Camel Trekking the Sahara Desert

#Camel_Trekking_Sahara

The Sahara Desert is that large it covers 10 different countries of Africa (Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan & Tunisia) 
It has dry valleys, mountains, salt flats, barren & rocky plateaus plus sand dunes
On this adventure i will just touch just a small piece of it, but will still get a feel what its like to trek one of the worlds great natural spans 

 

Fun Facts;

A) Only the deserts of Antarctica & the Northern Arctic (both considered dry regions) have larger masses, so that makes the Sahara the largest HOT desert in the World ( 9,200,000 sq kms / 3,600,000 sq miles.....as big as Continental USA)
 B) The Bedouins (meaning desert dwellers) live in the Sahara & survive by moving around by making tent camps near natural resources depending on the season
 C) The record high temperature recorded was 58C (136F) but depending on the time of the year its comfortable for us adventure travelers, for example when i was there 27C (80F) so normal for me
 D) Archeologists have found many wonders in the desert from Saharan Rock Paintings, Stone Circles & Dinosaur Fossils
E) The Sahara is 70% rock with only the other 30% being of sand 
F) The highest point in the desert is the Emi Koussi Volcano at 3400 meters (11,150 feet) which also has some hot springs if your in the area jajajaja
G) You think of the desert you think dry, not here 
 There are over 20 saltwater lakes with one exception Lake Chad (freshwater) plus over 90 oases
 (shade & rest areas)
But remember, it is spread over 4.8 million kms (3 million miles) so do not try to find these fertile spots on your own 😅
 H) The area in the Tunisian Sahara was used for the movie set of Star Wars many times
 Present Day; now the fictional birth village of Luke Skywalker has some remnants left behind for all the film buffs to visit

As we head out from Marrakesh with my group, i find out they are all from France (which at one time ruled Morocco 1912-1955) so French has been kept within the culture & still being one of the languages spoken here
So i knew my Canadian French (different grammar, vowels, vocabulary & pronunciations) is not like that of the Parisian French, but we managed 

My biggest concern was if i was hurting the camel as being a lover of all animals that would go against my principles
To ease my fears i was told these Ships of the Desert can carry 600kg (1300 lbs), travel 40kms (25 miles) plus go 10 days without water
Plus i also noticed the handlers were very good to their caravans..... as well as they should be as this is how they made their living off us tourists

  Some Ethical Guidelines to Follow;
 A) Go with tour operators that have animal welfare policies such as World Expeditions or Intrepid Travel
 B) Ask the operators how their camels are trained & treated
C) Only book camels in the environments they have evolved to survive in, the desert
For example if you see rides offered in tropical, humid or non-desert landscapes this is a red flag
D) Visual check on your part; the camels should look settled & calm, eyes should be clear, skin in good condition & no wear spots under the harnesses, saddles or halters
 E) Only one person per camel as the shady tour operators will double up to maximize profit
 F) Finally the multi-day safaris at a slow pace is much better than the quick turnarounds on the camels

As we wait for our Berber hosts i was told by our guides that some continue their nomadic desert lifestyle & others the tradition of farming with a culture that dates back for more than 4000 years

We are then served a Berber Tea (Atay) which is a mixture of green tea leaves, fresh mint leaves & lots of sugar, plus slices of bread with olive oil, jam & honey

As we take a break i noticed most of our transportation were of the one hump dromedaries & my handler tells me that when born, the calves have no hump until they start to eat solid food which eventually will grow into 80 lbs of fat, not water as what most people would of have assumed 

Yes i have ridden horses many times & a camel is a different experience, but not a difficult skill to learn very quickly
The only awkward moments for most novice riders i could see was the getting on/off part of the ride
KeyTip; it should not be filmed by your friends 😅

I was told Camels are sensitive creatures who will tell you when they are not comfortable with their passenger, but my Buddie liked the idea of me getting some extra grass & leaves
Also my guide told me Camels recognize poisonous plants growing in any area so will not eat them  Intelligent through social learning by watching what others in the flock have done

I was told the men cover their faces to show respect & modesty as the mouth is considered to be one of the most revealing parts of a mans body
But as you read below, it is also for protection from blowing sand, sun & insects

On the way back after my two day trek the hotel driver kept pointing at my face (he knew no English) So i put up my fingers to feel & to my surprise had a stinger, then i pulled it out & within minutes i could feel it swelling up

What to do in Northwest Africa in this situation i asked myself
Well i remembered the old Indiana Jones movies 😂 so went to the local bar, asked for two whiskeys  (which got a stare from the bartender) & downed one, the other i pored on the wound
Next morning i was feeling a little off, not sure if it was the alcohol (as i do not drink hard liquor) or if it was the poison from whatever bit me
 But nonetheless was on the mend enough to do a hike of the nearby Atlas Mountains

Did this charcoal drawing  (saying thanks) to the great country of Morocco for this latest adventure

Hiking the Dolomites in Northern Italy

#Hiking_Dolomites_Italy

The Dolomites are one of the most accessible international destinations (fly into Venice or Milan) for these outdoor hiking adventures that fits all fitness & skill levels
 Once landed then travel north by bus or vehicle rental to the towns with the most tourist infrastructure to base yourself; for example that would be Bolzano, Trento or Merano

From your base you can do daytrips or multiple nights staying at rifugios (mountain huts) with most of the trails that are well developed, to some that needs a little experience & up to what i am doing known as Via Ferrata Lipella which needs expertise
Finally your best months to mountain walk here are from June to September with the longer days & warmer weather as the hiking season is short due to the long winters

 

Making my way along the Austrian Border (300 km /185 miles drive) to first visit my friends in Alta Badia in Northern Italy before heading to my next adventure taking on the Lipella Ferrata
This climb will take me through some historical landmarks, steep/difficult terrain, altitude up to 3200 meters (10,500 feet) & around 13 kms (8 miles)......i am excited 😀  

A reminder (as i drive past) of the World War which Italy suffered a great loss of life & damages
It started in 1915 when Italy declared war on Austria & Hungary which it soon became a stalemate struggle for all the countries involved 
 It was basically a trench warfare as troops from both sides had to deal with freezing temperatures, high altitudes & the instability of the mountains itself

The history of the Via Ferrata ( meaning iron treks....protected paths with iron cables, steps or ladders) began during the first World War & today there are around 600 trails within the Dolomites
All these routes have different grades & lengths (Google; Dolomites Via Ferrata to choose what is best for your comfort & skill level so you have the most enjoyable experience)
 that are constantly maintained by the Italian Alpine Club for safety, so we all can enjoy them

Originally these routes (that were made of iron) were created for the soldiers who carried heavy supplies during all times of the year.
After the war, some of the steel & wooden equipment was replaced with safer modern versions
That being said you need to be confident in your footing, be adventurous, have stamina & do not suffer from vertigo for the more challenging routes which is what i chose because of my experience

With over 1000 Mountain Huts (Rifugios) in the Dolomites you need to do some research but lucky for you i have taken some of those questions out of the equation;

A) They do not open until late June  because of all the snow (during the winter season) as they are at 2500 meters (8000 feet) so the danger of avalanches is a serious risk
B) Reservations are done by email only during the off season, once open you will need to call directly to reach anyone but be patient
 Please remember where these huts are located so cell coverage can be spotty
 C) A deposit of around 20 Euros will be subtracted once you arrive, also you will be sending that payment via E-Transfer so MAKE SURE you include your name & booking dates so you indeed get the credit plus reservation when you arrive
D) The cost per night is depending on your preference, so for example private huts are 70-80 Euros,
 just a bunkbed (4 to 10 people per room) would be 30 Euros PP which most times includes breakfast
 E) Bring your own sleeping bag liner plus pillow cover as linens are not washed daily
 F) Bringing your own food is frowned upon as these huts make their positive income from the meal service, but if you insist you will have to bring your own cooking equipment, utensils & eat away from the hut as your taking away a table space from other restaurant paying customers
G) Water is a precious resource as its collected in huge storage tanks from melting snow or rainwater, so please do not waste water with running the taps, flushing the toilets too many times & because of such, a five minute shower will cost you around 5 Euros 

Always Safety First;

 A)  Always wear a climbing helmet as your not the only one scaling here as the group above you could dislodge some loose rocks onto you
B) A new climbing harness & not secondhand, as the expire date with regular use is around 36 months so there is really no way to check that.....if buying used
 C) Lanyard with four main components; strong loop to attach to your harness, energy absorption system & two carabiners
D) Climbing Gloves as your in constant contact with steel cable with that wear plus it could have some loose wire sticking out for a nasty gash
 E) Stay Hydrated as you climb higher you exhale & sweat twice as much
F) Cell Coverage is good, if you have an emergency call 112 which is the Pan-European Emergency Number where the operator will redirect your call to the proper authorities or call 118 which is the direct number for Medical Emergency & Ambulance in Italy

The Lagazuoi Tunnel was built during World War One by the Italians with the idea of blowing up the Falzarego Pass 
 Why you ask; during those times it was an important passage way for supplies of the Allied Troops of Austria & Hungary

 It is now one of most extensive in the Dolomites (thanks to the European Union grant) plus is the most well preserved & safest to hike (1km/ 0.6 miles)
Bonus, it is also where you can see the trenches, machine gun posts, barracks etc  from the past & its setup like an open air museum

What to wear you ask;

 A) I would recommend covering up your legs with hiking pants to prevent nicks & cuts from the rocks B) Wind & Rainproof Jacket plus maybe a down vest (in your backpack) for the higher altitudes
 C) UV Sunglasses plus lotion on any exposed body parts 
D) Hiking Boots that has a good grip & most importantly are comfortable

As i leave the Dolomites here are some facts;

 A) The nickname is the Pale Mountains due to its composition of dolomitic limestone
 B) It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site  because of its natural beauty
C) Home to the Ladin people since 5 BC (during Roman occupation of this area) the locals adopted the rough Latin language spoken by the soldiers & magistrates into their own plus
  other traditions that have been kept alive through the educational system, culture & cuisine 
 D) Evidence proves that the Dolomites were once underwater with the discovery of fossils, corals & through the various formations
 E) Powdered dolomite from the mountains (when grounded up) has be proven to be an effective medicine to deliver both calcium & magnesium to help strengthen human bones