• Be wary of currents - Strong currents can be extremely dangerous. Make sure you know how to spot one, and if you're caught in a current, swim parallel to the shore until it peters out
• Check the water quality - Rivers, ponds, and open water environments can fall victim to dangerous water pollution. Check pollution levels before you take a dip with the How's My Waterway map in the US and the Surfers against Sewage map in the UK.
• Don't jump in - You never know what lies beneath the surface, so wade, don't jump into open water. A belly flop could endanger you and nearby wildlife.
• Swim with others - Mitigate the risks of open water swimming by taking a friend or going with a group that can offer assistance in the case of an emergency.
• Wear the right gear - Good swimming kit is essential in open water environments. Rivers, lakes, seas, and ponds are almost always colder than open-air and indoor pools, so don't be afraid to wear a wetsuit. If you start to feel chilly, leave the water and wrap yourself in something insulating like a reliable changing robe.

For more open water safety guidance, check out our expert guide.

• The best changing robes: cocoon yourself post-swim in a protective layer
• The best water shoes: fast-draining, quick-drying and ready to take you from the shore to the sea

A 17-year-old hiker has suffered significant burns while walking in a thermal area of Yellowstone National Park.

According to a news release by the National Park Service, the unidentified male hiker was in the vicinity of Lone Star Geyser near Old Faithful on the morning of Monday, July 28, when the incident occurred.

"His foot broke through the thin crust and he suffered burns to a lower extremity. Emergency medical staff responded and transported the patient to a hospital for further treatment," states the NPS.

This is the first known thermal injury in Yellowstone in 2025, though there have been many incidents of tourists sustaining severe burns by getting too close to thermal features at the Wyoming park.

The Park Service doesn't mention whether the teenager was hiking off the boardwalks, which have been put in place to protect visitors, saying only that the incident remains under investigation. They did take the opportunity to remind all park visitors to remain on boardwalks and to keep a good distance from all thermal pools and geysers. If you're planning on visiting the park this year, you can learn more in our article on hot spring safety at Yellowstone.

Lone Star Geyser erupts up to 45 feet (13.7 m) from a 12-foot (3.6 m) cone approximately every three hours.

• Best hiking boots: hit the trails
• Best trekking poles: take the pressure off

A hiker was attacked by a grizzly bear in the second mauling in the Anchorage area in just four days.

The man was walking with his dog on an unmaintained trail to Barbara Falls, along the South Fork of Eagle River at around 9am on Saturday, July 26, when he was mauled by a brown bear. The Anchorage Daily News reports that he had time to deploy bear spray and sustained non-life-threatening injuries to his arm. He was able to hike out of the area and call for help.

Timothy Gurnett, a ranger with Chugach State Park, tells Alaska Public Media that the man likely startled the bear sow, which was feeding on salmon with at least one cub. Because this was a defensive attack, officials from Alaska Department of Fish and Game say there are no plans to euthanize the bear.

Four days earlier on July 22, a 67-year-old hiker was attacked by a grizzly bear in the Chugach Mountains on the outskirts of Anchorage. She suffered head and neck injuries after being dragged off the Dome Trail, but was able to call for help after the bear ran off.

Bear safety

Officials say bear attacks in Anchorage are relatively rare, but any time you're running, hiking or camping in bear country, you should always carry bear spray and know how to use it.

It's also important to know exactly what to do if you meet a bear to stay safe. If you are charged or approached by a grizzly bear, it’s best to leave your backpack on and play dead.

As scary as that might sound, it’s a defensive maneuver to help keep you as safe as possible. Lie flat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck. Spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to turn you over. Remain as motionless as possible until the bear leaves the area.

Fighting back usually increases the intensity of such attacks. However, if the attack persists, fight back vigorously with whatever you have at hand – a branch, rocks, one of your boots – to hit the bear in the face. Learn more in our article on what to do if you meet a bear.

• Best hiking boots: hit the trail

A 29-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree limb while walking in a popular giant sequoia grove at Yosemite National Park.

According to reporting by San Francisco Gate, Angela Lin was hiking with her boyfriend David Hua, and two friends in Tuolumne Grove on July 19 when the tragedy occurred. Hua says the group heard a loud cracking sound followed by several falling branches just seconds later.

“One big branch struck Angela, and then there were a bunch of smaller ones directly behind me."

Hua says he closed his eyes when the branches started falling, and when he opened them, Lin was on the ground, bleeding. Hua was able to call 911 from the grove and, with the help of bystanders, administer CPR, but when paramedics arrived, they pronounced Lin dead on the scene and reportedly told Hua she had likely died instantly.

A Facebook post in the Monterey Park Pickleball group confirms the incident and identifies Lin as Peter Lin's daughter, a Google software engineer.

The National Park Service has not issued a statement on the incident, but it closed the area for about a week.

In October 2024, a 22-year-old Australian hiker was killed by a falling tree on the Four Mile Trail in Yosemite.

What's your risk of being hit by a falling tree?

Your risk of being hit by a falling tree, also known as a hazard tree, is very low, but as this news reveals, these incidents do occur and can be deadly.

Though hazard trees are often associated with windy weather, there are other reasons why a tree might become structurally unsound, and not all of them are easy to spot with the naked eye.

Diseases and rot can plague trees that appear healthy on the outside – a rotting base was responsible for a tree that killed a German hiker on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019. A dead tree often falls onto another tree, which can compromise the roots of that healthy tree, while heavy rains can make the roots of a healthy tree unsound enough to fell it.

Though it may not always be possible to protect yourself from hazard trees on a hike, there are some steps you can take.

• Check the weather forecast for wind gusts and high winds.
• Use clearings to stop for breaks away from trees.
• Avoid hiking in areas with dense patches of dead trees such as burn scars and beetle kill areas.
• Report the GPS coordinates of hazard trees you encounter to local authorities.
• Carry a satellite communicator such as a Garmin InReach when venturing into wilderness areas in case you need to signal for help and cell service isn't available.

Learn more in our article on hazard trees.

• Best hiking boots: hit the trails

A woman was mauled by a grizzly bear while hiking on a popular trail near Anchorage, officials say.

The hiker, who has not been identified, was on the Basher Trail in the Chugach Mountains in Anchorage at around 2:30pm on July 22 when the bear attacked, according to The Anchorage Fire Department.

The bear reportedly ran off after the attack, which left the woman unable to walk as she called 911 for assistance.

"The hiker reported they could not get out on their own due to injuries sustained in the mauling," states the AFD in its report.

Multiple agencies, including Anchorage PD, Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Alaska State Troopers responded and used drone technology to locate the woman, which took around one hour. She was then airlifted from the scene to the hospital. Anchorage Police spokesperson Christopher Barraza tells Anchorage News Daily that the woman's injuries are "non-life threatening."

Now, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has closed the area while it conducts searches for the bear, and officials are advising everyone in the vicinity to brush up on their bear safety and carry bear spray, despite the rarity of bear attacks in the Chugach mountains.

Bear safety

If you're running, hiking or camping in grizzly country, always carry bear spray and know how to use it.

It's also important to know exactly what to do if you meet a bear to stay safe. If you are charged or approached by a grizzly bear, it’s best to leave your backpack on and play dead.

As scary as that might sound, it’s a defensive maneuver to help keep you as safe as possible. Lie flat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck. Spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to turn you over. Remain as motionless as possible until the bear leaves the area.

Fighting back usually increases the intensity of such attacks. However, if the attack persists, fight back vigorously with whatever you have at hand – a branch, rocks, one of your boots – to hit the bear in the face. Learn more in our article on what to do if you meet a bear.

• Best hiking boots: hit the trail

A four-year-old child was attacked by a mountain lion in Olympic National Park during a family hike in a popular area.

Park rangers issued a news bulletin appealing for witnesses after the rare incident took place on Sunday, July 20. The family was hiking near the Victoria Overlook area on Hurricane Ridge at around 3pm when a collared mountain lion bit the child.

Though the extent of the child's injuries hasn't been revealed, the victim was airlifted by a LifeFlight helicopter to a Level 1 Trauma Center and is said to be undergoing treatment for their injuries in a Seattle hospital.

Rangers began the search for the mountain lion immediately, and with the help of a canine team, they located it at around 5pm. The animal was euthanized the following morning. Rangers say there are no current threats to the public but are asking witnesses to contact them at 888-653-0009 or email nps_isb@nps.gov.

Hurricane Ridge can be accessed by car or bus, making it one of the busier mountain areas in the park with multiple short, family-friendly trails.

Mountain lion safety

Mountain lion attacks on humans are extremely rare, but they do happen. In March 2024, two brothers were hunting in a remote area of California when a mountain lion pounced, killing one.

It's important to remain vigilant any time you are hiking or recreating in mountain lion country, even in busy National Parks.

In the unlikely event that you do encounter one, back up slowly and make yourself appear big. You can make noise and wave your trekking poles, throw stones, or do whatever it takes to get the animal to retreat. Learn more in our article on what to do if you meet a mountain lion on the trail.

• Best hiking boots: hit the trails

You only need to open Instagram to know that adventure travel is in its heyday. Your feed is probably filled with images of friends discovering distant peaks, rafting white water, or cross-country skiing under the Northern Lights. By some estimates, adventure travel generates more than $400 billion a year, and that figure is projected to nearly triple by 2030.

“There’s been a big shift in people wanting to experience things, as opposed to just lying on a beach,” says Rhys David, CEO of EverTrek.

EverTrek is a Welsh company that takes people on treks all over the globe, from Kilimanjaro to Machu Picchu, and earlier this year, I joined them on their marquee adventure to Everest Base Camp. Many iconic trekking destinations like Base Camp now require a licensed guide, but that’s not the only reason to go with an organized tour: mountains, jungles and oceans hold plenty of potential dangers within their beauty, and a guide can help you minimize and manage the risks.

But go online and search for an adventure travel guide, and you’ll find the internet is awash with companies offering their services, from premium-priced luxury outfits that promise to tend to every detail, through to budget operators that will get you from A to B without breaking the bank, but leave you with a lot of improvisation to do.

Over the course of my 11-day adventure in the Himalayas, I witnessed the entire range of experiences on offer, from miserable-looking trekkers slogging it up the mountain carrying all their gear and struggling to communicate with their guide, through to high flyers catching helicopters from viewpoint to viewpoint. It gave me a lot to think about regarding what to look for – and what to sidestep – when it comes to choosing an adventure travel company.

Trust

When you’re searching for a company that’s going to take you into wild spaces, you need to really trust them, so take some time to get to know who’s behind any outfit you’re seriously considering using.

EverTrek was founded by Andy Moore after his first trek to Everest Base Camp, just after the 2015 earthquake. He left Nepal with a desire to support the people he’d encountered and to help more people like him discover the Khumbu region. I could tell straight away he has a real passion for the adventure his company is founded on.

“You genuinely want to connect with a company, and trust is the biggest thing in travel because you go into these mountains and they’re dangerous places and you want to know that you’re going to be okay,” says Moore.

When you’re looking at a company’s website and social media accounts, consider whether it looks professional or is full of spelling mistakes and broken links. Are they simply a broker that will take your fee and then hand you over to a local outfit, or will they hold your hand every step of the way?

And – needless to say (but I’ll say it anyway) – read the reviews.

Price

Once you’ve found a company you like the look of, the first thing you’re going to check is how much they charge. Prices for a single destination can vary wildly: I checked out the top five search results for Everest Base Camp and learned that pricing ranges from $1,100 to $6,500.

If a company is out of your price range, you’re going to need to look elsewhere, but if there’s one piece of advice I can give above all else, it’s don’t give in to the temptation to cut too many corners.

EverTrek charges around US$3,300 (£2,300) for the Base Camp trek. You buy your flight to Kathmandu and secure your visa and insurance, and from the moment you arrive until you leave, that covers just about everything else. It’s not cheap, but it meant that we had two guides for our group of five, and porters carrying our duffel bags.

“I think you’ll see a difference by having a sizable team around you. It takes all the stress away, so all you have to think about is putting your rucksack on and getting out there in the morning,” says David.

There are cheaper ways to do it, but it’s important to consider that the more you slash your budget, the more you’re likely to be sacrificing, whether that’s safety, comfort, or ethics. And don’t forget that if your trip has an attractive price tag but includes less, you may end up paying double in the end by the time you’ve covered other costs yourself.

Communication

When I ask David how you know whether a company is the right choice, he has a simple answer: "Pick up the phone."

Any reputable company will have multiple ways for you to contact them, and it's reasonable to expect a human on the end of the line who can answer all your questions, no matter how small.

“A good company will be able to talk with great confidence about the route you’re likely to go on, the accommodation itself and the food you’ll be presented with,” says David, who joined us on the trek, just months after taking on his role, exactly so he could get this intimate level of knowledge of his company's offering.

“Don’t rush into it. When things are going well, it’s all fine. It’s when things go wrong that the quality of the business really stands out.”

Once you’ve chosen a company, it’s also reasonable to expect ongoing communication to help prepare you for the trip. Most people sign up for a trek to Base Camp at least 12 months in advance, according to David, and during the window between sign up and take off, they receive weekly emails with tips and invites to monthly online webinars where they can ask questions. This is all optional, but it means that you won’t be left in the dark about any aspect of your trip (unless you want to be).

Safety

No matter whether your chosen adventure involves hiking boots or ice axes, it’s going to carry some inherent risk: extreme weather, high altitude, sprained ankles, the list goes on.

“If you go on a challenge like this and you are pushing yourself out of your boundaries, there are going to be difficulties, and that’s really what makes it an adventure,” says Moore.

But there are always things you can do to reduce your risk. Make some enquiries and find out whether your guides have the appropriate training and equipment to handle emergencies. Does every guide carry a first aid kit with basic medications? Do they have access to a satellite communicator to signal for help in the backcountry?

“It’s when things are going wrong that you want to be with a company that prioritizes safety,” says David.

And safety, unfortunately, does cost money.

“In retrospect, if things go wrong, if you could have spent $500 more to ensure your safety, you would.”

Preparation

If you want a beach holiday, you can essentially click your computer mouse a couple of times, and before you know, you’ll be at the beach. If you want to trek to the roof of the world or deep into the jungle, you’re going to need to do a lot more planning, even with a guide at the helm.

If you’re paying a little more, a lot of details should be handled by the company, but make sure that your guides provide you with thorough kit lists so you know what gear you need. You will need to be specific about what size backpack you require and whether it's necessary to bring your own water filter, for example.

Another crucial point here is that you must get travel insurance that covers the type of activities you’ll be doing, and a good travel company should be able to give you several recommendations for trusted options.

Sustainability

On this warming planet, we need to be thinking hard about the impact our endless thirst for adventure has, and it should be a priority to look for companies with clear sustainability initiatives that go beyond mere lip service.

I’ve written more specifically about making the trek to Everest Base Camp more sustainable to give you some ideas, but as an example, EverTrek guides filter their clients’ drinking water along the route, so no one ever has to buy a single-use plastic bottle, and that cuts down on hundreds of bottles per trip.

Wherever you’re going on the globe, find out if there’s a plan to handle waste so that it doesn’t stay out in the wild. If your trip entails a lot of internal travel, consider how that’s done and whether there are greener alternatives available.

Ethics

It should be important to you that the company prioritizes ethical treatment of the humans that facilitate your bucket list adventure.

Again, the attractive price of a low-budget choice comes into question here, because that may indicate that your guides aren’t being paid a fair wage. You need to be sure that your guides are being adequately compensated and have insurance so that if they get injured, their family won’t suffer as a result of lost wages. This can be tricky to verify, but a company that’s proud of treating its guides well is likely to advertise it, and it’s usually clear if your guides are happy.

One of the most important factors in this regard is employing local guides, which ensures that at least some of the money you spend goes into the local economy. Stay at lodgings owned by locals and eat food prepared by locals. This, of course, also buys you a major advantage on any trek, as it means you get the best expertise about the region you’re exploring.

“Local knowledge is the best thing in the world,” says Moore.

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Search and rescue teams in Spain are scouring the Pyrenees mountains in the hopes of finding a missing American hiker.

Cole Henderson, 27, was last heard from at around 2pm local time on July 9, when he messaged friends to say he was beginning a hike and would be switching his phone to airplane mode. Although he didn't mention a route, Cole sent the message from the village of Torla, near the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park in the Huesca region of northeastern Spain.

Authorities were alerted to his absence on July 14, when Henderson failed to check in for his flight back to the Netherlands, where he lives and works. Spanish police began a search that day, deploying rescuers and helicopters to the park and other areas in the Pyrenees.

Cole remains missing, but his car was discovered at a parking lot in Torla, with a receipt for camping fuel.

The Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park covers 60 square miles (156km²⁾ of rugged Spanish wilderness and is home to the towering Mount Perdido. The 11,007ft (3,355m) peak is the third-highest mountain in the Pyrenees, and takes around a day of hard hiking to summit.

Trekking in the region can be precarious all year round, especially in the mid-summer season when temperatures regularly exceed 83°F (28.5°C).

Hot weather hiking

When done properly, hot-weather hiking can be an enjoyable, if challenging experience. If you're eying up a toasty trek, check out some of our summer hiking safety tips.

• Don the right clothing - Make sure you're equipped for the hot summer sun with the right gear. This includes a dependable waterproof jacket, breathable layers, and protection from the sun.
• Bring an SOS device - It's good to prepare for the worst. With a trusty GPS device like the Garmin InReach, you can call for help from anywhere in the wilderness.
• Bring lots of snacks and water - Hiking under the sun can be a sweaty business, so bring more water than you think you need and stock up on salty snacks to replace lost electrolytes. See our expert guide to how much water you'll need.

• Wear proper footwear - Ensure that you're ready for treacherous underfoot conditions with a grippy pair of hiking boots or shoes. The best models will have large, dynamic lugs that dig into tricky terrain to keep you from falling.
• Plan your route ahead of time - Having a detailed route plan will stop you from taking unnecessary turns and hiking for longer than you'd first thought. Make sure to share your planned journey with friends and family so they know where you are and can help in an emergency situation.

For more summer hiking safety advice, check out our top six tips.

• The best hiking shorts: cool, comfy legs mean more miles on the trails
• The best trekking poles: take the pressure off when you're out on the trails

Visitors to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming have been urged to keep their wits about them after a slew of shoe heists in recent weeks.

National Park Service rangers say that at least 32 pairs have been stolen from campers in the area, and are pointing the blame at a furry bandit in 'Wanted' posters that have been hung around the park.

'Wanted for grand theft footwear,' reads one poster, which describes a shoe-stealing fox who goes by the aliases: 'Sneaker Snatcher', 'Midnight Mismatcher', and 'Swiper the Fox'.

The posters appeared three weeks ago after the fox stole 19 pairs of shoes in a matter of weeks. They were designed to stop visitors leaving their footwear outside, but don't seem to have done the trick, as a further 32 pairs have been stolen since.

It might sound like a joke, but officials insist that the warnings are genuine and that visitors' shoes are in real danger of ending up in a fox's den if they're not stored safely.

NPS spokesperson Emily Davis told Backpacker: “We were trying to educate our visitors in a fun way about this fox and not to habituate it."

Officials aren't sure why the fox, or possible group of foxes, has taken a liking to visitors' footwear. Some think it could be attracted to sweat left inside, while others say it could see shoes as something to play with.

"Maybe it’s a toy. Maybe it’s a nesting material collection. Maybe it’s fashion," posits an NPS Instagram post.

Advice for visitors

Park officials are keen to stress the problems with shoe-stealing foxes, who could be getting too comfortable around humans.

"It’s a problem for the fox to get acclimated to humans because it may need to be relocated or, in the worst-case scenario, euthanized," reads the same Instagram post.

The NPS has issued the following advice for campers staying in Grand Teton.

• Store your shoes and other scented items in a secure location like a bear box. Keep them inside your tent at the very least.
• Don't bait wildlife with your belongings.
• If a fox shows up at your camp, scare it away with lots of noise.

For more wildlife safety tips, check out our top tips for surprise animal encounters.

• The best 2-person tents: for backpacking and car camping
• The best camping stoves: backpacking and double-burner stoves

Rescuers in the Italian Alps have found a body in their search for a missing British hiker.

Matthew Hall, 33, disappeared in the mountains surrounding Chiavenna in Northern Italy on July 9, after texting a friend to say he'd lost the trail and stopped to rest. He'd arrived in the area a few days prior with solo hiking plans and asked for directions to local trails at the B&B where he was staying.

Search and rescue efforts began days later when he failed to check out of the lodgings. Hall hadn't been seen at breakfast, but staff had assumed he had set off for an early morning trek.

On July 17, Italian authorities confirmed the discovery of a body in a crevice near his last known location. Authorities recovered the body from the remote spot with the help of a helicopter.

Over the past week, three helicopters, a drone, and multiple search and rescue teams have scoured the region. They've been helped by more than a dozen of Hall's friends and colleagues, who flew to Italy to assist with the search.

His friend Sam Jackson, who flew to Italy to take part in the search, told the BBC: "We all absolutely loved him.

"At least we are bringing him home, back to where he should be."

Hall's mother arrived in the area on Wednesday, July 16, and his father is expected to arrive today.

Chiavenna is an alpine town located in the Valchiavenna region of the Italian Alps. It's a popular destination for hikers, like Hall, who come to enjoy the stunning views and remote wilderness.

The day he went missing, Hall is thought to have planned an eight-hour trek via the mountain village of Daloo, some 2,609ft (1,100m) above sea level. He had shared an image of the nearby Cross of Daloo with friends before he sent his last known message, telling a friend: “I lost the path and stopped to rest."

Despite the area's popularity, conditions in the mountains surrounding Chiavenna can be unforgiving, with plenty of steep ascents and tricky underfoot terrain.

If you're thinking of taking on a tricky mountain trek, have a look at our expert guide to hiking hazards and how to avoid them.

• The best trekking poles: take the pressure off when you're out on the trails
• The best hiking backpacks: from the lightest daypacks to sturdy alpine haulers

American bag brand Wandrd was initially motivated by the desire to create a camera bag that was both functional and looked 'sexy'. The words sexy and duffel rarely go together, if at all, so we were keen to see if the brand had managed to achieve this marriage with its Carryall Duffel.

Founded by four brothers with a penchant for travel and photography, it’s fair to say the stylings of Wandrd's range lean more towards globetrotting, Interrailing and camera carrying than they do towards hauling climbing gear to a remote base camp, especially when compared to the likes of Patagonia or Cotopaxi's offerings. This is despite the Wandrd logo featuring the silhouette of a mountain. Nevertheless, a bag is a bag. If there’s capacity for a rope, harness and helmet, and it’s durable enough to withstand a bit of abuse, it’ll do nicely, regardless of its appearance.

To discover whether this duffle meets these criteria, I put the Carryall through its paces, testing it in all kinds of scenarios, from everyday use and travel, to camping and other outdoor adventures.

First impressions

The Carryall definitely has a smart, clean aesthetic that looks the part just as much at JFK Airport as it does in the mountains. Nods towards its suitability for long-distance travel include the ID window at the top of the bag and its locking zip pullers, designed to foil potential pickpockets. It manages to feel both stylish and hard-as-nails at the same time – not an easy balance to strike. I like it.

There are other subtleties that I began to notice early in the test, such as the removable chest strap, a nice addition considering the main carry method is via the bag's shoulder straps. What isn’t so subtle is the obvious durability and rugged qualities of the main fabrics and the components that have gone into the bag. I appreciated how smooth the zippers ran as I began to explore its half-dozen storage options. It seemed I had a product of some quality on my hands.

Tough materials

Wandrd stands by its 900-denier polyester shell with PVC-coating. It’s a tried-and-true material the brand has used in many of its products down the years and it provides the Carryall duffel with its heft and robust qualities. The base of the back is an 840-denier nylon, which gives the bottom of the pack additional durability while saving weight at the same time.

In total, the 40L version of the Carryall weighs 3lb (1.34kg), which is heavier than some comparable bags. For context, the 70L Patagonia Black Hole Duffel is the same as this, while the 70L Cotopaxi Allpa weighs 9oz less. Its weight seems to be down to the rugged materials Wandrd has opted for. So, if you’re looking for a bomb-proof duffel, this is a good shout; whereas if keeping the gram count down is your bag, it isn’t.

Carry options

All four sides of the Carryall have grab handles, making it easy to… well… grab. The side handles also double up as carry handles, especially useful considering this duffel doesn’t have a carry handle across the top, like some others do.

What is does boast are a couple of removable shoulder straps, complete with a handy chest strap. The combination of the shoulder straps’ padding and the chest strap make it a more comfortable backpack style carry than most. Where the chest strap sits can be adjusted on the fly, as it clips into runners towards the bottom of the shoulder strap. Little fabric pulls allowed me to unclip the strap with ease, while it made a satisfying click when slotted back into place.

When I was at school, it wasn’t cool to carry your daypack using both shoulder straps. I’ve absolutely no idea if this is still the case but, regardless, Wandrd have seen fit to provide the option of a single shoulder carry with an additional padded shoulder strap that’s available separately and only comes in black. It clips nicely into two of the four larger loops that sit on the outside of the pack.

These loops can also be used to lash other items, such as dry bags or even some of Wandrd's smaller travel bags, such as their toiletry bags. There’s not the sort of obvious daisy chain array you get on something like Patagonia’s Black Hole Duffel, though there are still 16 little loops around the pack’s exterior, which is more than enough for the vast majority of uses.

Thoughtful features and storage

In total, there are six separate spaces to store items. Firstly, there’s a large, unfussy main compartment – exactly what’s required in a duffel bag. No hidden pockets or sleeves here, just a big space for all your stuff. The main compartment’s U-shaped top lid has the usual zippered mesh pocket on its underside – ideal for storing items you want to keep separate from your pants, tops, down jacket et al.

There are separate, smaller zippered compartments at either end of the main one. One is modestly sized – for stashing books and the like – and is joined by a zippered mesh pocket in its lid.

The other is extendable, with a large bucket of fabric that can be pushed into the main compartment space, or outwards, thus increasing the interior capacity. This innovative touch opens up the possibility of storing larger items separately, such as muddy shoes or wet gear and towels. Wandrd call it the 'laundry pocket' An ‘even better if’ would have been if the bucket fabric had been made of the kind of fully waterproof material you get in dry bags. Nonetheless, I was impressed with the intelligence of the design. It’s also sized to fit Wandrd’s 3L Rogue Sling, while the 60L duffel will also take the 6L Rogue Sling here.

This just leaves the final little zippered side pocket, which sits above one of the grab handles. This small pocket is nicely sized for items like passports or headlamps.

It’d be remiss of me not to mention the YKK zippers, which are chunky, water-resistant and smoother than most. The main shell of the U-shaped main compartment lid overlaps the main zipper, providing an additional waterproof shield.

The most intriguing thing about the zip pulls (isn't there always something intriguing about zip pulls?) on both the main and side compartments is Wandrd's patent-pending Worryless Locking Zipper Pullers. These are custom designed to lock together with a twist, making it nigh on impossible for pickpockets to sneakily unzip and access the bag’s compartments – not without you noticing and alerting airport security anyway.

In the field

I’ve been using the Carryall for all kinds of purposes, including a handy little bag for camping trips, a personal pack for travel and a place to transport and stash gear during longer outdoor adventures. Its size makes it a versatile option for long weekends and it’s a goer for cabin baggage allowances when flying too. For longer trips, or if you’re looking for a duffel for all your climbing gear, the 60L version would be preferable.

It's a pleasant duffel to carry thanks to its well-designed shoulder straps and sternum strap. With some duffels, these straps feel like a bit of an afterthought, whereas here they provide enough comfort that I wouldn’t have too many qualms about hauling the Carryall for short hikes – though a decent dedicated daypack is still a better option for this. It’s not what a duffel is really for anyway.

Storage wise, it does all it needs to. Everything has a place. I liked being able to stash dirty or wet gear in the extendable side pocket. There’s no fast-access exterior storage, such a mesh pocket or semi-open option, but this is hardly a major issue.

The Carryall is water-resistant rather than fully waterproof. I found that it batted showers away with consummate ease, though I wouldn’t want to leave it out for too long during a prolonged downpour.

All in all, I was thoroughly impressed with the design, functionality and versatility of the Carryall. Its innovations put it up there with some of the best duffel bags around, though I’d have liked to have seen more mention of both recycled materials and recyclability given the age we live in. Nevertheless, it's an impressive duffel.

Also consider

Comparison table

Fancy a challenge? How about this monster effort from British ultra-runner Dan Lawson, who's just smashed the record time for running the South West Coast Path in England.

Lawson, 52, ran a staggering 630 miles (1,014km) around England's South Western peninsula in just 10 days, 13 hours, 40 minutes, and 13 seconds - beating the previous record by a remarkable 19 hours.

He completed the monster run on Tuesday, July 15, during the tail end of a stifling British heatwave, with minimal outside support and no proper schedule.

Lawson announced his achievement in a joint Instagram post with running specialist Centurion Running.

"He doesn’t write long plans, splits and schedules. He doesn’t demand anything from anybody, there are no sponsors or social media campaigns, he doesn’t take from the land or the community," reads the post.

"He moved down this beautiful path with heart full. Crewed in the main by his partner Charlotte, people came out as always to be with them and are as always blown away by his athletic ability but more so his mindset and their combined energy."

Who is Dan Lawson?

Dan Lawson is an old-school ultra-runner who's broken several records in the name of charity. He runs without a rigid schedule or excessive support team and often wears tired equipment as he doesn't want any sponsorship.

Dan began his ultra-running journey in 2009 with the Brighton to London ultramarathon and has taken on loads of insane challenges in the years since. He currently holds the record for the longest distance run during a 24-hour race in India, and the longest distance run on a treadmill in seven days - an astonishing 521 miles (839km).

In August 2020, Lawson completed the journey from Land's End to John o' Groats in 9 days, 21 hours, 14 minutes, and 2 seconds, setting the fastest time in the modern era of GPS.

Last August, he set a new Three Peaks challenge record, scaling the tallest mountains in England, Scotland, and Wales and running between them in just under five days.

What is the South West Coast Path?

The South West Coast Path is one of Britain's best trails. The mammoth route guides hikers and trail runners 630 miles (1,014km) through the towering cliffs, vast beaches, and quaint villages of the southwestern coast of England.

The trail passes through the coastal counties of Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset, and has become something of a pilgrimage for outdoor lovers in the UK.

In recent years, it's been thrust into the limelight as the setting for The Salt Path, an autobiographical story about a couple who begin walking the trail following a series of unfortunate circumstances that apparently left them without an alternative.

The book follows Moth and Raynor Winn's journey along the South West Coast Path in 2013, after the former was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative illness, and the pair lost their home. As the pair walks, they're amazed to find that Moth's illness, which initially limits his mobility, miraculously improves.

A film adaptation of The Salt Path, starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs released in cinemas in May to critical and audience acclaim.

Despite its popularity, the story has come under scrutiny in recent weeks after an investigation by The Observer claimed that several key aspects of The Salt Path were untrue.

Raynor Winn strongly refutes these claims.

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Officials at Sequoia National Park are reminding hikers to stay vigilant after a missing hiker was found dead in the park. The incident is the fifth fatality within Sequoia and Kings Canyon Parks this year.

According to a news release from the California park, 36-year-old Drew Hall was hiking in rugged terrain on Saturday, July 12, when he disappeared. He had reportedly separated from his group earlier in the day and made plans to meet later. When he failed to show up at the appointed time, family members reported him missing.

A search and rescue mission for Hall, a local resident of nearby Visalia, was launched on Sunday morning, but it was his own friends and family who discovered his body below Sawtooth Peak at around 3pm that day.

Hall is described in the report as "fit and active," and a GoFundMe account set up in his name says he was a basketball coach for Golden West High School and a father of two.

“We encourage everyone to take extra precautions and remain vigilant while enjoying the beauty of these National Parks. Safety must always come first," says Chief Ranger David Fox.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon emergency personnel say they have been activated for 60 search and rescue incidents this year, and this was one of five that occurred over this past weekend.

Hiking safety

It's always worth remembering that hiking and recreating in the backcountry is an inherently risky activity, and while tragic accidents may not be avoidable, there are steps you can take to help keep yourself safe.

• Leave a detailed plan of your hike with someone you trust.
• When possible, hike with a partner.
• Carry the 10 essentials, including extra layers, food and water, headlamp and first aid kit.
• Research your route and carry backup navigation tools (a map and compass).
• Stay within your ability level and stay aware of your surroundings.
• Check the mountain weather forecast before setting off and plan to start early.
• Know when to turn back.
• Make sure you have a reliable means of communication in case of emergencies such as a Garmin InReach or other satellite communicator.

• The best emergency blankets, bags and shelters: lightweight lifesaving gear
• The best hiking boots: protect your feet on any trail with our top choices

Hikers in California have a reason to smile, after an iconic redwood forest trail reopened in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The beloved Ben Johnson trail, in the Muir Woods National Monument, is one of the most popular routes in the area, leading hikers through 5.2 miles (8.4km) of scenic redwood forest and gaining over 1,000ft (304.8m) of elevation in the process.

Its renovation has been a lengthy project, taking four years and costing the National Park Service $1.8 million.

To complete the restoration, NPS workers selected and transported old, fallen redwood trees from the nearby Kent Lake, on the western side of the Mount Tamalpais watershed. The huge trees were cut into logs, taken to the woods by truck, and transported along the trail using a high-tech zipline. Each log measured exactly 14ft (4.3m) and weighed roughly 600lb (272.2kg).

Once they were in place, the reclaimed wood was used to craft vital stairs, paths, and fences along the trail, to help restore it to its former glory.

Along with the time-consuming nature of the project, workers were restricted by the nesting season of the endangered spotted owl, which forced them to work between August and January only. They also used hand-crafted tools instead of chainsaws and heavy machinery so as not to disturb the birds.

The trail was last reconstructed in the 1940s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Prior to the renovation, hikers had to do battle with unclear, worn-away paths, fallen trees, and a lack of stable stairs. With the new infrastructure in place, they can enjoy the breathtaking trail without worry.

Local hiker Jim Willens told CBS: "The trail is obviously just totally awesome and magnificent and goes through some wooded areas, some sunny areas, and the amazing redwoods.

"The renovation has been very thoughtfully done, it's beautiful, it makes it a lot easier to come down these parts, which probably had been rained out, and it's a great piece of work."

For more US hiking advice, check out our expert guide to the 12 best national parks for hiking.

• The best hiking shorts: cool, comfy legs mean more miles on the trails
• The best trekking poles: take the pressure off when you're out on the trails

Two iconic US National Parks are under threat from wildfires, which have destroyed historic landmarks and caused widespread closures during peak travel season.

At Grand Canyon National Park, officials confirmed the loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge and dozens of historic cabins on Sunday, calling the Dragon Bravo Fire "extreme and volatile."

The Dragon Bravo Fire began on July 4 as a result of a lightning strike, and at the time of publication is burning at more than 5,700 acres. The most recent update from the National Park Service, on July 13, reports that the blaze had expanded by a further 500 acres, fueled by hot temperatures and strong winds. Only a week ago, a hiker died from heat-related illness in the park as authorities warned of "extremely hazardous" conditions.

Firefighters have been battling the blaze using aerial bucket drops, but the NPS report states that they have been unable to use aerial retardant due to a chlorine gas leak at the water treatment facility. It is estimated that between 50 and 80 structures have been lost to the fire, though no injuries have been reported.

The popular North Rim will remain closed for the remainder of the 2025 season. All inner canyon corridor trails and campgrounds are closed until further notice, including the North Kaibab Trail, South Kaibab Trail, Phantom Ranch, and Bright Angel Trail (below Havasupai Gardens).

The original Grand Canyon Lodge was completed at Bright Angel Point in 1928 but was destroyed by a fire four years later. It was rebuilt by 1938 using much of the original stonework and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison evacuated

Meanwhile, Colorado's Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, which is often described as a miniature Grand Canyon, is completely closed and being evacuated due to a fire on the South Rim.

"Do not enter the park until further notice," states an update from officials at the park.

The South Rim fire ignited on July 10 as a result of a lightning strike and is currently burning at nearly 4,000 acres. Governor Jared Polis declared a state of emergency Sunday afternoon, and an air quality alert remains in effect for all of western Colorado, with smoke reaching Silverton, which hosted runners for the Hardrock 100 Endurance Run over the weekend creating hazy conditions.

Current weather in the Gunnison area shows temperatures in the mid-80s with afternoon thunderstorms possible.

If you are living or recreating near an area affected by wildfires, read our articles on wildfire safety and wildfire smoke before going outside.

• The best hiking water bottles: stay hydrated at camp and on the trails
• The best hydration bladders: water storage for adventures

Following victory for Dartmoor wild campers in May, it's not just humans pitching tents on the high moors that's a welcome sight in the British national park. For the first time in over a century, pine marten kits have been spotted in the region following efforts to reintroduce this native species.

The footage, caught on camera in June, confirms that the reintroduced mammals have successfully bred after eight females and seven males were released across the national park in 2024. Watch the footage, posted by the Devon Wildlife Trust, below:

These small mammals were once commonplace across the English Southwest before woodland habitat loss and human persecution led to their eradication in the region.

Their recent success is down to the hard work of the Two Moors Pine Marten Project, a partnership between a further seven organizations: Dartmoor National Park Authority, Devon Wildlife Trust, Exmoor National Park Authority, Forestry England, National Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Woodland Trust. The project benefited from support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Vincent Wildlife Trust.

"The birth of the first pine marten kits in Devon in over a century marks a truly historic moment for wildlife recovery," said Stuart McLeod, Director – London & South, The National Lottery Heritage Fund. He went on to say that the pioneering project had "brought together many organisations with one goal in mind, to help nature’s recovery".

He added: "This milestone is a testament to the power of long-term conservation, and the resilience of nature when given the chance to thrive".

The Two Moors Pine Marten Project and its dedicated volunteers have spent hundreds of hours tracking the released pine martens, learning about their behavior by installing den boxes and checking camera traps.

"To now see the next generation of pine martens in the South West is simply fantastic," said Lucie Bennett, Somerset Wildlife Trust's Pine Martens Engagement Officer (Exmoor). "What a beautiful sight to see healthy kits moving through the woodlands of Dartmoor that they once again call home. These kits will grow up to do wonderful things as a part of our woodland ecosystem and mark a special moment in history for nature recovery."

A brighter future for the pine marten

It's hoped that the South West's pine marten population will gradually go from strength to strength over the coming years. These shy creatures avoid human contact and are nocturnal, so even keen wildlife watchers may struggle to encounter them on the moors. However, those that do catch a glimpse are being encouraged to get in touch with the Two Moors Pine Project to report the sighting.

Further releases are now planned at secret locations in the neighboring Exmoor National Park for the fall. It's likely that, after robust health checks, about 20 more pine martens will be relocated there from thriving wild populations in Scotland.

"Exmoor’s woodlands are well-suited to the animals," says Tracey Hamston, Two Moors Pine Marten Project Lead. "Their arrival in early autumn will coincide with the local natural harvest of wild berries – food which pine martens love. In a year’s time we would hope to see the first kits appearing on Exmoor.”

Watch this space...

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A large-scale search is underway in the Italian Alps following the disappearance of a British hiker.

Matthew Hall, 33, disappeared in the mountains of the Valchiavenna region on July 9, after texting a friend to say he'd lost the trail and stopped to rest. He'd arrived in the area a few days prior with solo hiking plans, asking for directions to local trails at the B&B where he was staying.

Alarm bells were raised on July 11 when he failed to check out of the lodgins. Hall hadn't been seen at breakfast, but staff had assumed he had set off for an early morning trek.

Search and rescue efforts around his last known location began on July 13, the same day Hall was due to return to the UK.

Valchiavenna is a breathtaking region of the Italian Alps, located in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy. Due to its alpine location, the region is a popular spot for hikers, who can take advantage of multiple short and multi-day routes.

Despite its popularity, conditions in the surrounding mountains can be unforgiving, with plenty of steep ascents and tricky underfoot terrain.

Solo hiking advice

Hiking on your own can be a fun and freeing experience, but it can also be dangerous if not done properly. If you're keen on the idea, check out our expert tips for a safe and enjoyable trip.

• Learn to navigate - Navigation is a crucial skill to master if you're heading off for a solo trek. You can use a trustworthy navigation app or GPS watch, but you should also take a map and compass and learn how to use them in case technology fails you.
• Take a GPS locator - If you're unfortunate enough to get lost, you need to have a way of letting others know where to find you. Trustworthy GPS devices like the Garmin InReach use satellites to track your whereabouts wherever you are in the wilderness and can be the difference between life and death on the trails.

• Wear the right kit - Make sure you're equipped for whatever conditions you come up against with the proper clothing. In the summer, this will include a waterproof jacket, breathable layers, and protection from the sun. In the winter months, you'll need to pack insulating gear like a reliable down jacket and warm hat.
• Wear proper footwear - Ensure that you're ready for treacherous underfoot conditions with a grippy pair of hiking boots or shoes. The best models will have large, dynamic lugs that dig into tricky terrain to keep you from falling.
• Take medical supplies - A good first-aid kit can go a long way in the wild and come in extremely handy if you suffer an injury as you hike.
• Bring plenty of food and water - Hiking can be a sweaty business, so bring more water than you think you need and stock up on salty snacks to replace lost electrolytes.

For more solo hiking tips, check out our extensive expert guide.

• The best trekking poles: take the pressure off when you're out on the trails
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When I first signed up to trek to Nepal’s Everest Base Camp, I was excited to see some of the planet’s most spectacular natural features, from giant glaciers to soaring peaks, but I was also a little apprehensive. In recent years, news stories of mountains of human waste, abandoned tents, and overcrowding on Everest have hijacked the social narrative surrounding the world’s tallest peak. Was I going to be hiking through pristine environments or picking my way through mountains of garbage?

If you have the same concerns, I’ll cut straight to the chase here and let you know that the trek to Everest Base Camp is not heaped with trash. Various sustainability initiatives have been put in place to improve the conditions on the mountain, from making it more difficult to join an expedition to banning many single-use plastics. And it’s important to remember that the trekking industry and route that takes people along the Khumbu Valley is a whole different story from the landscape between Base Camp and the Summit.

But that’s not to say that there’s nothing to worry about. For starters, during peak trekking season, as many as 50 flights a day land at Lukla airport, the usual starting point for trekkers. Helicopters constantly buzz overhead to ferry gear, summit teams and trekkers in and out. There are reports of unnerving sights: black rocks appearing where once there was snow, and plans to move Base Camp downhill to get it off the increasingly unstable Khumbu Glacier.

As a trekker, you'll need to acknowledge the realities of a changing climate and think about how your actions affect the environments you want to explore.

How can you make your trek to Base Camp more sustainable?

The most sustainable thing anyone can do is not to travel by air at all, but when I mention this to Andy Moore, founder of EverTrek, the company I went to Nepal with, he’s quick to point out that for this particular region, that spells a different kind of emergency.

“People not coming here is a killer, really,” says Moore, who saw the effects of a halt in travel on the Khumbu Valley during the pandemic, which has built a whole industry around supporting trekkers.

It’s also true that those who can make the biggest difference in the fight against climate change are giant corporations and not individual hikers, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t and shouldn’t each do our part.

“I suppose it’s all about education and getting people involved,” says Moore.

His company prides itself on responsible travel and treks to Base Camp now include a stop at the Sagarmatha Next hub, which aims to change perceptions around waste in the region through its learning center and waste management initiatives.

“We’re not perfect. People have to travel here on planes, but we’re always trying to help in some way," says Moore.

The good news is that there are actions you can take to check off your bucket list trek without leaving too big of a footprint.

Drink responsibly

On the trek to Everest Base Camp, you’ll typically walk for 80 miles and make your way up to nearly 17,600ft (5,364m), which means you need to drink a lot of water. That presents a sustainability issue, because the water on the trek isn’t potable.

You’re encouraged to drink at least three liters of water a day, so if you’re drinking bottled water that you buy from teahouses and shops along the trek, even a small group of six people could go through nearly 200 plastic bottles in one trip, and that’s not counting the water consumed by your guides and porters.

Those bottles can be packed out and recycled, but even that uses resources, and most importantly, Nepal doesn’t recycle bottle caps (though Sagarmatha Next recycles them into cool moulds of the Everest region that you can buy). So, responsible trekking organisations have increasingly been looking for solutions to cut down on plastics.

“We used to use chlorine tablets, but the fact was nobody liked it because it was like drinking a swimming pool,” recalls Moore.

In 2019, EverTrek became the first UK company to bring water filters along on treks. For my trek, I was instructed to bring either a hydration bladder or two water bottles (I brought my Contigo Cortland Autoseal which is easy to drink from and a Yeti Yonder water bottle which holds more water) and our guides would take them after each meal and fill them up with clean water for us.

If your guide doesn’t provide this service, you can bring your own, just remember that not all filters work against viruses. We recommend the Grayl Ultra Press, which we gave full marks in our guide to the best water filters to ensure you’re caring for your own health as well as that of the planet.

Pack it out

Even without disposable water bottles, your trek is likely to generate some waste, from wet wipes to electrolyte mix wrappers. A program between Sagarmatha Next and Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee has established regular trash cans and recycling bins along the way that have helped to clean up the trail, but that’s not the whole story.

According to data from Sagarmatha Next, in 2019, the Khumbu Valley saw more 60,000 tourists in addition to the guides and other workers. That generated about 790kg of waste per day during the trekking season, and historically, that’s trash that has been buried and burned in the Khumbu region, only consolidating the environmental harm.

When you’re entering any wild space, you can minimize your impact by planning ahead and reducing the amount of single-use anything that comes with you. That might mean thinking seriously about bringing loads of snacks (we ran into an American couple that had brought a couple of resealable bags of homemade beef jerky instead of tons of granola bars) and you should bring a small trash bag with you to pack out your own waste (old dry bags work well for this).

To take things a step further, you can join the Carry Me Back program where you pick up a 1kg bag of waste when you’re leaving Sagarmatha National Park, tie it to your backpack, and transport it back to Lukla. From there, Tara Airlines will fly it back to Kathmandu, where the social enterprise Blue Waste to Value collects it for recycling at their facility.

Skip the chopper ride

Despite its large visitor numbers, the Khumbu region is remote. Helicopters do a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of getting supplies in and out of the region, and even if choppers have reduced emissions over the years, it’s still not a carbon-free process.

I was surprised to learn that many trekkers use helicopters to make their trek easier, bypassing the madness of Lukla airport, or cutting down on the amount of time spent away from home. For as little as $800, you might be able to fly from Gorak Shep, just a few kilometers from Base Camp, or from Namche, all the way back to Kathmandu and skip up to 40 miles of walking. But that comes at a cost to the environment.

The most sustainable approach is to leave the choppers for transporting goods and emergencies and do what you came here to do: trek. Invest in a good pair of hiking boots (I loved my Lowa Renegade Evo GTXs), break them in before you go, build in plenty of time for delays, and you’ll feel really good about yourself at the end of your adventure when you've done the trek both ways instead of one.

Support local

Meeting the local people is truly one of the best parts of trekking to Base Camp, and you should do everything you can to give back to them. Start by hiring a local guide (the Nepali government has introduced new legislation that requires trekkers to go with a guide) and you'll get the best knowledge about the area and support the economy of the place you’re visiting.

There are environmental reasons for hiring local guides, too, since they won’t have to travel as far to begin the trek. Our group had two guides and three porters, and all were Nepali. At the end of our trek, only one flew with us back to Kathmandu while the rest returned to their villages on foot or by bus.

While we’re on the subject of guides, remember that when you go with the cheapest option, it’s often the workers who suffer. Choose a reputable trekking company and inquire as to their practices and policies surrounding worker conditions and whether guides and porters are paid a fair wage. If you’re negotiating directly with a guide, don’t be tempted to try to undercut them to save a little money – they are humans with families doing a hard job that they deserve to be paid well for.

Also choose local food when you stop for meals at teahouses – and by that, I largely mean Dal Bhat, but also anything with potatoes. This is another way to cut down on your footprint, since it’s cooked with ingredients grown in the region, whereas that pizza or Snickers bar has to be flown in.

And bring a little cash for gifts along the trek. Yes, there are lots of shops back in Kathmandu, but a hand-knitted yak made by a local woman who has set up a trestle table along the trail has a personal touch, and your purchase could really help a local family.

Get right with gear

There’s no two ways around it: trekking to Everest Base Camp requires a lot of gear. I set off from Lukla in a T-shirt and by the time I reached Base Camp I was glad to be bundled up in my Fjallraven Expedition Pack Down Anorak. Believe it or not, all the kit you buy is likely to count for most of the carbon emissions of your entire trek.

According to a 2018 report published in Sport Management Review, outdoor enthusiasts have a 40 percent bigger carbon footprint than athletes from other individual sports, and participants in nature sports had the highest emission levels of all. This is down in part to all the gear we buy and how much of a beating it takes when we’re out battling the elements, but there are ways to cut down on your footprint here.

You definitely don’t want to skimp on gear – that down sleeping bag or waterproof jacket could save your life – but it is important to think carefully about everything on your list. Do you need to buy everything new, or can you shop second-hand? If it’s something you’re certain you’ll never use again, like gaiters or crampons, can you rent or borrow it?

If you get to the end of your trek and have gear you know you won’t use again, you may be able to donate it – our EverTrek guides collected anything we didn’t want to be distributed between them and the porters, which means they’re better protected for their next job. You can also donate to Keep Nepal’s Porters Welfare Program. No matter what you do with your gear, take good care of it to improve its lifespan and keep it out of the landfill.

Don’t follow the herd

Stepping off the side of the trail to let herds of donkeys and yaks pass is part and parcel of the trekking experience on the way to Base Camp. These animals are used to transport goods, materials, and waste up and down the valley. It’s a more sustainable option than a helicopter in terms of emissions, and these animals don’t have the devastating impact on the environment as livestock from large-scale agriculture, but it’s still a good idea to reduce your dependency on them.

They’re often not well-treated and it’s common to see them walking on broken hooves and being beaten by their owners. Animal welfare and sustainability go hand-in-hand, so when you’re choosing a trekking company or guide, inquire as to whether they use animals or porters to carry your gear. It’s a hard job for humans, but they can consent to the position and do get paid for it, while animals do not.

Thinking about trekking to Everest Base Camp?

Learn more in our articles on trekking to Base Camp with tips on making the experience more comfortable, plus what to expect on the trail and how to train for 11 days of hiking at high altitude.

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A 67-year-old man has died while hiking in the Grand Canyon, according to the National Park Service (NPS). It comes as the region has been grappling with intense heat in recent days, with the NPS issuing yet further heat warnings.

The incident took place on July 8, when officials received reports of an unresponsive hiker on the South Kaibab Trail, below Cedar Ridge, at around 11:50am. The man, from Alvarado, Texas, was aiming to reach the Colorado River to overnight at Phantom Ranch. Reports suggest he had turned back at Skeleton Point and was making his way back up the trail. Tragically, he was found in the same place that another Texas man died last year.

A statement from NPS reports that: "Bystanders immediately initiated CPR while NPS medical personnel responded via helicopter. All attempts to resuscitate the individual were unsuccessful."

The Grand Canyon has been ranked as the most dangerous US National Park in the past, with extreme heat the main culprit behind its fatalities. In May, a 74-year-old man died after succumbing to the hot conditions. This was against the backdrop of authorities warning hikers to be self-sufficient in light of staff shortages due to cuts brought about by the Trump administration.

In June, search and rescue authorities warned hikers to be prepared for the heat after a surge in rescue helicopter callouts. Trail closures due to construction work on the Transcanyon water pipeline has been forcing some to take lengthy detours, adding to the danger.

The South Kaibab Trail is currently the main trail for hiking into the canyon to access both Phantom Reach and the North Kaibab Trail. Despite being a "well-defined, well-maintained" route, the NPS points out that its open nature "lends itself to extreme heat during the summer months". There is little shade along the trail and it should be avoided during periods of intense heat.

Extremely hazardous conditions for hikers

NPS park rangers are strongly advising against hikers entering the inner canyon during the peak heat hours between 10am and 4pm. An NPS statement warns that: Iin the summer, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can exceed 120°F (49°C) in the shade, creating extremely hazardous conditions for hikers."

They are urging walkers to take "extreme caution" when planning any kind of outing in the Grand Canyon during the summer. Hikers should consult the Key Hiking Messages service for critical updates, trail closures, trail hazards and localized weather forecasts.

Staying safe

Hiking in excessive heat can be extremely dangerous. To stay safe during the warmer months, heed the following advice:

• Drink plenty of water
• Stay out of the sun, and in an air-conditioned place
• If you have to spend time outside, take frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned places
• Wear clothing that is lightweight and loose-fitting
• Save strenuous activities for the early morning or evening

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If you were excited about the teaser that landed in June, you'll be thrilled to hear that Netflix has released the official trailer for the upcoming Untamed, a limited murder-mystery series set in Yosemite National Park.

The series stars Eric Bana as Kyle Turner, a special agent for the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB), as he investigates the death of a woman who, at first glance, appears to have accidentally fallen from El Capitan. Teaming up with new ranger Naya Vasquez, played by Lily Santiago, they soon find that not all is as it seems.

Soon the pair find themselves not only confronting shadowy secrets within the vast national park, but also in their own pasts.

Having watched the trailer, we can safely say that, for Yosemite enthusiasts and lovers of the great outdoors across the world, it looks an absolute visual treat.

The full series goes live on Netflix from July 17 in the US and UK. Watch the official trailer below:

What we know about Untamed

The series was created by screenwriters Mark L. Smith (The Revenant, Twisters) and Elle Smith (The Marsh King's Daughter). Other cast members include Sam Neill, of Jurassic Park fame, Rosemary DeWitt, Wilson Bethel and William Smille.

Central to the mystery surrounding the death on El Capitan becomes the question: what was the victim running from? Details on the plot are scarce, though the trailer, as well as a feature on Netflix's Tudum, provide a few hints.

Main character, the haunted Kyle Turner, faces a struggle to reconcile events surrounding a past case, while striving to solve this new one. The trailer shows him not only rappelling from the top of a cliff, but also going deep underground to unearth shady secrets. In one of the trailer's more chilling moments, a character utters: "bodies will fall like the stars." While Bana's Turner later asserts: "I think the killings are connected." Serial killer? Or perhaps it's an over zealous black bear? Our money is on the former.

Yosemite as a setting is like a character in itself and the creators were clearly inspired by its scale. "In a lot of these parks, people visit about 3%, 4% of the actual land,” says creator Elle Smith. “You see the village and you see the main points, but you don’t get into the back country and you don’t really see the mass square footage of the place.”

It's a sentiment echoed by Sam Neill's character, chief park ranger Paul Souter, in the trailer. He says: "We have close to a million acres of wilderness. That's a lot of ground to cover – and a lot of places to hide."

Untamed isn't the only trailer that outdoor enthusiasts have gotten excited over of late. Superstar climber Alex Honnold, along with British climbing great Hazel Findlay and Brette Harrington, of The Alpinist fame, are also cast members in the climbing horror movie – The Sound, the trailer for which was released last month (see below).

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At Ullswater in the English Lake District, the sublimely beautiful lake where poet William Wordsworth once famously 'wandered lonely as a cloud', a terrible "epidemic" is occurring according to local people.

As reported in the Manchester Evening News, residents say they are "heartbroken" by the scale of the region's fly camping problem. They say that campers are leaving sites strewn with trash, leaving scorched earth from disposable barbecues, leaving tents behind and, in one shocking case, a resident even discovered a discarded 12in zombie knife.

Anti-social behavior has also been reported, such as campers playing loud music through portable speakers, chopping down trees for firewood and harming wildlife.

Locals say that it's often up to them to clean up the mess left behind. One resident, Clive Rowlandson, 54, said that residents were "frustrated" that authorities, such as the local council and National Trust, aren't challenging fly campers enough.

Wild camping and fly camping

Camping outside of designated campsites is technically illegal in the Lake District, as well as across most of England and Wales. However, wild camping is generally tolerated in national parks and other national landscapes if done respectfully. This includes pitching high, above the highest wall, and by adhering to Leave No Trace principles.

Wild campers are at pains to highlight the difference between this and fly camping, which doesn't adhere to the ethos of respectful wild camping. Fly camping typically involves larger groups pitching their tents in a valley, often near the roadside. Unfortunately, it seems some of these groups are either unaware of the leave no trace principles or are in defiance of them. Discarded trash, tents and ruined sites are commonplace.

A negative generational shift

Acclaimed local filmmaker Terry Abraham, who lives in the nearby Eden Valley, says the issue around fly camping in the Lake District is getting "out of hand" and that he's noticed "a negative generational shift in under 30s when it comes to respecting nature".

He added: "It has got to the point where I no longer want to go for a walk or cycle about Ullswater or the fells as it makes my blood boil and breaks my heart."

The issue underlines the challenge faced by those who'd want to see wild camping legalized across England and Wales. A victory was won in May 2025, when the right to wild camp in large parts of England's Dartmoor National Park was upheld after a legal challenge by Alexander Darwall, a wealthy landowner.

On the back of this, in June 2025 the British Mountaineering Council – the national representative body for climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers – launched its We Wild Camp campaign. The campaign is designed to raise wild camping's profile, lead to reform and share best practice.

One of the key aims is to improve education around responsible camping and deal with the rise of fly camping.

Upon the launch of the campaign, Eben Muse, BMC policy and campaigns officer for Wales, said: "We acknowledge that fly camping, done by a minority, is having a negative impact on our landscapes, especially in hotspot areas.

"As a community we need to pull together to reduce that impact, both in terms of directly tackling litter and waste in the countryside and by helping to give everyone the tools and awareness to know what good practice looks like when wild camping."

One of the ways the BMC is combatting fly camping is via the Wild campers tackling fly camping Facebook group, a forum to "discuss how to leave the countryside better than we found it".

The campaign is also calling for six key changes to allow for reform. These include:

• National Park Authorities to be given the power to create wild camping zones to help manage responsible wild camping and tackle fly camping.
• Guidance on how to wild camp responsibly to be included within an updated version of the countryside code.
• Additional funding for National Parks, National Landscapes, and land managers to support responsible wild camping in the right place.
• A substantial new investment in young people's outdoor education to help improve understanding and skills needed to wild camp responsibly.

Leave No Trace

The Leave No Trace initiative lays down a set of principles to follow in order to protect the natural environment we all love to explore. Our definitive guide goes into more detail but the main principles are as follows:

• Leave what you find
• Plan ahead and prepare
• Travel and camp on durable surface
• Dispose of waste properl
• Minimise campfire impact
• Respect wildlife
• Be considerate of other visitors

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In stark contrast to the "Putting Americans First" approach announced by the Trump administration last week, the Canadian federal government has opened its premier nationals parks to all – including visitors from abroad.

And now Alberta's four famous national parks – Banff, Elk Island, Jasper and Waterton Lakes – have joined the scheme. This means hikers will be able to visit iconic places like Moraine Lake, Maligne Canyon and the Columbia Icefield without having to pay entrance fees.

The Canada Strong Pass that allows free entry to all was first announced in June as "an invitation to experience Canada's cultural and natural richness," according to the news release from the Canadian government. But Alberta's national parks only joined the initiative at the weekend.

Until September 2, all national parks managed by Parks Canada, including all four of Alberta's usually fee-charging parks, will be free to enter thanks to the Pass. As well as this, children and young people will get either free or discounted entry to the nation's historic sites and provincial museums.

This comes at a time when the US government is taking the opposite approach, instructing its major national parks to charge foreign visitors more and prioritize Americans when it comes to permits, reservation systems and access lotteries.

The Canada Strong Pass will undoubtedly tempt many Canadians to spend their money on home soil. According to a report in the Vancouver Sun, many are already reluctant to travel to the US "in light of President Donald Trump’s policies and continuing tariff and border concerns".

Celebrating a strong, united Canada

The news release outlined the details of the Canada Strong Pass and provided its rationale, saying it would help Canadians "enjoy the places and experiences that bring us together and make Canada strong".

Steven Guilbeault, Minister for Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages was quoted as saying: “We’ve seen an incredible show of unity from Canadians since the beginning of the year. Our Canada Strong Pass aims to make it even easier for families to choose Canada—to discover the beauty of our country, connect with nature, and enjoy our culture all summer long.

"Whether it’s visiting a national park they always wanted to see, exploring a museum, or booking a camping trip, families can create lasting memories together. Canadians are proud of what defines us, and this Pass is about celebrating a strong, united Canada.”

The move is likely to draw more visitors to Canada's iconic regions of natural beauty, providing a boost to local economies. Parks Canada manages 48 national parks and welcomes around 24 million visitors annually, spending the equivalent of more than $11 million every day in communities the length and breadth of the nation.

What is the Canada Strong Pass?

Rather than a physical pass or even a virtual one that you might have stored on your smartphone, the Canada Strong Pass is held by anyone who visits a participating Parks Canada site. There's no need to sign up, purchase or collect. In effect, you've already got it.

It's available whether you're Canadian or coming from abroad and there's no limit to how many times you can use it during the summer. It's worth bearing in mind that certain parks and attractions may still require a reservation.

The benefits of the Pass include:

• Free admission for all visitors to national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas administered by Parks Canada and a 25% discount on camping fees.
• Free admission for children aged 17 and under, as well as 50% discounts for young adults aged between 18 and 24.
• Free VIA Rail travel for children aged 17 and under when accompanied by an adult, and a 25% discount for young adults aged 18 to 24.
• Free admission to participating provincial and territorial museums and galleries for children aged 17 and under, as well as a 50% discount for young adults aged 18 to 24.

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