Hi all,

I am a long time lurker, and finally decided to make an account. I have been thinking about making a trip in the next year or two, so I am trying to narrow down some places. I saw on a thread a while back about going to western China, and that has really stuck in my head since it would be more in my budget.

I saw Salewa is doing a lot of contests: Those places have really peaked my interest as well. I have entered, and hopefully have a shot at it. Does anyone have experience at any of the places that they're offering?

I look forward to hearing your responses, and would love any first hand feedback.

thanks!

Based on recent events, not sure of availability, but it is on my bucket list to make a pilgrimage to Everest Base Camp. I think REI or one of the other outfitter stores runs an annual trip - small fortune but a trip of a lifetime...

Indeed, I would love to make my way up to that.

Milford Track, New Zealand

We've done two trips to the Andes in Peru--and would go back in a heartbeat.

my god, you weren't kidding... http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/assets/Im...nly-980x300.jpg Thanks for the advice.

I always have wanted to return to Norway, which I visited in 2000, and hike in their mountains. However, I'm now getting a bit too long in the tooth and creaky for that sort of thing. I'm still doing short, snail's pace trips in our local mountains and will continue to do so as long as I can put one foot in front of another!

I live in the western USA. Therefore I have so many jaw-droppingly wonderful places to explore within 1000 miles of my home that it seems superfluous to seek further afield until I've done full justice to my own locality. And, of course, I could never do adequate justice to all of it in one lifetime.

For instance, I've only really spent a couple of weeks in California's Sierra Nevada national parks and wildernesses. Shameful! The Canadian Rockies? Other than a few trips, I haven't even scratched the surface! Washington State's North Cascades? Barely looked into them, yet! And as an Oregon native, I haven't quite seen all the best places in my native state yet... and I'm 61!

I believe the French call it "an embarrassment of riches".

Great thoughts, Aimless! I second all you've said.

In the interest of disclosure, both of us live in the Portland, OR metropolitan area (although different parts of it), with access to the most scenic parts of both Washington and Oregon. Since I have family in the Seattle area, I've spent more time in the Washington Cascades.

A free Tibet. No politics just would like to wander around freely.

zhangjiajie,China

I've been dreaming about exploring the Black Forest in Germany for the last few years. After doing some research I found its much smaller than I originally thought, about 90 mi x 30 mi, so I could see a lot in a week, or have a pretty comprehensive expedition in a couple weeks.

I've done a few hikes in the Black Forest. I personally prefer the alpine to trails through forest with few or no views, but YMMV and all that!

i want to go to Andes in Peru but have no money at the moment