A Swiss gem of a town, and it carries a "toon"

Now that we're well into 2010, it's time to start making those definitive plans for your summer vacation, so I thought I'd entice you with some photos from one of the most charming places you'll ever see. It's a city called Thun, whose first novelty for us English-speakers is its pronunciation: "toon". It's one of the places we'll visit when we take our hiking tour of the Swiss Alps this July, a spot to soak up some Swiss city atmosphere in between our treks in the mountains.

My last visit to Thun was in July 2009, and it happened to be the weekend the city hosted the international barrel organ festival. I'll have to admit, I wasn't sure what to expect from a barrel organ festival, but it was wonderfully surreal: hundreds of barrel organs lining the streets, playing "tunes" (pun intended) on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. We ate at an outdoor cafe, toured the Thun Castle (built in 1195!!!) while others in our group rode on the largest ferris wheel in Switzerland. We didn't have time to book a boat ride out onto the gorgeous lake _ definitely something to consider for next time. I can't overstate what a great day it was.

So, there, are you sold yet? I make this pitch because if you wait too long to book your spot on our July 13-23 trip to Switzerland, it might be too late. We're only taking 14 people, and there's still room for you now. (Plus, it gives you a head start for planning some of the logistics, such as making sure you have an up-to-date passport.)

So visit our Web site http://myhikingvacations.com and give us a shout. I'm eager to see Thun again, and I'm eager to let you enjoy the place for yourself!

Happy Hiking,
Joseph

Orienteering _ A Crazier Way to Hike (or Run) Through the Woods

One of my favorite sports has a mouthful of a name and will never be in the Olympics. It's a way to turn exploration of the outdoors into a fun game for all ages. Call it competitive hiking, if you will. I prefer to think of it as a chance to relive my childhood ways in Bertie County when I would run with abandon through the woods, not caring if I got lost because it was always a fun adventure trying to find my way back home.

I'm referring to orienteering, a sport that's known worldwide and a must-try (at least once) for any fan of the outdoors. You use a map and compass to navigate your way to various checkpoints in the woods, seeing how fast you can get from start to finish without getting hopelessly off course.

If you've never been to a real orienteering meet, it's a blast. Most groups these days use an electronic keypunch attached to your finger to keep track of your time, so when you get home you can look on the Internet and see how you did. (That's pretty cool!) Courses at most meets range from easy to super-difficult, so 7-year-olds can have as much fan as elite athletes. Of course, most people aren't there to try to win _ they're just there to have a good time and see how well they do. Orienteering is popular among Boy Scouts because it's a requirement to advance to the rank of First Class; there's also an Orienteering Merit Badge.

I mention orienteering because that's what I'm doing tomorrow afternoon. I'm headed to the southern part of Fairfax County to take part in a meet sponsored by the Quantico Orienteering Club. I'm lucky to live in an area where the sport is popular, and the QOC is a great club. (They have meets throughout the year. Check out their Web site: qoc.nova.org)

Orienteering is also popular in Europe. The area in Switzerland where I'll be leading a hiking tour this July has several courses. (Go to http://myhikingvacations.com to learn more about the trip.)

So, if you've done your share of camping and hiking and biking and want to try something different outdoors, give orienteering a try. Worried about getting lost? Bring a partner. And a whistle!

I'm sure you'll have fun.

Happy Hiking (and Orienteering)
Joseph

A "4-blister" Hike

I guess it's possible to get into a hiking rut from doing the same trails with the same people in the same seasons every year. While I've never had that feeling personally _ and I have way too much fun when I'm hiking to think I ever will _ it's good to be proactive by seeking out new groups and new hikes.

For 2010, I'm doing some hikes with a local DC-area group called Wandering Soles. They took part in the New Year's Day hike along the C&O Canal, and this Saturday they will be doing a hike in Catoctin Park and Cunningham Falls State Park in Maryland.

Wandering Soles has a "blister" rating for all of their hikes. "Easy" is less than 2 blisters, "moderate" is 2 to 3.5 blisters, and "difficult" is greater than 3.5 blisters. According to the scale, one blister equals about 5 miles or about 2,500 feet in elevation gain. That's a good way to gauge what you're getting into.

The hike this Saturday is a 4-blister hike _ hitting several of the high points in the parks at a moderate-to-fast pace over 9.5 miles with more than 5,000 feet of elevation gain. The tricky part could be the ice _ we still have remnants of recent snowfalls in these parts _ but the guide tells me she's already plotted an alternative route around dicier parts of the trail, if necessary.

Several people have asked me if the hiking trip to Switzerland I'm offering this summer will feel more like winter hiking in the U.S. because of the elevation of the Alps. Actually, summer in Switzerland is more like fall in the mid-Atlantic U.S., with warm days and cool nights and some rain thrown in. I have seen a snowfall on one July hike near a glacier, but for the most part you're wearing shorts and soaking up sunshine.

You can learn more about the trip by taking a peak at our "Your Questions Answered" page on our Web site: http://myhikingvacations.com/faq.php. Or just go to the main page and start from there. http://myhikingvacations.com.

Regardless of where you decide to hike this year, I hope you do try some new places and meet some new people. That's half the fun!

Happy Hiking,
Joseph

Ear Plugs _ A Requirement for a Hiking Tour?

Today I took part in the 36th annual New Year's Day hike along the C&O Canal in Washington, D.C., an 10-mile leisurely trek sponsored by the Sierra Club and supported by other hiking groups in the area. The weather was good _ compared to the wintry days we've had recently _ and I got to meet a lot of interesting people with interesting hiking stories. A great way to start 2010!

During the hike, the topic turned to problems that one might encounter while taking part in a hiking vacation. I was keenly interested _ mainly because I'll be leading an 11-day hiking tour of Switzerland in July. (Go to http://myhikingvacations.com/ for more information.)

One of the hikers mentioned ear plugs as an essential packing item. She said she's encountered roommates on hiking trips who snored without end _ making it difficult to sleep and sapping the energy needed to go on a hike the next day. I also pointed out that some people need ear plugs to cope with the change in air pressure while flying in an airplane.

It made me think: Should ear plugs be an essential item? Or an optional item? On the packing list page of my Web site (http://myhikingvacations.com/packing.php), I list ear plugs under "Optional Stuff" _ along with items such as binoculars, camera and pocket knife.

Based on my conversation with my fellow hiker, I have changed the entry. I still have ear plugs listed as optional, but I've added a line suggesting why they would be useful.

It just goes to show that, no matter know many hikes you've led, there's always something new to learn. Snoring has never bothered me, and it's never come up in hiking trips I've led with the Boy Scouts and other groups in the past. So, word to the wise: Think about ear plugs if you're a light sleeper or plane-pressure sensitive.

Again, Happy New Year to All,
Joseph