www.mountaintrails.us

For the average person, a casual hike up and down a small hill is usually sufficient; they will probably brag about it for days on end too. Truth is, their biggest obstacle was probably avoiding the mosquitoes. For those of us who want a tad more of a challenge, here’s a list of the most daunting:

1) California: Cable Route, Half Dome, Yosemite National Park – Eight miles of the deadliest terrain, ending with a 400 foot vertical climb. Five hikers have previously fallen to their deaths.

2)Canada: West Coast Trail, Vancouver Island – If the wild bears and wolves don’t get you, the steep slopes and wooden ladders will.

3)China: Mount Huashan Trail – Better not blink, a single misstep here will have you falling to your death.

4)Alaska: Rover’s Run, Anchorage – It’s not the terrain here that’l get you; it’s the large population of salmon hungry brown bears.

5)New York: Devil’s Path, Catskills – With vertical inclines around every corner, you literally need cat skills. Oh yea, careful with your food or the black bears will eat you.

6)Utah: Peek-a-boo Gulch – Are you’re a claustrophobic who hates swimming? Then this is probably not for you.

7)Hawaii: Kalalau Trail in Kauai – If you ignore the 4000 foot height and risk of mudslides, then paradise awaits you after 11 miles.

8)Guatemala: Pacaya Volcano Route – An active volcano. Do you really need more?

9)Papua New Guinea: Kokoda Track – Hostile trails in a very remote location. Help more than likely will not come, so be safe.

10)Spain: El Caminito del Rey – Nicknamed the “King’s little pathway”. There is nothing little about it and it certainly isn’t a pathway.

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