John Chau
W-EMT at Whiskeytown, soccer coach, and adventurer - making the most of every opportunity that comes my way. Check out my blog at: theruggedtrail.wordpress.com. If you need a guide, email at: johnachau@gmail.com!
Shark Diving in Gaansbai
Cape Town, South Africa
4.0
Although this adventure usually takes place in Gaansbai (due to the higher percentage of Great Whites in the water there), you typically will be picked up in Cape Town at a hotel or hostel by the tour operator (usually very, very early in the morning). Unfortunately, it's pretty rare to just show up in Gaansbai and jump on a shark diving boat. Instead, you'll need to book with a legit tour oper...
Munra Point
Cascade Locks, Oregon
4.9
4.12 mi
/ 1870 ft gain
This trail is temporarily closed. Please visit the Forest Service website for updates to trails in the Columbia River Gorge.
This hike starts at the Wahclella Falls trailhead, but does not use that trail. Instead, walk back towards the freeway and take a left onto the Columbia River Highway Trail. Go over the Tanner Creek bridge and take a left onto Trail #400. From here, follow Trail #400 u...
Camp at Nickel Creek
Crescent City, California
4.0
5 mi
/ 300 ft gain
First, check in at the Crescent City Ranger Information Center in Crescent City to pick up your free backcountry permit and get permission to park your car at the Crescent City Beach Education Center off of Enderts Beach Road. This is the safest place to park at due to numerous car break-ins at the Crescent City Beach Overlook parking lot since it is gated and operated by park rangers. This doe...
Mount Defiance
Cascade Locks, Oregon
3.7
12.55 mi
/ 5167 ft gain
This hike starts at the Starvation Creek Rest Area. After parking, head west back along the shoulder of the freeway, where you’ll see a wooden sign stating “Mt. Defiance Trail.” Continue heading west along the abandoned Columbia River Highway. Keep going west as you pass the junction with the Starvation Cutoff Trail (which is what you’ll return on), and you’ll arrive at Cabin Creek Falls. Soon ...
Hike Kanaka Peak
Shasta County, California
4.5
3.5 mi
/ 1100 ft gain
Head to the Peltier Bridge Campground after entering Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and then go 1.1 miles along the road through the campground until you reach the trailhead for Kanaka Peak. The road from the campground is open from late spring to late fall, otherwise hikers will need to park at the campground and hike the extra 1.1 miles to the trailhead.From the trailhead, you'll cross ...
Snorkel at Elephant Beach
South Andaman, India
3 mi
Assuming that you made the ferry from Port Blair to Havelock Island, the best way to reach the trailhead would be to either rent a bicycle ($2/day typically) or a scooter/motorcycle ($8/day) and pedal or drive to the small sheltered bus station at the foot of the jungle. Leave your bike there and start your trek to the beach. It's only about 1.5 miles to get there, but it can be a little sketch...
Backpack to the Natural Bridge
Hagarville, Arkansas
5.0
8 mi
After you drive across the one-lane bridge and take the dirt road immediately after it, follow that dirt road until it begins to bend to the left. Park your vehicle in the turnoff on the right, and be sure to lock it and take (or hide) any valuables in it. Even though it’s relatively remote, random ATVs will occasionally whizz by (illegally), and since they’re already illegally driving around, ...
Visit the Slangkop Lighthouse
Cape Town, South Africa
0.5 mi
/ 35 ft gain
After parking in the dirt parking lot, you can simply walk over to the lighthouse (if it's open) and talk to the kind staff there who might let you in for a peek (or a small fee).Otherwise, you can be content with walking around it and taking some photos as you head down the boardwalk trail nearby.This trail heads all the way back around to Kommetjie and offers stunning views of the ocean. Keep...
Hike to Hideout Hollow
Harrison, Arkansas
4.0
2 mi
After parking at the trailhead, head down the well-trodden path and follow it the 0.85 miles downhill to the overlook. Once you are at the overlook, go left and follow the path as it loops around the top of the overhang. You’ll arrive at a small creek (which creates the waterfall that flows into the hollow).If you hike a few yards upstream, you’ll encounter a small oasis complete with a mini-wa...
Backpacking Cecil Creek
Harrison, Arkansas
5.0
8 mi
From Tulsa, head out east along US-412 until you reach HWY 103. Take a right (south) on HWY 103 and follow it toward Compton, Arkansas. Shortly before reaching Compton, take the dirt road on the right (before the road starts to head north), and follow the road south. Keep on it as it bends to the east, and follow it until you reach the Hideout Hollow Trailhead.From the trailhead, it’s a short 1...
Hike to the top of Chapman's Peak
Cape Town, South Africa
1.5 mi
/ 1252 ft gain
Starting from the trailhead on Chapman's Peak Drive (one of the most scenic drives in the world), simply follow the trail up as it gradually climbs up east toward a 4-junction. Take that first right at the junction and follow it as it heads south and then turns southwest. Stay on the trail as it climbs up to the summit of Chapman's Peak. There is a small scramble at the last 100 feet, but nothi...
Winter Summit Black Butte
Mount Shasta, California
5 mi
/ 2000 ft gain
Note: February thru early March are great times to climb it for a winter ascent without snowshoes. If there is no snow seen from the south (e.g. on I-5 heading north to Mount Shasta City), don't be too worried. As long as there is snow on the surrounding peaks (e.g. Trinity Alps) around the same elevation (4,000+ feet), there should still be snow on the northern slopes of Black Butte.Most of th...
Visit the Cape Point Lighthouse
Cape Town, South Africa
4.3
This adventure starts at the Cape Point parking lot, from where one can also begin other adventures. After parking and locking your doors to prevent thieving baboons from breaking in, head up the path parallel to the funicular and follow its gradual slope up towards the various lookouts until you arrive at the old Cape Point Lighthouse.It's a fairly easy and straightforward path, and if confuse...
Watch the Sunset at Signal Hill
Cape Town, South AfricaThis is a much easier and less adventurous sunset trip than hiking up Lions Head to watch the sunset, so it's better suited for families with small children or folks who aren't too keen on wild adventures.Find out what time sunset is and then head out to Signal Hill a bit beforehand.Follow Signal Hill Road up to the parking lot and park if you can find room (otherwise just park on the narrow s...
Backpack along Hurricane Creek
Mulberry, Arkansas
6 mi
After arriving at the trailhead near the Shores Lake Campground (there is a $3 parking fee, so bring cash), head along the path and go west at the T-junction. Continue going west/northwest and you’ll cross over a forest road. Stay on the trail as it gradually descends, then veer off-trail to the left (toward Hurricane Creek). Hike (bushwack) alongside Hurricane Creek until you can come to a par...
Hike to Upper Palisades Lake
Ashford, Washington
6.6 mi
/ 1200 ft gain
Park at the Sunrise Point parking lot and find the Palisades Trail at the northeast corner of the parking lot. If you bring along a pair of binoculars, you can stop at the first overlook on the left and scan the adjacent mountain slopes for the white dots of mountain goats. Continue down the trail as it descends about 300 feet to Sunrise Lake in the first 0.5 miles. A mile later you will reach ...
Table Mountain via Aldrich Butte Trailhead
North Bonneville, Washington
4.7
16 mi
/ 3350 ft gain
Hike up into the forest (take the right path, not the one going left), and follow it all the way until you get to "Carpenter Lake" (which always seems to be just an empty, marshy field). Keep going and do not take the right path at the first Y split off. Instead, stay left, until you come to another Y. Here is where you want to stay right and follow the path as it continues to slowly gain eleva...
Table Mountain, Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
5.0
1.9 mi
/ 2300 ft gain
After parking at the lot near the Platteklip Gorge trailhead, start hiking south up the path. It soon will become extremely steep with large slabs of rock acting as some sort of giant stairs that us peons must crawl over until we eventually reach the summit. If you have long legs and are taller than average, you might find this hike to be a breeze, but it can be quite a strenuous hike for those...
Hike to Diaz Beach
Cape Town, South Africa
0.5 mi
/ -450 ft gain
After parking at the Cape Point parking lot, simply take the small unpaved path that leads south towards the ocean. Head down the gravel steps and follow it as it bears west (right) along a wooden boardwalk. Stay on the boardwalk until it ends at several rocky slabs. Cross the slabs and you should easily find the trail again as it continues. Stay on it a few hundred feet until you reach a set o...
Backpacking Along the Buffalo River
Compton, Arkansas
5.0
12 mi
Park at the Centerpoint Trailhead and follow the Centerpoint trail as it heads about 3 miles downhill towards Big Bluff. You’ll know you’ve reached the trail junction for Big Bluff when you come to a clearing that has a large firepit in the middle and a small unmaintained trail heading off to the right. Take this trail and follow it along Big Bluff.Stay on the trail as it follows the edge of th...
Explore Noordhoek Beach
Cape Town, South Africa
5.0
5 mi
The northernmost part of Noordhoek Beach that touches the jagged rocks of Chapman's Peak is the more scenic place to start exploring (see map location for directions to the north parking lot). Otherwise, one can park down at one of the beach-access culd-de-sacs in Kommetjie and walk from south-to-north along the beach.If you did in fact park in northern parking lot shadowed by Chapman's Peak, s...
Kayak the Illinois River
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
4.0
From Tulsa, head out east along US-412 until you reach US-82. Take Exit 6 and go right (south) along US-82 until you reach E Steely Hollow Rd. Turn left and follow E Steely Hollow Rd. until you reach the T-intersection with OK-10. Pull into a parking space at the Illinois River Store and buy a mandatory river permit for $1 per boat (canoe, raft, or kayak). The river permit goes on your wrist, a...
Hemmed In Hollow Falls via Hemmed In Hollow Trail
Compton, Arkansas
5.0
5.78 mi
/ 1572 ft gain
After parking at the Hemmed In Hollow Falls Trailhead, follow the path down as it descends into the valley. As you approach one of the vistas, you’ll be able to spot the emerald green waters of the Buffalo River, as well as the bluffs to your east where the waterfall hides.
After reaching the valley floor, follow the path to the east (there are signs pointing to the falls) and if you go during...
Backpack Along Whitaker Creek
Kingston, Arkansas
5 mi
After arriving at the Whitaker Point/Hawksbill Crag trailhead, start going down the path for about 1/8th of a mile. You’ll cross a small stream, and here is where you’ll turn off the trail. Using Whitaker Creek as your guide, follow it like a handrail as it descends down into the confluence with the Buffalo River.After you have gone about a ½ of a mile, you’ll reach a large drop off where the L...
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