February
FEBRUARY
Whistler-Blackcomb, Canada
Why now? Both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains are at their snowy best in February.
Consistently voted North America’s best ski resort, and considered by many people to be the best in the world, the powder-perfect twin peaks of Whistler-Blackcomb - the principal venue for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games - contain almost 200 longer-than-average marked trails, the highest vertical drop (1609m) of any North American ski field and 29 sq km of bowls, glades and steeps. You could stay for an entire season - plenty of people do - and still not explore it all. There’s plenty here for beginners, but even more to light the eyes of the adrenaline skiier or snowboarder. Around one-quarter of Whistler’s runs, and 30% of Blackcomb’s, are rated as black-diamond (advanced). Wander round the back of Blackcomb to Ruby Bowl and it gets even sexier. Ruby Bowl is one of 12 alpine bowls on Whistler-Blackcomb, but it’s the undoubted matriarch. To reach it, ride to the top of the Glacier Express chairlift, then make the climb up Spanky’s Ladder to confront Whistler-Blackcomb’s best powder, falling in continuous steeps for more than 600m. If you prefer to ski cross-country, more than 28km of trails wind through Lost Lake Park and the valley. You might also fancy a try at snowmobiling or dogsledding, or you can range further afield by taking on the challenge of heli-skiing, which provides access to the untouched powder of backcountry peaks. The centre of the mountain action is Whistler Village, built almost entirely from scratch in the early 1980s, its resorts, hotels and stores blending together like one big ultramodern outdoor mall, mountain-style. From Vancouver, it’s a 23km drive to Whistler Village along the invitingly named Sea to Sky Hwy. Whistler-Blackcomb is not a place where you need suffer for your art. The mild Pacific air flowing around the peaks provides reliable snowfall without the truly frigid conditions of inland ski resorts.
Why not check out the Thorn Treeforum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?
Ice Trek on the Zanskar River, India
Why now? Trek while the Zanskar River has a skin of ice.
The extremes of cold in the Himalayan region of Ladakh mean that it’s little visited in winter. The mountain passes close and the only way in and out is by air. For those hardy souls who not only take the challenge to visit in winter but want do something even more outlandish, there’s the chance to trek along the frozen Zanskar River from Chilling to Padum, sleeping in rock shelters. For Zanskaris this is a traditional route, the only way in and out when the high passes are snowed in, but for trekkers it usually means about eight days of walking, including through a canyon that’s inaccessible at any other time of year. Expect severe cold (winter in Leh can reach -20˚C) but be cheered by the news that Ladakh receives 300 days of sun a year, making for crisp, clear trekking days on the river.
Why not check out the Thorn Tree forum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?
Tasmania, Australia
Why now? Visit at the end of summer for the most reliably warm conditions.
Tasmania is Australia’s smallest state, yet it packs more opportunity into its outdoors than the other states and territories combined. Furnished with mountains shaped as peculiarly as the country’s native fauna, 20% of Tasmania is made up of national parks, with most of that listed as World Heritage. Both the air and water in parts of the state are claimed to be the purest on the planet. Suck in this air and drink the water as you discover Tassie’s wealth of bushwalking trails. The Overland Track, between Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair, is Australia’s premier bushwalk, attracting summer crowds like outback flies. For an encore, you can select from a roll call of fantastic walks, such as the South Coast Track, Freycinet Peninsula, Western Arthurs, Federation Peak, Frenchmans Cap, Walls of Jerusalem or Bay of Fires.
Why not check out the Thorn Tree forum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?
Tour Skate on Mälaren, Sweden
Why now? The skating season usually lasts from December to March; come now to coincide with the likely running of Vikingarännet.
One look at the name ‘Nordic skating’ and it’s apparent that Sweden is a heartland for the pursuit of touring on ice skates. Whenever the ice is thick enough, Stockholm’s lake and canal system is exploited by skating enthusiasts seeking the longest possible ‘run’. Stretching west from Stockholm, Mälaren is Sweden’s third-largest lake (1140 sq km) and one of the country’s prime Nordic skating venues. A short ride on public transport and you can be skating across the freshwater lake, covering up to 100km a day and stopping at towns, villages and cultural landmarks as you go. Among the stops you can make is the World Heritage-listed Viking trading centre of Birka on the island of Björkö, containing the largest Viking Age cemetery in Scandinavia, with around 3000 graves. Each year - or at least those years the ice will support it - Mälaren hosts the skating race Vikingarännet. Started in 1999, this marathon event sees thousands of skaters cross the lake from Stockholm to Uppsala, a distance of around 80km - the record winning time is two hours 35 minutes. Vikingarännet is held when the lake ice is thick enough to support great numbers of skaters. The most probable date is during February. Stockholm offers an extra skating thrill when the Baltic Sea freezes, though this occurs only once or twice every 10 years. When it does, fantastic tours of the archipelago are possible, but never skate alone. Sharpen your blades and your Nordic skating interest at the Stockholm Ice Skate Sailing Association website (www.sssk.se). www.vikingarannet.com
Why not check out the Thorn Tree forum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?
Climb Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Why now? Warm temperatures and little rain, while avoiding the New Year high season when huts may be booked out.
The equatorial volcano Mt Kilimanjaro (5896m) is Africa’s highest mountain and can be climbed along six routes. About 90% of trekkers take Kili’s easiest path, the Marangu Route (so popular it’s been dubbed the ‘Coca-Cola Route’). Most trekkers on this route only go as far as Gillman’s Point, on the crater rim at 5685m, with another two hours of high-altitude walking required to reach the summit at Uhuru Peak. Of the other routes, Umbwe is the most direct, and Lemosho the longest, while the Machame (with a descent on the Mweka Route) is probably the most scenic option. You’ll go through the pain barrier on the way to the top of the mountain, but the reward is unforgettable - a sunrise view over what seems like half of Africa. All treks must be organised through a tour company.
Why not check out the Thorn Tree forum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?
Glacier Walk on Moreno Glacier, Argentina
Why now? Stay warm atop the giant ice block.
Discover the true meaning of the term ‘cold feet’ as you take a boat across the glacial melt of Lago Argentino, wander through beech forest and emerge at the edge of 15-storey-high Moreno Glacier. It’s one of the few glaciers in the world not in retreat, maintaining its stability for the last 90 years. Fit your crampons and head out onto the ice, which is twisted, broken and covered in seracs like giant, blue blades of grass. Water streams across its top, disappearing into seemingly endless holes, and you walk past crevasses that yawn wider than a lion - welcome to the world of the mountaineer, without any of the requisite hardships. At the end of your walk you get a whisky with ice chipped directly from the glacier. Make base camp at the Patagonian town of El Calafate, from where buses run daily to Moreno Glacier. www.hieloyaventura.com
Why not check out the Thorn Tree forum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?
Race of Hope, Cameroon
Why now? To compete in the Mt Cameroon Race.
Mt Cameroon (4095m) is the highest peak in West Africa, rising direct from the Gulf of Guinea through rainforest to an alpine summit. An active volcano, it erupted seven times last century, most recently in 2000, but that doesn’t deter runners from scaling it in the marathon-length Race of Hope (Mt Cameroon Race), held around this time each year. Beginning in the sprawling town of Buea, competitors follow the most direct of the mountain’s trekking trails - the so-called Guinness Route - to the summit. If you dance to a slower drum, you can always just walk up the mountain. While the quickest of the runners complete the Guinness Route in 4-5 hours, allow two nights to comfortably trek it.
Why not check out the Thorn Tree forum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?
Costa Rica
Why now? February is traditionally the driest month across Costa Rica.
Costa Rica covers less than 0.01% of the planet, yet it has almost as many birds as the USA and Canada combined, more reptiles than Europe and five times more butterflies than Australia. Measured in terms of number of species per 10,000 sq km, Costa Rica tops the list of countries at 615 species, compared to the comparatively impoverished USA with its 104 species. This simple fact alone makes Costa Rica among the premier destinations for naturalists. More than 850 animal species have been recorded in Costa Rica, but birds are the primary attraction, coming in every imaginable colour, from strawberry-red scarlet macaws to iridescent violet sabrewings. Because many birds here have restricted ranges, you’re guaranteed to find completely different species almost everywhere you travel. Not all that’s wild in Costa Rica is wildlife. If you take your inspiration from the birds and not the sloths, you can bungy jump from the Río Colorado bridge in the capital, San José. And if you’re more manatee than macaw, you’ll find legendary surf at Witches Rock, with its tubular 3m curls, and Ollie’s Point, situated near the old airstrip used to smuggle goods to the Nicaraguan Contras in the 1980s (and named after US colonel Oliver North). Land mammals will appreciate the dry season for some great hiking among fumaroles and tropical dry forest in Parque Nacional Rincón de la Vieja, or in the cloud forest reserves of Santa Elena and Monteverde. Those with higher ambitions can scale Costa Rica’s highest mountain, Cerro Chirripó (3820m), on a 16km trail - of the Central American countries, only Guatemala has higher peaks. And those who want something with the lot will gravitate to Península de Osa. Largely covered by Parque Nacional Corcovado, it offers spectacular wildlife viewing at the Sirena Research Station, and the best way into Sirena is on foot. There are three trails to the station, two of which follow the coast and produce an endless pageant of birds. Scarlet macaws are guaranteed, with the tropical almond trees that line the coast a favourite macaw food. There’s also the opportunity to swim with dolphins in Bahía Drake.
Why not check out the Thorn Tree forum at lonelyplanet.com to find out more?