My best hiking in 2012
The year 2011 was for me about visiting the best 24 beaches around the world, the nicest sunsets I saw and also many misadventures but 2012 was more about hiking. Yes, you hear me right! I am not just a beach bum as you might think, my love of mountains is the same big. I spent probably more days hiking than getting suntan at the beach this year.
The truth is that I do hike even though the capacity of my lungs is 1/4 smaller than of any other person which makes it super difficult for me to breathe. And since I had a nose operation when I was 14, let’s put it right – I have a BIG breathing problem in high altitude so hiking the Andes from February to April was a real challenge to me.
In 2012 I mostly hiked Argentina and Chile. Then spending a month in the high mountains of Bolivia was sometimes even more difficult than hiking – thanks to coca leaves that became my every day friend I could survive it! I also hiked a very bit in Costa Rica in May and then Slovakia in August, Northern Portugal and Costa Brava in Spain in September. Every day of hiking was very different.
Out of all the hiking I did this year, the best hiking which was also the most memorable was:
The hike with the strongest wind that made it difficult to walk and blew my food all around was hiking to Laguna Esmeralda. It was also during that hike when I saw a ridiculously blue river which colour looked more like photoshopped than real.
trying to eat at Laguna Esmeralda
Hiking with the coldest weather when I got sick and spent the 3-day trek shaking (and swearing) was in Torres del Paine. I think my worst memories are from this hike. However, also some of the best ones from meeting those 4 sexy fun Belgians.
hiking Torres del Paine
Hiking with the best lunch ever was from Ushuaia to Estancia Tunel stopping at Playa Larga when I had my favorite avocado, tomatoes, cheese and bread with my friends laying down at the beach and watching the mountains of the end of the world.
lunch at Playa Larga
The warmest hiking was to Cahuita National Park not only because of the super hot Canadian guy walking next to me whose sweat drops were making his muscles shine but also because of some 35°C degrees and 80% humidity in the rainforest.
hiking Cahuita national park
Hiking with the nicest siesta was when 2 friends of mine we did hiking to glacier Martial. Not only that we had lunch just next to the glacier and let the sunbeams tickle my face but as well we finished the day walking on the glacier!
hiking Glacier Martial
The lovely trek when I got energy hugging the trees was when hiking Tierra del Fuego National Park.
hugging trees in Tierra del Fuego
The easiest hike along a nice river was to Laguna Torre.
The best hiking with the most beautiful view was for sure hiking to La Loma del Pliegue Tumbado. I just wished it was less windy there to spend more time just sitting at the big rocks and observe the surreal landscape.
The hike when I got soaked to underwear was on Chiloe island trying to hike Chiloe National Park. But like I said, just trying as after only a few minutes heavy rain came and changed my plans. I ended up showing off my butt to passers-by and then spending 2 hours with a towel on my head.
after the rain in Chiloe National Park
Hiking Arouca Geopark in the Northern Portugal was definitely when I saw the most animals, from cows, to goats and sheep, and some of the most interesting geo sites too.
sheep in Arouca Geopark
Hiking in a dress along the coast with some stunning cliffs and waves was from Blanes in Spain.
hiking Blanes coast
The unfinished hike when I had to run back carrying my 4-year-old brother Denis because it started to rain was in Low Tatras in Slovakia. Before and after the hike we spent a while at magical Vrbicke pleso.
at Vrbicke pleso after hiking
Where was your best hiking in 2012?
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Comment@ Jaime S. Sincioco:
Thanks, Jaime! Trekking for whatever reason is always pretty cool :)
Jaime S. Sincioco
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Your hiking adventures are very interesting. The photos you posted in most of your travels are valuable. It reminded me also of my past job in monitoring activities of Philippine most active volcanoes.I used to join trekking to summit craters of Mayon, Bulusan, Kanlaon, Hibok-Hibok, Taal and Pinatubo volcanoes. Keep up your good work. More power!
Michael Figueiredo
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It looks like you had an amazing year of travel. Best wishes for the new year!
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Thanks, Michael, same to you!
Crazy sexy fun traveler
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Comment@ Traveling Ted:
I am so happy for all the hiking I did in 2012 too. Personal achievement with my breathing problems.
Traveling Ted
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Great to see you expanded your horizons in 2012 and did a lot of hiking. Looks like you had quite a year with some fantastic photographs.
Crazy sexy fun traveler
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Comment@ Jenna:
Oh no, that is not easy! I have a 4y old brother and we did some hiking with him in Slovakia so I know what you mean!
Jenna
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I love that you did so much hiking in 2012. I love to hike but have a hard time getting out to do it because my younger son is almost 2, not a good age for trying to walk anywhere with him. The hiking in Portugal looks amazing, but I bet Slovakia was nice, too–I have a soft spot for the nature in that part of Europe.
Crazy sexy fun traveler
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Comment@ Jeremy Branham:
Sweet, Jeremy :) Hiking is always great!
Jeremy Branham
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And I just thought you loved beaches! :)
I love hiking. I am making it a bigger part of my blog next year. I wish I had even more time to do it. Hope to start off 2012 with a hike but loved your hikes and adventures from last year.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Comment@ NomadTravels:
Thanks, I always wanted to visit Ushuaia and I am still happy I did. Hope you get there one day too ;)
NomadTravels
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Way to go, hiking is always a challenge at altitude and with your challenges I give you major kudos! I’ll admit, I’m just a little bit jealous of your visiting Ushuaia and the Tierra del Fuego. Ever since I started reading books of sailing journeys, especially Joshua Slocum’s “Sailing Alone Around the World” I’ve wanted to visit those southern most bits of the Americas. Yay for you!
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Comment@ Stephen S.:
Well, that hiking in a dress was not easy not because of the dress but too many steps :) But the views made up for it.
Stephen S.
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Alex your a champ! That is a ton of hiking, and couldn’t have been easy in a dress. Hiking always reminds me how massive the world is and how much I need still need to see. Happy new Year.